Three Cities Plan Higher Water Rates

San Diego will replace its tiered water pricing with a uniform rate of $11.09 per hundred cubic feet starting in January, plus a fixed meter charge, after a court ruled its previous billing method violated state law; the change is expected to raise bills for the average household. Denver Water approved 2027 rate increases averaging $3.25 to $4.50 a month for single-family homes, with higher charges for outdoor and heavy water use and lower rates for essential indoor use, citing a historic drought and conservation needs. Wichita’s low-volume residential water customers are scheduled to see monthly bills rise from $66.54 to $71.15 in 2027, partly to offset revenue lost when nearby communities’ water treatment plants come online. Wichita officials are also seeking to raise the monthly stormwater fee from 15 to 45 cents to expand ditch maintenance, addressing a backlog of more than 400 requests; the City Council is expected to consider the increase in December.