Area water companies borrowing millions

GREEN VALLEY--Local water companies have just over a year left to comply with new federal standards by reducing the arsenic in the local water supply to 10 parts per billion by Jan. 23, 2006, a job that is likely to result in water rate increases across the nation.

Both the Green Valley Domestic Water Improvement District (GVDWID), which operates Green Valley Water Co., and Community Water Company of Green Valley have recently proposed borrowing millions of dollars to meet the standards.

Last week, voters served by Green Valley Water Co. easily approved the GVDWID's ballot proposal allowing the district to borrow some $1.6 million from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority, or other government or private lenders, in order to build arsenic treatment facilities.

Community Water has sought a $4 million line of credit to finance the construction of at least two treatment facilities.

Three of Community Water's wells currently have arsenic levels that exceed the new standard, according to manager Arturo Gabald—n,

Arsenic occurs naturally in groundwater and is found in soil and rocks and flora and fauna from which it enters the aquifer.

The previous federal arsenic standard was 50 ppb. It's often said that 1 ppb of arsenic is equal to about one minute in 2,000 years, or one penny in $10,000,000.

Gabald—n said that Community Water's efforts to comply with the standards (which he expects to be lowered to 5 ppb by 2007) will not result in a rate increase for the company's 10,400 customers until mid-2006.

At that time, there will likely be a 25 percent-30 percent increase, the first since 1987, he said.

Community Water recently contracted with the Layne Christensen Co. to build two arsenic treatment facilities at its No. 6 and No. 9 wells.

The arsenic removal method being used is called "coagulation filtration," which involves magnetizing the arsenic and drawing it to a medium, which is then removed from the well and cleaned.

The project is expected to be complete by June 30, 2005, Gabald—n said.

Community Water is hoping it won't have to pay for the removal of arsenic from the third well with high levels, as it and another well are currently being contaminated by Phelps Dodge Sierrita's mine tailings.

The company has measured sulfate and Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) levels in those wells at more than double what is recommended in the federal Environmental Protection Agency's secondary standards.

Secondary Standards cannot be enforced and are meant to be merely suggestions, but high levels of sulfates and TDS are known to cause aesthetic and taste problems in the water supply and could make the elderly and babies sick.

Gabald—n said that until an agreement is made with Phelps Dodge to clean up the sulfates and TDS in those wells, arsenic levels can't be reduced in them.

A plan to replace the offending wells by 2006 is currently being negotiated with Phelps Dodge, he said.

thull@gvnews.com | 625-5511 x 22