Gilbert considers landscape water rate option amid 25% increase concerns
GILBERT, AZ (AZFamily) — Amid another water rate increase, Gilbert may offer some relief for family farms.
The Gilbert Town Council approved a 25% water rate increase Tuesday night, marking the third consecutive year of rate hikes for residents who already saw a 50% increase in 2024 and a 25% increase in 2025.
The vote included a new landscape water rate option designed to help agricultural businesses that use significantly more water than residential customers.
Rachel Jones, who operates Crossroads Farm, where she teaches horseback riding, said her monthly water bill has jumped from around $600 two years ago to upwards of $3,000 monthly.
“I’m not ready come April. I mean, I’m going to have to raise my rates. That’s, and I hate, I hate doing that to people, but obviously I can’t just continue to eat that myself,” Jones said.
New landscape rate offers mixed relief
Town officials established criteria allowing some customers to move from tiered residential rates to a landscape water rate. Jones said the option leaves her with mixed feelings.
“I mean, I will say I do think it will help me. It will help me,” Jones said.
The program uses a complicated formula.
“45,000 gallons per month was sort of the cutoff, the break-even point. If you use more than that, this program will help. If you don’t quite hit that, but you’re on this ag rate they’re implementing, it’ll actually penalize you. You’ll actually get charged more than if you were still on the residential rate,” Jones said.
Jones calculated that based on her $3,700 bill from July, before the new 25% increase, the landscape rate would have dropped her bill into the $2,000 range at previous rates.
“So I am hopeful that we can make it a better fit, you know, for properties like this,” Jones said.
Program requirements and timeline
The proposed landscape rate includes specific criteria for eligibility:
- Existing customer status
- Active business license tied to water use as of Dec. 31
- Property size of 35,000 square feet or greater
- No exempt well
- Maximum grass area of 3,500 square feet
- Maximize available flood irrigation
- Compliance under land development code
- Water efficiency checkup
The Town Council will meet in March to finalize the program, which would take effect in April alongside the 25% rate increase.
Jones said she has operated her farm for decades and plans to continue despite the challenges.
“I’ve been here for 30 years. I’m not going to give up. I’m not going to give in. I’m going to keep fighting,” Jones said.
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