According to a report today in The Arizona Republic, Scottsdale will soon add a third class of water users to its billing system.
Starting Nov. 1, water officials will impose a new rate structure designed to penalize residents who use extreme amounts of water; they will incur the highest rates.
But no matter how much they use, all residents will see an increase in water bills. Officials say they need a 3.5 percent increase to pay for the removal of arsenic -- a new federal requirement.
Previously, Scottsdale offered a two-tiered rate structure on water bills, with higher rates for those on top. The new category targets only the top 5 percent of water users – dividing the top users even further. Those who use more will pay more.
On Tuesday, the Scottsdale City Council unanimously approved the rate increases.
A recent analysis of water usage patterns revealed most of the excessive water usage that puts residents in the new top tier occurs during the summer, when traditional landscaping requires much more water.
Officials hope the new system will drive more residents to switch to xeriscape landscapes, which use much less water.
Source: The Arizona Republic