Phoenix residents could see a hike in their water and sewer bills next year.
Next week, the Phoenix City Council will hold a public hearing before voting on proposed increases for the city’s utilities - 3 percent for water and 2 percent for sewer. That would translate into an extra $1.59 a month for the typical customer.
With 12,000 miles of sewer and water pipelines, repairs and replacements are inevitable, said Phoenix Water Services Department's Director Kathryn Sorensen. She said the city has actually forestalled rate hikes for several years by refinancing debt, but that is no longer an option.
“This pays for the infrastructure that enables us to continue reliable deliveries that really underpin economic development, public health and quality of life here in this desert city,” Sorensen said.
From 2005 to 2010, Sorensen said the city had increases in the double digits, but now she only anticipates a "modest," annual increase of about 2 percent in the coming years.
