A blog by LawnStarter pulled together and published information from cities across the country, and specifically Texas. It determined Lubbock pays among the highest rates for water.
The blog can be found here and it lists Wichita Falls as the city with the highest water bill, at $516.43 a year, using 60,000 gallons of water a year. Lubbock came in second on the list of Texas cities at $474.60.
The blog listed Food & Water Watch as their source for the water bills. More information can be found on their survey here.
According to Aubrey Spear with the City of Lubbock Water Utilities, that averages to using about 5,000 gallons a month and paying about $39 a month.
“I think you have to take it into context,” Spear said. “What they’re saying is, for cities in the state of Texas, the larger cities, that have 5,000 gallons a month usage.”
“That’s a little lower than what you would find with your average customer. About 5,000 gallons a month, the city of Lubbock bill would be the second highest next to Wichita Falls,” Spear added.
For more information on how water bills in the city of Lubbock are calculated, you can go to the city of Lubbock Water Department page.
“So for the $39 a month, that’s, to me, great value saying that we have the water for many decades to come. We’ve spent the money to be able to assure the citizens of Lubbock that we have that water supply during emergencies, as well as for the future. We have a diverse water supply,” Spear said. “It’s one of the most diverse water supplies in the state of Texas.”
Spear attributed the rates to ensuring water for the city.
“Most of the cost that is built into our water rates is due to the debt that we’re servicing on the infrastructure,” Spear said. “For example, when we built the Lake Alan Henry pipeline and water treatment plant and pump stations, that was the largest undertaking the city of Lubbock had engaged in with a water project ever.”
