Oro Valley utility details well rehabs, new wheeling station and Rancho Vistoso completion

Oro Valley Water Utility staff on the commission’s May meeting outlined progress across several capital projects and said the work should improve system redundancy and reduce future rehab costs. "We're in the process ... pump installation going in next week and hopefully we'll have this back online early late May, early June," staff said describing repairs at well E2, where crews replaced casing and performed gravel packing using glass beads.

The utility reported completion of the Calle Buena Vista CAP wheeling station, one of four wheeling stations the utility uses to deliver a portion of its Central Arizona Project allocation from Tucson Water. Staff said the station provides a redundant feed to eliminate dead ends and improve water quality across connected subdivisions.

Rancho Vistoso was presented as a recent completion that allows the utility to defer a planned rehabilitation of a separate Sun City site. Staff said the consolidated approach is expected to produce “close to half $1,000,000” in savings and lower future energy and infrastructure investments. "After we completed this project … this can serve the whole area without having to rehab that site," staff said.

The utility described La Canada work that shifts the former high-water reservoir to an active role, including two new booster stations and a backup generator pad to provide continued service during outages. Staff said better modeling and metering will allow the utility to identify sites that can be placed in reserve status rather than mothballed permanently.

Construction on a partnered "Nords" project — a coordinated effort with Murata, Marana and Metro Water to bring Lower Santa Cruz water into a partnered four-bay area near Twin Peaks and Lambert Lane — was described as beginning this week, with five of six GMP (guaranteed maximum price) packages approved and an anticipated alignment change to avoid conflicts with nearby development.

Commissioners asked how net savings from capital choices are communicated; staff said such decisions are reflected in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and in periodic one-on-one conversations with town management. No funding shortfalls or formal council actions were cited at the meeting. The commission will receive a financial update at the next report that staff said will include a partner-cost breakdown for the Nords project.