Customer (since January 2004) wrote:
Thank you for the meeting on the 11Th, it was very informative you showed lots of patience & were fair to everyone ...
If Augusta pays for the pipeline can Community Water be neutral if they're asked to review an EIS or something like it?
You mentioned units built after 1996 pay a extra water fee on their taxes, Where does that money go, can it be used for the pipeline?
Can it be measured how much affluent & storm water benefits our aquifer?
Thank you.
Dear Customer,
Thank you for your interest in the local water issues. Community Water has been working double time this year to keep the members of the co-op well informed; so far we have held or hosted at least five events.
Hosting these events requires attention to a clear statement of the purpose of the event and attention to ensuring a fair division of time for everyone to address comments and questions. A member forum is solely for the purpose of communicating with our members. Based on the number of written comment and question cards a judgment has to be made about how much time to allow each member. If a speaker is trying to use additional time or bring up subjects that are not part of the meeting purpose, we have no recourse but to clarify and consistently enforce the rules for the benefit of all participants.
If by EIS you are referring to the Environmental Impact Statement applicable to the proposed Rosemont Mine, I can offer additional understanding. We identified a concern relative to the proposed mine water source and decided attention needed to focus on a possible remedy to protect our local aquifer if the mine application is approved. Since Community Water identified this potential aquifer concern, and negotiated with Augusta to modify their plan and pay for an acceptable solution, we are able to discuss this problem openly with everyone. It is important to note that, to our knowledge, we are the only organization that has taken action to protect our community interests if the mine application is approved. It is apparently easy to protest the mine application; much harder to prepare for what happens if it is approved. Remember, Community Water has no influence over the permit process; only our elected Federal representatives do.
Community Water believes that the burden to pay for the mitigation related to the aquifer impact should be paid for by those who caused that impact. Community Water does not support having taxpayers or rate-payers assume the responsibility to pay for an impact caused by a known third party. Community Water is very supportive if the taxpayers are willing to pay for an increased pipeline size to mitigate their own impact on the local aquifer. In either case, we need to be bringing CAP water to our service area to protect our local environment.
The extra water fee paid on the property tax bill for homes built after 1996 is collected by the Central Arizona Ground Water Replenishment District (CAGRD). This fee is the cost of "recharging within Arizona" an amount of renewable water equal to the amount of ground water you use. So when Community Water mines water out of our local aquifer for delivery to your home, we report the quantity annually to the CAGRD and they have the obligation to recharge renewable water and bill you. My understanding is this fee is used to pay for the water recharge costs, and is not available for capital construction. When a CAP representative addressed the Green Valley community on August 25,2007 he reported that it is highly unlikely for any further extension of the CAP would be funded by CAP; because 10 of the 15 members of CAP represent Maricopa County. He wished us luck if we wish to pursue it.
I do not know how much effluent and storm water benefit the aquifer. Community Water is only one of six water utilities that serve this region of southern Pima County and we do not have that kind of tabulation. Your question is important and I suggest that you address this question to the Arizona Department of Water Resources. This State agency has the responsibility of protecting our water resources. Good news - next Friday September 28, 2007 at 9 am at the GVR West Center, the ADWR local Director will be in Green Valley to answer your questions.
Sincerely
Arturo Gabaldón
Community Water Company of Green Valley