LA PAZ COUNTY, Ariz. — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced Wednesday her office was taking legal action against farms in La Paz County for utilizing an excessive amount of water.
Fondomonte Arizona, a Saudi-owned firm that's been growing alfalfa for years, has been subjected to public scrutiny for paying below-market rates on Arizona land and not paying anything extra to use the state's water resources.
In a lawsuit brought against Fondomonte, the attorney general's office is accusing the company of violating Arizona's nuisance laws by threatening public health and safety with its water usage.
“Fondomonte’s unsustainable groundwater pumping has caused devastating consequences for the Ranegras Plain Basin, putting the health and future of the residents of La Paz County at risk,” Mayes said in a statement.
Mayes' office is seeking a court order to enjoin Fondomonte from excessive groundwater pumping.
"Fondomonte is taking advantage of Arizona’s failure to protect its precious groundwater resource. Despite this failure, Fondomonte is not permitted to cause a public nuisance that injures the health and interferes with the entire community’s comfortable enjoyment of life or property on the Ranegras Basin," the lawsuit states.
