WATER ISSUES DRIVE CONCERNS IN RIO VERDE

WATER ISSUES DRIVE CONCERNS IN RIO VERDE

By Steve Chucri

As a lifelong Arizonan, I understand water challenges are especially pronounced in our desert climate. As the county supervisor representing the Rio Verde Foothills, I realize how personal it is to people out here, especially as new folks move in and new homes are built.

I understand all of that. And yet I actually disagree with the oft-quoted line that whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting. I think water can bring us together, even here in Rio Verde where there’s great disagreement right now about the best way to ensure everybody in the area has access to clean water.

Since the Rio Verde Foothills is unincorporated, residents don’t automatically get water service from acity or town. The County is not a water provider. So the people of the Rio Verde Foothills have had to find other sources of water. Some have wells. Some use private utilities like Global Water. Others rely on hauled water, much of which comes from the City of Scottsdale.

The thing that unites everyone in the area is the fact that the water supply here is tenuous. Wells can dry up. Private companies can make changes based on business needs. The City of Scottsdale has been a great partner, but with the entire southwest facing dire drought conditions, the City recently adopted a drought management plan that would mean no more water being trucked into the Rio Verde Foothills at a future date unless conditions dramatically change for the positive in the future.

“Every single person in the Rio Verde Foothills has a stake in finding a new path forward.”

Years ago, a citizens group rolled up its sleeves to try to find a way to give the Rio Verde residents some water stability. Now, their idea of a domestic water improvement district (DWID) has been presented to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

I applaud the group for coming up with a possible solution. However, I’ve also spoken with many folks who don’t like the idea of creating a new taxing district (aka the DWID) in the Rio Verde Foothills area – even if the DWID does not include their property; they want to take responsibility for themselves and have others to do the same. They’re uneasy about the power the DWID might have in making decisions about their water. They don’t necessarily want government getting involved in solving the community’s water problems. Of course, I understand, respect and won’t ignore these concerns and I have committed my time and focus on finding a solution that brings broader support.

If the last year has taught me anything, it’s that we need one another. We rise together, and we fall together.

That is why I’m gathering a lot of different perspectives to see if there’s a compromise to be had. I am meeting with local water providers to determine their capacity. I’m taking a close look at state law regarding water districts. I have met with the Real Estate Commissioner to discuss how we can work together to deal with bad actors that aren’t following state real estate laws. I am working with residents on both sides of this issue with the goal of ensuring every single person I represent has access to that most essential of all resources: water.

This is a critical time for the Rio Verde Foothills, a beautiful place with an independent streak I love.

Now is the time to find a long-term solution to our water issues. Sure, we could keep drinking whiskey and fighting over water, but where will that leave us in five or ten years? In the same exact place. That’s not acceptable to me, and I don’t think it’s good for the Rio Verde Foothills, either.