Collin Country residents to pay more for water

Frisco - In a development that could have substantial implications for residents and businesses, the North Texas Municipal Water District is currently deliberating a proposed 11% hike in water rates, according to report by Dallas Metro News.

It's crucial to be mentioned, however, that the final rate increase could see further adjustments. Should this increase be approved, it would lead to a revised pricing model, setting the cost around $3.77 per 1,000 gallons.

According to WFAA, the decision to confirm this price jump rests with the board of directors of the North Texas Municipal Water District. A ruling is expected on September 28, 2023. If endorsed by the board, the new rates would be effective from October 1, 2023. Notably, the district spans multiple cities such as Plano, McKinney, Frisco, Allen, and Richardson, hence these communities could experience the impact of the proposed increment directly.

The principal role of the North Texas Municipal Water District includes setting yearly wholesale prices for water, wastewater, and solid waste. As a wholesale water supplier, the district serves about two million inhabitants across ten North Texas counties. However, the rates paid by individual consumers may vary across different cities due to the blend of wholesale and local system costs.

Establishing the rates is an intricate procedure that takes into account not just the quantity of water used but also costs associated with operations, system upkeep, expansion, and debt servicing for existing infrastructure.

The impending hike has understandably elicited concern among some city officials. Ken Hutchenrider, a Richardson City Council member, expressed his worries in a statement covered by The Dallas Morning News.

“No one’s walking away every year with a double-digit increase on their salary,” Richardson City Council member Ken Hutchenrider said during a June 5 work session. “I’m still just very, very, very concerned because there’s not many businesses that can pass through 11, 10, 12, 15% to their customers and stay in business.”

The proposed rate changes were examined in detail during the June 5 work session. The Richardson City Council was presented with a comprehensive overview of the projected 11% rise in the wholesale water rate. Additionally, they were informed about a potential 7% increase in wastewater rates, which could result in a new fee of $2.75 per 1,000 gallons for the regional system.

Despite the planned hikes, the district maintains that previous rate increases have usually yielded wholesale water rates that were lower than preliminary predictions. Moreover, in comparison to national averages, the aggregate cost of water services in the region tends to be less expensive.

Credit: WFAA, Dallas Morning News, Dallas Metro News