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Conserve Water to Conserve Cash in CS Save Email Print
Posted: 3:37 PM Aug 7, 2008
 Last Updated: 7:36 AM Aug 8, 2008
 Reporter: Steve Fullhart
Email Address: fullhart@kbtx.com
32 comments
A | A | A

College Station's plan to raise water rates in order to encourage residents to conserve could mean much bigger bucks on bills, but is it worth year-round worries?

The city council agreed on the plan at their Wednesday workshop. For those who use up to 5,000 gallons a month, the rate would stay the same at $2.22 per 1,000 gallons. After that, the rate rises:

6,000-10,000 gallons = $2.88 per 1,000 gallons
11,000-20,000 gallons = $3.54
21,000-25,000 gallons = $4.20
26,000 or more = $4.86

The new numbers plus other changes are estimated to generate nearly $12 million in revenue for the city.

College Station Utilities officials say it's the summer months that are the worst when it comes to water use.

On average, residents are using 250 gallons per person each day according to the city. Compare that to the winter, when only 90 gallons are used daily by a resident. Incidentally, year-round, the average indoor water use is right around 70 gallons per day, officials say.

Someone living in College Station uses a total of 160 gallons on an average day, which is more than the state's recommendation of 140.

With summertime water use, multiplying 250 gallons per person, and the average person living in College Station will use 7,500 gallons a month.

Even if a person is living by themselves, their water rate will rise 58 cents from the current rate. If four or more people live together, that summertime bill would see a rate nearly two-and-a-half bucks more.

In recent years, 2008 has seen some of the highest demand, according to CSU. Here are some numbers provided by the city:

Historical Water Demands:
2000: 11.07 million gallons per day (MGD) average; 21.98 MGD peak
2001: 10.5 MGD average day; 20.9 MGD peak day
2002: 10.3 MGD average day; 17.5 MGD peak day
2003: 9.9 MGD average day; 19.9 MGD peak day
2004: 9.4 MGD average day; 16.9 MGD peak day
2005: 11.6 MGD average day; 21.5 MGD peak day
2006: 11.5 MGD average day; 21.3 MGD peak day
2007: 10.1 MGD average day; 16.5 MGD peak day
2008: 11.7 MGD average day; 22 MGD peak day

Use of water per person has also fluctuated over the last few years, according to CSU numbers:

Per Capita Usage:
2004: 169 gallons per person per day annual average; 203 gallons per person/day in highest month
2005: 164 annual average; 245 peak
2006: 158 annual average; 233 peak
2007: 135 annual average; 182 peak
2008: 155 annual average; 244 peak

College Station Utilities has provided some tips to conserve water, including the best times and methods to water lawns, where much of the summertime water usage is spent. Click the links below to find out more.
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Posted by: Anon Location: CS on Aug 23, 2008 at 04:59 AM
There should be much more than a 10 percent increase on commercial water use. That is where a lot of the waste is. There are plenty of apartment complexes and fourplexes that have water included. Those places are billed commercially and people who rent there do not see a water bill at all. Since there's no effect on them, they'll continue to use however much water they want. For the record, lawn watering does effect some renters. Just like homeowners' associations require homeowners to water their lawns and not just decide to quit watering entirely and let the lawns die, some landlords require their tenants to water lawns. Of course if you pay your own water, you have a much better idea how much you're using. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the amount of water used by people whose water is included is higher on average than those who pay their own even when the ones paying for their own water have to water lawns and the others don't.
Posted by: K Location: College Station on Aug 23, 2008 at 04:54 AM
This is completely unfair to people with families. All the information about water usage and conservation refers to how much a person uses per day and how much the state says should be used per person per day. I can stay at that amount or below and still have my water price increased by 50 percent simply because there are three people in my family. Why should that be the case but a single person who uses double the recommended amount won't have as big of an increase? This needs to be changed to take into account family size. If someone stays at or under the Texas recommended daily usage, they should NOT be seeing a huge increase in their water bill. If someone lives alone and uses the same amount as a large family, it would make sense to increase their rate, but that's not how it's currently set up at all. Where is this information hidden on the College Station website? I still can't find any information about this on the city's site. Anyone know when this is supposed to take effect?
Posted by: glenn Location: bryan on Aug 11, 2008 at 04:07 PM
college station has found anoher way to rip off its citezens !!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 10, 2008 at 04:25 AM
I agree that those WASTING water (like watering sidewalks and streets) should pay more, but what about larger families? It looks like someone didn't quite think this through. I know several families that have 5 children. Of course they are going to use more water without wasting it. They should do this on the basis of x gallons per person in the household, that way families aren't punished.
Posted by: anonymous Location: Bryan on Aug 9, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Bryan is a wonderful place to live. We have the neeeded infrastructure and water capacity to keep building on the great growth we are continuing to see up here. For a family-friendly conservative, diverse (native)complete community, move out of CS and give Bryan a try. A real Texas home town for regular folks....not intellectual international transplants. It is what it is and it is what you make it, not what you try to hide. Come on down, Bryan.......the Good life Texas style, cheaper electric rates, cheaper water (cuz we have more wells/capacity), cheaper gas, cheaper milk, hamburgers.....just about everything.
Posted by: Conrad Location: CSTX on Aug 9, 2008 at 07:19 PM
I agree with RY - how the heck do you read the bill? What is an MGW? Nowhere on the bill is a key to abbreviations.
Posted by: Alan Location: B/CS on Aug 9, 2008 at 07:16 PM
Awww, now people can't have lucious green lawns? Just suck it up and wait for the rain, if this drought continues, we'll need the water for other things, drinking, showering, fire dept!!! I'm sorry that your perfect little yard might get a bit brown, I think this is a necessary step for the CoCS.
Posted by: Already Hungry Location: cs on Aug 9, 2008 at 05:52 PM
Well why not? Punish the public some more. We already have trouble paying for food, buying gasoline, and electricity, raise those water rates. I may have to quit my job and go on welfare just to make ends meet.
Posted by: Jim Location: Bryan on Aug 9, 2008 at 08:15 AM
Punish families by giving them higher rates. Brilliant.
Posted by: David Coleman Location: CS on Aug 8, 2008 at 10:58 PM
The Water Fund is a separate financial entity in the City budget, the revenue from water customers is not mixed with the General Fund, and will not be used for Parks, etc. The revenue is required to increase the capacity of the water system, we are building new pipelines and drilling new wells (which cost about $8 million). Please note, we are very close to the maximum we can pump from the Simsboro aquifer, and conservation is essential to avoid drastic measures in the future. We are not evil people, we are not trying to foment some socialist program, we are trying to manage the water system to best possible benefit of our citizens - now and 50 years or 100 years from now.
Posted by: Caroline Location: College Station on Aug 8, 2008 at 05:02 PM
Sounds like a Gotcha to me. This will replace the revenue lost by having to freeze the senior citizen's tax. Unfortunately everyone pays.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: CS on Aug 8, 2008 at 04:50 PM
In reply to the all the people that say the rate hike is because of water utility increases read the article again. The council is only raising rates to discourage water use. College Station Water is doing fine in the water and money departments. Is the extra money going to end up in the water department? Doubt it. It will go to pay for pet projects such as parks, art, and a new city hall. Wake up and realize that this is just a consumption tax. A way for the city to grab more money. Take it from someone that works for the city and knows what the real deal is.
Posted by: Peg Location: College Station on Aug 8, 2008 at 04:20 PM
As for conserving water, heck yeah it will work. We can't afford to water so we wont use it. It would be nice if an alternative system could be tapped into, like the water we use to wash dishes, clothes and take showers could be used for watering lawns, gardens, etc. Personally, I'm seriously look at rain barrels to collect water, but in this drought, don't know how they would get filled. I have been not using the water between 10-6, as suggested by the city and have been happy to comply with that. Everything is going up and it feels like everyone wants a bigger piece of my paycheck.
Posted by: read again Location: texas on Aug 8, 2008 at 04:00 PM
Anonymous Aug 8 2:28 PM, This is all nice how you put it out there, but this is not what the city is saying...Read the article again, they are talking about raising the cost to help CONSERVE water, decrease use and to turn a bigger revenue.
Posted by: John Location: College Station on Aug 8, 2008 at 03:24 PM
I doubt that this is about conservation, but more about increasing revenue. The article on the eagle stated that they expected to generate 11 million in revenue, and said nothing about how much water will be saved. Here is another example: When there is a shortage of oranges, the price of orange juice will increase for everyone. Forcing everybody to conserve. This water plan however only charges more for those that use the most. This does not make everyone conserve water, only those that use the most, their best customers. I think that the whole conservation of water angle is a scam to make those with guilt about the environment happy with this rate increase nothing more.
Posted by: jt Location: cs on Aug 8, 2008 at 02:54 PM
The phrase "Greening Our Community" was used during the recent city council elections by certain people ( one particular council member ). Did this particular individual mean actually keeping homeowners landscapes and lawns watered and staying green or gouging taxpayers pocketbooks by increasing fees ? How are the various Homeowners Associations going to deal with this stance by people stopping or cutting back the use of water and allowing their lawns, etc. to get brown and possibly die. Shame on the city manager, mayor and our highly educated City Council to make this decision !! We homeowners can see the rationale that You are using and think that we don't see your deceiving tactics. You may forsee that the revenue from water usage will be less than what staff projected-so You think and believe that You need to recoup the loss somehow , someway--so just sock it to the water user. I wish KBTX would report just how much water the city uses in watering of the athletic fields.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 8, 2008 at 02:28 PM
For you who do not know information on expenses by the utility company, learn. They are having expenses that are going up as well. To be able to pay their rises cost to provide the customers water means increases. Repairs to lines are not cheap either. It is easy to complain but if there is a break it is not at your expense is on the utility company, 24/7. Pump out, not on you again. Try moving to the country and drill your own well and along with that all problems out of your packet. example: 420 feet around $11,500.00, then run your line and pay for the power to the well and now you maintain your own water at your own expense. Or go by the water at the area stores for the gallons you use and let us know what you have spent then.
Posted by: CS Location: CS on Aug 8, 2008 at 01:27 PM
I could not agree more with so many of you! I bet the city's lawns will STAY GREEN! They have no problem using water. We are just not going to water our lawn. So we are not going to be contributing very much to this new "revenue plan." I do understand conservation but the city should definitely practice what they preach! Is there a way to see how much water the city uses in particular areas? THE CITY SHOULD REPORT THIS TO ALL OF US!!??? I call the city to do so! I guess I should write a council person.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 8, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Patricia, next they will be putting toll booths on public streets, that way people will travel them less and conserve the streets so that they will need less repairs. The bible does say that man will be responsible for the destruction of life as we know it now, looks like the way man is doing that is raising the cost of everything so that people can not afford to live. We will parish at the hands of our government.
Posted by: BRAD Location: COLLEGE STATION on Aug 8, 2008 at 10:57 AM
I THINK THE WATER CONSERVARTION PROPOSAL IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF GOVERNMENT EXPECTING US TO SACRIFICE, SO THEY CAN HAVE MORE. I BET IF YOU DROVE BY THE HOMES OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT MEMBERS, YOU WOULD FIND, THAT THEIR LAWNS SHOW EVIDENCE OF MORE THAN SUFFICIENT IRRIGATION.
Posted by: James Location: C/S on Aug 8, 2008 at 09:39 AM
I stopped watering my yard because water is to high already. Dead grass is a small price to pay to avoid another $450 utility bill. You want to conserve water have Businesses and TAMU stop watering the streets.
Posted by: Patricia Location: Bryan/College Station on Aug 8, 2008 at 09:16 AM
We can't afford to fill up our cars, the cost of food goes up daily, and now they want to double the cost of water. What next?
Posted by: Resident Location: College Station on Aug 8, 2008 at 08:48 AM
People need to be discouraged from using water by getting fined for wasting water that you can see running rivers in the streets from watering your street instead of your yards from bad sprinkler systems. Businesses who water our streets instead of their landscapes should also be fined. We need to all be more conservative about our water usage, including our own Government.
Posted by: Donna Location: Bryan on Aug 8, 2008 at 08:10 AM
We are all adults. When the city says "conserve water useage" that's what should happen. The city employees or anyone for that matter can drive around in the evenings and issue citations for all the people watering their yards for hours on end. I live close to someone who runs their sprinklers nearly 24 hours a day. Start there. People who can afford to pay their bill watering that often aren't going to be effected at all by raising the rates. Only those of us who listen and use our water for dishes/clothes/baths, etc. would be affected by an increase. It's a place to start anyway. You can look at the pretty green lawns and the burnt lawns and know where the water is going!
Posted by: Richard Location: Bryan/College Station on Aug 8, 2008 at 06:59 AM
You can call this water conservation but all it is, is a reason to squeeze more money from the citizens that they are supposed to be serving. So they can put up some more ugly artwork or something. Water is something that you have to have, something the city is supposed to supply at a fair rate. People will just have to cuss and pay this rediculous TAX because they have already spent the money. Thanks guys for serving our best interest your great!!!
Posted by: CW Location: CS on Aug 7, 2008 at 10:12 PM
What I would like to know is why the sewer rate goes up in proportion to water usage...do they think water used for lawns is going down the sewer? Looks like a money grab!!
Posted by: RY Location: CollegeStation on Aug 7, 2008 at 09:51 PM
Have you ever tried to figure out how much water you used by reading your water bill. You won't even find the word gallon. The need to make it more user friendly before they go billing us.
Posted by: Jerry Location: College Station on Aug 7, 2008 at 08:46 PM
College Station residents that water their lawns are going to get a big shock when the price increase for water takes effect on Oct.1. If their present water bill is $53.50, in the future they will pay $80.00. If their present water bill is $98, it will increase to $203. For folks with large lawns that presently pay $209 per month, the new cost will be $446. The price for water will more than double for anyone using more than 26,000 gallons. My guess is that a lot of people are going to be shocked next summer. I wonder if the city council will enjoy looking at brown lawns?
Posted by: Jack Mullen Location: 2811 Adrienne Drive, CS on Aug 7, 2008 at 06:44 PM
If we need to raise water rates, let's do it by the gallon or what ever unit is logical. Let's NOT get into government sponsored redistribution of wealth at the local level. Using conservation and environmental claims are the two biggest weapons being used by leftists to undermine free enterprise and find ways to charge productive folks more to relieve economic pressure on those who are non or limited producers. Let the city charge what water costs; if there is a real concern for the condition of the aquifer lets talk about it and educate about it. The city water system is a service for all of us, not an income source for political use. Touting how many millions can be made by the progressive water bill is a dead give away. Someone thinks the more affluent who wash cars and water lawns should have a new tax placed on their water use. Bad idea, bad economics, bad politics and a dishonest use of rhetoric. We have a great city with great services. We can all pay the cost equally.
Posted by: kim Location: cs on Aug 7, 2008 at 05:57 PM
what about what the city uses and commercial use. All I am reading about is what a homeowner uses. Just today driving down Copperfield Dr at the Crescent Point area, commerical builders were watering the street, who will pay for that? I understand that they will but are the rates going up for them too? What about the city when watering the parks and fields? Who pays for that? We do! While it is completely understandable what the city is trying to do with trying to get all citizens to help conserve water their motives are wrong. Will the extra 12 million in revenue help find more water when we eventually run out or will it go for more useless buildings that go empty after time? Makes you think about it doesn't it?!!!!!!!
Posted by: Joe Location: TX on Aug 7, 2008 at 05:39 PM
About time they do this. I think its been 20yrs since they done this. It will help them replace there aging inastructure and maybe give the empolys a long over due raise for what they do. Remember we can not live without water but we can every thing else. Thank You Council Members
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