Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation in July that will invest $1.2 billion over three years to fund projects that will bring additional water to the state to secure Arizona’s water future, according to a news release.
The funds will improve existing water infrastructure and implement effective conservation tools. The projects will help ensure that Arizona families, businesses and agriculture continue to have adequate long-term water supplies, Western Growers said in a statement.
The group collaborated with stakeholders, legislators and the governor’s office to ensure current water resource allocations are protected for existing agricultural uses, and that agriculture will be represented during the selection process for future projects.
"[Senate Bill 1740] represents the most significant water legislation since the state implemented groundwater protections in 1980,” Western Growers said, noting that the bill appropriates more than $1 billion to the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority and expands it with new responsibilities to provide loans and grants to water providers and entities for the purposes of importing water into Arizona, conservation, efficiency and reuse, and new technologies.
