Only those surprised when the sun rises each day will be shocked by this one:

Scottsdale plans to raise water rates.

The Tuesday, Feb. 24, Scottsdale City Council meeting agenda includes – as the 12th of 13 consent agenda items – “Notice of Intention to Increase Water and Wastewater Rates.” 

According to a Feb. 11 memo to City Council from Sonia Andrews, Scottsdale’s treasurer, “The city is proposing a 4.5% water rate increase and a 3.5% sewer rate increase for fiscal year 26/27.”

Sewer rate increases would go into effect July 1, with the water increase coming Nov. 1.

“These increases were determined by the Water Resources Department using a five-year rate model to calculate revenue requirements for upcoming water and sewer operating and capital needs,” Andrews wrote.

But, she noted, “The rate increases do not include funding for capital projects that do not have accurate cost projections and capital projects that are still being defined.”

Andrews is asking City Council to approve a “notice of intention to modify rates and miscellaneous water charges” and schedule a May 19 public hearing on the proposed changes.

According to a staff report by David Walby, the city’s interim Water Resources senior director, water rate increases are required by:

  • Operating cost increases for raw water to include current drought pricing, put in place by Central Arizona Project (CAP);

  • Costs associated with additional water source and supply;

  • Operating cost increases for electricity in the Arizona Public Service (APS) service area;

  • Increasing cost for replacing and repairing aging infrastructure;

  • Operating cost increases for personnel services and benefits.

If approved by City Council, the increases would follow a recent trend.

In 2025, Scottsdale implemented a 4.5% water fee increase and 6% sewer fees increase.

In 2024, Scottsdale residents saw their water rates increase by 6.3% and sewer rates go up 8%.

In 2023, increases were 4.2% for water and 5.8% for sewer.

According to a presentation last year, even after the increases, Scottsdale’s rates were on the low end, compared to other Valley cities.