Drinking water from wastewater? How Phoenix will do it – KTAR News 92.3 FM

Phoenix Water Purification Initiative: A Report on Sustainable Water Management and SDG Alignment

Project Overview and Strategic Objectives

The city of Phoenix is undertaking a significant infrastructure initiative, named Pure Water Phoenix, to develop a sustainable and resilient water supply through the construction of three advanced water purification (AWP) facilities. This program is designed to recycle treated wastewater into a safe, potable source, directly addressing the critical need for water security in an arid region. The initiative is foundational to the city’s long-term economic viability and its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

The primary goal is to create a closed-loop water system, enhancing water-use efficiency and reducing dependence on external sources like the Colorado River, which is under significant environmental stress. As stated by Nazario Prieto, Assistant Water Services Director, “You can’t have economic growth if you don’t have water.” This underscores the project’s role in building a sustainable urban future.

Technological Approach and Innovation

The AWP facilities will employ a multi-barrier purification process to ensure the highest standards of water quality, aligning with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by utilizing advanced technology for resilient infrastructure.

• Advanced Treatment: The process involves sophisticated technologies, including reverse osmosis and ultraviolet advanced oxidation.
• Purification Goal: These systems are engineered to remove viruses, pathogens, chemicals, and other contaminants from the wastewater stream, rendering it safe for consumption.
• Potable Reuse Methods: The project will implement two distinct methods of potable reuse:
  1. Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR): Purified water is first introduced into an environmental buffer, such as an aquifer or reservoir, before being withdrawn and treated again for distribution.
  2. Direct Potable Reuse (DPR): Purified water is sent directly into the municipal water distribution system for immediate use by consumers and businesses.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Pure Water Phoenix program is a comprehensive strategy that directly contributes to several key SDGs, positioning the city as a leader in sustainable urban water management.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The initiative’s core mission is to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water by increasing water recycling and reuse, thus improving water-use efficiency.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By creating a drought-proof, local water source, the project significantly enhances the city’s resilience to climate change and water scarcity, making Phoenix a more sustainable and secure urban environment.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The program embodies the principles of a circular economy by transforming wastewater from a disposable output into a valuable resource, promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: Reducing reliance on the climate-vulnerable Colorado River is a direct climate adaptation measure, strengthening the city’s capacity to manage the impacts of prolonged drought.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The construction of state-of-the-art AWP facilities represents a major investment in resilient infrastructure and promotes innovation in water treatment technology.

Implementation Timeline and Facility Details

The city has established a phased timeline for the construction and operation of the three AWP facilities.

1. Cave Creek Facility:
   • Location: North Phoenix, replacing the former Cave Creek Water Reclamation Plant.
   • Status: Construction is underway.
   • Operational Target: 2029.
   • Method: The initial phase will utilize Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) as a pilot program before potentially transitioning to DPR.
2. North Gateway Facility:
   • Location: North Phoenix.
   • Operational Target: 2030.
   • Method: This plant is planned to utilize Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) from its inception.
3. 91st Avenue Facility:
   • Location: Tolleson, at the site of the existing 91st Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant.
   • Completion Target: 2033.
   • Strategic Importance: As the largest of the three facilities, this plant is described as a “game-changer” that will substantially decrease Phoenix’s reliance on the Colorado River, marking a critical step towards achieving water independence and fulfilling the city’s SDG commitments.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The entire article focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water. The “Pure Water Phoenix” program, which aims to purify recycled water to create a sustainable source of drinking water, is a direct initiative to achieve this goal.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • The article details the construction of three new advanced water purification (AWP) facilities. This represents a significant investment in building resilient, sustainable infrastructure. The use of advanced technologies like “reverse osmosis and ultraviolet advanced oxidation” highlights the innovation aspect of this goal.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The project is a city-led initiative by Phoenix to secure its long-term water supply, making the urban area more resilient and sustainable. By reducing reliance on the Colorado River, the city is mitigating risks associated with water scarcity and ensuring a safe water supply for its residents.
4. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article explicitly links water availability to economic prosperity with the quote, “You can’t have economic growth if you don’t have water.” This shows that the water purification project is seen as a foundational element for sustaining the city’s economic growth.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Targets under SDG 6:
   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by… substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally. The article’s central theme is taking treated wastewater and purifying it for reuse as drinking water, which directly aligns with this target.
   • Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency… and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. The project’s goal to create a “sustainable source of drinking water” and become “less reliant on the Colorado River” is a clear strategy to address water scarcity and improve the sustainability of the water supply.
2. Targets under SDG 9:
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being. The construction of three AWP plants is a direct action to develop sustainable and resilient water infrastructure.
   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure… with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies. The use of advanced purification processes like reverse osmosis and UV oxidation represents an upgrade to infrastructure using clean and efficient technology.
3. Targets under SDG 11:
   • Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards… resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters. Phoenix’s water reuse plan is an integrated policy aimed at resource efficiency and building resilience to the disaster of drought and water scarcity.
4. Targets under SDG 8:
   • Target 8.4: Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. By creating a circular water economy through recycling, Phoenix is improving resource efficiency to support economic growth without further straining natural water sources.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 6 Targets:
   • Indicator 6.3.1 (Proportion of wastewater safely treated): The article implies this indicator by describing the plan to build three plants specifically designed to treat wastewater to a potable standard. The operational capacity of these plants would be a direct measure of progress.
   • Indicator 6.4.2 (Level of water stress): The statement that the project will make Phoenix “less reliant on the Colorado River” directly implies an effort to reduce water stress. Progress could be measured by the reduction in water withdrawals from the Colorado River as a percentage of the city’s total water use once the plants are operational.
2. Indicators for SDG 9 Targets:
   • Investment in Infrastructure: While not a formal UN indicator, the article provides clear project milestones that serve as practical indicators of progress: the construction and operational timelines for the three plants (2029, 2030, and 2033). The number of new facilities (three) is a quantifiable measure of infrastructure development.
3. Indicators for SDG 11 Targets:
   • Adoption of local disaster risk reduction strategies: The “Pure Water Phoenix” program itself can be considered an indicator of a local strategy for disaster risk reduction, specifically addressing the risk of drought and water shortage. The successful implementation and operation of the plants would measure the effectiveness of this strategy.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ktar.com