Phoenix to Implement Stage 2 Drought Plan with Surcharges and Voluntary Water Cuts
The City of Phoenix is preparing to enter Stage 2 of its Drought Management Plan in January due to anticipated significant reductions in Colorado River water deliveries. This plan, announced on November 10, includes a three-part strategy focusing on utilizing backup supplies, developing new water sources, and reducing consumption. Residents and businesses are requested to voluntarily cut water usage by 5%, while city departments are mandated to reduce their usage by 10%. A temporary drought surcharge will be applied to excessive water consumption, with residential customers paying $2.10 per unit (748 gallons) above 20 units per month, commercial customers above 300 units, and industrial customers above 15,000 units. The city also plans to offer conservation incentives, such as boosting grass-removal incentives and increasing smart irrigation controller incentives. Phoenix has been under a Stage 1 Water Alert since June 2022, and this escalation to Stage 2 signifies that standard water supplies are running ...
