May 4, 2026
Photo Credit: Topacio “Topaz” Servellon, Tucson Spotlight
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: John Dougherty, Executive Director
jdougherty@scenicsantaritas.org
Tucson—Hudbay Minerals issued misleading statements in a May 1 story published by the Tucson Sentinel in response to a Save the Scenic Santa Ritas investigation that revealed the company has failed to provide required well operation reports to the state and Sahuarita.
“Hudbay is attempting to deflect from the company’s failures to comply with state groundwater reporting law and to provide Sahuarita required reports under a crucial 2013 agreement by issuing misleading statements,” SSSR Executive Director John Dougherty said.
The SSSR investigation found that Hudbay has not filed required pump installation reports to the Arizona Department of Water Resources for four production wells in two wellfields just east of the Sahuarita town limits. Arizona Revised Statute S45-600 (B) requires well owners to file the completion reports.
In a statement to the Sentinel, a Hudbay spokesperson blamed a contractor that “neglected to file certain well completion reports” with ADWR.
ADWR records show that in November 2024 the state sent Hudbay, operating as Copper World Inc., a letter for each well stating the “well owner is required to submit the enclosed Completion Report within 30 days of installation of pump equipment.”
ADWR records available online show Hudbay has not filed the required pump completion reports as of May 1. (See ADWR records for well #55-241987, well #55-241988, well #55-242051 and well #55-241989.)
The Sahuarita 2013 agreement requires Hudbay to replenish 105% of the groundwater it pumps with Central Arizona Project water into the aquifer beneath Sahuarita and Green Valley. In exchange, Sahuarita granted Hudbay a right of way along Santa Rita Road to install its primary water pipeline that would connect the company’s wellfields to the mine site. The pipeline is necessary to operate Hudbay’s planned Copper World mine.
Hudbay’s spokesperson said the Sahuarita agreement “itself does not require reporting on private well development.”
Section 8 of the agreement requires Hudbay to provide Sahuarita with “reports and documents which show the amount of water withdrawn and the amount of water recharged.” The agreement includes an exhibit that identifies two Hudbay wellfields called Sanrita West and Sanrita South. ADWR records show Hudbay withdrew water from three wells in Sanrita West and two wells in Sanrita South in 2025.
Hudbay did not report the groundwater pumping to Sahuarita, according to town records reviewed by SSSR.
Hudbay’s spokesperson also stated the water pumped in 2025 “was not put to consumptive use and was returned to the environment.” The company does not explain how the water was returned to the environment and how much, if any, was returned to the groundwater.
“It doesn’t matter what Hudbay did with the groundwater it pumped in 2025,” Dougherty said. “The Sahuarita agreement requires Hudbay to replenish 105% of the groundwater it withdraws with Central Arizona Project water. Hudbay has provided no records to the town that show it used CAP water to replenish the aquifer.”
Hudbay currently has no ability to deliver CAP water to the replenishment area defined in the agreement.
Hudbay’s technical documents indicate the company would use more than 170 billion gallons of groundwater over the 44-year life the Copper World project. The CAP has already reduced water allocations from the Colorado River because of the ongoing drought. Further reductions are expected.
“Sahuarita must not grant Hudbay permission to install its crucial water pipeline needed to operate Copper World until the company can prove it can replenish 105% of the groundwater Copper World will withdraw with Central Arizona Project water,” Dougherty said.
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