Summer Haven, the small community atop Mt. Lemmon, is under a mandatory Stage 3 water curtailment after officials said the area's well water production has dropped to as little as 25% of what's needed to meet daily demand.

On July 6, the Mt. Lemmon Water District sent a notice to the community asking residents and visitors to reduce their water use wherever possible, saying its water table has reached dramatically low levels.

"The source flow rate has dramatically decreased over the last weeks due to lack of rain, which makes it increasingly difficult to keep the tanks full and water flowing," the letter said.

Stage 3 is triggered when water storage or well production falls between 25% and 50% of capacity for at least 24 consecutive hours, or when supply issues make it unlikely the district can meet demand over the next seven days.

Several factors could be contributing to the shortage, including a decreased water table, equipment malfunctions or poor water production efficiency. Given the ongoing drought facing Southern Arizona, any number of secondary issues could also be driving the need for curtailment.

The letter restricts activities including lawn care, washing vehicles, laundry, drip irrigation, fountains, mister systems and construction-use water. It also lists plumbing leaks and filling water storage tanks as restricted activities.

The district has also stopped approving new service lines and meter installations for the duration of Stage 3.

Penalties escalate with repeat violations: a $300 fine for a first offense, $600 for a second and $900 for a third violation and any thereafter, after which the meter remains locked off until Stage 3 is lifted.

"This mandatory conservation of our water resources could prevent entering Stage 4. Cooperation and conservation help manage water availability to all our customers," the letter said.

If conditions worsen to Stage 4, residents would face a mandatory cap of 1,200 gallons per month, half the current Stage 3 limit, a threshold that could effectively shut down life on the mountain for some residents.

The district is also asking residents to shut off their water at the meter whenever they'll be away for 24 hours or longer, and to keep at least 5 gallons of drinking water on hand in case of an outage. The document includes a list of water conservation suggestions.

"Use paper plates and cups, do laundry in Tucson and flush toilets only when necessary. Change shower heads, faucets, and toilets to low-flow," it said.

Officials warned that the drought driving the water shortage has also elevated fire danger on the mountain, urging residents and visitors to use extreme caution with any open flame.

Summerhaven residents are familiar with these kinds of restrictions and have complied with other community measures in the past, such as wildfire prevention tactics, showing their willingness to take extra steps to protect the Mt. Lemmon community.

Recent rainfall could also help alleviate the situation. The National Weather Service reports that the area encompassing Mt. Lemmon and the Santa Catalina Mountains has seen 1.2 feet of rainfall over the past several days, with forecasts showing only a few more inches expected by Wednesday.

A foot of rainfall can make a difference in increasing the water table, but it could still be a while before residents can return to normal water use.

The restrictions also apply to visitors to the mountain, who are advised to pack extra clothes and water to avoid using the mountain's water supply for cleaning or recreation.

Residents can request a full copy of the curtailment plan by emailing mtlemmonwateroffice@gmail.com or by visiting the Resources tab at mtlemmonwater.org.

Quentin Agnello is a University of Arizona alum and freelance journalist in Tucson. Contact him at qsagnello@gmail.com.

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