City of San Diego water customers will see changes to their bills starting in January, when a new billing structure for single-family homes takes effect alongside a previously approved water rate increase. The changes stem from a lawsuit filed in 2015 challenging the city’s tiered water pricing system. Under the new structure, customers who use less water are expected to see their monthly bills increase, while those who use more water could pay less. The city estimates the average monthly bill for a low-use customer in a single-family home will increase by about $6, while the bill for a high-use customer is expected to decrease by $20. The San Diego City Council voted 6-2 on Tuesday to approve the modified water rate structure. City leaders said they disagreed with the court’s decision but were legally required to comply.

Other water rate and conservation news:

• The Denver Post (Colo.): Denver Water raises rates for outdoor watering in 2027 as drought, climate change stress system
• The Denver Gazette (Colo.): Denver Water approves 2027 rate hikes amid historic drought​
• CBS Colorado: Denver Water approves rate hike for 2027 amid drought conditions
• KOLD (Tucson, Ariz.): Video: New USDA research facility in Tucson focuses on water conservation across Southwest