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An APS technician (above) last week installs a power line that will provide electricity to a yet‑to‑be installed water booster station at Phoenix‑based Desert Hills Water Company. In the meantime, Global Water Company is installing their own booster station on the Cave Creek Water Company System.
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New water booster station to be installed
Desert Hills Water Co. asked to pay Global’s costs
by Jennifer Krahe

DESERT HILLS – Water shortages and periods of little or no water pressure, due to the problem‑plagued provider Desert Hills Water Company, have reached the point where another utility company is installing a $25,000 booster station.

Phoenix‑based Global Water Resources, working in conjunction with the Town of Cave Creek, is installing the booster station in Cave Creek Water Company’s system near Cloud Road and 38th Street without DHW’s participation.

“The pumps should arrive within a week, and we’re working with APS to get the power out there,” said Global spokesman Paul Walker. “We should have the whole system up and operating in two weeks.”

The booster station is necessary to compensate for DHW’s inability to provide adequate service to many of its customers over the last few months.

“This is and remains an emergency situation,” wrote about one dozen Desert Hills Water customers in a letter to the Arizona Corporation Commission, DHW, and state and local elected officials.

“We ... are keeping watch for those emergency water trucks ... to bring us water. Glad we did not hold our breath on that one. Guess the joke’s on us,” the letter stated.

Earlier this month the commission stated that DHW needs to invest in its infrastructure to properly service its customers.

Mary Beth Rowland, vice president of DHW, has said her company is in the process of installing their own booster station. Rowland, who did not return recent calls by The Desert Advocate seeking comment, estimated that station will be in place within 21 days.

Walker said his company has asked DHW to pay for the pumping station Global is installing.

Rowland has acknowledged she received a letter from Global about their intention to put in a booster station, but said last week she was not clear about Global’s intentions and requested more information.

According to Walker, Global provided the additional information but Rowland has not responded.

“We haven’t heard back,” Walker said Friday.

The Corporation Commission is slated to hold an evidentiary hearing in mid‑August to determine whether DHW has failed to meet state utility regulations.

Reach the reporter at jennifer@thedesertadvocate.com.

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