Many Tubac property owners drill 'exempt' wells to save costs

Facing higher costs for water, some Tubac-area property owners have drilled so-called "exempt" wells to help meet their needs.

So far 12 to 14 such wells have been drilled since last November, said the area director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

No permit is needed to dig an exempt well, said Alejandro Barcenas, director of the department's Santa Cruz Active Management Area Friday.

Barcenas said he made the estimate by looking at the legal description of the well locations and comparing them to a map.

The wells are in and around the village of Tubac, a non-incorporated community.

Persons with legal rights to Santa Cruz River Valley water must get a permit and register their larger wells.

An exempt well is allowed to pump 35 gallons a minute or less. Generally, they're used for such things as non-commercial irrigation on two acres or less and for household uses according to the department.

About 50 exempt wells a year are drilled a year in the Santa Cruz Active Management Area.

The active management area generally consists of the river valley from the border to just about the Pima County line.

Generally it costs about $50 a foot to drill an exempt well. A registered driller must drill it.

If the well's going to be used for household uses, it must be tested periodically for safety.

Arizona American Water Co., the utility serving the Tubac area, has notified its users that rates will be going up sharply to cover the costs of removing or significantly reducing the arsenic level of the water it pumps.

There are about 520 Arizona American Water Co. customers in Tubac.

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749