Storm brings temporary water crisis
by Kathleen Stinson

CAVE CREEK – Carefree came to the rescue of neighboring Cave Creek on Friday, July 28, when the rainstorm struck, causing power outages that also disrupted water service to more than 2,400 customers.

Carefree Water Co., owned by that town, provided water to Cave Creek until the electricity could be restored and the pump that provides water to Cave Creek residents was operational again.

“We have a couple of common (water) connections. We buy water from the Cave Creek Water Co. all the time and vice versa,” said Stan Francom, general manager of the Carefree Water Co.

“I got a call about 10 p.m. Friday from someone at the Cave Creek Water Co. saying they needed the water,” Francom said.

The incident illustrates how interconnected the two towns are when it comes to delivering water to area spigots. This is not the first time the Cave Creek Water Co. has needed water from Carefree. Francom said there have been instances in the past when the Cave Creek pump shut down and Carefree provided water to the neighboring town.

Carefree’s water company does not have a line to the Central Arizona Project canal, Francom said. Instead, the town’s water provider buys its water from the Cave Creek Water Co. and neighboring Scottsdale. The other source for its water is the Carefree Aquifer, where about 45 percent of the company’s water is drawn.

Francom said he expects his next bill will include a credit for the water the Cave Creek Water Co. diverted  during the power outage. 

Although the two towns have a mutual aid agreement that works, a legal battle rages on between the town of Cave Creek and the Cave Creek Water Co.

The relationship between Cave Creek and the water company took a complicated turn in March of 2005 when the town filed a condemnation lawsuit in an effort to take over the company.

“It is my opinion that municipalities should own their own utilities,” said Cave Creek Vice Mayor Dick Esser. “The Town of Cave Creek is in the business of serving its citizens.”

Global Water Resources bought the Cave Creek Water Co. the same month Cave Creek filed the lawsuit. The Cave Creek Water Co., located about 16 miles from the CAP canal, is still owned by Global Water Resources, of Phoenix.

Cave Creek had tried unsuccessfully to purchase the water company prior to the sale to Global, Esser said.

Global is fighting the lawsuit.

“We didn’t buy it in March of 2005 to have it condemned,” said Graham Symmonds, senior vice president of operations at Global Water Resources. “Cave Creek Water Co. is a good, well‑run company that fits into our business portfolio.”

Reach the reporter at kathleen@thedesertadvocate.com.