Understanding Your Water & Sewer Rates

 

The Harris County Water Control and Improvement District No. 89 (the “District”) is committed to providing safe, reliable potable water and wastewater treatment services. To fund the daily operations, maintenance, and regulatory compliance required to keep these systems running, the District collects monthly service fees from all customers. 

Current Residential Rate Structure 

The District currently operates under a rate structure established by the 2021 Rate Order. The rates are designed to distribute costs based on usage—the more water a household consumes, the higher the rate per gallon. This “inverted block” structure is intended to encourage water conservation. 

  1. Water Service RatesYour water bill iscomprised of a base fee plus a volumetric charge based on how much water you use. 
  • Base Fee (0 – 5,000 gallons): $19.10 (Minimum Monthly Charge). 
  • Tier 1 (5,001 – 10,000 gallons): $1.25 per 1,000 gallons. 
  • Tier 2 (10,001+ gallons): $1.50 per 1,000 gallons. 
  1. Wastewater (Sewer) RatesWastewater charges cover the collection and treatment of sewage.
  • Base Fee (0 – 5,000 gallons): $20.00 (Minimum Monthly Charge). 
  • Usage Charge: $1.00 per 1,000 gallons for all usage over 5,000 gallons. 
  1. Solid Waste (Garbage) & RecyclingGarbage collection is billed monthly on your water bill.
  • Current Rate: $22.51 per month. 
  • Note: This rate is effective from April 2025 through March 2026 due to Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustments from the provider, Best Trash. 
  1. Regulatory Assessment
  • TCEQ Fee: A 0.5% surcharge is applied to the total water and sewer charges. This fee is passed directly to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for state regulatory oversight. 

 

How the Rates Work: An Example 

The District utilizes an Inverted Block Rate structure. This means the price of water increases as you move into higher usage tiers. This structure ensures that essential water use (for drinking and bathing) remains affordable, while discretionary use (such as excessive lawn irrigation) is billed at a higher premium to discourage waste and protect our shared water supply. 

What Do These Rates Fund? 

Unlike property taxes, which primarily pay for major construction projects and long-term debt (bonds), your monthly water and sewer rates fund the General Operating Fund. These revenues are used strictly for the day-to-day “housekeeping” and operational expenses of the District, including: 

  • Production & Treatment: Electricity and natural gas to run the water plants and wastewater treatment plant, as well as chemicals (chlorine, phosphate) needed to make water safe to drink. 
  • Repairs & Maintenance: Fixing water main leaks, repairing lift stations, and maintaining fire hydrants. 
  • Professional Operations: Fees for the District Operator (Municipal Operations & Consulting) who monitors the system 24/7, reads meters, and handles billing. 
  • Security: A portion of the District’s revenue supports the contract with the Harris County Constable’s Office (Precinct 7) for security patrols in the community. 
  • Water Authority Fees: Costs associated with groundwater pumpage fees and future surface water conversion mandates from the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District. 

Note: The District is currently conducting a 2025 Rate Study to evaluate the actual cost of producing water versus the revenue generated. Current data indicates that water production costs exceed current revenues, and the Board is reviewing options to ensure the system remains financially self-sufficient.