GOODYEAR, AZ – In the midst of record-breaking heat in southern Arizona, David Martin, a resident of Goodyear, is battling fines from his homeowners association (HOA) for providing free bottled water to passersby. Martin, 50, began offering water from a cooler outside his home in 2020 as a neighborly gesture during the pandemic, and has continued the practice as temperatures soar.
However, Martin’s HOA, the Canyon Trails Unit 4 West Community Association, has fined him $475 since April 2024 for violating community rules requiring stored items to be out of sight. The association has demanded that the cooler be removed or hidden from view, but Martin refuses, citing the extreme heat as a reason for continuing to offer water to his neighbors.
“I’m doing what I believe in to take care of the community,” Martin said. “It’s a simple thing. It’s a water cooler.”
In a statement, the HOA clarified that it does not object to Martin distributing water but insists that the cooler must be screened from view, in accordance with community rules. Martin contends that the association has been uncooperative in resolving the issue.
Despite the ongoing fines, Martin has vowed to keep the water cooler in place, noting the critical need for hydration as Arizona faces severe heat. Temperatures in the region have topped 100 degrees for over 100 consecutive days this summer.
Martin’s cooler, still sitting in his driveway, now bears a new message: “Please grab a water! Even you HOA.”
The fines continue to accrue, but Martin has no plans to pay them or remove the cooler, stating that his priority is helping his neighbors endure the extreme conditions.
