WIFA Approves $41M in Water Conservation Funding – More to Come
As of August 16, the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA) has awarded more than $41 million to fund water conservation initiatives throughout the state, saving an estimated 860,000 – 1.3 million acre-feet of water. The funding is part of the $200 million Water Conservation Grant Fund (WCGF) established in 2022 by the Arizona legislature. The 24 programs and projects approved to date include nine that will install advanced water metering, eight turf and grass removal efforts, six agricultural system upgrades, and a single, multi-faceted program that reduces turf, installs smart meters, installs efficient irrigation systems, and reclaims drainage and weather stations on public lands. A list of all awarded grants and submitted proposals, along with information on how to apply, is available on the WCGF website. Applications for conservation funding are awarded on a rolling basis. The current funding opportunity (Round 4) closes on August 31, at which point Round 5 will open.