San Diego approved higher water rates Tuesday for low-volume users and cheaper water for golf courses and other high-volume users to comply with a controversial court ruling that essentially outlaws rewarding conservation. City officials also dashed hopes that a new state law might allow them to revive rates rewarding conservation as soon as 2028, contending they must wait for the state Supreme Court to rule on the issue. The new rates, which kick in Jan. 1, represent the same overall increase of 14.5% for calendar year 2027 that the council approved last fall. But the increase will now be divided up differently, with larger hikes for low-volume single-family homes and smaller hikes for high-volume single-family homes, apartment buildings and golf courses.

Other water rate and conservation news:

• The Colorado Sun (Denver): Denver Water wants to hire lawn patrol staff to enforce restrictions next summer​
• KUNC (Greeley, Colo.): Some water bills nearly tripled in this Colorado town. Explaining the increase is complicated
• KOLD (Tucson, Ariz.): New USDA research facility in Tucson focuses on water conservation across Southwest