Beginning November 1, 2019, the City of North Richland Hills will implement changes to water and sewer utility rates. The rate adjustments include changes to the water and sewer base rates, which are set by the city, as well as a pass through rate increase from the city’s wholesale sewer treatment providers – the City of Fort Worth and the Trinity River Authority. The impact of the rate adjustment on a residential customer who uses 10,000 gallons of water per month will be approximately $8.78 per month.
Increasing costs coupled with lower water consumption have required the use of reserves to balance the water and sewer Utility Fund in two of the last three years. The City of North Richland Hills strives to provide quality, safe and reliable water and wastewater service in a cost effective manner. The water and sewer utility rates were discussed this summer during City Council budget work sessions and approved during the September 9, 2019 City Council Meeting. For more information, please view the City Council Meeting memorandum and watch the meeting video.
Water Rate Change
North Richland Hills’ base water rate, which includes your first 2,000 gallons of consumption, has increased from $12.00 to $17.50 per month. That is still below the base water rate charged by most area cities. A survey this summer showed area cities charge on average $22.57 per month for their base water rate including 2,000 gallons of water consumption. The base rate increase will be applied proportionally across all meter sizes in NRH. There is no change to the volumetric rate charged for consumption exceeding the base amount or pass through water rate changes from our wholesale water providers.
Sewer Rate Change
North Richland Hills’ sewer base rate increased from $9 to $11 per month for all meter sizes. Additionally there is a pass through rate increase of $0.24 per 1,000 gallons from the city’s sewer treatment providers, the City of Fort Worth and the Trinity River Authority, for increasing sewer treatment costs. There is no change to the city’s volumetric rate. Even with these increases, the city’s sewer charges remain below average. A survey this summer showed area cities charge $22.69 per month on average in sewer charges for 2,000 gallons of use.
Monthly Impact
The chart below shows how the water and sewer rate changes will impact a residential customer using 10,000 gallons of water per month. Even with the rate increases, the average water customer will continue to pay just over a 1-penny per gallon used. That covers pumping, treatment, transmission, storage and more. You can learn more about your municipal water system here.
Questions about your monthly water and sewer charges may be directed to the Water Office at 817-427-6200.