PEORIA, Ariz. (Aug. 26, 2009) – The
city will combine $1.8 million in federal stimulus money with its own funds to expand
its use of reclaimed and non-potable water, which will both conserve
drinking water and reduce long-term operating costs.
The federal dollars are from the Interior
Department’s Challenge Grant Program, part of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). These competitive grants provide a federal
dollar-for-dollar match for selected projects that improve sustainable water
supplies in the western United States. Peoria’s were the only Arizona projects
selected. $1.8 million in city funds will be used along with the grant money to
build three projects in Peoria.
About a quarter-mile of effluent pipeline and
water measuring and control systems will be built at the Butler Water
Reclamation Facility to allow treated effluent from that plant to flow to
agricultural users nearby. Peoria would earn groundwater recharge credits in
return. This project also will create a connection to allow treated effluent to
be used for future turf irrigation at the community park planned adjacent to the
Butler facility. The total cost of that project is $1.5 million.
The city will build
additional groundwater recharge basins at the Beardsley Water Reclamation
Facility at a cost of $1.4 million. This expanded capacity will allow Peoria to earn additional
groundwater recharge credits for the effluent treated at the facility, which
handles about 4 million gallons per day.
A third project will convert a well adjacent to
the Peoria Sports Complex that no longer provides drinking-quality water so it
can be used to irrigate turf at the 145-acre facility. Converting to non-potable
water for irrigation needs at the complex will preserve about 67 million gallons
of drinking water each year. The city expects to save about $140,000 annually by
switching turf irrigation the cheaper,
non-potable, water.
For more information on
Peoria's pursuit of stimulus dollars, visit
www.peoriaaz.gov/recoveryact.
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