SUNBURST FARMS IRRIGATION DISTRICT
IMPORTANT IRRIGATION INFORMATION FOR HOMEOWNERS
Welcome to Sunburst Farms! You have moved into one of the few remaining irrigated neighborhoods in the Phoenix area, to raise your family, live in a rural atmosphere, have some space for animals, grow gardens and orchards, and have room for hobbies and personal endeavors.
General Irrigation Information for Homeowners (revised March 2025)
About the District. Sunburst Farms Irrigation District (SBFID) is a municipal corporation, governed by Arizona Revised statutes and is overseen by Maricopa County. There are 828 acres from roughly 39th Avenue to 51st Avenue, and Gelding/Acoma to Paradise. There are approximately 650 homeowners of one-, two- and four- acre properties. A Board of Directors made up of three elected homeowners conducts monthly meetings (first Tuesday each month) and oversees the management of the business of the District. The District Manager manages the day-to-day operations. Homeowners are encouraged to attend meetings which are posted 24 hours in advance on the website, notified by email, and at boxes located in the District (See the attached list for bulletin box locations)
SBFID is a special taxing district and a municipal corporation, organized according to State Statutes and reporting to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. When you own a property within SBFID, you also become a member of the District. As such, you are required to pay the membership fee (technically, a tax levied by the Special Taxing District), whether you take irrigation or not. Irrigation water is charged by the time ordered. Members are the District, so it is important to understand the function of the District and your responsibilities. The Irrigation District has no connection with the Sunburst Farms Community Cooperative, Sunburst Farms HOA, or Sunburst Farms Trailblazer newsletter.
New Owners
If you are new to flood irrigation, the following are a few items to help you so that the experience will not be stressful or problematic. When the irrigator opens your inlet valves, water is delivered to your property at approximately 75,000 gallons an hour. Since you are entirely responsible for what happens to the water on your property, it’s very important that you read and understand the information provided here. It is very helpful to ask the previous owner to explain how irrigation works on your particular property. Each property is unique in that the landscaping, vegetation, residential buildings, pools, sheds, barns, arenas, grading, berms and type of usage may be different. However, once you know the correct amount of irrigation time and procedure for control of the water on your property, you will find the whole process very easy. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to manage and maintain their water once it arrives on the property.
What You are Responsible for:
*As a homeowner, you are solely responsible for ensuring that your property is correctly graded and bermed. The grading should allow the water to flow from the inlet valves to areas that you wish to irrigate. The berms and grading should be constructed so that residentialstructures, pools, barns and sheds, etc. are protected even when the property perimeter berms arefull. Residential flooding can occur if the berms or grading are inadequate. Where possible, in an emergency, excess water should flow off your property, into the street or bridle path, before residential flooding could take place. However, allowing water to consistently flow off your property may result in irrigation being canceled until the issue is corrected.
*for keeping the vegetation on your property from growing into, over, or on the bridle path. Failure to consistently keep the area clear of debris may result in the District subcontracting to clear the area. These costs will be passed on to the homeowner.
*for providing the irrigator access to the inlet valves from the easement – the irrigator will not climb walls or fences for safety reasons. If special equipment is needed to access your valves, the District Manager will notify you and you must provide it. If access is not provided, the irrigator will cancel your irrigation; although you will still be charged for the time ordered. All dogs must be contained during irrigation and we must have access through back gates in case valves spin off during your irrigation.
*for maintaining clear access to the inlet valves by removing any grass, shrubs, trees, debris, leaves or other vegetation that may prevent the irrigator from finding or opening the valves. Failure to do so may cause the irrigator to cancel your irrigation, although you will still be charged for the time ordered.
*for the control, distribution and disposition of water on your property after your valves are opened by the irrigator and until they are closed by the irrigator or while water is still on your property. Failure to do so may result in property damage for which you will be solely financially responsible.
*for ensuring the irrigation water soaks in within 72 hours of delivery so that mosquitoes and the diseases they carry do not breed and become a hazard. This is a requirement of Maricopa County and Vector Control. If Maricopa County is involved, you risk a fine. Irrigation water standing may be from soil compacted due to livestock, vehicles, or uneven ground. Ripping, aerating, grading and other measures may improve soil porosity.
Opening and closing valves:
Only SBFID irrigators may open and close valves at the start and end of your irrigation water delivery. It is of critical importance that homeowners not open or close an irrigation valve outside of your water delivery time. Closing a valve does not turn off the water flow but will force the water to the point of least resistance within the system. This could result in overflowing the standpipe, breaks in the line, valve tops that may fail, or other damage for which the homeowner would be responsible. Opening a valve prior to scheduled delivery time will reduce the flow of water to a neighbor, who is paying for a full water delivery. Homeowners with more than 2 valves only can adjust their valves during their water delivery time to control water on their property. Potential overflow situations during irrigation should be brought to the attention of the irrigator or District Manager quickly so that water can be moved down the line. Alternately, if you believe you are not receiving the correct volume, please notify the irrigator or District Manager as soon as possible.
If You Do Not Irrigate:
If you choose not to receive irrigation water, you are still required to pay the monthly membership fee, which is the Special Taxing District tax collected by the District in accordance with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. There is an irrigation easement on your property which allows the District access to any irrigation hardware on your property. For all homeowners, that includes access to the irrigation valves. For some homeowners, in addition to the valves, there is a lateral line on your property the District may need to access. Please remember that if the valves leak, fail, or need repair, you still need to protect your property from any irrigation water you may receive from such an event. Please let the District know if you see any signs of water so the District can make repairs before it becomes a bigger problem.
State Statutes provide the District charges homeowners for the delivery of irrigation water. The District does not maintain homeowner berms, provide pest control, repair homeowner-owned irrigation, participate in conflicts between homeowners, provide for any property repairs due to irrigation overflow, etc. The District provides irrigation water by opening the homeowners’ valves fully or at the owner’s designated setting at the approximate start time and closing them at the approximate end of the time ordered. Homeowners may not open or close valves without the express permission of the irrigator unless residential flooding is imminent, and homeowners have made alternative arrangements with neighbors to open their valves.
The volume of irrigation water is variable: the condition of the well and age of the pump, changes in season, aquifer water levels, drought conditions, and other ground water users can significantly affect the volume delivered from the wells. The District is only required to deliver a proportional share of the volume of water available. The actual time of delivery versus the posted schedule can be affected by: *late notice of homeowner cancelations or changes in delivery time, *injury, sickness, or error of the irrigator, *issues with the irrigation vehicle being stuck or having broken down; *by vandalism or by issues with any irrigation hardware (standpipes, valves, motors, etc); *by homeowners opening or closing valves without permission; *rain and/or lightening.
Irrigation cycles. Irrigation occurs every 2, 3, or 4 weeks, based on the season. There are 18 irrigation lines and 4 lines are generally irrigated at a time. You may sign up for irrigation at the bulletin box, by going to the District Office and completing a form, or by email notice.
The minimum order for irrigation is 20 minutes. Additional increments are 5 minutes. Once the amount of time is ordered, it will automatically be carried over to future irrigation cycles unless instructed otherwise in writing by the homeowner.
The irrigation cycle may occasionally be delayed, sometimes by hours or days, due to rainfall, mechanical line or pump issues, staffing issues, or other factors.
Cancelling Irrigation. All cancellations of irrigation must be received in writing, either via email to the Irrigation Manager, or by completing a Change Request Form directly at the Irrigation Office, or noting the cancellation at the bulletin board sign-up sheet. You may cancel or change your water order at no charge so long as it is done by 10AM on the Wednesday prior to the next irrigation cycle. You should still call the office or check the board/email/website to make sure your cancellation has been processed after the new schedule has been posted. Irrigation cycles are generally scheduled to begin on Mondays unless there is a Holiday or a weather-related event.
Irrigation may be cancelled after the cut off time; however, the homeowner will still be charged for the water. The reason the charges remain is because there are no offsetting savings in water, power, labor, fuel, etc. Since each pump irrigates two lines at a time, the other line must still run for the entire schedule.
Bridle paths. The bridle paths that run through Sunburst Farms are also an easement for the Irrigation District and utility companies. The easements contain the pipes that deliver water to your properties. Most properties receive water from the back of the property. The lines can easily be damaged by heavy vehicles and are subject to a 10,000-pound weight limit (ARS 48-2978.19.13). While homeowners may use the bridle paths to access their properties, they are subject to the 10,000-pound weight limit and homeowners may not authorize contractors and/or other vendors to enter the bridle paths that exceed that weight limit. Specific situations should be referred to the Irrigation Office in advance. Homeowners are encouraged to immediately report any heavy vehicle sightings to the Irrigation Office since broken lines may impact all homeowners on that line.
To prevent damage, bridle paths will be closed when wet. Homeowners that need access should contact the Irrigation Office.
As homeowners, we own to the centerline of the bridle path for our individual lots and are responsible for the maintenance and control of shrubbery on our own property. (See Bridle Path Cleanup Policy, Attachment #2, for more info)
Sign-up/Bulletin Boxes
The sign-up/bulletin boxes are located throughout the District and are used by the Irrigation Office and Board of Directors to communicate with the homeowners. In the box, you will find a sign-up sheet and the public schedule for your line. They are changed with each new cycle. The sign-up sheet is one of three ways homeowners can make changes to their next cycle or cancel. (Please note on the sheet if the cancellation is permanent or for one time only) The minimum order for irrigation is 20 minutes and thereafter in increments of 5 minutes. Other Notices are also posted periodically to provide important information that may affect you, such as Board and Committee meetings, District elections, Budget Committee, etc. (See Attachment #1)
Time of Irrigation Water Delivery
During irrigation, the pumps run 24 hours a day until the cycle is completed, barring any issues. Many different situations can occur to either advance or delay the scheduled time. The scheduled time of irrigation may be advanced or delayed by more than an hour for reasons beyond the control of the District and irrigators. Please call the District office with any issues due to scheduling and delivery – the irrigators have no control over that. To be added to the “Notify List”, you must call the office and provide a good phone # for the irrigator to call. Remember, the system runs 24 hours a day, so the call could be at 3 AM!
Rain Delay
Even in the desert, rain may disrupt the delivery of flood irrigation. Rainfall of an inch or more in the summer irrigation cycle or a half an inch during the winter irrigation cycle will generally cause a rain delay. Rain delays may be initiated when bridle paths become unsafe for travel. Delays may also be initiated when lightning strikes are too close. The determination to stop irrigation is made by the District Manager. The Board of Directors will decide where and when irrigation will resume. The length of the delay is based on the condition of the bridle paths and the amount of rainfall per the Maricopa County Flood Control District at the gauges at 32nd Ave/Greenway and 47th Ave/Paradise.
If the rainfall threshold is reached, the delay may be for several days. If the delay was caused by safety concerns, the delay may only be for several hours. If an unusually large amount of rain was received, the delay may become a cancellation. (Homeowners whose irrigation has been cancelled due to rain will not be charged) The Irrigation District will communicate any delay information via email and postings on the website. Please contact the District office at (602)938-8760 or email admin@sbfidphx.com to be added to the email list.
The gates at the ends of the Rights of Way will also be closed during a rain delay to protect the surface from vehicular damage.
Billing and Collections. Membership and water fees are periodically set by the SBFID Board of Directors, usually with each fiscal new year. Irrigation water and membership fees are billed monthly at the start of the month and are due in full by the last working day of the month. Membership fees are billed in the current month. Water fees are billed in arrears. For example, an August statement will show August Membership fees and July water, noting the weeks when water was received.
Overdue accounts are subject to a 1% late fee per month. Accounts overdue by 90 days are charged an additional $50.00 Late Fee and irrigation will be canceled until the account is paid in full.
Accounts overdue for longer periods will become subject to legal action undertaken by SBFID that may include attorney expenses, the filing of a lien on the property, additional collection expenses/actions as allowed by law, and/or garnishments. (See Collection Policy, Attachment #4, for more info)
Selling of Your Property. Should you decide to sell your property or otherwise transfer title to another entity, the existence of Sunburst Farms Irrigation District must be disclosed to the potential new owner prior to escrow and/or close of escrow. Statements, new owner documents, and CC&Rs will be delivered for signature during close of escrow. A $100 transfer fee will be charged to the account. Flood irrigation to the property may be stopped until Title is properly transferred and account is paid in full.
District Office Phone: 602-938-8760
District Fax: 602-938-0770
Manager’s Phone: 602-380-3014 cell
Irrigator’s Phone: 602-380-3015 cell
For further information, please see our website at SBFID.com or request to join the Facebook private group ‘SBFID Members Chat Group’
By ordering water, you assure the District that you understand and accept your responsibilities.
SIGN-UP/BULLETIN BOXES LOCATIONS
Lines 1, 2 & 3 4525 W. Banff Standpipe
Lines 4 & 5 South end of 45th Avenue on Country Gables (4425 W Country Gables standpipe)
Line 6 45th Avenue – South of Greenway/North of Port Au Prince bridle path (East side)
Line 7 45th Avenue – North of Greenway/South of Waltann bridle path (East side)
Line 8 45th Avenue – North of Waltann/South of Tierra Buena bridle path (East side)
Line 9 45th Avenue – North of Tierra Buena/South of Monte Cristo bridle path (East side)
Line 10 45th Avenue – North of Monte Cristo/South of Paradise bridle path (East side)
Lines 11, 12 & 13 41st Avenue – North of Country Gables bridle path (West side)
Lines 14, 15, & 16 41ST Ave – North of Tierra Buena/South of Monte Cristo bridle path (West Side)
Lines 17 & 18 41st Avenue – North of Monte Cristo/South of Paradise bridle path (East Side)
Sign-up sheets will be picked up after 10am the Wednesday before irrigation will be delivered in preparation for creating the irrigation schedule. Be sure any changes are done before 10 am so they can be incorporated into the schedule. This will help ensure the completed published schedule will be accurate and dependable.
ATTACHMENT #2
Bridle Path Cleanup Policy, Approved 10/1/2024:
It is the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain the bridle path in a manner that allows irrigators to easily access the irrigation valves, that does not cause damage to the District vehicle, and that does not pose a hazard to employees. As a standard, homeowners should remove vegetation in the bridle path in excess of 6 inches in height and any that protrude more than 6 inches from the fence line. Overhanging branches less than 13.5 feet in height must be removed.
Properties not in compliance with the stated standards will be identified for cleanup to be done by a commercial company, and property owners will be billed for the service provided. The homeowner will receive a notification giving 3 weeks notice prior to the cleanup being performed and they may be billed up to $500 for the cleanup (ARS 48-2978.13 & 17A, ARS 45-454) There will be no further notices. If the homeowner cleans up their bridle path prior to the end of the 3 weeks, they must notify the Irrigation District at (602)938-8760 or manager@sbfidphx.com to prevent the commercial company from incurring a trip charge.
For bridle path blockages that create an emergency condition, the Board will determine the course of action.
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Attachment #4
COLLECTION POLICY
The following Sunburst Farms Irrigation District Collection Policy was adopted and becomes effective March 2025. It replaces and rescinds all previous collection policies.
Below is the sequence of actions taken on collection issues:
- Payments are due and payable before Noon on the last working day of the month to avoid a finance charge.
- Payments can be made at the District office at 16040 N 43rd Avenue, Glendale, AZ, 85306, Monday through Thursday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Friday 8:00 am until noon. Accepted payment methods are cash or check. Payments can be mailed, hand delivered, or dropped into the mailbox in front of the gate.
- A fee will be charged for returned checks. The fee is currently $35 as periodically established by the Board of Directors.
- When an account is past due, a finance charge is automatically assessed and continues monthly until current. The fee is currently 1% per month as periodically established by the Board of Directors.
- When an account exceeds 60 days past due, a notice will be included with the billing statement advising a potential Late Fee of $50 for accounts 90+ days past due.
- When the account exceeds 90 days past due, a $50 Late Fee will be assessed. Full payment will be required to avoid legal action. In addition, Irrigation will be STOPPED until the balance is paid in full for reinstatement.
- When no payment has been received for a period of 6 months and/or the account reaches over $300 due, or the District receives information of foreclosure or short sale of said property, a lien will be filed and a letter will be sent to the homeowner advising that a lien has been filed. A lien processing fee of $100 applies, with additional fees of $30 to file each lien and another $30 for each lien release.
- If an account balance is over $1,000 and/or no payment has been made for a period of 9 months, the Board will also proceed with legal action against personal property and/or real estate holdings with all legal fees at the owner’s expense.
- The Board may, but is not limited to:
- Obtain a judgment allowing a writ of garnishment against an individual’s earnings or non-earnings (i.e. a bank account, etc.)
- Garnish wages from his/her employment
- Issue a writ of general execution which is a command to the Sheriff to seize any personal property of the judgment debtor which may be found and which is non-exempt in order to satisfy the judgment
- Foreclose upon the individual’s real property.
- The Board will use any/all legal action at their disposal to resolve the uncollected debt.