News

San Antonio, Texas – The Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Improvements Project in Patagonia, Arizona, funded through a $500,000 grant from the North American Development Bank (NADBank) Community Assistance Program (CAP), has received two awards. It was named “Project of the Year” in the Small Cities/Rural Communities-Environment category by the American Public Works Association (APWA) - Arizona Chapter. The award ceremony took place today during the luncheon at its Annual Statewide Conference in Oro Valley. Additionally, the Metropolitan Pima Alliance, during its annual event back in May, presented the project with the Common Grounds Award, which recognizes projects demonstrating collaboration to the overall benefit of the community. 

NADBank provided grant financing to Patagonia for upgrades to its WWTP, which were implemented between August 2022 and July 2023. The upgrades included improvements to the basin walls, secondary treatment system, sludge quick coupling and pump piping, reuse water system, and instrumentation and control components. The project is helping eliminate the risk of plant failure, which could have resulted in approximately 45,000 gallons per day (gpd) of untreated or inadequately treated wastewater discharges into Sonoita Creek, a tributary of Patagonia Lake. The upgraded equipment and treatment process ensure full compliance with discharge regulations, while increasing operational efficiency by reducing energy costs and maintenance requirements. The project benefits the 800 residents of Patagonia, Arizona. 

The WWTP was constructed in 2004 with a Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF) grant, which is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and administered by NADBank. 

Patagonia Town Manager, Ron Robinson, said “...the awards were given because of the excellent collaboration of the contractor, engineer, NADBank, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and the Town. This team created a great communication thread whereby no time was lost in decision making. The common goal of delivering an on-time project, using the most efficient environmental means and constant communication created an award-winning project.” and stated that the community is grateful for the lower operating costs and the life extension of the plant. 

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NADBank is a financial institution established and capitalized in equal parts by the United States and Mexico for the purpose of financing environmental infrastructure projects along their common border. As a pioneer institution in its field, the Bank is working to develop environmentally and financially sustainable projects with broad community support in a framework of close cooperation and coordination between Mexico and the United States. For more information about NADBank, visit www.nadb.org.