The recent article in the Times Independent regarding the town’s application to pump 300 acre feet of water contains incorrect information. Though the town claims they are pumping reclaimed wastewater originating from park irrigation, in fact according to the EPA, irrigation water that percolates through the soil to any depth is defined as groundwater, not reclaimed wastewater.

The groundwater that collects near the town’s pump location by the Quail wash is due to an impermeable clay layer at a depth of 22 feet. This layer was documented in an application to drill a test well by MCO realty in the 1980’s. Therefore, their claim to prevent wastewater from flowing onto the Morningside riparian wash and onto Yavapai tribal land is incorrect as this is groundwater. Hopefully the town officials and Morningside residents can reach a mutually satisfactory resolution of the best shared use of this groundwater.

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