Doug MacEachern

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Mesa approves $3B desert project with lake barred from municipal water

Public information officer for the state groundwater regulator

The Mesa city council on September 14 approved Legacy Park, a $3 billion mixed-use development anchored by a 20-acre public park with a 10-acre man-made lake. Arizona law bars using municipal tap water to fill a decorative lake, so the developer, Vestar, must buy private Type II groundwater rights from closed factories or mines and build a separate pipe system so the lake never connects to Mesa's drinking water.

Updated 2 hours ago

Notable Quotes

Arizona law prohibits the use of any water to fill or refill all or a portion of a body of water for scenic or recreational purposes, with specific exceptions.

from Mesa approves $3B desert project with lake barred from municipal water · Updated 2 hours ago

When non-exempt wells (wells pumping more than 35 gpm) are permitted, they must submit a well impact analysis to ensure withdrawals from the proposed well will not cause unreasonably increasing damage to surrounding land or other water users.

from Mesa approves $3B desert project with lake barred from municipal water · Updated 2 hours ago