(The Center Square) – Rio Verde Foothills residents now have regular availability to water thanks to a standpipe that began operation on Monday.
The City of Scottsdale originally cut off the unincorporated community in Maricopa County on Jan. 1, which resulted in the state Legislature and Gov. Katie Hobbs stepping in months later with the enacting of Senate Bill 1432. KTAR News reported that the Scottsdale City Council came to an agreement with the Rio Verde Foothills Standpipe District last month to allow transportation of water from a facility that will not tap into the water intended for Scottsdale residents and businesses. The agreement is set to end on Dec. 31, 2025.
“After more than a year of failed attempts to resolve the issue, today we stand in celebration as water flows once more to the residents of Rio Verde Foothills. Three months ago, we sent a bill to Hobbs urging she sign the legislation to help restore water for over 700 residents that had relied on the City of Scottsdale for over 30 years,” Sen. Justine Wadsack, R-Tucson, and Rep. Alexander Kolodin, R-Scottsdale, said in a statement.
“At that time, we applauded the community’s resolve and said, “Hold on tight, relief is on the way!” We are elected to office to get things done for the people of Arizona. Where every other level of government failed, this Republican Majority delivered,” the lawmakers added.
The legislation was signed by the governor in June after she vetoed a previous deal.
On the county level, Maricopa County Supervisor Thomas Galvin celebrated the major development, but criticized the Scottsdale officials.
“I am grateful that water is once again flowing to Rio Verde Foothills (RVF), but I am still baffled why it took this long,” Galvin said in a statement. “After all, my solution to this unnecessary crisis has been on the table for the past year. Instead, there was ten months of unnecessary pain to the Rio Verde Foothills. And City of Scottsdale residents were not served well by a mayor who prioritized his selfish political interests.”
On Oct. 6, Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega said in a statement that he hopes a more permanent solution will be figured out.
“The good news is that the IGA with the Rio Verde Foothills Standpipe District complies with the Scottsdale Water requirement of being made whole with our water resources,” Ortega said.
“The bad news is that additional water trucks will resume traversing north Scottsdale. I am optimistic that EPCOR has the expertise to expeditiously complete the long-term solution, well ahead of the December 2025 deadline,” the mayor added.
