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The Cadiz Water Project has been named the Sustainability/Green Infrastructure Project of the Year by global infrastructure strategy organization CG/LA at their North American Infrastructure Leadership Forum held virtually October 28 from Washington D.C.
Scott Slater, CEO and President of Cadiz, accepted the award for the Company and stated: “Access to clean, reliable water is among the highest priorities for California and yet is difficult to attain. Unfortunately, in far too many communities we have fallen short. To solve this challenge it will take innovation, cooperation, and commitment to build, develop and sustain critical infrastructure to bring water from where it is to where it is needed.”
Sponsored by Oracle Construction and Engineering, the Infrastructure Project of the Year Awards recognize projects with outstanding commitment across five categories: Job Creation, Sustainability/Green Infrastructure, Finance/Funding, Engineering, and Strategic.
“Infrastructure projects change people’s lives and we remain committed to supporting transformational, innovative and sustainable projects like the Cadiz Water Conveyance Project that can help ignite our economy and create opportunity for all communities as we move beyond the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Norman Anderson Chairman and CEO of CG/LA Infrastructure, host of the Forum.
Slater continued, “We are grateful for CG/LA’s efforts to shine a light on the need for bi-partisan and multi-disciplinary commitment to infrastructure in the U.S. and for highlighting our enduring commitment to sustainability as we continue our efforts to be part of the solution to California’s systemic water supply challenges.”
The Cadiz Water Project is a public-private partnership between Cadiz Inc. and Southern California water agencies that will use existing infrastructure, existing transportation corridors, private property and private capital to create a new water supply for up to 400,000 people a year by reducing a recurrent loss of groundwater to evaporation in California’s Mojave Desert. In a second phase, the Project will also offer groundwater storage for imported surplus supplies allowing these supplies to be banked for future dry years. The Project is expected to create $1 billion in local economic investment, 5,900 new jobs during construction, and $6 million per year in new revenues to local government over the long-term.
The Project successfully completed a robust review by state and local public agencies in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and will be governed by a Court-approved groundwater management plan overseen locally by San Bernardino County. Prior to construction, the Project must complete final review of arrangements to convey water within Southern California’s public water conveyance system.
