Water, wastewater rates may increase in January

Water, wastewater rates may increase in January

Published on August 13, 2024

The average combined residential water and wastewater bill would increase by $1.71 monthly if the Fort Worth City Council approves the proposed rate changes.

The bottom line: The impact on individual residential customers will vary based on their water use. Changes in both the volume rates and monthly service charges are proposed for all customer classes, except gas well drilling.

Residential customers whose monthly water use reaches tier three (>18 CCF or 13,465.8 gallons per month) and tier four (>30 CCF or 22,443 gallons per month) will have the greatest bill impacts. The proposed volume rate increase for the first two residential tiers is just one cent more than the existing rates.

By the numbers: The water utility's balanced FY2025 proposed budget totals $616,963,098. It is $42,119,221 or 7% more than the FY2024 budget.

The water utility is funded solely by the rates and fees it collects for the services provided. It does not receive any tax revenue.

Significant factors behind the increases:

• Capital improvement projects
• Regulatory requirements
• Personnel costs
• Payments to other city funds
• Contractual obligations relating to raw water purchases and wastewater treatment

Go deeper: Read the detailed report about the proposed budget increases, and review the specific proposed rate changes for all customer classes. In addition to being online, a print copy is available at all Fort Worth libraries for review.

What's next: Customers can submit written comments about the proposed rates by noon on Friday, Aug. 24. Action on the recommended rates may occur as soon as the Aug. 27 City Council meeting, but the changes would not take effect until Jan. 1, 2025.

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• City Council