Desert Hills Water plan could change, if ...
by Kathleen Stinson

DESERT HILLS/CAVE CREEK – An improvement plan for Desert Hills Water Co., filed by Cave Creek in December, could change if the town acquires Cave Creek Water Co.

Cave Creek has agreed, in settlement of its condemnation suit against Cave Creek Water, to purchase the utility from parent company Global Water Resources, and the agreement is expected to be signed this week. While details of the Cave Creek acquisition were being worked out, Global agreed to put on hold its application with the state to extend its service area west of Cave Creek and north of Desert Hills into New River.    

The improvement plan arose in response to Maricopa County Environmental Services Department’s enforcement action against Desert Hills Water filed in September of 2006, two days before Cave Creek purchased the company. Settlement of that action requires Cave Creek

to make certain improvements in the Desert Hills system, which the preliminary master plan addresses.

Also, Cave Creek is currently working on another plan which would encompass both the Desert Hills and Cave Creek water company systems, as stated in the plan/report. The town is developing a water system model to assess supply and demand conditions which is expected to be completed by April.

Acquisition of Cave Creek Water would provide a long‑term connection between the utility and Desert Hills Water, enhancing service to Desert Hills, the town states.

Per the settlement, the county is requiring Desert Hills Water (Cave Creek) to maintain adequate water pressure and storage in accordance with the county health code, and to provide a water source adequate to supply current planned subdivision projects and future growth within the current planning cycle.

The county also required Cave Creek to finalize an agreement between American Water and Desert Hills Water to provide a mutual connection in case an emergency arises and Desert Hills needs water from Arizona American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, the settlement states.

That agreement has been signed and the engineers are working on a permanent connection, said Wayne Anderson, Cave Creek town engineer.

According to the town plan, the Desert Hills system can maintain water pressure at acceptable levels (20 psi) to the majority of its customers, with the exception of one area previously required to have booster pumps.

With respect to the storage issue, the plan states the 14th Street and Cloud Road storage tank, completed in the fall of 2006, increased Desert Hills Water’s storage by 33 percent –and with addition of the new tank, Desert Hills has adequate storage to meet its needs during peak demand time.

According to the company’s billing records over the past two years, Deert Hills Water’s peak month was  July 2005, in which customers consumed 28,003, 500 gallons, with an average day demand of  903,400 gallons.  

Connections to Arizona American Water and Cave Creek Water can act as backup systems to supplement the existing storage capacity, the plan states.

And should the town in fact acquire Cave Creek Water Co., the town will permanently connect Desert Hills to Cave Creek Water. The town previously proposed a permanent connection between Anthem provider Arizona American and Desert Hills Water. However, with the acquisition of Cave Creek Water Co., that proposal could change.

The town has an agreement with Arizona American Water through March 2007 to supply water via an above‑ground pipeline, according to the plan.