Flagstaff Water Commission discussing whether to amend a contract with Snowbowl (Patrick Walker/NAZ Today)
FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today)– The Flagstaff Water Commission has voted to support a contract giving Snowbowl the option to use reclaimed or recovered-reclaimed water for snowmaking.
Four options were discussed. One of the options was to simply do nothing and let the Flagstaff city council decide on their own what water would be provided to Snowbowl. The other options were using reclaimed water for snowmaking, which would be water pumped directly from a treatment plant to Snowbowl; recovered-reclaimed water, which would be water that was treated and allowed to seep into the ground and then be captured from a well and pumped to Snowbowl; or to provide potable water directly from wells.
Commissioners heard from city staff, Snowbowl representatives, elected tribal representatives, and dozens of concerned audience members during a four-hour meeting at Sinagua Middle School. Commissioners deliberated for over an hour before coming to the decision.
The nine-member commission voted 5-4 to recommend to the city council to amend the contract to allow for the use of either directly or indirectly-delivered reclaimed water. This means that Snowbowl will get to decide whether to use reclaimed or recovered-reclaimed water for snowmaking purposes. Commission chairman Patrick Hurley cast the deciding vote, breaking the 4-4 tie.
A motion to deliver drinking water was denied 6-2, and a motion that had the option of delivering only reclaimed water directly from the treatment plant, which is what the original contract from 2002 would have provided, was denied 5-3.
A lawsuit questioning the health effects and safety of reclaimed water has been filed by attorney Howard Shanker on behalf of several Arizona tribes. Utilities Director Randy Pellatz responded to concerns from the commission questioning whether the lawsuit would affect any of tonight’s decisions. “This lawsuit is based on emotion. You would have to drink one gallon of water a day for 4,000 years to (drink) the equivilant of one Tylenol. The science just doesn’t justify it,” said Pellatz. “It’s just meant to delay the construction (of the pipeline).”
The federal government is showing support for the use of recovered-reclaimed water in the project. The US Department of Agriculture has committed approximately 11 million dollars in subsidies to the City of Flagstaff to help deliver the water.
A few members of the audience shouted out in displeasure to the decision. “You’ve sold your souls,” said one woman.
The water commission’s recommendation now moves to the city council, which will decide whether or not to adopt the commission’s decision.
Very well written. I was there and would say this article correctly describes the events. It’s a touchy one to many individuals and groups one way or the either but I feel just if you were wondering what happened at this event this is the closest account of that hearing.