Maricopa Vice Mayor Vincent Manfredi is calling for more transparency from Global Water on both billing and water safety, according to a letter published by InMaricopa. He says residents deserve clear explanations of what they are paying for, along with timely warnings when there is a water concern.
Manfredi wrote that the city does not own or operate Global Water. He noted that the Arizona Corporation Commission regulates utility rates and service, while the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality oversees drinking-water compliance. In December 2025, he spoke to the commission about the company’s proposed rate increases and asked for fairness, transparency and a careful review of the evidence.
He said a later settlement lowered the proposed water increase. Under the example cited in the settlement, a residential customer with a three-quarter-inch meter using 5,500 gallons a month would see a bill rise from $35.73 to $38.41. With a proposed rate-case surcharge included, that example would total $38.70, or $2.97 more. Manfredi added that the actual impact will depend on usage and meter size, and that the figures still need commission approval.
Manfredi also pointed to the Oct. 7 precautionary boil-water advisory issued after two preliminary tests suggested possible E. coli contamination. Global Water lifted the advisory on Oct. 8 after repeat tests came back negative. He said this year’s notice came out earlier than during an August 2025 incident, but that residents still reported not getting direct phone, text or email alerts from the utility.
He is asking for a public timeline of testing and notifications, along with a corrective-action plan, a written notification procedure and a plan for bottled-water assistance if another advisory is ever needed. Manfredi said he will ask ADEQ and the Corporation Commission to review residents’ concerns within their authority and encouraged residents to enroll in MCAN and keep their contact information updated with Global Water.
