Deal between Chandler and Roosevelt Water Conservation District is valid, court rules

The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that a water agreement between Chandler and a public utility is enforceable and valid, even after the utility pulled out of it eight years ago.

The dispute was over whether Chandler waited too long to sue the Roosevelt Water Conservation District.

In 2002, the district agreed to supply irrigation water to Chandler through a contract intended to last 80 years.

But the water district terminated the agreement in 2018. Chandler attempted to enforce the agreement multiple times, and the city sued the district in 2022.

The district claimed Chandler waited too long to file suit, citing a law stating all claims against a public entity have to be brought within a year.

But the Supreme Court ruled that law had no bearing in this case, as there is a common-law doctrine that removes statutes of limitations for state entities to bring lawsuits against other state entities.

"Nearly 27,000 Chandler families have paid Roosevelt Water Conservation District property taxes for years without water benefits," said Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke in a written statement. "That ends with this ruling. Water is a critical public resource, and this ruling restores a key component of Chandler’s 100‑year assured water supply through an agreement with RWCD that contains an objective, transparent formula that respects taxpayers. We will move quickly to implement this decision and are ready to work with RWCD so Chandler residents receive the water benefits they’ve been funding for years.”