By Ryan Randazzo | The Republic
After years of overflowing sewers, noxious fumes and other problems, a judge on Thursday recommended that state regulators take control of Johnson Utilities water company away from its founder and put it in the hands of an emergency manager.
The water and sewer company with about 30,000 customers in the San Tan Valley area has faced hundreds of complaints from customers this year alone, including for low water pressure that forced at least one school to flush toilets with bottled water.
Last week, Queen Creek Fire Chief Vance Gray testified that the company’s water issues represent “an immediate danger to the health and safety” of people in the area because the company doesn’t have enough water to fight fires.
Administrative Law Judge Sarah Harpring reviewed mountains of evidence in the case and issued a 326-page recommendation Thursday that concluded regulators are justified and authorized to appoint their own manager .
“(Johnson Utilities) has failed to provide service and equipment that is in all respects just, reasonable, safe, proper, adequate and sufficient,” Harpring wrote.
The five elected Corporation Commissioners can vote on the judge’s recommendation as soon as July 24, after giving the water company a required 10 days to respond to the order.
