Chandler approves construction for water facility supporting drought prevention

PHOENIX — The Chandler City Council approved construction last month for a reclaimed water facility supporting drought prevention.

Through agreements made between the city and Intel, construction of a Reclaimed Water Interconnect Facility was approved on June 23 to begin immediately at the RWIF located near Queen Creek and McQueen roads which is set to be completed in 2024, the city said in a press release.

The facility will be an advanced membrane water treatment facility that will treat surface water from Colorado River and Salt River Project sources.

Construction costs will be split down the middle between Intel and the city of Chandler and will amount to $45 million.

The supply of water produced will go toward supplementing the city’s groundwater, such as irrigation, lakes and industrial use, as well as to provide more water to Intel for industrial cooling at its expanded facilities.

More access to reclaimed water allows the city to reserve drinking water for the future by reducing demand for surface water, the release said.

The city has prepared for the project for years, as it approved an agreement in May 2019 for funding and improvements to support Intel’s capital investment at its Ocotillo plant located near Dobson and Ocotillo roads.

Funding for the Ocotillo plant will be provided by Intel, the city of Chandler and the Arizona Department of Revenue.

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