After years of uncertainty and national attention over a dwindling water supply, Rio Verde Foothills residents will soon have a permanent, reliable source of water. EPCOR Utilities announced that construction of a new water‑filling station serving the unincorporated Maricopa County community is complete and will officially open January 1, 2026, ending a years‑long crisis that began after Colorado River shortages triggered Scottsdale’s drought restrictions.

The new EPCOR‑owned facility, located just southeast of the community, includes a one‑mile pipeline and supporting infrastructure built on an accelerated timeline. EPCOR officials said the project fulfills a commitment made when the company was asked to step in during the height of the water shortage.

“Promise made, promise kept,” said Shawn Bradford, senior vice president of Regulated US Water for EPCOR, noting that the solution was made possible through cooperation among the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, the Arizona Legislature, the Arizona Corporation Commission, and the City of Scottsdale.

Rio Verde Foothills historically relied on hauled water purchased from Scottsdale. But when the federal government ordered the first‑ever cuts to Colorado River allocations in 2023, Scottsdale entered Stage 1 of its drought plan and stopped providing water for hauling, leaving hundreds of residents scrambling for alternatives.

A temporary fix was put in place in 2023 when lawmakers created the Rio Verde Foothills Standpipe District to allow EPCOR water to move through Scottsdale’s system. That arrangement expires at midnight on December 31, 2025, making the new filling station essential for uninterrupted service.

EPCOR has been supplying water to the community since October 2023 and will continue doing so through its existing portfolio. Officials say the permanent facility ensures long‑term stability for an area that became a national symbol of the Southwest’s water challenges.

The company emphasized that the project demonstrates how collaboration and urgency can resolve even complex water‑supply issues. “Together, we turned a challenge into a lasting solution that gives Rio Verde Foothills residents peace of mind for years to come,” Bradford said.

Source: Arizona’s Family (azfamily.com)