Scottsdale will not open water supply to Rio Verde Foothills past Jan. 1

[wackadoo wabbit]

The mayor said it is not the city's responsibility to supply homes that Maricopa County issued permits to while knowing they didn't have a secure source of water.

Hundreds of homes in a rural community near Phoenix are faced with a coming water crisis, and were hoping that Scottsdale would soon announce a holiday miracle.

The city mayor's response? "There is no Santa Claus."

Mayor David Ortega delivered the harsh remark in a recent statement on the city's upcoming water cut-off to Rio Verde Foothills as part of Scottsdale's drought plan. Come Jan. 1, more than 500 homes will no longer have a source of water.

https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/water-wars/water-is-not-a-compassion-game-scottsdale-mayor-city-will-cut-water-off-to-rio-verde-foothills/75-72d1809b-9c68-4b91-97d1-45301328d813

Wow!

For those of us who have been following this story, this is a big deal. I guess I'm not surprised by Scottsdale's action.

What has been surprising me — no, it's more like "astounding me" — is that people have been continuing to buy homes in that development knowing that there wasn't a secure source of water and that Scottsdale was threatening to cut them off. Well, I guess you can't fix stupid.

Is this the official beginning of the water wars?

[marybourg]

1. I was not aware of this. Is it not

possible to dig wells in that area?

[EYESORE 9001]

2. I too wondered about the beginning of water wars

In this instance, it’s hard to sympathize with people who gambled so recklessly.

These disputes will be resolved in the courts. Until they aren’t.

[RSherman]

3. Same in FLA

A friend and I were visiting FL maybe 20 years ago or more. The taxi driver was pointing out a fairly new airport that was abandoned so they could build a new one. He talked about all the new housing, condos, etc. that were not supposed to be built b/c water, sewer, etc., infrastructure could not handle it. But graft changes hands.....developers/politicians. I hope that after all these people ruin/deplete their own states, they don't come running to NYS. And states that allow fracking that uses millions of gallons of water that cannot be re-used in any way b/c the companies won't divulge the chemicals that are used, referring to them as "trade secrets".

[Crowman2009]

4. I assume this development also included the bonehead idea of green lawns on each property?

Our nation's obsession with perfect lawns is just beyond ridiculous. A ranch-style yard with desert plants would be more suitable.

[in2herbs]

5. I have friends who live in Rio Verde. It is a horse community for the most part. A few

years back multi-housing luxury residences were built along the Verde River in an area people were told was in Scottsdale. And now it's not? About the only green ground you will find are on the Tom Lehman-designed golf course and others courses in this area. Families have the option of going to Scottsdale schools or Cave Creek schools, or charter.

I think this mayor is going to get a lot of push-back on this which he should have anticipated. Wells are very expensive to dig and the underground management of water resources by the State has depleted the ability to find water on some if these properties for wells. Water can be trucked in but it is expensive --- and where does the trucked in water come from? Scottsdale's water supply?????

[Kali]

6. I thought they were working a deal with the San Carlos Apaches?

[Wonder Why]

7. The water wars began many years ago

Back in '82 when we lived in NM, this was the big news:

https://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/11/us/el-paso-suing-over-bar-to-new-mexico-water.html

In Texas, you could buy and sell water rights like oil rights. When you buy land, it either came with or without water rights. If you had water rights on your land, you could sell those without selling the land then sell the land separately. El Paso needed water and water rights were expensive. In NM, the State Engineer decided who can drill wells and, except for personal use homes, you had to ask the State Engineer for the right to drill wells. El Paso wanted to dig big wells in NM and pipeline the water to feed its growing size without paying the higher costs of buying rights in Texas. The NM State Engineer refused and it went to the Courts. El Paso lost the case.