Chandler celebrates opening of reclaimed water plant

Chandler city leaders celebrated the grand opening of the new Reclaimed Water Interconnect Facility Nov. 20 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The RWIF is an “advanced membrane water treatment facility” constructed to treat surface water from the Salt, Verde and Colorado Rivers, delivered via Salt River Project canals and treated to A-plus standards, according to a news release.

The facility, located at Queen Creek and McQueen roads, enhances Chandler’s ability to recharge its aquifers, secure water resources, and support critical cooling operations at Intel’s expanded facilities.

“This project isn’t just a reflection of the city’s commitment to responsible water management, it also represents the power of partnership,” Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke said on social media. “Thank you to everyone who joined us to commemorate this achievement, and to everyone involved in making this project possible, from our public works and utilities staff to Intel and our partners at McCarthy and Wilson.”

The news release stated construction of two aquifer storage and recovery wells at the Tumbleweed ASR well field was also nearly complete. Both projects are partially funded by Intel, reducing the cost to the city through a development agreement that benefits both the city and Intel’s water future, the release states.

The RWIF started processing water and delivering it to the aquifer in early October.

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