Arizona Water Company is pleased to invite all our friends and customers in the Apache Junction area to attend the Grand Opening of our new office there on Wednesday, November 3rd from 11 am until 1 pm. While we aren’t moving very far (just a few steps, really) we are working from a brand new building that will allow us to serve our current customers more effectively and give us room to take care of the many newcomers we expect to see in this fast-growing region of Arizona.
or more information on the Apache Junction Office Grand Opening click here. If you would like to stop by, RSVP to 480-982-2201 and ask for Michelle or email us at [email protected].
Recently, the Town of Miami and the City of Globe have been hit hard by natural disasters. First fires struck in June and then flooding followed in August. Arizona Water has been working diligently to make sure that customers maintained their water during these natural disasters. Arizona Water is a proud member of the communities we serve. Our employees live in the area in which they work and are active members of our communities. When natural disasters strike our service areas, they impact not only our customers, but also our employees. Arizona Water was quick to jump in during the recent natural disasters in Miami and Globe to help our customers. In fact, our local team worked with Salvation Army to give out shovels, brooms, rakes, trash bags, and pry bars to residents impacted by the flooding. If any customer needs assistance during this time, please reach out to our local Miami Office at 925-473-4433.
On August 23, 2021, Arizona Water Company ("Arizona Water") completed its acquisition of Casa Grande South Water Company ("CGS") and Casa Grande West Water Company, Inc. ("CGW"). On August 23, 2021 Arizona Water will officially become CGS/CGW’s water service provider. At this link are answers to some key questions about the acquisition and at this link is a press release about the acquisition. Arizona Water is excited to be the new water provider for CGS/CGW. If you have any questions about the acquisition, you may contact our local office at 520-836-8785 or email us at [email protected].
Later in August 2021, the Bureau of Reclamation will release the 2022 Colorado River Annual Operating Plan and announce a Tier 1 Shortage Declaration on the Colorado River beginning in January 2022 https://www.usbr.gov/ColoradoRiverBasin/#AOPColoradoRiverReservoirs. Arizona Water Company (AWC) has taken proactive measures and incorporated long-term planning to protect our water resources. Although agriculture in some of the counties we serve will be affected, it is important to note that the drinking water that AWC serves its residential and business customers statewide will not be affected by the initial shortage declaration. Equally important, is the strong water conservation ethic in Arizona communities across the state. Your local water conservation achievements have helped avoid this declaration for several years. We encourage all Arizonans to continue to do their part in securing our water future by using water wisely at home and at work. If you have questions about the Colorado River Shortage Declaration, contact our Phoenix Office at 602-240-6860.
Thursday, July 8th marks the first direct delivery of CAP water to customers in our White Tank System! Through agreements made with Maricopa Water District and EPCOR, Inc., Arizona Water now has the ability to accept fully treated drinking water into our distribution system from the EPCOR White Tanks Regional Water Treatment Plant. Arizona Water’s plan is to ramp up the deliveries of this surface water supply over the next 3 to 5 years as water demands increase. In the meantime, Arizona Water will continue to offset its groundwater pumping in White Tank by storing a portion of its CAP allocation at the Maricopa Water District’s Groundwater Savings Facility. This collaborative partnership between Arizona Water Company, Maricopa Water District and EPCOR, Inc. is another example of our commitment to providing a safe, reliable supply of drinking water to our customers.
On January 29, 2021, Arizona Water Company filed an Application with the Arizona Corporation Commission for an order authorizing it to: (1) obtain short-term debt capital, including revolving lines of credit, in excess of the limit set forth in A.R.S. 40-302(D), in a principal amount not to exceed $40 million ("Short-Term Debt"), not including interest and charges; (2) borrow and maintain the Short-Term Debt in excess of the twelve-month time limit set forth in A.R.S. 40-301(B), for up to four years from the date of the order in this matter, and during that four years, re-price, re-borrow, redeem, refinance, renew, reissue, roll-over, refund, and repay such Short-Term Debt from time to time; and (3) fully refinance, refund, and repay such Short-Term Debt within four years of the date of the financing order by obtaining long-term debt capital in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $40 million, not including interest and charges, through the issuance and sale of AWC's General Mortgage Bonds, debentures, promissory notes, loans, or other evidences of indebtedness in up to two borrowings. A telephonic hearing for this matter will occur on August 3, 2021 at 10:00am. click here to view the public notice on this matter.
Arizona Water Company’s new E-Billing system will make it much easier for customers to receive and pay their monthly water bills. Starting July 6, 2021, Arizona Water customers can choose to receive their bills by email. The email will include a copy of the customer’s bill plus a link to the company’s e-billing portal. “All of our customers currently get their bills the old fashioned way – through the mail,” said Fred Schneider, President of Arizona Water Company. “By offering our e-billing system, customers can get their bills straight to their email instead of waiting for the mail to arrive. Not only is it incredibly convenient, it also is environmentally friendly.”
To enroll, a customer can go to the AWC website at azwater.com and click on the e-billing picture, or go directly to onlinebiller.com/azwater/ to enroll.
To sign up, customers will need to have their account number, which can be found on their monthly billing statements. Customers will be asked to create a user name and a password. If a customer isn’t sure how to do that, they can call their local Arizona Water office and speak to one of the customer service representatives.
Once you are logged in, simply follow the directions. The page will show you how much you owe, for one account or multiple accounts. It will also tell you when your payment is due.
“We are very happy that we can offer this new service to our customers,” said Mr. Schneider. “We want to encourage our customers to take advantage of this option so we can make things easier for everyone.”
On June 8, 2021, the Arizona Corporation Commission approved Arizona Water Company's ("Arizona Water") acquisition of Casa Grande South Water Company ("CGS") and Casa Grande West Water Company, Inc. ("CGW"). On August 23, 2021 Arizona Water will officially become CGS/CGW’s water service provider. At this link are answers to some key questions about the acquisition and at this link is a press release about the acquisition. Arizona Water is excited to be the new water provider for CGS/CGW. If you have any questions about the acquisition, you may contact our local office at 520-836-8785 or email us at [email protected].
On March 24, 2021, the Arizona Corporation Commission approved a rate increase for AWC’s Western Group customers. This includes customers in Pinal Valley, White Tank, and Ajo. The new rates became effective on April 1, 2021. The rates that Western Group customers were previously paying were based on costs incurred in 2014. Each customer will receive a notice in their regular monthly bill with more information about the rate changes. You may also click on the name of your service area to view a copy of the notice: Pinal Valley, White Tank, and Ajo. If you have any questions regarding the rate change, please contact your local office. You can find your local office contact information here: Community Locator Map.
Recently, there was a malicious cyberattack by hackers against a water utility treatment plant in Florida. After a thorough review of its system, Arizona Water officials have found its system was safe and secure, with no evidence of any kind of hack or tampering.
In the attack on the Florida water system, a hacker managed to break into the utility's computerized Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, which allows operators to monitor all parts of the system from a central location or remotely. The hacker was able to change the amount of some caustic chemicals routinely used to manage acidity of water in the system, but alert operators noticed the changes and got the system back to normal almost immediately, preventing any damage or injury.
Arizona Water uses SCADA technology for a number of its water systems around the state and is planning to expand its use. Security procedures for these systems are reviewed regularly. Inorder to stay up to speed on the latest cybersecurity threats, Arizona Water works closely withfederal agencies like the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Homeland security, as well as with Arizona agencies like AZWARN.
At the request of the Arizona Corporation Commissions just over a year ago, Arizona Water reviewed all of its cyber security measures, and reported back to the commission.
It started out like any normal work day for Seth Lara, a 26 year old meter reader for Arizona Water Company. Up early, as usual, and out the door, this day to check water meters in a business district of Casa Grande.
Around 11:35 am, Lara was in an alley checking some meters when he heard a disturbance. He looked up and saw a Casa Grande police officer wrestling with someone on the ground across the street. He heard a cry for help, and Lara’s instincts kicked in. He could see the police officer was struggling to subdue a person who was on the ground. He saw that no other police or passersby were in the area and he decided he had to help.
Lara ran across the street, dropped his tools and grabbed the suspects flailing arm, which finally allowed the police officer to handcuff the suspect.
“It didn’t look all that dangerous, but in a situation like that, you never know what’s going to happen,” Lara said. “I hope someone would do the same for me if I needed it.”
Lara has no training in handling this kind of situation, but he calmly stepped up and made sure that the officer was safe. For that, we owe him a big thank you, and recognition for his courage.
On December 17, 2020, Arizona Water Company, Casa Grande South Water Company ("CGS"), and Casa Grande West Water Company, Inc. ("CGW") filed a joint application with the Arizona Corporation Commission ("Commission") for approval of the sale of CGS’s and CGW's assets to Arizona Water. click here for answers to some key questions about the proposed acquisition and click here for the public notice of the proposed acquisition.