Why are wells so expensive in AZ? (Prescott, Cottonwood: live in, ordinances)

[Arizona Bound]

Hey.. Thanks for the Great Info.. Thank-You!
We are looking into buying a home in the Bullhead City,
Fort Mohave area. Some of the homes we have looked at
are on well water. Most are on city water. We would like to
have our own pool, but with the city water costs.. we are not
sure if it's worth the costs. Then with well water, we are not
sure about the upkeep and other issues you all have mentioned.
So our main concern would be (with having a pool) which way
to go... the reliability of city water or the lower costs and upkeep
of well water? Any opinions? Thanks!

[Stephan_K]

Originally Posted by Arizona Bound

Hey.. Thanks for the Great Info.. Thank-You!
We are looking into buying a home in the Bullhead City,
Fort Mohave area. Some of the homes we have looked at
are on well water. Most are on city water. We would like to
have our own pool, but with the city water costs.. we are not
sure if it's worth the costs. Then with well water, we are not
sure about the upkeep and other issues you all have mentioned.
So our main concern would be (with having a pool) which way
to go... the reliability of city water or the lower costs and upkeep
of well water? Any opinions? Thanks!

What is the cost of city water service where you are thinking of buying?

[nitram]

Personally I would get the cost of drilling a well, plus the costs of pump etc and estimate the cost to maintain it, then take how many years you plan to live there and then divide that amount into those figures to give you an annual cost, then divide that by 12 to get a monthly cost. Compare that to what City Water Services cost per month. Then if you need a septic system then add that to your costs.
If you buy the well on time payments, figure the interest you'll pay also. Then there are emergencies that are unplanned.
Now city water service along with sewer service, which is reliable, would be my choice without firguring all the costs and headaches for drilling a well that may run dry on you and then you start drilling again at additional costs.

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by Stephan_K

Guys, the main reason a city will not allow you to have a well within its limits is because with city water usually comes the city sewer service too.

Ah, actually, you are mistaken

A law was passed in 1980 - The Groundwater Management Act that, for the most part PROHIBITS wells in areas serviced by municipal water systems -

[kdog]

Originally Posted by Greatday

Ah, actually, you are mistaken

A law was passed in 1980 - The Groundwater Management Act that, for the most part PROHIBITS wells in areas serviced by municipal water systems -

You sure about that? The way I read it, wells under 35 GPM are exempt from that regulation. (Residential wells are far less than that.) Read the overview of the act, and see if you don't agree.

Link: http://www.azwater.gov/dwr/Content/P...s/gwmgtovw.pdf

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by kdog

You sure about that? The way I read it, wells under 35 GPM are exempt from that regulation. (Residential wells are far less than that.) Read the overview of the act, and see if you don't agree.

Link: http://www.azwater.gov/dwr/Content/P...s/gwmgtovw.pdf

You are correct - to a degree.

If you REALLY get into it, there is some provision (don't have it in front of me right now) that provides that if a water line is within 300 feet (I think that's the distance) OR WILL BE within 1 year, you cannot drill. You also have different rules for AMA's.

[kdog]

Originally Posted by Greatday

You are correct - to a degree.

If you REALLY get into it, there is some provision (don't have it in front of me right now) that provides that if a water line is within 300 feet (I think that's the distance) OR WILL BE within 1 year, you cannot drill.

100'.

Link: ADWR - Wells

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by kdog

100'.

Link: ADWR - Wells

THANKS! Hey, at least I was .... "close"

[Stephan_K]

Originally Posted by Greatday

Ah, actually, you are mistaken

A law was passed in 1980 - The Groundwater Management Act that, for the most part PROHIBITS wells in areas serviced by municipal water systems -

Still doesn't change the fact that the city service just wants paid for the service they have put together for the community. The Act is just a political way of saying if the service is available to you, you WILL us it or you will go thirsty, thats all. And they did leave holes in it, as has already been brought up.

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by Stephan_K

Still doesn't change the fact that the city service just wants paid for the service they have put together for the community. The Act is just a political way of saying if the service is available to you, you WILL us it or you will go thirsty, thats all. And they did leave holes in it, as has already been brought up.

Well, it goes a "little bit" beyond that

For, you have to tie in the 100 year assured water supply issue, the AMA issue, recapture and reuse of grey water, the CAP, water conservation issues (such as in Tucson) etc