Opposition to water company mounting–and organizing
Desert Hills Water misses weekly progress report
by Jennifer Krahe        

DESERT HILLS – Desert Hills Water Company customers, fed up with spotty and sometimes nonexistent water service, are mounting an organized effort to make their grievances known to state utility regulators.

 The disgruntled residents have scheduled a meeting for 11 a.m. on Saturday at Desert View Bible Church, 105 West Carefree Highway, said Desert Hills resident Rich Goldstein, one of the organizers.

According to Lori Biondo, another resident and organizer, the grassroots group will discuss their plans to go before the Arizona Corporation Commission on Aug. 21 when the commission is slated to hold an evidentiary hearing over DHW’s level of service.

The troubled water company has come under the commission’s scrutiny amid numerous customer complaints about bad service. The company has pledged to install a booster pump along Cloud Road to alleviate low water pressure and, at times, no water whatsoever.

Mary Beth Rowland, vice president of DHW, did not return phone calls placed by The Desert Advocate seeking comment.

Rowland has stated the booster pump will be installed by Friday of this week, but has repeatedly said any progress on that installation will depend on contractor work schedules. She did not answer a scheduled conference call with the Arizona Corporation Commission on July 28.

Rowland was supposed to be available to the commission by phone for weekly progress reports, said Heather Murphy, public information officer for the commission. According to Murphy, Rowland’s daughter was taking the company’s calls and said Rowland was out of town.

“She (Rowland) has an outstanding message,” said Murphy. “We will call again on this coming Friday as per the arrangement.”

Biondo said the grassroots group of DHW customers will also discuss at the Saturday meeting plans to hold a rally sometime before the evidentiary hearing.

Reach the reporter at jennifer@thedesertadvocate.com.