Mesa has valid reasons to raise monthly water bills by about $4, on average, next year.

There are several key projects coming online to shore up the city’s water supply.

And officials want to spread out those costs over time, to minimize the sticker shock on customers.

But it should not overlook the 2,000 people who have signed a petition and the flood of residents who protested the proposed rate increase at a recent City Council meeting.

Neither should other cities.

Residents are sending clear warnings that they are worried about their pocketbooks.

And if cities ignore this sentiment, we could all pay in the future. At the tap.

That doesn’t mean cities should stop raising water rates.

Quite the opposite.

Water is only going to get more expensive. It’s getting hotter and drier, and precipitation is........

© Arizona Republic