Houston residents, brace yourselves for a uniform water bill in the mail this month. As part of an initiative to address the ongoing issues with high water bills, the City of Houston is sending out what they call a 'set rate' for households. This move comes after Public Works identified that approximately 125,000 households have meters with remote read devices that are failing to transmit data, according to KTRK.
The figures for the set rate water bills you'll be seeing are based on historical usage. According to a statement obtained by FOX 26, for accounts established before March 1, 2023, this means an average of the past 36 months, though some anomalies like last year's drought and the February 2021 freeze have been excluded. Newer accounts, those under a year old, will be allotted 3,000 gallons a month, aimed at giving customers a consistent bill until their meters can be ascertained to be functioning correctly or have been repaired.
This temporary solution not only provides residents with predictability but also comes with a silver lining: Should you use less water than your set amount, your bill will reflect the lower usage. Exceeding the set water allowance won't result in additional charges, as confirmed by Houston Public Works in reports from FOX 26. However, it's not a permanent fix — once the meters are confirmed functional, residents will receive a 60-day notice before being charged for actual water usage.
Moreover, the problem extends beyond faulty meters. Houston Public Works is also grappling with water leaks that have previously cost taxpayers almost $2 million in repair overtime. There's a staffing shortfall too, over 300 vacancies are unfilled, prolonging the repair times for reported leaks. "It's because our teams, we only have so many and there are only so many repairs they can make and they're prioritizing those need to goes and eventually that individual is falling further and further on that list," a Houston Public Works employee, Gabrial Mussio, told KTRK.
Residents can check the status of their water meters and obtain customer support through virtual or in-person appointments via ImproveWaterBills.org. Questions can also be directed to the Houston Public Works at (713) 371-1400. With the city's plans to replace non-functioning meters by year's end and the anticipated water billing dashboard, officials are aiming to give Houstonians a clearer picture of their water usage and the city's infrastructure challenges.
