For a Monday late afternoon, the United Methodist Church of North Scottsdale was fairly crowded, with most pews occupied.<\/p>\n
Those sitting in rapt attention were advised to pray.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor rain,\u201d state water guru Rudy Fischer said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd snow.\u201d<\/p>\n
With massive water cuts expected, the Central Arizona Project board member and North Scottsdale resident had curious advice to his neighbors:<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t worry about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be fine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Just the same, he stressed the best thing CAP-reliant Scottsdale can do is to continue cutting its water use.<\/p>\n
And, Councilwoman Solange Whitehead \u2013 who organized the event \u2013 also asked the informal congregation to entreat their leaders.<\/p>\n
\u201cBe united and be part of the solution,\u201d Whitehead requested. \u201cAnd then encourage \u2013 we want to encourage our city officials to do the same. Give them the confidence to know that doing the right thing for water is the right thing for them as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah Porter, director of ASU\u2019s Kyl Center for Water Policy, also accepted Whitehead’s invitation to speak at the event. It was billed as \u201ca closer look at the challenges facing Arizona and Scottsdale as Colorado River supplies decline and discuss the steps already being taken to strengthen our water security, the investments our city has made, and the solutions that can help us adapt and thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Porter shot down a common misconception before reinforcing a common fear.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are using less water now than we did in the Eighties and the Nineties \u2026 population growth is not the problem here,\u201d Porter said.<\/p>\n
But \u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to prepare. We in central Arizona, need to prepare for cuts of Colorado River water as much as 80%.\u201d<\/p>\n
The root of the problem is Colorado\u2019s decades-long decline in rain \u2013 and, crucially, snow.<\/p>\n
The frightening fall of Colorado lakes and rivers that quench Arizona\u2019s thirst combines with an expiring agreement between seven states, with a federal ruling expected in the next few months.<\/p>\n
Since roughly two-thirds of Scottsdale\u2019s water comes from the CAP system, which in turn comes from Colorado \u2013 the city is almost destined to have a massive cut in its water supply.<\/p>\n
Whitehead said Scottsdale \u201chas more reliance on the Colorado River than any other city in the state. So that’s sort of the bad news. The good news is we’ve been planning for this for decades, and we have a strategic plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
The city and state, she stressed, \u201chave the wherewithal, we have the knowledge to overcome this current water challenge. We can come out stronger where we better manage this precious resource.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then came a big, politically-charged \u201cbut\u201d….<\/p>\n
Whitehead, who is running for reelection, called out City Manager Greg Caton for attempting to backtrack on Scottsdale Water\u2019s long-term plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a strategic plan that was written by experts and approved by a council. We need to stick with the plan,\u201d Whitehead proclaimed. \u201c \u2026 But we have a new city management.\u201d<\/p>\n
While not directly pointing the finger at Caton, Whitehead noted in the last two years \u201cwe’ve lost about 300 years of institutional knowledge citywide \u2026 we’ve also lost the top technical experts at the city water department.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whitehead then indirectly lowered the boom on Caton, who recently unveiled his 2026-27 budget plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe City Council is now reviewing a budget that has defunded two out of four of the critical water projects we need,\u201d Whitehead said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe city manager by not funding these projects in the budget has changed the policy.\u201d<\/p>\n
She later clarified she was referring to Scottsdale\u2019s Advanced Purified Recycled Water (APRW) system and the Bartlett Dam Expansion project.<\/p>\n
One of her slides showed four options for Scottsdale \u201clong-term water solutions\u201d: APRW projects in Scottsdale and Phoenix; the Bartlett Dam Expansion Project and Harquahala Valley water.<\/p>\n
Last month, Whitehead told the Progress she was alarmed by \u201cthe city manager’s statement about APRW not being part of our long-term plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
For decades, Scottsdale has been a leader in \u201crecycled water,\u201d filtering and treating sewer water for use on golf courses and in storage.<\/p>\n
Before Caton took over as city manager last year, Scottsdale Water had planned to mix treated, \u201cpurified\u201d sewer water into the city\u2019s drinking water system.\u00a0<\/p>\n
New state requirements delayed that system \u2013 and Caton has insisted the current City Council must approve moving ahead on APRW, also referred to as Advanced Water Purification (AWP).<\/p>\n
But, Whitehead preached at the church: \u201cThis is not the time to defund the city water projects we have planned for (projecting) a 30% cut.\u201d<\/p>\n
The water plan<\/strong><\/p>\n Via Holly Peralta, a city spokeswoman, Caton responded to a Progress inquiry the day after the water event.<\/p>\n Whitehead\u2019s commentary \u201cis not an accurate reflection of the situation,\u201d Peralta said.<\/p>\n As for Whitehead\u2019s alarm that Caton is backing away from the city\u2019s sewage water treatment \u2013 sometimes referred to as \u201ctoilets to taps\u201d \u2013 project, Peralta referred to the \u201cSource and Supply\u201d line item in the proposed 2027-28 budget and in Caton\u2019s proposed five-year plan)<\/p>\n That, Caton\u2019s spokeswoman said, \u201ccould be acquisition of new water rights or implementation of Advanced Water Purification.\u201d<\/p>\n She added city staff is working on \u201ca study evaluating capital and operating costs associated with AWP.\u201d A report to City Council is\u00a0 expected \u201cover the next 6-9 months with our analysis and recommendations.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cArizona Department of Environmental Quality has established rules that may change related to AWP, so that will need to factor into our analysis for implementation,\u201d Peralta added.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis is new and emerging technology that we are preparing to implement once the rules are finalized and we receive City Council approval to move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Peralta said Whitehead\u2019s view of the city backing away from the Bartlett Dam expansion was also inaccurate.<\/p>\n \u201cThe city remains committed \u2013 with funding \u2013 and is an active participant in the feasibility study for Bartlett Dam,\u201d Peralta said. \u201cThe funding has simply moved from the capital budget to the operating budget.\u201d<\/p>\n One of Scottsdale\u2019s long-term options is being a part of the Bartlett Dam expansion, planned to capture more water.<\/p>\n A \u201cfeasibility study\u201d is scheduled to last another four years, with potential construction aimed at by around 2040 \u2013 if funding for the $3-4 billion project is secured.<\/p>\n Peralta insisted \u201cScottsdale has made steady, measured investments alongside regional partners\u201d on the dam project.<\/p>\n From 2022 through 2025, Scottsdale contributed $100,000 annually toward the study. Beginning in 2026, that contribution increases to $144,000 per year, continuing through 2027, Peralta noted.<\/p>\n \u201cThese incremental investments reflect Scottsdale\u2019s strategic approach\u2014maintaining a relatively low-cost entry into the project while preserving the ability to evaluate long-term benefits before any larger capital commitments are considered,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n She noted Scottsdale is one of 20 partners \u201cevaluating participation in the Bartlett Dam Expansion, a project currently estimated at approximately $3.6 billion.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c… Any future investment by Scottsdale would be directly tied to the level of benefit the city chooses to secure\u2014specifically, the amount of additional water storage and reliability it elects to participate in.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the expense, Peralta called the dam expansion project \u201ca practical, forward-looking step \u2026 Unlike more complex or costly alternatives such as desalination or large-scale importation, the expansion represents a relatively efficient investment in existing infrastructure, delivering meaningful new supply with lower risk and faster implementation.\u201d<\/p>\n Any formal presentations on Scottsdale\u2019s water picture coming?<\/p>\n \u201cAt this time, there is no water portfolio overview presentation scheduled for an upcoming City Council meeting,\u201d Peralta said. \u201cThat said, city staff regularly and proactively keeps Council informed of emerging water-related information as needed.\u201d<\/p>\n Additionally, she noted, the city\u2019s General Plan annual report \u201cprovides a full overview of the water portfolio and long-term planning efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Cuts are coming\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Whitehead was unconvinced by Caton\u2019s response.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe the city manager has overstepped his authority by overriding a Council-approved Strategic Plan \u2013 one designed to deliver Scottsdale\u2019s most cost-effective and reliable new water source: Advanced Purified Recycled Water,\u201d Whitehead told the Progress.<\/p>\n \u201cThat should concern all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n And, the veteran councilwoman added, \u201cjust funding a feasibility study for Bartlett Dam does not secure water \u2013 disciplined investment to pay for infrastructure is needed to secure future water.\u201d<\/p>\n In other words, she wants the city to put the money where the spigot is.<\/p>\n \u201cWater cuts are coming,\u201d Whitehead warned. \u201cOur responsibility is to plan for the worst case while diligently working towards the best for our residents.\u201d<\/p>\n With a frown directed at her council colleagues who belittle the recycled water program, Whitehead noted, \u201cScottsdale has a plan to keep our water flowing \u2013 let\u2019s not let politics get in the way.\u201d<\/p>\n Caton\u2019s new budget, Whitehead concluded, \u201ccut funding for hundreds of millions in critical infrastructure, including water projects, to create the illusion of savings.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a costly mistake.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For a Monday late afternoon, the United Methodist Church of North Scottsdale was fairly crowded, with most pews…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":754003,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5131],"tags":[5229,5643,179767,1587,307401,60833,310184,1589,310185,7600,152497,310186,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":["post-754002","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-phoenix","tag-america","tag-arizona","tag-arizona-department-of-environmental-quality","tag-az","tag-bartlett-dam","tag-councilwoman","tag-harquahala-valley","tag-phoenix","tag-sarah-porter","tag-scottsdale","tag-solange-whitehead","tag-united-methodist-church-of-north-scottsdale","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unitedstates","tag-unitedstatesofamerica","tag-us","tag-usa"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116470025316951014","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/754002","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=754002"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/754002\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/754003"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=754002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=754002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=754002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}