Tucson City Council has taken the first step in designating the funds from raising water rates for Tucson Water customers in unincorporated Pima County by expanding the utility’s low-income program.

The council adopted changes Tuesday, Jan. 11, to improve access to Tucson Water’s low-income program while providing emergency assistance to customers experiencing hardships.

When City Council adopted differential water rates in June, it identified three spending areas to allocate the $9.9 million annual revenue it anticipates generating from the new rates: low-income assistance, climate resiliency and infrastructure upgrades.

The water utility already offers discounts on monthly water bills for customers based on their monthly income and the number of individuals living at their residence. Customers previously had to prove the number of people in their homes by providing social security numbers for each resident.