During the August 21, 2023 City Council meeting the City Council approved increase to the water and sewer rates that will go into effect on October 1, 2023. These adjustments are necessary to ensure the continued delivery of high-quality water and sewer services to our residents.

Residents will see changes in their water and sewer bills, including the following modifications:

The base fee for water service will increase by $2.50, from $12.50 to $15.

The base fee for sewer service will increase from $19.46 to $23.35.

The volume fee for water, based on usage, will undergo a 15% increase. Water rates are on a tiered basis, with rates increasing based on how much water is used. The full rate structure is here:

Another change that is a part of the new structure is moving away from sewer averaging. Sewer averaging estimates the sewage generated by using the average water consumption during the period of November through February. Starting in October 2023 sewer usage will be billed based on water consumption. This includes water that may be used for outside uses such as filling pools, or irrigation.

Residents who do not have a separate water meter for irrigation may want to consider getting an irrigation meter. By having a dedicated meter for irrigation, residents stand to significantly reduce their sewer bills. One of the primary advantages is that water used exclusively for outdoor irrigation purposes is not subject to sewer fees. By installing a separate meter for irrigation, homeowners can accurately measure and pay only for the water consumed by their landscaping, leading to substantial savings in sewer fees. Water meters can be purchased from the city and cost $300. A plumber is required to install the water meters, and residents are encouraged to get quotes from different plumbers as prices can vary greatly.

These rate adjustments have been considered due to several key factors that have influenced the cost of providing water and sewer services:

The City of Jersey Village purchases water from the City of Houston and the North Harris County Regional Water Authority. In the last two years there has been a substantial 25% increase in the rates charged for the supply of water. This increase has impacted the overall cost of water supply for our city.

The maintenance and upkeep of water and sewer infrastructure require ongoing investments to ensure efficient and reliable service. The costs associated with maintenance, repairs, and upgrades have risen over time, contributing to the need for a rate adjustment.

The U.S. city average, all urban consumers, seasonally adjusted Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 11.94% from January 2020 to January 2023. This broader economic trend has affected operational costs across various sectors, including the water and sewer industry.

These changes were proposed from the Water and Wastewater Rate Study which can be found here.

The City of Jersey Village remains committed to providing residents with safe, reliable, and high-quality water and sewer services. The revenue generated from these rate adjustments will be directly reinvested into operating, maintaining and upgrading the water and sewer infrastructure, ensuring continued water quality, reliable supply, and efficient wastewater management.