Three wells supply SaddleBrooke with water from from the aquifer that lies under the Page-Trowbridge landfill

       The water from the well furthest away from the Page-Trowbridge landfill is fully tested, but the two wells closest to the landfill have been exempted by the ADEQ from testing for contaminants known to exist in the landfill. 

       Some of the contaminants exempted from monitoring have been previously detected in water taken from the aquifer that supplies SaddleBrooke with water.

     According to the ADEQ web site, the mission of the drinking water section of ADEQ, "is to develop and provide proactive environmental programs in Arizona with a focus on the protection of drinking water sources and the protection of public health."

       The granting of waivers by the ADEQ allowing water companies to bypass monitoring of the water in the aquifer beneath the Page-Trowbridge landfill for contaminants known to be in the landfill and previously detected in the water supply, leaves local residents wondering if their water appears safe simply because it is not being adequately monitored.