BY JAMES T. NORMAN
The cost
Looking ahead
position in recent years, officials said. This led to utility rate increases of double digits—13.4% and 14.9%—in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Manvel Mayor Dan Davis said on Feb. 3 there has not been a formal proposal for another rate increase at this point. Friendswood officials approved a 7% increase in water rates last year for each of the next three years, as well as a 4%-7% increase in sewer rates during that time, causing a $15 increase in resi- dents’ bi-monthly bills, Faulkner said.
While officials said the projects will help their cities expand, the cost to build them stems mostly from utility bills. As a result, all three cities have raised rates in some capacity in recent years. For Pearland, Sohns said this is because there was a period of time where the city did not increase its utility rates enough to keep up with the growing need, prompting the need for “big jumps,” including a 14% increase in 2023. Manvel, which opted against a 6.3% increase in its water rates in November, has been in a similar
Pearland officials expect the new Barry Rose facility to be completed by 2028 and be done in three phases, according to city documents. In Manvel, the new reclamation facility will take 30 months to build out from the start of construction, putting it at a possible completion date of January 2027, city officials said. Other projects stemming from the city’s 2022 master water plan have been in the works as well. The additions, as well as expansion of other plants, should hold over both cities through at least 2040. “We’re investing in key projects to increase capacity, improve reliability, protect the environment and ensure we can meet both current and future demand,” Davis said.
Utility rates over time
Friendswood
Manvel
Pearland
State average
Water rates
$40 $30 $50 $60 $20 $10 $0
$46.23
$37.05
$37.83 $42.61
October 2024 Pearland’s new surface water plant goes online
$31
$29.97
$21.30
$24.22
January 2025 Two groundwater well systems go online in Pearland
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Wastewater rates
Early 2027 Manvel’s water reclamation project is completed
$80
$66.49
$60
$49.13 $49.41
$36
$34.63
$40
2028 Pearland wraps up Barry Rose project, decommissions Longwood facility
$36.83
$26.10
$20
$29.03
SOURCES: CITIES OF FRIENDSWOOD, MANVEL AND PEARLAND/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
$0
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
SOURCES: CITIES OF FRIENDSWOOD, MANVEL AND PEARLAND; TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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