Phoenix residents to see higher water rates phased in over 18 months

PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix City Council has voted to raise water rates in the city starting in October with three separate increases over an 18-month span.

The initial rate increase will be 6.5% in October, then another 6.5% in March 2024, followed by a 13% increase in March 2025.

A 6.5% percent rate hike translates to about $2 a month for the average user.

Phoenix now is also trying to conserve water by limiting the amount businesses and people living in the city can use.

The water-allowance level for each customer currently is about 7,500 gallons a month during the summer. That will drop to 6,000 gallons a month in the summer of 2024.

Anyone who goes over that amount will have to pay an additional $4 a month to their water bill starting in October.

There will also be increases in wastewater service rates.

The water shortage on the Colorado River has forced cities in the Phoenix area to adopt drought-contingency plans that force them to carefully manage their water use.