The US Water Alliance has named Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego the recipient of the 2025 US Water Prize for Outstanding Public Official, recognizing her bold leadership and innovative solutions in securing a sustainable water future for the nation's fifth-largest city.
Presented annually at the One Water Summit, the US Water Prize honors individuals and organizations leading the way in advancing sustainable, integrated, and inclusive approaches to water. Mayor Gallego’s award reflects years of strategic action and regional collaboration on water security, conservation, and resilience.
"Water is at the forefront of every decision we make in Phoenix," said Mayor Gallego. "Whether it’s economic development or land use planning, we are intentional about long-term, responsible water management. I’m honored to receive this national recognition – it speaks not only to our policies but to the hard work of the professionals in our Water Services Department and to the passion of Phoenix residents who understand the importance of this issue."
Mayor Gallego has been instrumental in transforming how Phoenix plans, uses, and invests in water:
- She championed the $300 million Drought Pipeline Project, ensuring reliable water supplies for hundreds of thousands of residents by shifting from Colorado River reliance to Salt and Verde River sources.
- She helped secure $179 million in new federal funds under the Inflation Reduction Act for the city’s Advanced Water Purification Facility, which will produce a drought-proof water supply for Phoenix residents, businesses, and industry.
- Under her leadership, Phoenix adopted one of the nation’s most progressive Sustainable Desert City Development policies, requiring large-scale water users to reduce and recycle water use.
- Through education campaigns like the Save Water Pledge and Water Conservation Incentives, Mayor Gallego has fostered a strong culture of conservation – driving a reduction in residential water use, even as Phoenix’s population has soared.
Mayor Gallego has also been a powerful advocate for regional and equitable water solutions. She led Phoenix’s participation in Colorado River Basin agreements to protect Lake Mead, strengthened water-sharing partnerships with tribal nations, and expanded affordability programs to help low-income residents reduce their water costs.
"Phoenix exists in a desert, and we’ve embraced that reality by becoming one of the most water-conscious cities in the country," Gallego said. "Sustainability was a pillar of my campaign for mayor and continues to guide everything we do. This award belongs to our entire community."
The US Water Alliance formally presented the award during a national ceremony at the One Water Summit on July 10.
For more information about the City of Phoenix’s water strategies and conservation efforts, visit phoenix.gov/water.
For more on the US Water Prize, visit uswateralliance.org.
Meet the 2025 US Water Prize Winners
Learn more about each of the winners and their accomplishments
Media Contacts:
Todd Zubatkin
Office of Mayor Kate Gallego
908-892-9090
todd.zubatkin@phoenix.gov
Michael Gertzman
Sr. Public Information Officer
Phoenix Water Services Department
602-534-1209
michael.gertzman@phoenix.gov
Mary Morton
US Water Alliance
media@uswateralliance.org
