WATER RATE
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“The reserves that were in several dierent accounts were far higher than what was a reasonable level,” Ramsey said. “So these rate cuts, in part, are funded by the rates being too high in the past.” Ramsey said lowering the rates caused a $25 million loss in revenue. However, the reserve budget is still in excess of $300 million, he said. Historical rates Before 2023, NHCRWA water rates steadily increased every two years with the last raise in April 2021. Kelly Fessler, one of two remaining incum- bents following November’s election, said the former board was not planning to raise rates this year. “I believe the former board was on the right track to achieve our mandated sur- face water conversion, and if they had received the same guidance, it may or may not have reduced the rate,” he said. Former NHCRWA President Al Rendl did not respond to requests for comment. Ramsey said assuming local munic- ipal utility districts pass the new rate through, he hopes to save residents tens of millions of dollars. However, Ram- sey said some districts choose to add an administrative cost, which may still appear as an NHCRWA fee on the bill. Harris County MUD 368 President Roy Lackey said at a February board meeting he voted to pass the new rate through as is. MUD 368 serves the area near Hufsmith-Kohrville and Boudreaux roads along Spring’s northern border. “If [NHCRWA] isn’t charging us, we shouldn’t be charing our customers,” Lackey said. Ramsey said he expects the initial rate cut to remain in place for at least four years for NHCRWA customers. Ongoing projects Ramsey said he anticipates no proj- ects or services will be challenged by the loss in revenue. All water infra- structure projects are funded through the capital budget, which is not aected by the rate cuts, he said. For example, the $1.4 billion North- east Water Purication Plant expan- sion, which is taking place in Humble, treats Lake Houston water and turns it into drinking water for parts of Harris and Fort Bend counties. Michael Turco, general manager of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence Dis- trict, said upon completion in 2024, the plant will increase treated water capac- ity from 80 million gallons per day to 400 million gallons per day.
Groundwater: water drawn through wells Surface water: water drawn from surface sources, such as Lake Houston
Terms to know:
The $0.50 decrease in water rates is funded by a $30M surplus identied in the NHCRWA’s operating budget.
BREAKING THE TREND
Water rates for the North Harris County Regional Water Authority show a steady increase every two years before dropping in 2023. Groundwater fee
Surface water fee
$0 $1.00 $2.00 $3.00 $4.00 $5.00 $6.00
$5.05
$4.10 $4.55
$4.60
Surface water rates were not introduced until 2010.
$2.20
$0.25
CONVERTING GROUNDWATER The NHCRWA is converting more of its water to alternative water sources to meet groundwater reduction goals.
WATER AUTHORITY BOUNDARIES
The NHCRWA exists to secure reliable wholesale drinking water for north Harris County, including Spring and Klein. North Harris County Regional Water Authority
Projected percentage of groundwater converted to alternative water sources
59
290
45
249
99
10
610
SOURCES: MARK RAMSEY, NHCRWACOMMUNITY IMPACT
*PROJECTIONS AFTER 203031 ARE CALCULATED BIYEARLY.
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Turco said the region’s primary water source has historically been from groundwater pumped out of the Gulf Coast Aquifer System. However, to avoid subsidence, or the sinking of the surface, the subsidence district developed a plan to reduce ground- water withdrawal. The NHCRWA is required under the plan to reduce groundwater usage to no more than 40% of its total water supply by 2025, according to Turco. Ramsey said the NHCRWA has already converted around 31% of The board of directors for the Bridgestone Municipal Utility Dis- trict—which serves neighborhoods north of Louetta Road and south of the Grand Parkway in Spring—opted not to pass along the savings from its water use. Local impact
Some local residents expressed concern regarding the board’s Jan. 17 decision. “It’s basically like levying a tax without actually levying a tax,” Bridgestone resident Joe Meyers said. “There’s additional revenue ... [for the Bridgestone MUD] now that wouldn’t be if they’d passed that savings on to the residents.” Lin Laney, who is president of the Northcrest Village Homeowners Association, said he is worried about the MUD’s Jan. 17 decision. “It probably only makes anywhere from $3-$10, maybe $15 [per] month dierence in a water bill, but if you have a family ... that adds up,” Laney said.
NHCRWA’s water rate cuts on Jan. 17. At this meeting, Treasurer Martha Velazquez motioned to pass on the full $0.50 rate cut to residents, but none of the other board members sec- onded the motion. Velazquez said in each of the three scenarios the board considered, Bridgestone MUD would have had a projected revenue. “We wouldn’t be losing any money. We’re in a position with a pretty healthy reserve,” Velazquez said. Bridgestone MUD’s board ultimately decided to keep residents’ water rates the same since the district was being charged more by the NHCRWA from 2018-22 than Bridgestone MUD was charging residents, according to a March 7 statement from the MUD. “Also, the district was concerned that the reduction would not be sustainable by the NHCRWA,” reads the statement.
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