PHOENIX — Just when the solution was on the horizon, the residents of Rio Verde Foothills seem to have to keep waiting for water.

Scottsdale recently submitted a proposal to refill water in unincorporated communities after cutting off residents earlier in the year.

Maricopa County rejected the proposal on Friday, calling it “unrealistic, inefficient and overly burdensome.”

Previous report: “My Solution Is Better”: County Focuses on Fixing Water in Rio Verde Foothills

“Water outages are absolutely atrocious and a stain on Arizona’s history,” said Thomas Galvin, county superintendent of the Second District, which includes the Rio Verde Foothills. What we have is propaganda by David Ortega, false information by Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega, and an inability to help these people find water sources.”

Why did Maricopa County reject Scottsdale’s Rio Verde Foothills Water Plan?

The board identified a number of issues with Scottsdale’s proposal, including:

• Scottsdale has not identified a water source for its plans
• Although the City limits water distribution to a fixed amount of acre-feet per year, the City will be permitted to purchase more acre-feet per year that are unavailable to residents of the Rio Verde Foothills.
• The city would significantly increase the fees it charges the Rio Verde Foothills for no good reason.
• Scottsdale only allows water to be sold to commercial water haulers and does not allow residents to haul water themselves
• The city will not supply water to newly constructed homes in the Rio Verde Foothills, even though the county cannot enforce a moratorium on water supply.

The board is said to have repeatedly asked Scottsdale for answers to these questions. Scottsdale reportedly did not provide an answer.

Scottsdale mayor not sure where Rio Verde foothills water comes from

Brahm Resnik asked Ortega directly about where the city is getting its water sources for the proposed Rio Verde Foothills off Sunday Square recently.

read more: Where does the water in the Rio Verde foothills come from? No clear answer as Scottsdale votes to restore service

Ortega initially said the city would purchase water from the Gila River Indian community, but retracted that statement after the tribe told 12News it would not provide water to Scottsdale.

Ortega later told 12News that the Colorado River Indian Tribe (CRIT) would provide the water. He later retracted that statement after a CRIT leader told his 12News that the city could not be supplied with water.

A Scottsdale spokesperson provided a definitive answer: “The source of the water has not yet been identified.”

“If you have a plan without water, it’s not a plan,” Galvin said.

Maricopa County sees EPCOR as the best solution for the Rio Verde foothills.

Instead, the county commission recommended its own plan.

Canadian water company EPCOR will supply water to the Rio Verde Foothills on a short-term basis under a county plan. The utility also serves as a long-term community solution, with approval to build local water standpipes over the next three years for access to water.

“EPCOR has publicly stated that it will pay Scottsdale to use its existing infrastructure and that water supplied by EPCOR will be provided to Scottsdale and transported through its piping system,” the board resolution read. rice field.

Scottsdale has not commented on whether it will approve Maricopa County’s counterproposal.

Have water-related Arizona news that needs to be covered? Email the information to hbassler@12news.com.

water wars

Water levels are falling across the Southwest as a massive drought continues. Here’s how Arizona and local communities are affected.