Friday, March 29, 2024

Residents to See Increase in Water Rates in 2015

For the second year in a row the City of Fort Worth has increased wholesale water charges.  Representatives of the Tarrant Regional Water District and the City of Fort Worth Water Department have indicated that a continuation of this trend should be expected.

An article posted on August 6, 2014 in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram referenced the increase and quoted officials from the City of Fort Worth and Tarrant Regional Water District, stating that the drought might intensify. Due to the cost of raw water being the major driver for water rates, they are expected to continue to increase—and double in the next 10 years.  The rate increase is also directly related to the increased demand and use of water resources by all cities served by the Tarrant Regional Water District. Permanent, mandatory Stage 1 water restrictions are in effect to encourage consumers to conserve this natural resource.

The impact on Southlake customers will be 7.825% pass through increase to their water rates.  This means an average residential consumer with a 1” water meter will experience approximately a $9.71 monthly increase.  The same size meter for an average commercial consumer will reflect about $13.16 added to the monthly bill.  Of course, exact consumption will determine the dollar amount of the increase.  The charts below provide a more detailed look at the averages.

Residential Water Rates

1″ Meter

Gallons

Current Rate

7.825%
Increase

Net Increase

0 – 2000

$31.75

$34.05

$2.30

2,001 – 10,000

$3.73

$4.00

$0.27

10,001 – 25,000

$4.32

$4.63

$0.31

25,001 – 40,000

$4.61

$4.94

$0.33

40,001 +

$5.38

$5.77

$0.39

Residential Avg

26,640

$133.87

$9.71

Commercial Water Rates

1″ Meters

Gallons

Current Rate

7.825% Increase

Net Increase

0 – 3,000

$49.93

$53.55

$3.62

3,001 – 10,000

$3.73

$4.00

$0.27

10,001 – 25,000

$4.32

$4.63

$0.31

25,001 – 40,000

$4.61

$4.94

$0.33

40,001 +

$5.38

$5.77

$0.39

Commercial Avg

33,840

$181.52

$13.16

This information is also posted on our City website and the City will engage a number of communication mediums to inform our residents and customers of the impact to their bills.

For more information about the methodology Fort Worth used to calculate the increase, please visit their website by clicking on this link to the Fort Worth Water Department.