On 1 November 2015, EPCOR Utilities Inc. and Arizona’s Maricopa Water District (MWD) signed a 50-year agreement allowing the purchase and treatment of surface water for potable uses in the Agua Fria district of the West Valley region. This agreement, the first of its kind between a private utility and irrigation district, reflects a shift in water allocation priorities from agriculture to growing municipal populations.
In Arizona, 65 irrigation districts supply the agricultural sector- the majority of which are located in the Phoenix Active Management Area (AMA), including MWD. MWD is an irrigation and water conservation district covering 60 square miles west of Phoenix. Its primary water off-takers are agricultural producers.
Alberta, Canada-based EPCOR is wholly owned by the City of Edmonton and the largest private, regulated water utility in Arizona. It currently owns and operates ten service districts in Arizona and has assets in New Mexico.
Bluefield Takeaways
- EPCOR, Maricopa deal signals preparation for increased connections
- Shifts in statewide water use drive alternative solutions
- Arizona water policy deters overdraft
