ARIZONA DAILY STAR: Thurs., July 26, 2007
City enters sewer plant dispute
Threatens cutoff of fresh water going to Marana
By Erica Meltzer, Aaron Mackey and Rob O'Dell
The city of Tucson may force Marana to take on 9,000 water customers now served by Tucson Water, if the town insists on diverting sewage from a regional wastewater treatment plant.
Yet it's not clear whether Marana has the water supply or the infrastructure to serve those areas, which include Continental Ranch, Dove Mountain and the golf courses that hosted the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship earlier this year.
The move comes in response to Marana saying it would take over the sewer system in the two subdivisions as part of a takeover of the county sewer system within the town limits. The city of Tucson considers the effluent derived from that sewage as its resource because it is the water provider.
In a sharply worded letter to Marana Town Manager Mike Reuwsaat, Tucson City Manager Mike Hein questioned why Marana would move to take over a city resource without first talking to the city, adding the city will look into stopping service to Continental Ranch and Dove Mountain.
"I am directing our staff to explore the feasibility of giving Marana what it has asked for — full responsibility for the supply of and delivery of potable water and control over its own destiny," Hein wrote.
"To be clear, staff is directed to evaluate the effect of Tucson Water discontinuing the service of potable water to areas within the corporate boundaries of Marana," as well as delivery of reclaimed water to golf courses.
In an interview, Hein said the city would not just cut off water to Continental Ranch and Dove Mountain. But the letter raises the stakes in a dispute between Marana and Pima County and Tucson.
Town officials filed paperwork Wednesday to start the annexation process for a 2 1/2-square-mile area that includes the plant. County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said the county will resist the annexation and takeover of the plant, and will delay expansion plans until the dispute is resolved, which could put the plant at capacity and prevent further sewer hookups.
FULL STORY: http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/193465