SUNSITES, Ariz. (KGUN) — On February 23, Arizona Attorney General Chris Mays visited Cochise County to meet with local residents and hear concerns about groundwater supplies.
I attended a meeting at Sunsite. In Sunsite, many people in rural areas rely on wells for water. But some say the well has run dry and others worry it's only a matter of time before they face the same problem.
Many community members shared their stories with Attorney General Mays to give him a better understanding of what they are facing.
One passionate Cochise County resident emphasized the importance of groundwater supply for all area residents. There's no life. ”
Many of those gathered at the packed community center shared similar sentiments, especially regarding the large farms in the area.
Riverview, a mega-farm, began purchasing land in Cochise County in 2014. The headquarters are in Minnesota. The company drills deep wells and pumps out large amounts of water for agricultural purposes. Private property owners say they are now facing the consequences of these actions.
“Too many ordinary people are being negatively impacted by corporate entities that have no chance of winning,” said Attorney General Mays.
Now residents of the area also have to drill their wells deeper and deeper to obtain water. One resident said the well on his property was originally 100 feet deep, then 450 feet deep and now 650 feet deep.
I looked into how much it costs to drill a deeper well. forbes In 2024, the average homeowner will need to spend $25 to $35 per foot to drill a well. This price does not include any other materials required for the job.
Additionally, many people worry about the value of their property if their well dries up.
“If the water stops, our house will have no value,” said one resident.
Another resident said: There's nowhere to go and all your money is locked up at home. ”
Attorney General Mays said she and her team plan to support this community. “We've gathered a lot of evidence here from real people about their situations, which could play an important role in potential future litigation,” Mays said.
She also promised to personally work on the legislation if nothing is done. She said, “If we have to bring this issue to a vote and let all 7 million Arizonans, or all the people voting in the next election, decide this issue, I'm prepared to do that.'' ” he said.
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