Government
BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN
Conroe changing water rates for multifamily complexes
Diving in deeper
The city of Conroe commissions a water and sewer rate study every year to determine if the current rates are adequate to fund the infrastruc- ture system. Boothe said city staff started looking into increased water and sewer rates for multifam- ily units in August. The city prefers apartment owners cover any potential increase rather than passing it to ten- ants; however, Conroe is leaving that choice with the owners, Boothe said. According to the city’s website, the water and sewer rate adjustments are necessary to address the expenses with maintaining the city’s water and sewer system while also facilitating improvements and upgrades to the system. Boothe said the funds that are collected from the change in the water and sewer rates will be used for: • Operations and maintenance • Debt service payments of the city’s water and sewer system • Funding capital improvement projects such as future water wells During its Sept. 26 meeting, Conroe City Council also approved the Multi-family Lifeline Rate, which will provide a 50% discount on water and sewer base rates for people with disabilities living in multifamily complexes and/or citizens aged 65 and over who reside in apartments. This discount is already offered to single-family homeowners, according to the city’s website.
The impact to apartment owners will vary based on the water usage. The base rates include 0-3,000 gallons of water and sewer service, and Boothe said the average usage for multifamily complexes per unit is 2,900 gallons a month. For example, starting Dec. 1, multifamily complexes with 354 units would go from paying $38.36 to $61.74 per unit per month if each unit were to use 3,000 gallons—which is a 61% increase compared to last fiscal year’s rates.
Conroe will change how multifamily complexes are charged for water and sewer rates starting Dec. 1, after Conroe City Council approved changes to its rates Sept. 26. The new rates will charge multifamily units at 90% of the single-family rates, with volumetric water charges based on per- unit basis, said Collin Boothe, assistant city administrator and director of finance. “This is the first time the city has changed the methodology for charging apartments,” Boothe said.
Conroe water rates per unit
FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25
$80
$70
+31% +21% +40% +58% +61% +62%
$60
$50
$40
$30
$20
$10
$0
93
270
354
405
16
60
Number of units in complex
NOTE: THE FY 2024-25 RATE ASSUMES 3,000 GALLONS ARE USED PER UNIT PER MONTH.
SOURCE: CITY OF CONROE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
New development moratorium area
Zooming out
45
2854
development and came into effect after city officials first warned City Council about a decline in water capacity this past April. In June, the City Council also approved an ordinance implementing irrigation restrictions between May 1-Oct. 31, limiting irrigation between 6 p.m.-10 a.m. of the next day. During non-drought conditions, there are no irrigation restrictions imposed between Nov. 1-April 30, according to the ordinance.
The city has approved the addition of four water wells that are being funded through the city’s budget to help alleviate water needs. The addition of the four wells only allows the city to service the current needs, city officials said. As of Aug. 29, council implemented a 120- day temporary development moratorium for the northern portion of the city to combat potential water shortage. The temporary development moratorium halts new
1097
1484
105
2854
336
N
NOTE: THIS MAP IS AN ESTIMATION AND MAY NOT REFLECT EXACT BOUNDARIES.
SOURCE: CITY OF CONROE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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CONROE - MONTGOMERY EDITION
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