ARIZONA DAILY STAR:  Thurs., Oct. 18, 2007

Study: CAP water could cost OV $172M

By Danielle Sottosanti

The town of Oro Valley could spend as much as $172.6 million to deliver Central Arizona Project water to its residents, a study shows.  Oro Valley Water Utility Director Philip Saletta presented the final draft results of a CAP cost estimates study — along with a recent financial analysis of how much it would actually cost with interest — to the Town Council on Oct. 10.

Marana is looking at a project cost of about $119.8 million, including interest.  But those figures have not yet been presented to the Marana Town Council, said Marana Utilities Director Brad DeSpain.  He will give a presentation on them to the council on Nov. 20, he said.

Oro Valley's and Marana's shares are just portions of the total cost to bring CAP water to Northwest Water Providers — a group that consists of the Flowing Wells Irrigation District, the Metropolitan Domestic Water Improvement District and the towns of Marana and Oro Valley.

The overall project is expected to cost $283.2 million plus nearly $224.6 million in interest, the studies show. The four water providers will share the cost based on how much CAP water each is allocated to use.