Global Water closes well; Water deemed safe to drink

Global Water Resources has shut down a well that appeared to have structural compromises as a result of recent rains. The well is one of four that provide water to residents of Maricopa.

A number of residents in the areas of Rancho El Dorado and The Villages at Rancho El Dorado are among those impacted.

Global Water Spokesperson Paul Walker told inmaricopa.com the problem involves the Smith Well which is located in a wash. He said the problem should be cleared up this evening.

Walker, who said Global Water received a lot of calls and emails from Maricopa residents about the safety of the water, indicated the water is safe to use and has been tested.

“We’ve ramped up all the chlorine levels and we’ve had no tests that show a low chlorine level,” Walker said. “We’ve increased all our testing and taken extra bacteriological samples looking for turbidity, nitrates and fluoride. We should have all those tests back tomorrow (Tuesday) to see if we have any exceedents.”

Some residents reported their water was cloudy and dirty as well as actually having fragments of debris in the water.

“It appears during the rain that we got sediment into our system,” Walker said. “The Smith Well was engineered and built with a sealed containment structure that goes over the well and there is also casing that lines the well. All of that was designed to prevent any type of sediment inflow into the system. Clearly we have a problem with the containment structure. We’re sending crews in to figure out why that containment structure failed.”