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Goodyear plans multi‑year water and wastewater expansions, including $140M WRF upgrade and brine disposal pipeline
Summary
The FY26 recommended CIP includes a major expansion of the Goodyear Water Reclamation Facility ($140M), Rainbow Valley plant expansions, a fully funded brine disposal project and a Bartlett Dam water purchase agreement planned for later years; staff said these projects fit within current rate structure forecasts.
Water and wastewater projects are among the largest enterprise investments in Goodyear's recommended five‑year CIP, staff told the April 14 budget work session.
Major items in the enterprise CIP - Goodyear Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) expansion: staff cited a $140 million total project to expand capacity on 150th Avenue; scheduled completion is FY28 with substantial design and construction dollars planned across FY26–FY28. - Rainbow Valley plant expansions: two projects to grow capacity at the Rainbow Valley wastewater treatment facilities (one project would expand from roughly 0.75 million gallons per day to 2.0 MGD), with completion and advance planning scheduled in the CIP. - Brine disposal pipeline and Palo Verde connection: staff said the brine pipeline and the connection project are both under way and largely funded in the current year; debt was issued in FY25 for that work. - Bartlett Dam water purchase: the city plans to participate in SRP's Bartlett Dam expansion in exchange for additional water capacity; staff expect funding and delivery to align with later CIP years (about 2030 in current planning) and stated the purchase would represent actual water capacity, not paper water.
Enterprise fund rates and affordability Staff emphasized that the enterprise projects and positions in the recommended budget would be funded within the city's currently adopted rate structures. They said further rate studies and updates will be presented later this year but that the FY26 plan does not require immediate rate changes to support the items now proposed.
SCADA and operations The recommended budget includes a SCADA engineer position for monitoring and operations, disinfection system upgrades, a water conservation specialist to work with commercial and industrial users, and operational funding for brine disposal pipeline operations. Staff said the enterprise CIP and operating needs have been incorporated into five‑ and ten‑year forecasts.
Why it matters Expanding treatment and disposal capacity is essential to accommodate growth and to maintain regulatory compliance. The brine disposal pipeline and WRF expansion are multi‑year projects with significant technical and funding requirements.
Quotes "This will be actual water, not paper water," one staff member said of the Bartlett Dam purchase, referring to acquiring deliverable capacity rather than contingencies.
Ending Staff said they will return with detailed rate study results during later budget hearings and that enterprise project schedules and debt plans remain on track with current forecasts.
