Queen Creek's proposed water resource fee would no longer apply to irrigation water, and homes on septic systems could get a partial credit, under direction the Town Council gave staff at its Oct. 7 meeting, the town said in a news release Thursday.
Irrigation carved out
The council approved an agreement Wednesday to begin moving the town's irrigation customers to the Queen Creek Irrigation District, which already delivers irrigation water across much of the area. Because that service is expected to leave the town's hands, the council told staff to charge the new fee on potable water deliveries only.
Irrigation customers have an informational meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, in the Zane Grey Room at the Queen Creek Library, 21802 S. Ellsworth Road.
A credit tied to recharge
For households on septic, the town is studying a credit based on the small share of septic effluent that seeps back into the aquifer. It would use the Arizona Department of Water Resources' 4% incidental recharge credit as its basis, which works out to 195 acre-feet in the first year. Staff plan to return Nov. 4 for council direction on how to apportion it.
What the fee would cost
The year-one proposal remains $3.07 per 1,000 gallons, charged on usage. The town estimates a home using 10,000 gallons a month would pay $30.70 a month, or $18.42 with the wastewater credit. Each later year's rate would require its own public process and council vote.
The town says the fee would pay for its water investments, including the 2025 purchase of 1.7 million acre-feet of Harquahala Valley water to be moved through the CAP canal, and would eventually replace the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District assessment that 89% of customers now pay on their property tax bills.
