PHOENIX — The Phoenix City Council voted Wednesday to move forward with reconstructing the Cave Creek Water Reclamation Plant and potentially improving the city's water supply by recycling wastewater.
A $300-million construction contract was approved by the council to revitalize a water plant that shut down in 2009 due to the economic recession. By 2026, the city hopes to have the Cave Creek plant operating again and potentially creating another water resource by purifying wastewater.
"Nearly all of the existing infrastructure at the CCWRP will be utilized for the upgraded treatment plant and processes, including the existing sedimentation basins and aeration basin," city records state.
Officials said the Cave Creek plant project will lay the groundwork for Phoenix to practice Advanced Water Purification, which is the process of turning wastewater into high-quality drinking water.
The city said the expanded facility could one day produce up to 6.7 million gallons of potable water each day, which would annually serve an estimated 25,000 local households.
"Reopening the Cave Creek Water Reclamation Plant with new water recycling capabilities will be crucial to shore up Phoenix's water supply, support sustainable development, and maintain a strong quality of life for Phoenix families," Mayor Kate Gallego said in a statement.
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