EPCOR has finalized the 2018 water quality reports for the two districts in the Johnson Utilities service area. These annual reports are required by state and federal agencies for all regulated community water systems and compile testing data on dozens of regulated contaminants. They are pleased to report that the water in the Johnson Utilities service area meets all current state and federal safety regulations.

July is typically the highest-use month of the year for water in Arizona and significant work has been done to put the Johnson Utilities system in position to meet peak demand. These improvements include improvements to San Tan #1 well, which now adds approximately 600 gallons per minute (gpm) to the system and will be capable of producing nearly double that amount once a power upgrade is completed mid-July.

At EPCOR, safety is our top priority. We want to make sure customers and the public are adequately informed about their Johnson Utilities water and wastewater service, and extra measures and work underway to improve that service.

The Section 11 Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) continues to be a very high priority for EPCOR’s management direction. We’re committed to transparent communications with customers on the actions we’re taking to improve conditions at the facility.

Media Releases Issued Without EPCOR Knowledge/Approvals

During the past month, some messages have been released to the media and posted on the Johnson Utilities Facebook page without the approval and knowledge of EPCOR.

A town hall meeting has been scheduled to hear from residents of San Tan Valley regarding Johnson Utilities, LLC Section 11 Wastewater Treatment Plant and related items. The town hall will take place Thursday, May 23, 2019, at 6 p.m. at the Central Arizona College, San Tan Valley Campus.

During the March 12-13, 2019 Arizona Corporation Commission Open Meeting, a request to adjust the CAGRD fees charged to Johnson Utilities L.L.C. customers was on the consent agenda.

During the past month, certain messages have been released to the media concerning Johnson Utilities without the approval and knowledge of EPCOR. EPCOR was appointed by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) as interim manager of Johnson Utilities in August 2018.

The Johnson Utilities Pecan treatment plant collects and treats wastewater to an A+ effluent standard consistent with irrigation water used by golf courses, public parks and other similar uses across Arizona. Once treated, the A+ effluent water is delivered to users or recharged using onsite recharge and basins.

Johnson Utilities L.L.C. had filed a motion seeking special action relief from the Arizona Corporation Commission’s order appointing a third-party interim manager (EPCPR) to conduct Johnson Utilities’ operations. It argued that "the Commission lacked authority to interfere with the internal management of a public service corporation, and therefore that the Commission lacked jurisdiction to issue the interim management order".

Bringing additional sources for quality drinking water into the Johnson Utilities water system in San Tan Valley is a top priority for interim manager, Epcor. One of the sources available is the SanTan Well #1 which Epcor is currently working to bring online.

The warm weather will be here before we know it, and EPCOR is focused on incremental solutions that will add up to increased capacity to meet higher water demand this summer.

A Community Open House with EPCOR is scheduled for February 27, 2019. The public is welcome.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) issued a Water Quality Advisory on January 11, 2019 for the unpermitted discharge of recycled water from Johnson Utilities’ Pecan Water Reclamation Plant into Queen Creek in the San Tan Valley area. There is no impact to Johnson Utilities’ drinking water systems and there has NOT been a release of untreated sewage into the environment.

As Interim Manager of Johnson Utilities, EPCOR is working hard to address issues that matter most to customers. We’re providing regular updates here and on www.johnsonutilities.com on improvements underway.

Hundreds of San Tan Valley residents packed into room A-101 at Central Arizona College's San Tan Valley Campus Thursday night to hear from Johnson Utilities' Interim Manager, Epcor.

It’s been 48 days since EPCOR assumed management and operations of Johnson Utilities, and the team has moved quickly to come up to speed and to address immediate priorities, focusing on water quality and pressure, preventing sewer overflows, and customer service and billing accuracy.

"Johnson Utilities and EPCOR today transferred management and operations of Johnson Utilities to EPCOR, effective immediately.

While Epcor has officially stepped in and taken over management of Johnson Utilities, Commission Staff is continuing to evaluate revoking Johnson's CC&N.

When we asked the community if they thought the CC&N (Certificate of Convenience and Necessity) should be revoked from Johnson Utilities (JU), we learned that many people don't understand what the CC&N does and what happens if the CC&N is revoked.