Our Projects
As stated in our mission statement, we are adaptable and solution focused when it comes to our ever-changing water needs in our community. Grants and loans have made it possible for us to act on those needs, and they surface as various kinds of projects that will help us live with water security for years to come.
Bulk Water Filling Station
Wenden Domestic Water Improvement District Awarded $101,000 Grant to Build 24/7 Bulk Water Station
New station will expand access to clean, potable water for La Paz County residents and businesses
WENDEN, Ariz. — Wenden Domestic Water Improvement District has been awarded a $101,000 grant from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona to construct a new bulk water station that will provide expanded access to clean, potable water outside the District’s metered system.
The new station is planned to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with quick-fill capabilities and a card reader that will allow customers to purchase water without visiting the office. The District currently provides bulk water for residential and commercial use during limited office hours, totaling about 15 hours per week.
“We are the only bulk water provider in a 30-mile radius, and the need for clean potable water is rising considerably,” said Gary Saiter, chairman of the water board and general manager of the District. “Because of the overharvesting of our aquifer, wells are going dry and many people cannot afford to drill deeper. Contamination is also a concern when people are forced to rely on non-potable water, which can create serious health problems over time.”
The project is expected to go out for bid within the next 30 days, with a goal of completion by the end of the year. Local vendors will be given preference for the project.
Once complete, the bulk water station will help meet a growing regional need for reliable water access as wells become less viable for some residents and property owners in La Paz County.
Media Contact:
DeVona Saiter
Wenden Director of Community Development and Public Relations
Smart Water Meters
Wenden Domestic Water Improvement District Completes Smart Meter Water Conservation Project
$180,000 grant supports technology upgrade designed to improve efficiency, strengthen leak detection, and conserve water
WENDEN, Ariz. — The Wenden Domestic Water Improvement District has completed a major water conservation technology upgrade made possible by a $180,000 Water Conservation Grant administered through the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona. The grant was awarded on February 27, 2024, to support the replacement of the district’s mechanical water meters with digital Advanced Metering Infrastructure meters, commonly known as smart meters.
With the two-year project now complete, more than 250 AMI meters have been installed throughout Wenden, serving residents and businesses. The new meters provide near real-time data directly to the district office, replacing a manual meter-reading process that required staff to drive and walk to each meter box throughout town and collect usage information by hand.
“Instead of taking two days to read meters, we can now read the system live and in real time with our software,” said Gary Saiter, Chairman of the Water Board and General Manager for the Water District. “A spreadsheet is created with meter totals and imported into billing.”
The AMI system also improves the district’s ability to detect leaks and high-usage events. By identifying unusual water use in real time, the Water District can notify customers more quickly when a potential leak is detected, giving them an opportunity to take action and avoid unnecessarily high water bills. According to Saiter, the smart meters are significantly more accurate and sensitive to water use than traditional mechanical meters.
Water conservation remains at the heart of the project. With real-time, sensitive, and accurate data now available, the Wenden Domestic Water Improvement District is better positioned to meet its goal of saving more than four acre-feet of water, or approximately 1.3 million gallons.
“Every drop counts, and this project gives our community better tools to protect one of our most important resources,” Saiter said.
Media Contact:
DeVona Saiter
Wenden Director of Community Development and Public Relations
Wenden Wastewater Treatment Project
Wenden has received a grant from the EPA to investigate the feasibility of creating a a centralized wastewater treatment system. The initial work is now completed in the form of a Preliminary Engineering Report. While the department conducted a live feedback session with the public several months ago, it is time to get additional feedback from the community on the subject. For that purpose, we have prepared, with the help of our partners, a flyer and a video explaining the results of the project for further consideration.
Click here for flyer explaining the project
Click here for the Preliminary Engineering Report
Please contribute your thoughts about the wastewater project by filling in the form below. Thank you.
Project Coming...
There are several projects coming our way! Information about a project will be here.
Project Coming...
There are several projects coming our way! Information about a project will be here.
