Gila County received a boost for water infrastructure and Globe’s McCormick Wash flood-control project last week when the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2026. The bill passed with a bipartisan vote of 415-9.
The legislation addresses important water infrastructure needs across the country. Congress has enacted a WRDA bill every two years since 2014.
The bill includes $24 million to Gila County for water and wastewater infrastructure, including water reclamation, treatment and distribution systems. The county is one of four Arizona communities to receive such funding in the bill.
“This legislation reinforces Arizona's proactive approach to water management and successfully prioritizes often-overlooked communities,” said U.S. Rep. Eli Crane, who supported the bill. “Through this team effort, the investments this must-pass bill puts on the books will have a meaningful impact on communities throughout rural Arizona.”
The House vote came a day after U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Under Secretary Glen Smith toured USDA-funded projects in Gila and Pinal counties, including the Tri-City Regional Sanitation District, following an appearance at the National Rural Water Association WaterPro Conference in Phoenix.
The Tri-City project aims to eventually provide wastewater collection and treatment services to approximately 4,000 residents and address contamination problems associated with failing septic systems and cesspools.
The WRDA legislation also includes provisions to expedite completion of flood-control efforts at McCormick Wash in Globe under the Flood Control Act of 1948. That provision allows the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out flood-risk-management projects.
The McCormick Wash diversion tunnel was built in 1924 and has deteriorated over the decades. Erosion has caused portions of the tunnel to collapse; failure of the tunnel would create a flood risk for homes, businesses, roads, and public utilities across the City of Globe.
"Addressing McCormick Wash is critical to protecting residents, businesses, public infrastructure, and emergency access in the City of Globe from flooding,” said Globe Mayor Al Gameros. “We appreciate [Rep. Crane’s] partnership and look forward to working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move this project forward as quickly as possible."
The bill was passed on to the Senate last Thursday. As of Monday morning, no Senate floor action has occurred.
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