NE Valley Times

The Scottsdale City Council is set to discuss an agreement on February 21 that could reopen a water supply for residents of the unincorporated Rio Verde Foothills area. This agreement, in collaboration with Maricopa County, aims to align with Scottsdale's drought management plan.

Scottsdale had previously restricted water access for non-city residents starting January 1 as part of a state-mandated plan. Since then, efforts have been made with state and county officials to find a temporary solution for the affected residents.

The proposed agreement, pending approval from both the Scottsdale City Council and Maricopa County, would allow temporary access to city water for up to three years for current Rio Verde Foothills residents. As part of this arrangement, Maricopa County will seek to impose a building permit moratorium in the area within the limits of state law.

This deal depends on Scottsdale acquiring additional water resources from a third party, which it would treat and provide for delivery by Maricopa County. The city plans to recover its costs through fees charged to the county.

“Early in this process, the Scottsdale City Council committed to working toward solutions for Rio Verde Foothills that comply with our drought management plan and do not negatively impact city residents – this proposal achieves those goals,” stated Mayor David D. Ortega. “Many different levels of government have come together to draft this solution, and Scottsdale looks forward to Maricopa County’s action on the last few steps.”

In case of reduced third-party water resources due to factors like drought, deliveries to Rio Verde Foothills may be decreased accordingly.

If approved by the council, water via Scottsdale could be available once Maricopa County approves the agreement and establishes a distribution method for Rio Verde Foothills residents.