Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, known as TSMC Arizona, announced Wednesday that it has broken ground on a 15-acre industrial reclamation water plant to support its north Phoenix chip manufacturing operations.

Chip manufacturing requires “ultrapure” water to wash away microscopic particles that can create defects in semiconductor wafers. TSMC Arizona said it already recycles some industrial wastewater on its north Phoenix campus, but said the new water reclamation facility will allow it to reuse 85 to 90% of the water that the city delivers to the site.

Max Wilson, Phoenix’s water resources management advisor, called the announcement good news for Phoenix.

“It will substantially reduce the amount of water that they will need to be able to operate over time,” Wilson said. “What this groundbreaking from TSMC represents, and what a lot of our new water reuse in north Phoenix represents, is us continuing down that path of making sure we can get the most out of every single drop that we are able to access.”

TSMC Arizona said the industrial reclamation water plant will be operational in 2028.

TSMC plant in Phoenix

The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, known as TSMC, plant in north Phoenix on Nov. 2, 2024. The facilty is located near 43rd Avenue and the Loop 303.

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