SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Arizona Attorney General Chris Mays said Maricopa County has the legal authority to temporarily provide water to residents of the Rio Verde foothills.
The City of Scottsdale cut off Rio Verde residents from the municipal water supply last month to protect resources.
Because Rioverde is located in an unincorporated area, Scottsdale officials argue that the city is not responsible for providing water service.
The community of about 500 residents has yet to find a permanent source of water to replace Scottsdale’s supply, relying in part on drawing water from Apache Junction.
Related: Judge sides with Scottsdale after Rio Verde residents file lawsuit over access to water
R-District 7 Rep. David Cook recently asked Attorney General Mayes to provide an opinion on whether the county could help intervene to provide relief to Rio Verde residents.
Cook specifically wanted to know if the county could strike short-term agreements with private companies or government agencies to provide emergency aid to communities like Rio Verde.
In a legal opinion released Tuesday, Mays said Arizona law allows counties to enter into these types of agreements to maintain public health for local residents.
“If county residents lose access to their former water sources, causing delays in resuming normal services, the county can contract with utilities or other government agencies to provide water in an emergency. We have the authority to maintain public health and hygiene,” the attorney general wrote.
Cook said he hopes AG’s input will help provide solutions to solve the Rio Verde water crisis.
“We believe this will be very helpful in our efforts to provide relief to Rio Verde residents who continue to struggle without a reliable point of access to water for their homes and families,” lawmakers said in a statement.
Last year, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted against Rio Verde collecting taxes to pay its water bills.
Utility company EPCOR has proposed bringing water to Rio Verde, but that project could take up to two years to complete.
