Queen Creek Town Council approved up to $250 million to secure additional water from the Harquahala Valley, aiming to reduce reliance on local groundwater and CAGRD replenishment fees. Vice Mayor Leah Martineau said, "Approving the WIFA loan and Certificates of Participation for an amount not to exceed $250 million sounds like a lot of money – and it is. And when I think about what that investment means for our customers and future generations who will rely on Queen Creek water, it truly is a legacy decision that helps us have water self-sufficiency," according to the Town of Queen Creek.
The town is transitioning to a water portfolio designed to last 100 years and remain resilient against droughts. Previously, using water credits saved customers about $58 million since 2018, but Queen Creek plans to stop offsetting CAGRD fees, potentially leaving some residents unaware of the full costs, as reported by the Town of Queen Creek.
Queen Creek will start a new water resource fee in early 2027 to pay for a water purchase, replacing the current CAGRD replenishment charge that affects 88% of customers. The fee will apply to all residents after the CAGRD assessments end, and its structure will go through the town’s public fee-setting process before it begins. This change is part of Queen Creek becoming a designated water provider. Residents can find more information on the Town of Queen Creek’s water future webpage or by watching council meetings online.
