EPCOR analyst tells residents water will always be available
Provides water updates for Sun City West residents
(Independent Newsmedia/Jennifer Jimenez)
Property Owners and Residents Association Water Committee Chairman Curt Neal introduced the new committee members during the September meeting.
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We are very comfortable with where we are in this situation. There is not anyone in this room or West Valley that should be worrying about running out of water. We have supplies and may be using different supplies in the next few years.”
Tom Harrell, EPCOR Utilities Inc. water resource analyst
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The Property Owners and Residents Association brought back the water committee that was previously well attended by Sun City West residents.
This meetings feature PORA Water Committee Chairman Curt Neal, Recreation Centers of Sun City West Environmental Services Manager Todd Patty and Tom Harrell, EPCOR Utilities Inc. water resource analyst.
Neal said he grew up on a farm in Minnesota his family continues to run and was in the Air Force for more than 27 years. He said he has seen agriculture done in 1,000 different ways.
“We all have a vested interest in water as our property values depend on access to water in the future,” said Neal.
He described the Federal Mandated Colorado River Water Cuts that came down from the federal government, which includes a two-year reduction right now.
Neal said Nevada has a 16% reduction, while Arizona has a 27% reduction.
“The biggest thing to know is this is serious,” he said.
Between November and February, he said there are likely some turbines at Hoover Dam that will no longer produce power. He said new turbines are being put in to work at lower levels, but with a decrease of 100 more feet, Neal said the dam will not produce power at all.
Harrell described the water situation in the West Valley including Sun City West and Sun City and everywhere else that is considered part of the Agua Fria. Harrell said at some point the entire area will be interconnected from Verrado to the northern Agua Fria area.
He said for Arizona’s water supply, 36% comes from the Colorado River, 41% from ground water and 5% is reclaimed water.
“EPCOR is using 96% of all our treated waste water and less than 5% is just going into the desert wash or is considered “not a beneficial use.”
In Sun City West, Harrell said about 44% of water usage is from Central Arizona Project and is Colorado River water. Sun City West, he said, has 2,372 acre-feet that goes to the Maricopa Water District. He said Sun City has a little more at 3,942 acre-feet allotment that is used in the same manner as Sun City West.
EPCOR has access to water from the Maricopa Water District at 11,000 acre-feet of surface water. There is also 15,000 acre-feet of treated waste water available.
EPCOR has access to 75 audible wells.
“We are very comfortable with where we are in this situation. There is not anyone in this room or West Valley that should be worrying about running out of water. We have supplies and may be using different supplies in the next few years,” said Harrell.
The next PORA Water Committee meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, at PORA, 13815 Camino del Sol.
PORA Board Director Cindy Putman said the water committee will focus on conservation, the water story impacting Sun City West, as well as planting and watering schedules. She said the goal is to provide educational information that residents can use.
Visit porascw.org.
Reporter Jennifer Jimenez can be reached at jjimenez@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
In 2020, Jennifer Jimenez began working for Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA. She began her career as a sports reporter in Peoria and Glendale, covering the very same schools she used to compete at. During this time, she also worked for television news, magazines and sports radio stations.
Community: Jennifer is a member of the Hall of Fame at Peoria High School where she graduated in 2001, alongside her father Joe Hernandez. She serves youth soccer players as a pro-trainer and coach.
Education: Grand Canyon University 2005 B.A. Liberal Arts
Ranom Fact: She has a street named after her in south Peoria “Jennifer Rose Court.”
Hobbies: Country dancing, coaching soccer, teaching private swim lessons and running are things she does for fun.
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