Phoenix to hike water hookup fees

Phoenix will boost its fees for water hookups of all kinds at the City Council meeting Wednesday.

The fee increases are the first since 1988, when the so-called water acquisition fee first was imposed.

The new fees vary based on the size of the water meter; fees for single homes will be lower than fees for large apartment buildings, and fees in some parts of town will be less than in others.

Ray Quay, assistant director of the Water Services Department, said the income will enable the city to plan for new sources of water as a 14-year dry trend continues.

"There is so much uncertainty around water," he said. "We are trying to be prepared for all possibilities."

The city will have to develop new water resources within 10 years if growth continues in the city.

"If we stopped growth today," Quay said, "we could survive in great shape with our current water supply."

The city now uses surface water for almost all its needs. The water comes from the Colorado River via the Central Arizona Project canal and the lakes along the Salt River that is delivered through other canals that cross the city.

Using less water

The best way to avoid drastic water-conservation measures in the future is to practice low-water use techniques now.

That's the advice of Phoenix's water planners, who say the city has plenty of water now - as long as the population, supplies and temperatures do not change.

But nothing stays the same. Tuesday's vote by the Phoenix City Council to raise fees on development is one of the first steps the city is taking to ensure future water supplies are available.

"Our goal is to minimize the impact of a severe shortage," said Ray Quay, assistant director of water services for the city. "There are things we can do now to spread out the issue."

Key factors

• Climate change, especially if it makes weather warmer.

• Population growth, which drives additional consumption.

• Consumption and conservation. Individual consumption is down, a good trend, even if total consumption is up based on population growth.

Scenarios

• Phoenix has looked at several potential future scenarios, based on varying levels of growth and varying reductions in water availability.

• Officials believe existing customer demand can be met even in times of moderate shortages. But population is certain to continue growing, boosting demand.

• Even with a high level of population growth, officials say the city can meet water demand simply by developing supplies it currently owns but does not use - mostly groundwater.

• If severe drought takes hold, restrictions will have to be placed on water use, and the city will have to find more water.

• Development of water supplies the city currently owns will be costly, as will finding more water.

Steps

• City will develop additional groundwater supplies.

• Groundwater will be imported from city-owned supplies in McMullen Valley, west of Phoenix.

• Reclaimed water will be utilized better.

• City will seek additional Colorado River water.

• Development of exchange agreements with other water users.

What you can do

• Practice conservation.

• Use low-flow toilets, faucets and shower heads.

• Utilize drip irrigation properly.

• Reduce pool evaporation by covering the pool.

• Consider relandscaping areas that consume a lot of water.