Carefree Water deals with pumping problems
by Brian DiTullio

DESERT FOOTHILLS – Pumping problems between Cave Creek and Carefree continue, but water company officials say they don’t see it as a big issue right now.

“We’ve had to pump more water (from Scottsdale),” Carefree Water Co. manager Stan Francom told the utility’s board last week. He added that the pumps were turned off the last few weekends due to problems, including one time when the meter began running backwards.

“If I don’t get water from Cave Creek, I get it from Scottsdale,” Francom said, “but that costs more money.”

Francom told The Desert Advocate on Friday that Cave Creek Water Co. notified him Thursday they were closing the valve between the two towns due to supply problems.

Todd Walker, spokesman for Arizona American Water, the company operating Cave Creek Water, said there were some maintenance issues leading to the valve closure and the company wanted to make sure they had an adequate water supply to meet their own customers’ needs.

“They have the right to shut the valve if they can’t meet their supply needs,” said Francom. “I have the right to shut it off if the quality doesn’t meet the standards.”

The valve had been re‑opened by Friday afternoon and remained open through the weekend, according to Francom.

While pumping more water from Scottsdale won’t affect customer bills in the short term, he said if the problem persists, the higher costs could come back to customers the next time Carefree has to consider a rate hike.                   

Both Francom and the water board agreed there are no issues that can’t be worked out by sitting down with Cave Creek and hashing things out.

“It benefits both towns to have discussion over this,” said board chair Wayne Fulcher.          

Francom also had a pre‑bid meeting with area contractors interested in bidding on the proposed connection line between the Carefree and Cave Creek water companies. He said the benefits of the line include maintaining water pressure in the event of a fire. As for cost, Francom said Lowe’s development fees will pay for the bulk of the project. Once the project starts, sometime in late summer, it will take about 30 days to complete.