[general_re]

Yeah, but it is raw water - for irrigation purposes only.

I suspected as much, but still, that's a whopping $0.00006 per gallon. I wonder how much it would cost to clean it and filter it yourself... ;)

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

You can put down a well yourself (and a reverse-osmosis system for your house.) The entire setup - drilling, well, storage tank and etc. - will cost less than 20 grand.  To get a water meter installed costs between $8,000 and $10,000 down where I am (Chandler and Gilbert really stick it to county folks). Plus you have to sign an agreement with Chandler that you won't fight annexation. It is not unusual for a group of 4 to 6 households to share the cost of a well.

Then all you have to do is supply the electricity to pump the water. If you pump at night here, the cost is just slightly greater than if you were to buy raw irrigation water yourself. Of course, you are only allowed to have up to a 3/4 hp well pump (any more, and you are charged as a commercial entity).

The water level is generally at 80 feet here in the valley (or less). The people in the know, however, tend to put their pumps at around 300 - 400 feet. This is because when the water district turns on their pumps, it tends to reduce the water level rather drastically if you are within a half mile of one of these monsters.