Cave Creek Water asked to aid Desert Hills
Public hearing set for Sept. 13
by Jennifer Krahe

DESERT HILLS – In keeping with the Arizona Corporation Commission directive that Desert Hills Water Company personnel be readily available to the commission for ongoing assessment of the company’s water system, ACC staff has visited the DHW property twice since the June 16 open meeting. 

According to commission public information officer Heather Murphy, “ACC staff made a recommendation to Cave Creek Water Company to help keep their (DHW) customers in water, but also to help bolster the flow into the one square mile (with the most severe water shortage) by installing a small booster pump on Cave Creek’s system.” 

Estimated completion of the Cave Creek Water installation, as understood by ACC engineers, was set for the Fourth of July weekend. “That will help a little bit,” Murphy said, “but Desert Hills Water still has to install its booster pump.”

As of Friday afternoon, however, Cave Creek Water could not be reached for comment and it was not clear if the company had agreed to install a booster pump on their line to Desert Hills.

The corporation commission believes those two booster pumps used in tandem would most likely alleviate, if not eliminate, the severe water‑shortage problem for DHW customers within the square mile bounded by 16th to 24th streets and Cloud to Joy Ranch roads. One resident within the area told The Desert Advocate last Wednesday the situation has not improved–that upon turning his faucet on each morning, sometimes there is a trickle of water and other times none at all.

According to the ACC, booster pumps are important because they allow for sensitive adjustments in water pressure. A good way to visualize the connection between Cave Creek and Desert Hills water companies is as a main artery with smaller, narrower capillaries branching off. The booster pumps would assure that the water pressure is maintained just right. If the pressure is too high, the water just shoots down the artery and doesn’t divert off to the capillaries. If it’s too low, the water might not even make it through the main artery at all, let alone reach out to the capillaries.

The entire Desert Hills area remains under a Stage 2 (square mile included) curtailment, which exists when water storage or well production has been less than 80 percent of capacity for

at least 48 consecutive hours. The water company can then request residents voluntarily conserve water to reduce consumption by 50 percent. Outside irrigation should be limited to that which is essential, should be done on alternating days, and should be eliminated on weekends and holidays.

A hearing has been scheduled for September 13 on the issue of Desert Hills Water’s compliance with ACC rules. This follows the commission’s Order to Show Cause, and gives DHW a chance to answer the allegations in a formal hearing. Concerned residents will have the opportunity to participate in a Public Comment period on the first day of the hearing.

There will also be an opportunity in the coming weeks for residents to file written motions for intervention. Those who file could certainly be individual residents, but community groups such as homeowners associations are also eligible to participate. Intervention allows residents to assume the role of litigator, even if they are not trained as lawyers. They may file testimony prior to the hearing and/or question and cross‑examine witnesses during the hearing.

Residents who take part in the intervention must adhere to a formal process, and are expected to be present at the entire hearing. Interested parties should look for a legal briefing on the process and announcements in upcoming issues of The Desert Advocate. Intervention filing begins immediately and closes on July 26.

Corporation commission staff testimony is due July 26, and Desert Hills Water Co. is to file its rebuttal testimony and exhibits by August 16. 

Reach the reporter at jennifer@thedesertadvocate.com.