I appreciate you all for sending in questions or concerns you have regarding the City of Baytown. This week, we will be discussing a topic that is impacting some in our community- our water bills. I wanted to take this chance to provide clarity on the reasons behind the change in our bills and what we are looking at in hopes of providing some relief.
Here’s the bottom line: there is not a one-size-fits-all answer to last year’s water bill increases. Many of us noticed a change in our bills during the driest summer in our lifetime when our usage didn’t decrease. There were also wireless meter reading issues, leading some customers to receive an estimated bill based on previous usage and then eventually a true-up bill. This is similar if you receive average billing from your electric company. There is also a chance that you have a leak and didn’t know about it until you received your bill. Those are not the only factors though.
Another significant component is the cost of raw water from the City of Houston, our water source. Houston adjusted its prices, impacting overall expenses in providing you with quality water. Other operating costs, equipment upgrades, necessary infrastructure improvements, and maintenance of the system have also played a role in the variation.
Water and sewer rates were modified by 6% due to these changes. This started showing up in your December and January water bills. We also removed the cap off the sewer rates, which impacted bills as well. I know these were unpopular decisions, but they were necessary to keep up with costs. A single-family household that uses 2,000 gallons of water have seen an increase of $0.65 and a single-family household that uses 6,000 gallons of water have noticed an increase of $3.71. I understand the impact this has on household budgets and I want to assure you that every decision we make is with the best interest of our residents. We are actively looking at ways to reduce water bills. In fact, we will be looking at putting the cap back on the sewer rates, but I will push for other ways to find some relief.
There are a few ways to get some assistance when looking at your bill. First, I would encourage you to be careful comparing your bill with your neighbors because family sizes and water usage are different. Also, do you have one meter for your house and one for your yard? It does make a difference. Second, do you think you have a leak? Most leaks could take up to two billing cycles before you see them. You can call Utility Services to have your meter checked. The data from these meters goes back 90 days and can determine if you have an open line. You can also request a new meter, but that comes with a cost. If you have a leak, you can request a leak adjustment. The City of Baytown also offers payment arrangements and other assistance options.
It is my understanding that most residents didn’t see anything beyond the expected increases so the impact was minimal. I noticed the increase in my bill as well. We are committed to open communication and transparency as we work together to find solutions. If you have any other questions regarding your water bill, please call Utility Services at 281-420-6515.
I hope this has provided a better explanation and I appreciate your understanding and continued support. We have one week left in this conversation series. Let me know what you would like me to discuss by emailing me at mayor@baytown.org.
Take care and God Bless.
Mayor Brandon Capetillo