Houston residents are set to see a 6 percent increase in their water bills starting this month. The increase partially pays for a multi-year plan to fund repairs to the city’s failing sewer and water infrastructure.
The rate hike, first approved in 2021, is the latest in a series of annual increases tied to a consent decree between the City of Houston, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the State of Texas.
The agreement was prompted by a lawsuit filed by Bayou City Waterkeeper after repeated sewage spills violated the federal Clean Water Act, highlighting the need for significant upgrades to the city’s aging systems.
The consent decree requires Houston to invest nearly $2 billion over the next 15 years to address long-standing water infrastructure issues.
Earlier this year, Houston Public Works Deputy Director Gerg Eyerly said $15 billion is needed for the greater Houston area’s water and wastewater treatment over the next decade and a half.
He said the East Water Treatment Plant—which serves 70 percent of Houstonians—was failing and would have to be replaced.
Eyerly warned that a catastrophic failure would not only impact everyday citizens but also seriously impact operations of the oil industry, the Port of Houston, and other industries with nationwide impact.
The city also loses an estimated 32 billion gallons of water every year due to leaks in the system. 311 data shows that the number one issue driving service requests from citizens is active water leaks.
According to KPRC 2, the city had 1600 active water leaks at the end of March and the estimated time to resolve a leak after it is reported is 41 days.
A recent Texas Supreme Court ruling also ordered the city to spend $100 million on water drainage. City Controller Chris Hollins warned he would not be able to certify the 2026 budget without significant cuts or revenue increases.
Houston faces a $320 million deficit in 2026.
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