Maricopa residents deserve safe water, timely warnings when there is a concern and a fair explanation of what they are paying for. Those expectations should guide every discussion about Global Water, whether we are talking about a rate increase or a boil-water advisory.

I live here, too. I hear from residents who are frustrated with their bills and worried about the water coming into their homes. They deserve answers and follow-through.

The city does not own or operate Global Water. The Arizona Corporation Commission regulates its utility rates and service, while the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality oversees drinking-water compliance. That division of authority matters because we need to take concerns to the agencies that can act on them. It does not relieve city officials of our responsibility to speak up. 

In December 2025, I spoke before the Corporation Commission about Global Water’s proposed increases. The request then included a 19.7% increase in water rates and an 8% increase in wastewater rates. I asked for fairness, transparency and a careful review of the evidence. Customers cannot simply choose another company when they are unhappy with the price or service. 

The proposed settlement later reduced the water increase. For a residential customer with a three-quarter-inch meter using 5,500 gallons monthly, the example bill rises from $35.73 to $38.41. That is the $2.68 increase residents have heard about. The settlement’s bill table also includes an estimated 29-cent rate-case surcharge, bringing that example to $38.70, or $2.97 more.

Actual impacts depend on usage and meter size. These are proposed figures subject to commission approval. 

There is also a separate wastewater issue. The settlement calls for increasing the temporary monthly wastewater credit from $1.73 to $2.85 for the average residential three-quarter-inch customer. Global Water reported that it withdrew its wastewater rate case in July, with another filing planned for 2027. Residents should understand the whole bill and what may come next. 

I will not claim that my testimony alone produced the settlement. Residents spoke up, and the utility, commission staff and Residential Utility Consumer Office negotiated the proposal. I showed up and put our community’s concerns on the record. I will continue doing that. 

Affordability is only part of the responsibility.

Safe Water

The October water advisory brought safety and communication back to the forefront.

On Oct. 7, Global Water issued a precautionary boil-water advisory after two preliminary tests indicated possible E. coli contamination. It lifted the advisory Oct. 8 after repeat tests came back negative. We should be clear about that distinction. This was a precautionary advisory, and the repeat testing did not confirm E. coli. 

This year’s response improved over last year’s: the warning went out before confirmation. After the August 2025 incident, residents had questioned why they learned about the positive sample only after follow-up testing was complete. Earlier notice this year gave families a chance to take precautions. 

The city also shared information through its website, newsletter, social media and the Maricopa Community Alert Network. But residents have told me they still did not receive a direct phone call, text or email from Global Water. We have more work to do. A warning does little good for someone who never receives it.

My push is for a public explanation from Global Water, including a timeline of testing and notifications, documentation of what changed after last year and a corrective-action plan with deadlines for remaining problems. Residents should be able to see what was promised, what was completed and what still needs attention.

I want the city and Global Water to establish a written notification procedure identifying who contacts whom, how quickly updates go out and how we reach people who do not use social media. We should review delivery failures and outdated contact information, and coordinate with schools, care facilities and local businesses.

We should also work out a plan for bottled-water assistance if a future advisory makes it necessary, including who supplies it, who pays and how residents who cannot travel would receive help. Those questions are easier to resolve before an emergency.

I will ask ADEQ and the Corporation Commission to review residents’ concerns within their respective authority. I also encourage residents to enroll in MCAN and keep their contact information current with Global Water. Those steps give us more ways to reach people, while the utility remains responsible for meeting its notification obligations.

Our lack of control over Global Water is not an excuse to ignore the problem. I will keep pressing for justified rates, reliable service and clear answers. Residents should be able to see the follow-through long after an advisory is lifted.

Source links and supporting details

• Arizona Corporation Commission water utilities
• ADEQ public water systems
• Global Water rate case testimony
• Global Water settlement cuts proposed Maricopa hike
• Settlement agreement and bill schedules at the SEC
• ACC settlement PDF
• Global Water second quarter 2026 update at the SEC
• Advisory lifted after repeat testing
• Maricopa boil water advisory canceled after negative tests
• ADEQ public notification rule
• Maricopa Community Alert Network
• ADEQ environmental complaints

Vincent Manfredi owns InMaricopa and this is a letter written to the editor.  You can view other opinions and letters here.