Governor Napolitano signed into law on April 11 legislation (S1457) that allows the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) of Arizona to enter into short-term emergency loan agreements with political subdivisions or tribes.

“This legislation will allow WIFA to assist communities in a time of need,” said WIFA Chairman Steve Owens, who is also director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

The emergency loans provide assistance to communities for the design, redesign, engineering, reengineering, construction or reconstruction of drinking water or wastewater systems that have failed as the result of a disaster or natural disaster.

The event must be declared an emergency by the governor or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in order for WIFA to authorize emergency funding.

The will be available for terms that are less than one year. Communities may be awarded up to $250,000 in financial assistance from WIFA.

The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona maintains and improves water quality in Arizona by providing communities and private water systems with access to low-interest financial assistance and technical assistance needed for basic water infrastructure. WIFA’s funds are capitalized by contributions from Congress and the state of Arizona.