Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Important Information Regarding Your Water and Sewer Rates

Southlake Water Utilities would like to inform Southlake residents of a rate increase for both water and sewer rates will be in effect November 1st, 2016 and December 1st, 2016 respectively.

Water Rate Increase

In August of this year, the Fort Worth City Council once again voted to increase its wholesale water costs. As a result, the City of Southlake is obligated to increase its water rate for Southlake customers. This is due to the fact that Southlake is a city customer to the City of Fort Worth.

In July, the City of Fort Worth’s Water Department conducted their annual Cost of Service and Rate Study and are estimating Southlake expenses at approximately $9.5 million, which equates to a 2.46% increase. As a result of this study, Southlake Water Utilities will pass through this rate increase to Southlake customers. The effective date of increase for Southlake customers will begin for services beginning November 1st, 2016, but customers will not see the higher rate until their December bill.

As has been the trend for the past several years, this increase is not unexpected; however, this year’s increase is quite a bit smaller than the increases in past years. Due to the fact that our systems are connected, when Fort Worth experiences an increase in rates from the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD), Southlake will as well. Please visit the Southlake Water Utilities page for links to the Fort Worth and TRWD sites.

Sewer Rate Increase

In July of this year, the Trinity River Authority (TRA) Board of Directors once again voted again to approve rate increases for sewer treatment at both Denton Creek and Central Regional wastewater plants. As a result, Southlake Water Utilities will be increasing sewer rate for Southlake customers by 5%. The Trinity River Authority supplies sewer treatment to 98% of Tarrant County, including, Southlake.

Southlake utility customers have been paying the same sewer rates since 2002. Since then the costs to operate and treat sewer have continued to increase over the years, these increases have necessitated a pass through sewer rate increase to Southlake customers. This will take effect on December 1st, 2016, and the increase will show on the January billing statements. You may view all of our rates by visiting the Southlake Water Utilities page, then click on Customer Care box, and then click on the Water & Sewer Rates link to the left.

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