But if current growth rates continue, in roughly a decade it will be impossible to ignore. Unlike wildfires or hurricanes, a diminishing water supply is a slow-moving, mostly invisible crisis. By 2040, the region’s population is expected to reach more than 7 million, despite its limited and shrinking water supply.Įven though the effects of climate change are intensifying throughout the Southwest, people keep moving here - to the hottest, driest part of the country. A few outlying “mega-burbs” like Buckeye and Goodyear to Phoenix’s west and Queen Creek to the east have annexed large amounts of land and are themselves some of the nation’s fastest-growing cities. In 2017, Phoenix became the fifth-largest city in the U.S., a sprawling “megalopolis” of almost 5 million people that’s also known as the Valley of the Sun. There’s just one problem: The region doesn’t appear to have enough water for all the planned growth. The pandemic has only intensified that trend, with home sales increasing by nearly 12 percent in 2020. Six months ago, Santana joined the hundreds of thousands of people who have moved to the greater Phoenix area in recent years looking for affordable homes, sunshine and warm winters. Santana began researching states that had few natural disasters, and Arizona turned up at the top of the list. From a natural disaster standpoint, though, Dallas was not much better: The city, which lies in a so-called Tornado Alley, experiences frequent severe storms. Instead, the yearly hurricane season caused her so much stress that she moved to Dallas. Tanned and fit, with long dark hair that hangs in loose curls, Santana grew up in rural Virginia but moved to Florida when she was 22, hoping to settle down and enjoy the warm weather. When are they voting on the water rate hikes?Ĭity of Phoenix officials say they are expecting a vote on the plan by the City Council in June.Santana, who is 34, moved to the Phoenix area last October from Texas with her 9-year-old son, Malachi, and her business partner, Alyssa Bell. The City of Phoenix's website will have the list of meetings. A Spanish-speaking version of the same meeting is set for May 10. In addition, there will be a virtual public meeting at 6:00 p.m. 20, at each of Phoenix's Village Planning Committees. Read More: Arizona cities dealing with water issues as megadrought continues: here's what you need to know When are the public meetings?Īs mentioned above, the first of 15 meetings will take place on Mar. In terms of water allowance decreases, city officials wrote that the water allowance structure is being changed to encourage water conservation. "These pressures are not isolated to Phoenix, as water and wastewater utilities across the nation have experienced similar challenges," read a portion of the website. Why are they raising the rates and reducing the water allowance?Īccording to the city's website, rates are being increased due to inflation that resulted in significant cost increases. The plan also proposes a lower water allowance of 3,740 gallons (5 CCF) from October to May, and 5,985 gallons (8 CCF) from June to September.
In addition, the plan calls for a $4 monthly surcharge for homeowners who do not conserve enough water to meet a lower water allowance. A 14% water rate increase, and a 7% wastewater rate increase, in March 2025.
6.5% water and wastewater rate increase in March 2024.
6.5% water and wastewater rate increase in October 2023, which would include a monthly stormwater excise tax of 25 cents.
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