Is your Texas water bill awfully high? Here are all the ways to dispute it and save money
Some residents have complained that their water bills are unaffordable, especially if they live in less-populated, rural areas of Texas.
“Your monthly utility costs will vary depending on where you live, the size of your home, age of appliances, climate and energy costs in your state,” according to a Forbes story that examined monthly utility costs by state. “It can also include your thermostat setting preference and what kind of insulation your home has. Population density is also a factor since utilities will cost more where there is higher demand.”
If you receive a questionably high water bill, there are ways to dispute it.
There are also savvy techniques that could help you conserve water and shave money off your monthly bill. Here’s what the City of Fort Worth suggests.
Why is my water bill so high in Texas?
According to a 2024 Forbes evaluation, “Americans pay an average of $429.33 per month for their utility bills,” or 10% of their annual incomes.
On average, Texans spend $37 a month on their water bills. This number seems awfully low, given that a recent couple said their water bill in rural Springtown is competing with their monthly car payments.
The City of Bellmead says, “ The largest water users are the toilets, clothes washers, and showers, accounting for about two‐thirds of the water used in an average household.”
Fort Worth suggests using a water footprint calculator to figure out how much water your household uses. The website will also give you tips on where you can save water and money.
How to dispute your water bill in Fort Worth
If, for some reason, your water bill comes back higher than normal, there are two situations that allow you to dispute your claim to the City of Fort Worth.
If you have a leak, the City of Fort Worth will offer you a repair adjustment within 60 days of fixing the leak.
If your water bill is twice as high as the previous bills (and there is no leak), you may dispute this charge.
To request a bill adjustment due to a leak, you must submit a dispute application on the City of Fort Worth website. You will need to be equipped with,
A copy of the repair receipt or paid invoice.
Your Fort Worth Water account number.
The property address where the repair took place.
Range of high bill dates caused by the leak.
The date and description of the repair.
Complete and submit the application within 60 days of the repairs being completed.
Send the application by email (MyWaterAccount@FortWorthTexas.gov), fax (817-392-8137 Attn: Water Bill Adjustment), mail (Fort Worth Water, Attn: Water Bill Adjustment, P.O. Box 870, Fort Worth, TX 76102) or in person (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at 100 Fort Worth Trail).
It can take up to two billing cycles to ensure that the leak is fixed. If so, the resident will receive an adjustment equal to 50 percent of the difference above the average water use (determined by the prior six months water usage bills). The adjustment would then be applied as a credit to your water bill account. Residents may only take advantage of this once within a 12-month period.
To request a bill adjustment based on undefined reasons, you will need:
Have a meter without an activated radio data transmitter,
Be a single-family residential water customer and the account holder,
Have a minimum of 13 consecutive months of water use at the service address,
Have a single-billing period with undefined high water use,
Have not received an undefined high water use bill adjustment during the previous 24 months,
Were billed for water use greater than two times your average water use for similar billing periods in the previous 3 years, and
Complete and submit the application within 60 days of the end of the service period for the undefined high water use bill.
Send the application by email (MyWaterAccount@FortWorthTexas.gov), fax (817-392-8137 Attn: Water Bill Adjustment), mail (Fort Worth Water, Attn: Water Bill Adjustment, P.O. Box 870, Fort Worth, TX 76102) or in person (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at 100 Fort Worth Trail).
If approved, the resident will receive up to a 50 percent credit of the difference above the average water use for the one-month bill in question. If there is a leak, this will be credited back to your water bill account. You may only do this once in a 24-month period.
How to check for a water leak at your home
A high water bill can be due to an unknown leak. The City of Fort Worth suggests these tips for checking for a leak.
Check your water bill. “ It is likely that a family of four has a serious leak problem if winter water use exceeds 12,000 gallons (or 16 CCF) for the month.”
Toilets being the biggest water user in your home is a good indicator. Sprinkle a few drops of food coloring into your toilet tank (back of the toilet) and let sit for 10 minutes. If color shows up in the bowl, then there is a leak. Consider replacing your old toilet flapper.
Listen for drips on faucets and turn on the tap to check for water coming out of places it should not be.
Turn on shower heads, look for drips or stray sprays. Stop with plumber’s tape.
Turn on bath tubs, then divert the water to the shower head and check if there is still a lot of water coming from the tub spout. If so, this could mean the tub spout diverter needs to be replaced.
Check for pooling water under pipes and rust around joints and edges under any sinks in your home.
Check for pooling water under your clothing washers which could indicate a supply line leak.
Check beneath the water heater tank for pooling water, rust, or other signs of leakage.
Check for pooling water underneath kitchen appliances with ice makers, which could indicate a supply line or shut-off valve leak.
Throughout the house, check for signs of moisture or mold on your walls, ceilings and floors. This can indicate that a pipe is leaking and requires a plumber.
If you have a leak, it is wise to hire a professional to inspect and fix it. If you are replacing water fixtures, try to buy ones with a WaterSense label. “WaterSense labeled products are independently certified to use at least 20 percent less water and perform as well or better than standard models,” says the City of Fort Worth.
Use these tips to conserve water in Texas
Complete a water footprint calculator.
Install WaterSense labeled fixtures.
Running the dishwasher instead of hand washing dishes.
Instead of keeping the sink water running to wash your dishes, fill the sink with water and wipe off food before washing.
Limit showers to five minutes or less.
Switch shower heads to a water saving fixture.
Limit baths– baths take twice as much water as showers do.
Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth.
Fill the sink with water while shaving rather than running the faucet.
Replace faucet aerators.
This story was originally published October 23, 2024 at 1:25 PM.