Prescott subcommittee recommends Jan.–Jun. 2026 water budgets at 25 acre‑feet for residential and nonresidential
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Summary
After reviewing permit activity and recent usage, the Prescott subcommittee voted 3–0 to recommend that full council set the Jan.–June 2026 semiannual residential and nonresidential water budgets at 25 acre‑feet each. Staff noted projected incoming projects but said historically only 25–50% of estimated demand materializes.
The Prescott City Council Subcommittee on Water Issues voted unanimously to recommend that the full City Council set both the residential and nonresidential semiannual water budgets at 25 acre‑feet for the Jan. 1–June 30, 2026 period.
Brian Reese, the city’s water resources manager, told the committee the amended 2022 Water Management Policy sets semiannual budgets and that for July–Dec. 2025 both residential and nonresidential budgets were previously set at 25 acre‑feet. For that prior period staff reported six administratively approved residential projects totaling 1.76 acre‑feet (leaving 23.24 acre‑feet remaining), five administratively approved nonresidential projects plus one council‑approved nonresidential project totaling 4.05 acre‑feet (leaving 20.96 acre‑feet), and additional contract obligations of 2.77 acre‑feet under existing agreements.
Reese identified likely incoming projects for the next budget period, including a Touchmark site plan revision (63 apartment units that staff estimate could require an additional two to three acre‑feet beyond existing contract amounts), a Cliff Rose infill extension (13 single‑family residences and HOA use) and a 66‑unit subdivision near Granite Dells Parkway. He cautioned that although those packages combined could total roughly 25 acre‑feet, past experience shows 25–50% of proposed demand typically materializes, yielding an expected realized demand of approximately 6–13 acre‑feet.
Council members asked about carryover of unused budget and staff confirmed the water policy permits carrying unused allocations between periods. After discussion, a committee member moved to recommend the 25/25 semiannual limits for Jan.–June 2026; another member seconded and the motion passed 3–0. Staff expects the recommendation to go to full council in early January.
