Goodyear approves $9.2 million share of regional brine disposal project with Palo Verde
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Summary
The Goodyear City Council on March 3 approved an engineering, procurement and construction agreement to carry reverse‑osmosis concentrate (brine) to the Palo Verde nuclear plant pipeline, with Goodyear’s share of construction costs about $9.2 million.
The Goodyear City Council on March 3 approved an engineering, procurement and construction agreement to carry brine — the concentrated, poor‑quality byproduct from reverse‑osmosis treatment — to the Palo Verde nuclear power plant pipeline. The council voted 7‑0 to authorize the city’s participation in the regional project with the city of Buckeye and Arizona Public Service (APS); Goodyear’s share of the construction cost is approximately $9,200,000.
The agreement will allow two Goodyear reverse‑osmosis sites (Site 12 and the Bullard Water Campus) to divert an average combined flow of about 800,000 gallons per day of brine from the city’s water reclamation facility into the Palo Verde pipeline for use in the plant’s cooling system. Barbara Chappell, Goodyear’s water services director, described the change as a way to “provide a different, more beneficial” disposal method than dilution through the reclamation plant and said the project also frees capacity at the reclamation facility that supports future expansion.
Why it matters: freeing reclamation capacity and finding a lower‑cost, regional disposal option addresses a recurring operational cost and creates capacity for growth. The project consolidates capital work at Palo Verde and requires Goodyear to build dedicated pipeline connections concurrently with the plant upgrades.
Chappell told the council the partnership grew from an initial agreement in July 2022, followed by amendments to begin design and procure long‑lead items. She said attorneys recently restated the contract language, but the project scope remains the same. “It is indeed the same project,” Chappell said, summarizing the revised agreement and the city’s concurrent pipeline work to deliver the flows to Palo Verde.
Councilmembers sought budget and capacity clarifications before the vote. Councilmember Terry asked whether the $9.2 million was new funding; Chappell replied that the amount is already included in the city’s approved capital improvement program. A councilmember characterized the project as “a win‑win” for Goodyear and Palo Verde and thanked staff and the partner agencies for pursuing a regional solution.
The contract authorizes final procurement and construction of the modifications at Palo Verde needed to accept the water and directs staff to execute documents required to implement the agreement. The council recorded a unanimous 7‑0 vote approving the motion.
Ending: With the agreement approved, staff will proceed with the Palo Verde construction work and separate city pipeline work to connect Goodyear’s treatment sites to the Palo Verde pipeline. The council did not set a separate timeline in the public discussion beyond noting that design and procurement have already been underway.
