For years the water supply and infrastructures along with the current  demands have been a challenge in the “Cobre Valley” area. In April 2015, Globe-Miami Times wrote an article giving a lot of information about the problems along with the history behind water in Globe.

Rural areas such as Globe-Maimi rely on aquifers to get their water supply. Most of the city of Globe’s comes from Cutter Basin. The town of Miami gets their water from Arizona Water Company.

Both Globe and Miami are known for mining, and over the years, mining has contributed to some of the problems associated with the water contamination.

However, mining is only one contributor. Years ago chemicals were sprayed in the Pinal mountains for testing. Cesspools and sewer systems that are 100 years old in some areas that leak into the ground are also another problem. All of these play a part in the contamination.Years of rain and flooding has helped spread all the contaminants from all the sources throughout the area. 

The study has found that water needs to be pulled from a depth more than 400 feet deep to make sure it’s not contaminated. 

The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension began the Cobre Valley Assessment in October 2016 researching and collecting data from the area. Recently the UofA Cooperative Extension has been holding community events and distributing materials with information about the water resources available and challenges. A few of the challenges are water distribution systems, repairs needed to aging infrastructure; stormwater inflow into wastewater systems; cesspools in try-cities areas impede economic development; water from surgical aquifer is unsafe for consumption.

Ongoing work includes some of the following: Globe’s water meters are being replaced with “green meters” for better data; town of Miami is spending $24 million to update their water infrastructure; past contamination  cleanup activities; Freeport McMoRan is doing restoration work on degraded areas.

The list is still a work in progress and needs the help of the public to complete. The Cooperative Extension has held a few workshops at the Bullion Plaza Museum to work on the maps of Cobre Valley and water conservation. Another Hardscrabble is planned for November 15 at Bullion Plaza. More information is available online at wrrc.arizona.edu.

If you have items you’d like to see added to the list you can email seden@email.arizona.edu.