LAKE HAVASU CITY – The Mohave County Board of Supervisors recently voted to proceed with a state grant application that could enable the Horizon Six system’s water mains to meet the Lake Havasu City Fire Department’s fire flow requirements for both quantity and pressure. Since the District lost fire protection in 2018, Supervisor Buster Johnson has been working with staff to find a solution to update the system, paving the way for renewed discussions with Lake Havasu City about a new fire protection agreement. “While there’s no guarantee that Lake Havasu will provide fire flow protection even with infrastructure improvements, we cannot resume talks until the District undertakes these major upgrades,” stated Supervisor Johnson. “I am always seeking innovative ways to ensure the safety and needs of our District residents are met in the most efficient and economical manner, saving taxpayers’ money.”
Last year, Supervisor Buster Johnson learned about a new opportunity through the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) of Arizona Board. The Water Supply Development Revolving Fund (WSDRF) was established to offer low-cost financing, grants, and technical assistance for water supply development projects outside Arizona’s major urban centers. This fund is specifically tailored to address the unique water supply needs of small, rural communities. “Upon discovering this, I requested our Public Works Director, Steven Latoski, to investigate whether the Horizon Six Improvement District would qualify,” Johnson explained.
To address some of the fire flow issues, in 2021, Supervisor Buster Johnson allocated over $2.5 million of District III’s ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to help bring the system into the required fire flow by replacing water lines, pressure-reducing valves, and fire hydrates. “While this didn’t completely resolve the water flow issue to restore fire service, it significantly addressed the district’s needs and extended the system’s life by 50-100 years for the over 300 parcels that rely on it daily,” Johnson explained.
If the state grant is approved, it will enable the district to fix all necessary issues and finally come into compliance with Lake Havasu City’s requirements. If approved for the grant, Public Works Director Latoski anticipates construction of improvements to begin in May 2025.
