Cave Creek Water Bills Shift As Supply Math Tightens

Water bills in Cave Creek are about to change. Fast. Local leaders are resetting rates as long-term supply math turns shaky and costs climb. This isn’t a one-off bump. It’s a multi-year reset tied to Colorado River cuts, future planning, and how much water you actually use. If you live in Cave Creek or Desert Hills, this will hit your monthly statement soon.

Quick Points

• New water rates start February 5, 2026

• Heavy users see the biggest jumps

• Colorado River cuts loom after 2026

• Long-term supply plans carry big price tags

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Why The Town Is Resetting The Math

Start with the river. Cave Creek leans hard on Central Arizona Project water, which flows from the Colorado River into "The Valley." That supply has been stretched thin for decades. Now it’s shrinking. Federal drought rules expire in 2026, and new ones arrive in 2027, with Arizona expected to take deeper cuts. Meanwhile, operating costs rise, pipes age, and planning gets pricier. So the town is spreading the pain over several years instead of all at once.

This approach also nudges behavior. Use less water, pay less. Use a lot, pay a lot more. It’s a signal. Loud and clear.

• CAP water faces scheduled cuts

• Federal rules reset in 2027

• Costs rise across the system

• Planning replaces guesswork

This isn’t about panic. It’s about preparing before shortages turn real.

When Bills Start Looking Different

Circle the date. February 5, 2026. That’s when the first change lands. Town Council approved a plan that raises water utility revenue by 6 percent each year through 2028. The vote followed notices, hearings, and months of staff work. No surprises there. The idea is steady pressure, not sticker shock.

For many households, the jump looks modest. For others, it stings. A lot.

• Rates adjust yearly through 2028

• Public hearings already held

• Changes apply town-wide

Think of it as a slow ratchet, not a single jolt.

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How Tiered Pricing Gets Sharper

The structure matters. A new lowest tier now covers homes using 4,000 gallons a month or less. That protects lighter users. At the other end, the top tier kicks in at 40,000 gallons, down from 50,000. That pulls more households into higher rates. The more water you pull, the steeper the percentage jump.

This is policy with teeth. Conservation saves real money now.

• New low tier under 4,000 gallons

• Top tier starts at 40,000 gallons

• Higher use means higher jumps

• Price signals favor restraint

The system rewards restraint and penalizes excess. Plain stuff.

What Most Cave Creek Homes Actually Pay

Here’s where it gets personal. The base monthly water fee rises from $61.69 to $65.04. Low-use households see about a 4 percent increase. Average users land near 6 percent. High-use homes cross into double-digit territory fast. Those above 40,000 gallons face jumps from 18 to 22 percent. The biggest users add hundreds per month.

Most homes sit well below that line. A small group drives a large share of demand.

• Base fee rises about $3.35

• Low users see mild changes

• Heavy users face sharp hikes

• Few homes use extreme volumes

Usage matters more than ever.

Desert Hills Sees A Different Outcome

Desert Hills customers land in a different spot. The base monthly fee dips slightly to $82.72, though it still runs about 25 percent higher than Cave Creek. Low-use customers actually see bills drop around 7 percent. Average users stay mostly flat. High-use households still feel it, with increases near 14 percent.

Same pressures. Different math.

• Base fee drops slightly

• Low users catch a break

• Average bills stay steady

• High users still pay more

Geography shapes cost. Always has.

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Sewer Bills Keep Pressing Up

Water isn’t the only line climbing. Sewer bills rise too. Average monthly charges move from just under $90 to just over $95. That’s steep compared to nearby cities. Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Surprise sit under $20 a month. Liberty Sewer customers hover near $88. Cave Creek remains an outlier.

It’s a sore spot. Residents know it.

• Sewer bills top $95 monthly

• Nearby cities stay far lower

• Rates stand out regionally

This part of the bill won’t fade quietly.

Supply Numbers Tell The Real Story

Zoom out. Cave Creek receives about 2,800 acre-feet of water each year. One acre-foot equals roughly 325,851 gallons. Combined Cave Creek and Desert Hills use around 1,957 acre-feet annually. Future development already claims about 1,500 acre-feet. Expected CAP cuts could push available supply below current demand.

That’s the cliff everyone’s watching.

• 2,800 acre-feet supplied yearly

• Nearly 2,000 acre-feet used now

• 1,500 acre-feet pre-committed

• CAP cuts threaten the gap

Numbers don’t argue. They just sit there.

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Big Ticket Fixes On The Table

The town isn’t standing still. Several long-term options are under review. Stored water credits total about 3,200 acre-feet, held underground west of town. Access requires paid exchanges. Bartlett Dam expansion could restore lost capacity, with Cave Creek requesting 286 acre-feet a year at a cost near $11.5 million. There’s also a Harquahala Valley groundwater deal offering 500 acre-feet yearly for a century. That alone costs $11 million, before pipes or treatment.

Each option buys time. None come cheap.

• Stored credits need paid exchanges

• Bartlett Dam decision nears 2028

• Groundwater deal expires February 15, 2026

• Transport costs remain unknown

Every path adds pressure to future bills.

More Fees Could Follow

Nothing here locks the final number. The town may add a future water resource fee. Infrastructure costs remain open-ended. Partnerships take time. Rates today reflect planning, not final answers. The meter keeps running.

For now, usage is the lever you control.

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