Goodyear sends wastewater to cool powerplant in $9.2 million development

By Mary Goldmeer
Mail

The Goodyear City Council unanimously approved a $9.2 million engineering, procurement and construction agreement with Arizona Public Service Co. and the city of Buckeye. The agreement, aimed at facilitating brine disposal, is part of the ongoing Palo Verde Power Generating Station Improvements Project.

The proposed agreement is part of the broader Brine Management Project, which has a total budget of $15.5 million.

The project is designed to enhance infrastructure, allowing brine, highly concentrated wastewater left over after water treatment, and brackish water, water that has a higher salinity than freshwater but is not as salty as seawater, from Goodyear and Buckeye to be delivered to the Palo Verde Generating Station for use in its water reclamation system to cool its generators.

"This agreement is a partnership we developed with our neighbors," said Barbara Chappell, Goodyear's water services director. "Making this a regional solution is what makes this beneficial from a financial perspective."

Goodyear's portion of this project was budgeted for in the city's capital improvement fund.

City officials state that this project is necessary to support long-term water management strategies while maintaining the operational efficiency of Palo Verde Generating Station, the largest nuclear power facility in the United States.

"It's a win-win for Palo Verde, creating power for us and also for the city of Goodyear to get some of our water we were spending money on to be disposed of inexpensively as well," said Brannon Hampton, councilmember. 

The agreement authorized the construction and procurement of final components needed to integrate Goodyear's brackish water into APS’ system.

The project has been progressing in phases since an initial agreement was approved in 2022. Earlier amendments allowed for design and early-stage construction, with costs shared between Goodyear and Buckeye.

A future agreement regarding the ongoing operation and maintenance costs of sending Goodyear’s brine to Palo Verde Generating Station is expected to come before the council later this year.

Visit gooodyearaz.gov for more information.