Action meeting on aquifer planned for Feb. 8

GREEN VALLEY--Green Valley resident Nancy Freeman will hold the first in a series of "action meetings" about the Santa Cruz Aquifer Tuesday, Feb. 8, 9 a.m., at the Bank Of America at the northwest corner of La Canada and Continental.

Freeman has been organizing the group, Save the Santa Cruz Aquifer, for the purpose of educating the public and state legislators about the significant impact the Phelps Dodge Sierrita Mine has on the local water supply.

Mine operations have caused a plume of sulfates in western Green Valley to contaminate some Community Water of Green Valley wells, causing aesthetic concerns about the local drinking water.

Community Water is in the process of installing a short-term new well, and will have a long-term, uncontaminated well up and running by next year, according to General Manager Art Gabald—n.

Freeman's group is also concerned about the amount of groundwater the mine uses relative to residential and other commercial users in the upper Santa Cruz Valley.

According to the Arizona Department of Water Resources, in 2003, the Sierrita Mine pumped 19,256 acre feet of groundwater.

Over 10 years, the mine has uses an average of 23,682 acre feet per year. An acre foot equals 325,851 gallons.

Total residential use in the area is about 3,600 acre feet per year, according to ADWR.

"Starting in February there will be an emphasis on voicing one's opinion," Freeman said of the upcoming meeting.

"The principal plan will be to form groups to write or phone legislators, not just once but on a continual basis, because the water laws and statutes need to be changed," she said.

thull@gvnews.com | 625-5511 x 22