Every month you receive your water bill, but what do all the fees mean? Here we break it down so you know what your monthly payment is going towards.

North Harris County Regional Water Authority ( The NHCRWA )is a government agency created by the Texas legislature to assist in converting the region to be part of the Groundwater Reduction Plan (GRP).

To do this, the NHCRWA is responsible for constructing and operating a water delivery system to deliver Surface Water (from lakes) to replace well water systems most MUDs currently use. The goal is to reduce the amount of groundwater usage to NO More than 20% by 2035.

The NHCRWA is not a taxing authority so funding is from sale of bonds and paid for by revenue from groundwater pumping fees and water sales.

Your local MUD will affect your life in two ways – They will bill you for Water and Sewage fees and receive a tax bill

Current NHCRWA Rates are (2022):

• Groundwater - 4.60 per 1,000 gallons of water
• Surface water - 5.05 per 1,000 gallons of water
• some utility districts, MUDS may modify fees to cover other maintenance costs so your rates may be higher

As a general estimate, a typical family of 4 uses approximately 12,000 gallons per month. The added cost of the NHCRWA would be about 55.00 per month.

Water cost will be increasing due to the NHCRWA fees and other costs.  If you are in a MUD or UD you also have the taxes to pay for it.

MUD / UD tax rates have a wide range from about 0.28 to 1.48 per 100 of home value. 

• 300,000 home/100 = 3,300 x 0.28 = 840 per year/70 per month
• 300,000 home/100 = 3,300 x 1.49 = 4,470 per year/372 per month
• 600,000 home/100 = 6,000 x 0.28 = 1,680 per year/140 per month
• 600,000 home/100 = 6,000 x 1.49 = 8,940 per year/745 per month

Unfortunately water bills have become much higher and homeowners will probably see more increases in their water usage fees as well as future increases in the NHCRWA fees. I do not see any reduction in these costs other than the MUD tax to be lowered. Getting involved in your MUD may help to prevent the MUD boards from adding in other improvement costs that keep the MUD tax at higher rates.  MUD taxes used to reduce over time, but these reductions are getting further and far between.

If you want more information relating to MUD fees, please contact us. The Boutwell Team is very knowledgeable regarding all expenses related to home ownership.