Tempe Councilmember Arlene Chin, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael Conner, Rep. Greg Stanton and Tempe Mayor Corey Woods announce $37.5 million in funding was obtained to reopen a defunct water reclamation facility. (City of Tempe)
By Lindsay Walker | YourValley
Rep. Greg Stanton announced on Sept. 1, that he has secured $37.5 million in federal funds to restart, expand and improve Tempe’s Kyrene Water Reclamation Facility, which was shut down during the Great Recession in order to cut costs.
According to a news release from the city, the plant will boost the city’s groundwater recharge capacity and help the city better protect its water supply. Tempe will now be able to collect, treat and use its reclaimed water. The money was secured through the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2022.
“We’re showing that when it comes to shaping a more sustainable future for the next generation, strong local-federal partnerships are key,” Stanton said. “Once this plant is reactivated, it will make sure Tempe can provide residents with a clean and reliable water supply—recycling water to get more out of every drop—and protect its water supply for years to come by banking treated water underground.”
Stanton was joined at the south Tempe plant, located at 311 W. Guadalupe Road, by Tempe Mayor Corey Woods, Tempe City Councilmember Arlene Chin and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael Conner. Conner will oversee the project through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The four toured the plant and learned more about the city’s water challenges.
