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Water fight heads to court as Rio Verde Foothills near Scottsdale runs dry

Rio Verde Foothills residents have filed an injunction against the city of Scottsdale after it shut down water delivery services to the community. The city had cited worsening drought conditions, but it leaves hundreds of homes just days from running out of water, or having to buy it on the open, and more expensive, market.

Rio Verde Foothills resident Cody Reim was among several residents to address the City Council.

"Any water that is currently available is almost six times higher than it was two weeks ago, making it very unattainable financially for my family of six to get running water, " Reim said.

A private utility has offered to provide water if Scottsdale would treat it and distribute it, awaiting a long-term solution. But so far Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega has said no.

Former Scottsdale City Council member Linda Milhaven says that’s a mistake.

"It is not too late to do the right thing. I know the residents of Scottsdale are good people and would want to help their neighbors, especially when they learn that we can help without using any of our own water and without costing them any money," Milhaven said. 

Ortega has not commented on the injunction filing or on the private utility at this time.

Jill Ryan joined KJZZ in 2020 as a morning reporter, and she is currently a field correspondent and Morning Edition producer.