Litchfield Park officials released the city’s inaugural water conservation and sustainability report this week, offering a detailed look at how the community secures its water and warning that proposed utility rate hikes could sharply increase city spending next year.
City Manager Matthew Williams, presenting the report said the new charter-mandated document establishes a baseline for understanding the city’s water position.
Litchfield Park does not operate its own water or sewer utilities. All service is provided by Liberty Utilities. Williams said that reality influences nearly every aspect of the city’s long-term planning.
“We are very rare in that we have no utilities,” he said. “Liberty serves all of Litchfield Park’s water and sewer needs. That makes our relationship with them critical.”
Arizona law requires subdivisions in Active Management Areas to prove a 100-year assured water supply before receiving state approval. Utilities typically meet this through a Designation of Assured Water Supply, but Liberty does not hold one.
Instead, many customers rely on enrollment in the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District, which replaces the groundwater used by those properties. But the program does not apply citywide.
“Not all homes in Litchfield Park are in that district,” Williams said. “If you’re in it, you have a 100-year water supply. If you’re not, you don’t. It gets complicated.”
Liberty is evaluating a new state option, the Alternative Designation of Assured Water Supply, intended to help utilities adapt to declining groundwater availability.
Municipal water use reached nearly 140 million gallons in 2024, with parks and rights-of-way accounting for almost all of it. The city spent $440,010 irrigating its parks and medians compared with $28,286 for city buildings.
“We spend a lot of money on water,” Williams said. “Our parks are beautiful, but it comes with a cost.”
To reduce long-term spending, the city is pursuing more desert landscaping.
The Hilltop renovation project, for example, cut planned turf by about 60%. Staff are also exploring whether graywater could be used for irrigation.
“That would require new lines and some engineering,” Williams cautioned, “but it’s worth studying.”
The report arrives as Liberty Utilities seeks major water and wastewater rate increases across its Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Glendale and Avondale service areas. The company is requesting adjustments to recover $197 million in infrastructure investments.
Under the proposal, average residential water bills would rise about 43%, and wastewater bills would jump 54%. City officials expect municipal costs to climb as well.
“That’s going to turn that $440,000 into…” Councilmember Suzanne Allen began, trailing off before Williams finished the sentence: “More. It’s a big jump.”
Williams said Liberty hasn’t had a significant rate update since 2016 or 2017, making the size of the increase unsurprising.
“When you don’t do one for eight years, it adds up,” he said. “It’s much better to have a small increase every year than a big kick.”
Liberty officials say the new rates are needed to cover current operational costs and major capital upgrades, including $145 million in wastewater projects and $52 million in new wells. Public hearings begin next spring before the ACC.
Council members said the report gives the city a clear baseline and underscores the need for conservation, as 10% of the public works budget now spent on water will likely to rise if Liberty’s rate request is approved.
Visit litchfieldpark.gov for more information.
James Goldmeer Reporter | Goodyear & Litchfield Park
Meet James James Goldmeer joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2024, starting their career as a reporter in Goodyear and Litchfield Park.
Community: James grew up in the West Valley, calling Avondale home and going to school in Glendale and Peoria. Returning to the community after university, James plans to get involved in everything arts and culture, and civil rights.
Education: Northern Arizona University a bachelor's degree in Journalism, a certificate in Professional Communications, with a minor in English.
Random Fact: James spent half a year as an intern for the Arizona House of Representatives communication team, working with legislators to inform the public through press releases and social media.
Hobbies: James collects postcards and old books, reads memoirs and attends local jazz shows.
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