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Reprinted with permission from the Green Valley News
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Tuesday, May 31,
2000
Unlike Tucson
No restrictions on water use anticipated for area residents
By Jim Lamb
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While Tucson residents have been asked to restrict their watering because of declining water supplies, residents south of there all the way to the Mexican border face no restrictions.
Spokespersons for Tubac Valley Water Co., Rio Rico Utilities, the city of Nogales Water Department, Community Water Co. of Green Valley and Green Valley Water Co. said there were no restrictions.
Tucson last week asked its residential and commercial users to water outdoors only twice a week.
It also asked that there be no outdoor watering on Wednesdays.
If the voluntary program fails then the city could declare an emergency and order mandatory restrictions.
Although Tucson is receiving a Central Arizona Project water allotment its underground water table continues to decline.
Tubac, Rio Rico and Nogales water companies aren’t facing any water declines.
They’re in the Arizona Department of Water Resources Santa Cruz Active Management Area.
It’s the only state AMA that’s in “safe yield”, meaning the groundwater is not being depleted by too much pumping.
The Santa Cruz AMA is largely a surface water system fed mostly by the river.
The state’s other four AMAs, including Tucson, are groundwater systems. Their water comes from deep natural reservoirs.
Water rates in this part of Arizona aren’t very useful as incentives to save water.
Rates are set by the Arizona Corporation Commission to cover costs and provide profits for private utilities but not to deter use.
At the monthly Santa Cruz Active Management Area meetings conservationists some times complain that higher rates would lower consumption.
Some area monthly water rates:
Nogales, base rate $5.60 plus $1.40 cents per thousand up to 3,000.
Rio Rico, base rate $5 plus $1.27 per thousand.
Tubac Valley Water Co., base rate $15.35 and $1.66 per thousand up to 8,000.
Community Water Co. of Green Valley, base rate $12.50 plus $1.07 per thousand.
Green Valley Water Co. $10.50 for the first 2,000 gallons. $1 per thousand thereafter.
To e-mail the author, click on his name above
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© 2000 Green Valley News All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted with permission from the Green Valley News
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