Arizona utility regulators on Wednesday placed a partial moratorium on new water and sewer connections for the Johnson Utilities service area in Pinal County, limiting construction in one of the hottest housing markets in the state for at least six months.

Dozens of homebuilders in the 160-square-mile area of Queen Creek, Florence and San Tan Valley are concerned the move could depress home values and their sales. But they recognize the limitations of the long-neglected water company, which is now being run by EPCOR USA as interim manager.

“I wouldn’t describe it as a happy pace; I would describe it as a livable place we can all live with,” Spencer Kamps, vice president of legislative affairs for the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona, said of the six-month order.

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