Payson water director outlines meter replacement, PFAS planning and capital projects
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Summary
Water Director Tanner Henry told the Nov. 12 council the town has replaced more than 5,000 water meters under a $4.3 million WIFA project (including a $3.0M forgivable loan) and has cut unaccounted-for water from about 12% to roughly 3.3%; staff also described PFAS-treatment planning with ADEQ and several planned capital projects.
Water Director Tanner Henry briefed the Payson Common Council on the town’s water operations and capital projects, highlighting a near-complete meter-replacement program and plans for PFAS treatment.
Henry said the town sold “over 600,000,000 gallons of water” in fiscal year 2024–25 and described a WIFA-funded meter replacement intended to update approximately 5,800 meters. He said the overall meter project is a $4.3 million effort — a $3.0 million forgivable loan (treated as a grant) with a roughly $1.3 million town match — and reported the town has replaced more than 5,072 meters and installed the radio telemetry infrastructure. Henry said the IT portion remains and the town expects to test the customer portal and release it to the public after testing, likely next spring.
Henry said the meter work has reduced unaccounted-for water from about 12% to roughly 3.3%, which improves reporting to the Arizona Department of Water Resources. He also reviewed groundwater operations, noting the Cragin project has injected a little more than 3,000 acre-feet since 2019 and that the town pumped about 1,500 acre-feet in 2025; Cragin reservoir level rose 15 feet in October and is about 30% full.
On water quality, Henry confirmed ongoing PFAS-treatment planning and said the town met with ADEQ regarding a proposed treatment facility at Rumsy Park and a separate PFAS treatment effort at a McKaney Street well. He said the town accepted $425,000 in WIFA funding to investigate copper and lead service line locations and is preparing a risk-and-resilience assessment and emergency response plan required by federal law, due in 2026.
Henry outlined other capital projects: the Beeline bus-related water-main work is complete; Hillcrest Tank No. 2 has ADEQ approval and will go to bid; the Phoenix Street water-main project is at 95% design and staff is seeking funding. Council and residents thanked water staff for leak notifications that helped homeowners avoid larger damage.
What’s next: Staff expects to finish portal testing by year-end and launch in spring; several capital projects will move to bidding or funding phases next year.
