Private ranches for profit are locating in residential areas in Cave Creek. These ranches are allowed by Cave Creek Zoning Ordinance to house five large animals on one acre or 25 large animals on 5 acres. Easily 15 gallons a day of water can be used for the maintenance of a large animal. 25 animals a day on 5 acres can consume 375 gallons of water. That amounts to 136,855 gallons of water a year. It is unknown how much water is in our aquifer. Ranches can legally drill deeper wells to obtain more water. This can cause neighborhood wells to go dry. These large animals are housed in mare motels or stock pens causing concentrated wastes to filter down into the aquifer which could contaminate the well water of other home owners. Also, flies from excrement of these animals presents a health concern to other home owners. The Cave Creek counsel needs to lower the number of large animals allowed on private ranches to insure all home owners continue to have clean well water and not be exposed to unnecessary health risks.
R.J. Davidson
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