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Anthem May Be Key To Water Fix In New River And Desert Hills

By Bret Jaspers
Published: Friday, October 13, 2017 - 6:50am
Updated: Friday, October 13, 2017 - 7:24am
Photo by Bret Jaspers - KJZZ.
Residents of New River and Anthem attended Thursday's meeting of the Anthem Community Council board.

Residents of New River and Desert Hills face a deadline. At the end of the year, they can no longer get water from haulers bringing it from the City of Phoenix.So they’re asking their neighbor, Anthem, for help

Here’s the proposition: Residents and public officials have asked the utility EPCOR to set up a hauling station next to Desert Hills. EPCOR could then sell water to haulers, who would take it to New River and Desert Hills.

But to build a hauling station, EPCOR would need to buy or lease a vacant lot from Anthem, a neighboring community.

At a board meeting of the Anthem Community Council on Thursday, Troy Day, a Vice President at EPCOR, reassured board members that this would not raise their rates.

“It will be self-sustaining,” he said. “We’ve been asked to look in to see what we can do to help the situation.”

Several New River residents spoke, including Janet Curry. “I shop at Anthem. I go out to restaurants in Anthem. I support Anthem,” Curry pleaded. “Please help us that have to have water delivered out there.”

Councilmembers voted to gather more information and consider the proposal. They intend to make a final decision at their meeting on Oct. 25.

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