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Press Release
Water Quality
Rapid response by Arizona’s Water Emergency Team helped the town quickly find funding for a fix

PHOENIX (September 28, 2018) – Monsoon downpours severely damaged two main water lines in the Town of Mammoth, cutting off water to around 1500 people in late July. Arizona’s Water Emergency Team (WET) immediately responded to provide technical assistance, emergency funding and other resources to assist town officials with fixing and upgrading the broken pipes.

In August, Governor Doug Ducey declared a State of Emergency in Mammoth, directing $200,000 in emergency funds to aid in immediate emergency protective measures and permanent waterline repairs. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) also awarded the Town of Mammoth with a $150,000 emergency grant for repairs.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is assisting the Town of Mammoth by hiring a contractor to assess the severity of the damage and estimate the cost of replacing the broken portions of the water mains. ADEQ is also funding the preparation of a design report, construction drawings and application so the town can direct more of the grant money straight to waterline replacement and road repairs. 

“Our water crews were working around the clock to mitigate the immediate impact to our residents and did an admirable job patching lines to restore service,” said Don Jones, the Mammoth Town Manager. “But it became rapidly clear that the aging water mains that broke needed replacing or this would happen again. We are grateful to ADEQ and the rest of the Water Emergency Team for helping us identify resources and quickly developing a plan to upgrade the lines.”

ADEQ and the Arizona Corporation Commission created WET to help improve the state’s response to water emergencies and also develop preventative measures to mitigate the risk of future water crises in Arizona. WET consists of representatives from state government and the water industry and is designed to facilitate immediate relief to water providers and their customers in cases where a water emergency poses an imminent threat to public health and safety.

“This is another great example of how the Water Emergency Team can connect the right water experts directly with the community so they may get the relief they need,” said Commissioner Andy Tobin of the Arizona Corporation Commission. “I am grateful to Director Cabrera and the members of the Water Emergency Team for their commitment to this unique partnership which efficiently addresses water-related issues in Arizona.”

The Water Emergency Team is comprised of a comprehensive set of knowledgeable organizations, including:

• Arizona Corporation Commission
• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
• Arizona Department of Water Resources
• Arizona Water Infrastructure Finance Authority
• Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs
• Arizona Commerce Authority
• County Supervisors Association
• League of Cities and Towns
• Arizona Commission on Indian Affairs
• Professional Fire Fighters Association of Arizona
• Water Utilities Association of Arizona
• Rural Water Association of Arizona

Contact

ADEQ Public Information Officer | 602-771-2215 (office) | 602-540-8072 (cell) | E-mail >