These details, charges, and rates apply to residential customers within Town limits (unless otherwise noted) and may vary for other types of accounts.
WATER USAGE
If you use less than 3,000 gallons in a billing cycle, you will not see this charge. Customers who do use more are charged at increasing rates based on actual use. Tiered pricing is meant to encourage conservation.
WATER BASE CHARGE
This is the minimum cost of service provision (including the first 3,000 gallons) and is based on meter size. It funds items like water acquisition, storage, monitoring, testing, treatment, billing, and customer service.
SEWER
This revenue is used to pay the Cities of Arlington and Fort Worth to collect and treat our wastewater — a service that is increasing in cost. Because wastewater is not metered, this charge is based on the lower of either (1) an account’s winter water consumption (average use during the most recent winter quarter (Dec.— Feb.) when outdoor use is at a minimum, or (2) an account’s current actual water consumption during this billing cycle.
NTGCD FEES
These revenues go to the Northern Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, which manages and protects our region’s groundwater.
SOLID WASTE
These rates fund trash, recycling, and Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection by CWD; and dumpsters for cleanup events. These rates were recently adjusted, which is already reflected on your most recent utility bill.
WS INFRASTRUCTURE FEE
The Water and Sewer Infrastructure Fee is based on average consumption and used to fund major system upgrades (sometimes called “capital improvements”). Survey data and community input in recent years have made it clear that the majority of residents want to improve their drinking water while still maintaining control of our independent water system.
To that end, increased revenues from this line item will be used to service the debt related to the design and installation of reverse osmosis (RO) systems at the 303 and Lane well sites. Watch for more information in the coming months. We expect these systems to be live by August 2025.
| Rates (effective 11/01/23) | |
Monthly Water and Sewer (WS) Infrastructure Fee for Customers Inside Town Limits (based on average consumption) | |
| 0 to 8,000 gallons of water consumption | $19.00 |
| 8,001 to 24,000 gallons of water consumption | $27.50 |
| 24,001 to 40,000 gallons of water consumption | $45.20 |
| 40,001 or more gallons of water consumption | $62.15 |
Monthly Sewer Service for Residential Customers Inside Town Limits | |
| Minimum Service Charge (includes 3,000 gallons) | $22.65 |
| Volume charges for 3,001 + gallons (per 1,000 gallons) | $3.83 |
| Monthly Sewer Service for Commercial Customers Inside Town Limits | |
| Minimum Service Charge (includes 3,000 gallons) | $23.36 |
| Volume charges for 3,001+ gallons (per 1,000 gallons) | $4.17 |
What is meter size? The “size” of your meter refers to the diameter of the pipe that allows water to flow from the system onto your property. The standard is a 5/8” to 3/4” meter. Larger homes (with more bathrooms or that have two stories) or those who have an irrigation system may find that a larger meter size (usually 1”) is necessary to get adequate pressure. Commercial properties, depending on their needs, can have meters up to 4”.
Why do larger meters pay higher fees? The entire water system must be robust enough to, at any moment in time, provide adequate water pressure to both fire hydrants and each customer’s meter at full flow. A 1 or 2” meter has a more significant financial impact on the minimum size and capabilities of the water delivery system as a whole. Therefore, customers with larger meters are charged a higher base rate.
What would happen if unexpected circumstances prevent our system from producing enough water to meet demand? We have an emergency connection to the City of Arlington’s water system that can be activated if an issue should arise.
Are any improvements planned for the water system? Yes, Council has approved funding for the addition of reverse osmosis (RO) filtering systems, a second elevated storage tank (EST), tank mixers to keep the treatment chemicals in stored water more evenly mixed, an updated monitoring system, and a vacuum and flush truck to keep sewer lines moving.
Have any questions we didn't answer here? Email staff or call 817-617-3700.