Water Hauling from Scottsdale ceases at the end of 2022!
We are accepting signatures to include properties in the proposed Rio Verde Foothills Domestic Water Improvement District.
WATER SUPPLY SHUT-OFF
00
DaysDays
00
HrsHours
00
MinsMinutes
00
SecsSeconds
**IMPORTANT NOTICE TO HOME SELLERS, BUYERS & REALTORS**
If a homeowner signed the petition for the formation of the Rio Verde Foothills DWID (RVF DWID) to have their property included, once the property is SOLD, the buyer (new owner) MUST also sign the RVF DWID petition prior to the possible approval in order for the property to be included in the formation of the RVF DWID. Please call Karen Nabity @ 602-299-5222 or Jennifer Simpson @ 602-402-2206 for more information. NOTE: This only applies to the current petition for the formation of the RVF DWID. Once the RVF DWID is approved, the membership will transfer with the property to new owners moving forward.
WATER HAULER INFO:
Be aware, a water hauler IS NOT A SOURCE OF WATER but holds a permit to pick up and deliver water. Currently, Cave Creek, Phoenix, EPCOR in both Rio Verde proper and New River/Anthem do not allow water haulers to pull their water out of their service area and deliver it to residents in the Rio Verde Foothills Community. Access to Scottsdale's water stops at the end of 2022. Since the water cutbacks are expected to increase in 2023 from the Central Arizona Project, we expect the majority of Cities and water utilities to restrict use of their water for other areas. This leaves the water haulers very limited options, which is why we are pursuing a long-term water solution via a DWID (Domestic Water Improvement District) for our Rio Verde Foothills Community.
TIME IS RUNNING OUT!
WATER HAULING to CEASE 12/31/2022 FROM SCOTTSDALE.
WATER HAULING to CEASE 12/31/2022 FROM SCOTTSDALE.
WATER HAULING to CEASE 12/31/2022 FROM SCOTTSDALE.
Residents had a meeting on 10/4/2021 with Brian Biesemeyer, Executive Director for Scottsdale Water. Brian confirmed water hauling will be restricted to only residents/businesses residing within Scottsdale city limits per Scottsdale’s Drought Management Plan effective 12/31/2022. A LETTER dated 10/6/2021 was mailed to ALL water hauling customers; both private (self-hauling) & commercial, notifying them that proof of hauling to a residence or business within Scottsdale boundaries will be required.
We want to make it clear that we are thankful that the City of Scottsdale has been a great neighbor for many years and will be part of the solution for our ability to obtain a long-term legally dedicated water supply.
For a MAP of the Rio Verde Foothills area located East of N. Scottsdale, Arizona click HERE. and go to the bottom of the page.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?
WATER HAULING to CEASE 12/31/2022 FROM SCOTTSDALE.
WATER HAULING to CEASE 12/31/2022 FROM SCOTTSDALE.
To form a Domestic Water Improvement District (District) so the District can secure a long-term legally dedicated source of water for its members and non-members by purchasing more water than what the entire Rio Verde Foothills currently uses.
The District plan is to:
- Secure up to 200 acre feet of water from an outside source, most likely Harquahala Valley Water, that can be transported via the Central Arizona Project canals to the City of Scottsdale for processing. This is more water than the entire community currently hauls.
- Purchase land, build a fill station and lay a water pipe from the closest Scottsdale waterline to the District's fill station to retrieve its water.
- The District's fill station will have 3 commercial fill stations with one having an accommodation for those who self-haul.
- Scottsdale has agreed to retrieve the District's water from the CAP canal and process the water for the District. This contract needs to be done by the end of June so the District can have their water needed for 2023 included in Scottsdale's order for their CAP allocation.
- Scottsdale has agreed to allow the District, at a cost, to use its fill station at Pima and Jomax until the District's fill station is complete.
- The District's purchase of up to 200 acre feet provides a water supply equal to more than what is currently hauled to RVF.
The reason the District has the ability to import a long-term legally dedicated outside source of water is due strictly to Scottsdale's ability to enter an agreement, for a fee, to receive the District's water purchase via the Central Arizona Project canals, process the water and initially make the water available at the City's standpipe until the District's fill station is built and connected to retrieve the District's water.
HARQUAHALA VALLEY WATER SOURCE (HV): As of December 2021, the City of Queen Creek has approved purchasing 5,000 acre feet of water from this source. Due to the demand from places like the State Land Dept., Pinal County Active Management Area that can no longer use wells to support new development, and other entities, this water source is determining their new increased cost for this precious resource.
OTHER WATER SOURCES:
Once the District is formed, there are other water sources for consideration but we cannot be at the "table" until the District is formed.
THE DISTRICT NEEDS APPROVAL NOW!
WATER HAULING to CEASE 12/31/2022 FROM SCOTTSDALE.
THE DISTRICT NEEDS APPROVAL NOW!
The petitioners of the DWID are urgently requesting the BOS to recognize that the water situation for the Rio Verde Foothills (RVF) is now critical and to place the DWID petition on the earliest available agenda. The new District 2 Supervisor, Thomas Galvin, said at a February 4th, 2022 meeting, "I hope within the next three months we have an answer and we have water for you guys. I am not guaranteeing it but that is what I am working for." Over 570 property owners who have signed the petition to have their property included in the DWID are extremely concerned that the DWID has not been approved so that contracts to secure water and lock in both the price of water and interest rates has been accomplished.
In the meantime, water supply options diminish, acquisition costs increase, competition for purchasing available water supplies increases, and Scottsdale’s cutoff date looms.
TIMELINE:
In order for the DWID to obtain water to serve to RVF residents on January 1, 2023, first, the DWID must be approved by the BOS, then begin water negotiations with a water source, start the Intergovernmental Agreement with the chosen water source, the Central Arizona Project and the City of Scottsdale by June 2022 so our community will have water on January 1, 2023.
It is CRITICAL that the DWID is approved in time to execute an initial short term water lease and have the City include this purchase in their Central Arizona Project water allocation for 2023, if not RVF residents may be left without water to haul to their homes.
Whatever your thoughts on the water situation, with the loss of Scottsdale water at the end of 2022, it is now undeniably imperative that the RVF secures its own long-term source of water.
We have been open to an alternative viable solution that would legally obligate a long-term source of water to properties within the RVF, have no negative impact on our aquifer and/or sub-basin or private wells by securing water outside of RVF. As of April 29, 2022, no other viable solution has been presented by Supervisor Galvin.
Prior District 2 Supervisor Chucri had hired attorney Mike Pearce to determine if there was an alternative solution. When Sup. Chucri was leaving office, he told us we would get a copy of Mr. Pearce's final report. When we asked for the report, County told us that information is privileged.
The community stakeholders - residents whose properties are at risk of being without a long-term water source, would greatly appreciate the County being forthright and sitting down with us, sharing any options they are considering and how those options would legally obligate water to our properties.
We are asking the Board of Supervisors to place the petition for the District on the agenda immediately so we can obtain approval of the formation of the District and move forward to secure a long-term dedicated source of water.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
LET'S TALK!
KAREN NABITY 602-299-5222 JENNIFER SIMPSON 602-402-2206
NOTICE:
It is IMPORTANT to understand a water hauler is a company that has a permit to deliver water & is NOT THE SOURCE OF WATER.
SIGN UP TO GET NOTIFIED
In an effort to clarify the facts regarding our current water situation and the Rio Verde Foothills Domestic Water Improvement District (DWID), we will be hosting additional community meetings. We invite you to join us, ask questions, express concerns and hopefully gain a better understanding of our current water situation and how water security can be ensured by establishing the DWID. To be notified of upcoming meetings and receive updates please click on the link below.
Want to talk with someone now? Give us a call!
602-299-5222 or 602-402-2206