Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
WIFA honors Tacna improvement district for arsenic remediation project
Summary
WIFA Director Chelsea Maguire presented an EPA SRF Aquarius honorable mention to the Yuma County Improvement District for a Tacna water project that installed a 150,000‑gallon storage tank; the project used a $250,000 forgivable loan and serves about 135 connections (~345 people).
Chelsea Maguire, director of the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA), visited the Yuma County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 18 to recognize the Yuma County Improvement District in Tacna for its water system upgrade.
Maguire said the Tacna system — a designated colonia and a disadvantaged community under WIFA criteria — received a $250,000 fully forgivable loan to install a 150,000‑gallon storage tank as part of a broader replacement of an ADEQ‑declared unfeasible facility. “This project would not have been possible, but for very motivated members of the community being ready and willing to form the Yuma County Improvement District,” Maguire said, adding the system has roughly 135 connections and serves about 345 residents.
WIFA described the project as addressing arsenic contamination, improving delivery processes and reducing costs for customers; Maguire credited coordinated financing that braided WIFA resources with USDA and community development block grants to avoid significant rate impacts. She said the project was completed in February 2024 and received national recognition for community engagement and creative financing.
Board members praised the community’s effort and the improvement district staff who led the application process and implementation. WIFA presented a certificate of recognition to local officials and staff who attended the meeting.
