Small Arizona town saves water to prevent summer shortages

Many residents are reusing or hauling water from out of town to keep gardens alive, taking shorter showers, or doing less washing machine loads.

The town — serving some 850 homes, the school district and local businesses — pumps well water close to the Gila River. It could drill new wells to boost its water supply, but only if it is outside the area governed by the federal decree.

There are two such wells, but one only produces 26 gallons per minute, nowhere close to town needs, and the other is being rehabilitated with money from a federal grant. The second will be up and running by June or July and producing 100 gallons per minute, Stacy said.

“It’ll offset, but it won’t be enough,” he said.

For a long-term or permanent solution, the town is talking to lawyers from the mining companies and tribes, who have senior rights to the river water under the 1935 Globe Equity decree. Nearby towns are not impacted because they have more senior water rights, have wells outside of the decree area or are served by a mining company. Kearny’s situation is unique.

“I want to try to solve this permanently for this community. So we’re not back here in 10 years or next year,” said Stacy, who ran and served as mayor for two terms and will leave office this fall. Getting the town to better financial footing was his number one priority, he said. Water has been the focus for the last seven months.

“We’re also looking at possibly reusing wastewater treatment plant effluent as a potable water solution. We are exploring long-term ground storage for water,” he said.

He declined giving details on the potential partnerships to protect ongoing legal negotiations.