Arizona is scheduled to receive $109.5M under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act this year to improve water systems. While that’s far less than the $1.4B state officials say is needed, it is far more than some states will receive.
The allocation consists of $50.9M to replace lead pipes, $13.6M to deal with PFAS contamination and $32.3M for other projects. The state will also receive $12M under a base grant from the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona has received 34 applications from local governments totaling more than $1.4B in water projects in this fiscal year. Twenty-seven of the requests are for general water infrastructure such as pump stations and wells. These total $1.3B, and the state expects $44.9M to come from IIJA funds.
Three of the requests ask for funds to clean up PFAS – so-called “forever chemicals” – contamination. The last four cover requests to inventory lead service lines in the drinking water systems of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson and Payson. These total $31.9M, even though the state is scheduled to receive $50.9M. WIFA representatives said the entire allocation will be used and is expected to cover lead pipe projects it has yet to receive this fiscal year.
Program critics like the Natural Resources Defense Council say Arizona is the 10th-lowest ranking state for lead pipes, while states like Illinois and Ohio have far more but are receiving less per pipe. For example, Arizona is getting $4,238/service line, according to NRDC, while Illinois will receive just $151.
NRDC officials have asked the EPA to update its needs survey to better reflect conditions in each state and allocate future distributions more equitably. (Source)