Keeping a green lawn will cost more for many Kennewick residents this summer

The Kennewick Irrigation District will raise its annual assessment by 8% to 18% this year, following modest or no increases in recent years.

Since 2020, annual increases have been 1% to 3%, with no increase in 2023 to help ratepayers hurting financially from the COVID pandemic, according to KID.

This year’s assessment generally will start at 8% for smaller land parcels and increase for larger parcels.

The new schedule of rates and charges is posted at kid.org/rates.

The larger-than-usual increase this year will address inflation that has caused the Consumer Price Index to increase about 20% since 2019.

The cost of materials and equipment needed to maintain and operate the irrigation system has risen significantly in recent years, KID said in an announcement of the assessment increase. The district also needs to pay wages high enough to attract and retain a skilled workforce, it said.

“The current economic conditions necessitate an increase to ensure the district’s financial strength and ability to provide quality services,” it said.

Inflation was the biggest driver for the increase, according to KID.

Other factors cited by KID for the rate increase include:

▪ Upgrades have been needed to reduce the impacts of droughts and ensure a reliable water supply. They include lining canals and widening the main canal, which allows it to be used as additional water storage.

The snow pack that will melt and feed the Yakima River, which supplies KID irrigation water, was well above average at the start of 2025.

But reservoirs that store water are starting the year with low levels, creating worries of reduced water for irrigation district that rely on the Yakima River in the 2025 irrigation season.

▪ As Kennewick continues to develop, there is more need for urban irrigation service, which requires more infrastructure than agricultural service.

Irrigation assessments can be thought of as membership fees for a water delivery network, KID said. The money collected pays for the maintenance and upkeep of the canals, pipes and other infrastructure that deliver water.

KID delivers water to about 32 square miles of land or 62,000 people. Assessments are based on parcel size and infrastructure needed to deliver water to the structure.

Those wanting more information about the rate increase can call KID customer service at 509-586-9111. Half of the 2025 payment is due April 30 and the second half Oct. 31.

This story was originally published February 10, 2025 at 5:00 AM.