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With the local city council election in November, those candidates for the Flagstaff City Council who will appear on the ballot have been given the chance to answer a weekly question in no more than 150 words.

This week’s question: How should Flagstaff handle water issues going forward?

Council

Robert Breunig

Flagstaff obtains water from three main sources: Lake Mary, the C-aquifer (via wells), and the Peaks. Reclaimed water, a result of wastewater processing, is used selectively on green spaces and for snowmaking. A fundamental responsibility of the City Council is to ensure a safe, affordable, and sustainable supply of water for now and into the future. The City should continue to promote water conservation. The City’s responsibility also includes ensuring that our water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure is effective and maintained properly and consistently; that the precious C-aquifer is protected from contaminants and used sustainably; and that “A+� reclaimed water is integrated into our long-term water plans through advanced processing techniques before return to the aquifer or for potential potable reuse. Council’s responsibilities also include taking a critical look at whether Red Gap Ranch should be developed as a safe and cost-effective water source for Flagstaff.

Amethyst Deasy

Now that the city has voted to increase water rates, we need to triage the dozens of projects it is intended to fund. The water rate increase will disproportionately impact our most socioeconomically vulnerable residents who, historically, have had the least infrastructural improvements. Instead, the improvements to water infrastructure have been directed to new developments and neighborhoods with residents of a high socioeconomic status. This disproportionate effect is a primary concern for me and I will advocate for our low-income neighborhoods and most neglected infrastructure to take precedence.

I want to congratulate and thank everyone involved in the water settlement agreement that resolves decades of litigation over surface and groundwater rights with our indigenous neighbors, and provides a clearer path forward for Flagstaff's water sustainability.

Anthony Garcia

Since 1884, when Mayor Abineau partnered with Santa Fe Railroad to pipe water from the inner basin, Flagstaff has faced water challenges. At that time a consumer’s monthly water-rate cost a full day’s wages. In 1954, the city drilled its first wells into the C-Aquifer due to drought. By 2005, Red Gap Ranch was acquired for future well development due to anticipated growth projections lowering groundwater levels.

This abbreviated history underscores the need to plan for our water supply in Arizona’s arid desert environment, where 95% of precipitation evaporates, and only 5% replenishes our water sources.

The C-Aquifer hasn’t seen sustainable recharge in over 20 years. Addressing this finite resource is crucial, while planning for future generations. Investing in robust water/wastewater infrastructure, Advanced Water Purification, and Potable Reuse is essential for public health and safety.

Paying it forward today will ensure we have our water needs met for tomorrow.

David Spence

We should use these four guiding principles:

PLAN TODAY FOR FUTURE. Rising levels of greenhouse gasses have warmed our climate today, and we must anticipate reduced snowmelt. Purchase of Red Gap Ranch for its water rights was a wise Council decision a decade ago. Now, we need proactively plan for water use in a just, cost-effective manner, so that water will not be a “last drop� resource.

SEEK WATER JUSTICE. Recognizing all water wells in our region pump from the same aquifer, calls for all users (communities, tribes, industry, farms) to share their concerns over ground water adequacy and participate in decisions.

CONSERVATION ETHIC. Educate the public to conserve, considering escalating prices for large consumption.

UTILIZE WASTEWATER WISELY. We need to serve end-users: reclaimed water users, possible future purification into drinkable water, and appropriate riparian watering.

Dennis Givens

Water is essential for life. It hydrates, cleans, and helps us grow nutritious foods. Without this precious finite resource, our extraordinary community would cease to exist. That is why we must protect water at all costs. Being fiscally responsible in government is extremely critical because water issues need all the money we can spare. The future generations don’t deserve crippling debt to have safe drinking and usable water. Everyone needs water to live, thoughtful decisions must be made to properly fund water services by not mismanaging the consumers� tax money or placing excessive financial burdens on them and causing even greater hardships. Less government waste equals more for the water issues that cause life challenges within the city and the surrounding reservations. Water is the most important resource in all our lives, let’s say no to waste and yes to resourcefulness. Our lives deeply depend on it�

Miranda Sweet

As the council liaison to the Water Commision and a board member of the Northern Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, I see firsthand how important it is to be proactive with planning and maintenance regarding our numerous water infrastructure needs. Flagstaff City Council recently had to make some difficult decisions that will impact our entire community, including catching up our water rate structure from years of not raising rates while considering the impact our new rate will have on our residents and small businesses. I will continue to advocate for tracking our projects and being transparent with our community on what has been accomplished, ensure we revisit our water rate structure on a regular basis, and make certain our water infrastructure needs remain top of mind. While our community does a great job in water conservation efforts, it is crucial that we continue those efforts now and into the future.

Mayor

Becky Daggett

Flagstaff’s water resources are a priority, and one of the fundamental duties for our city is the delivery of adequate, clean water and managing stormwater and wastewater. Although not required to do so, Flagstaff applied for and received an Adequate Water Supply Designation from the Arizona Department of Water Resources in 2013. This designation means that Flagstaff has demonstrated a 100-year physical supply of water and is now required to report annually to maintain the designation. The majority of our water currently comes from groundwater in the Coconino Aquifer. To maintain a safe yield—while factoring in effects of climate change and not depleting the aquifer—we must maintain a diversity of water resources along with strong conservation efforts. Likewise, we must continue to invest in maintaining current, and constructing necessary new, infrastructure. Water is critical to all life and should be treated as the precious resource that it is.