Wichita Falls residents paid the highest water bills in the state last year, according to a recent review by “Lawnstarter” of a consumer rights group survey.
The survey states that residential customers who used 60,000 gallons of water for the year would pay $516, the highest of the 40 largest water systems.
The average in Texas was $288 and in the U.S. $337.
However, Deputy City Manager, Jim Dockery says the average residential customer in Wichita Falls only uses an average 3,700 gallons per month, or about $44,000 gallons a year, not $60,000.
Dockery does say the water rates had to be increased because the city is selling a lot less water from habits learned during the drought, and also had to spend millions on emergency measures, such as the water reuse pipeline.
Since the water system is self funding, the city can’t budge on water rates.
Dockery hopes that after a few years, barring another drought, Wichita Falls’ rates will moderate closer to the state average.
(Information from TexomasHomepage.com)
