Governor Katie Hobbs announced this week that EPCOR, a water utility providing service in the Phoenix area, has become the first company to receive an "Alternative Designation of Assured Water Supply" (ADAWS).
This achievement commemorates a historic water milestone that could help solve the state's housing shortage while protecting groundwater supplies.
This new program allows communities to get 100-year water protection guarantees while conserving groundwater and creating space for new housing.
"This ADAWS Designation is going to save water, it is going to support sustainable economic growth, and it is going to create more housing," Katie Hobbs said. "Arizona can, and will, continue to grow our economy while protecting our water."
EPCOR
EPCOR's designation is the first of its kind in the Phoenix area in 25 years. The water utility now can serve more than 140,000 people in its service area and provide enough water for approximately 60,000 new homes.
"ADAWS allows greater flexibility for utilities to leverage their water portfolios," said Shawn Bradford, a senior executive at EPCOR. "This is a pathway for water providers to support sustainable development with minimal impact on Arizona's groundwater."
Program is Making a Difference
Elliott Homes, a construction company that has built communities in the Phoenix area for 50 years, plans to immediately start building over 500 new homes at its Granite Vista community due to the water guarantee.
"EPCOR's historic new ADAWS will allow us to move forward with much-needed additional housing supply in the valley," said Harry C. Elliott III, President of Elliott Homes.
Clark Princell, President of Valley Partnership, called the designation "much-needed" and said it would help housing projects move forward throughout the West Valley.
The new program represents a balance between Arizona's need for more homes and its challenge of protecting water resources in order to change how the state manages water for future development.
