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Town staff details Phoenix interconnect, well testing and funding as short-term backups for Cave Creek's water supply
Summary
Staff told the advisory committee the Phoenix interconnect will provide a treatment/delivery backstop (not new permanent supply), summarized well testing results and arsenic concerns, and outlined recharge credits and grant funding under consideration.
Town staff presented technical updates on Cave Creek's water portfolio and short-term options to mitigate anticipated CAP reductions, emphasizing that the Phoenix interconnect provides treatment and delivery rather than new allocation.
Speaker 2 explained the interconnect IGA with Phoenix: Phoenix will divert, treat and deliver water to the town under a contractual arrangement. "They're actually just treating some of our supplies," Speaker 2 said, adding that Phoenix's system could support up to about 1,000 gallons per minute into the town's distribution; the town plans phased testing rather than immediately baseloading that flow.
On groundwater, staff reported tests on three town wells in the town core. Two wells tested at about 80 gallons per minute; another higher-volume well produced substantially more and "pretty much met drinking-water standards" but was close to a maximum contaminant level, Speaker 2 said. The Vermice well, located in Desert Wilderness Park, is much deeper (about 800 feet) and showed arsenic concentrations roughly 10 times the maximum contaminant level, creating a treatment or redrill decision point before reuse.
Black & Veatch has been asked to evaluate whether well water can be blended or treated at the town treatment plant for distribution, and staff said any reuse would require monitoring and a phased, conservative approach. Speaker 2 said the interconnect will also create operational opportunities'seasonal maintenance windows when flows are low and Phoenix supply can sustain the system.
Staff discussed stored water credits as part of the town's toolbox: roughly 2,700 acre-feet (approaching 3,000 with next-year activity) in long-term storage credits may be accessible via exchanges with other municipalities, but staff cautioned the banking authority will generally not recover credits on the town's behalf.
Funding matters remain in flux: staff reported an EPA/regional discretionary grant (about $2 million) was authorized and made available to draw down, and referenced larger state augmentation funding that could support regional projects. Staff also warned that CAP allocation scenarios remain uncertain and that next year's non-Indian agricultural allocations may again be limited.
The committee asked follow-up questions on completion timing for the interconnect work, schedule constraints on electrical equipment and booster stations; Speaker 2 said the contractor lists substantial completion in June, with some electrical gear arriving in March and a final piece scheduled for June, and staff are exploring temporary rentals to begin testing earlier.
The town will continue monitoring well tests, pursue engineering guidance from Black & Veatch, and seek council direction on rate modeling and potential capacity fees to fund future water acquisitions.
