What residents need to know
At an April 7 meeting, Missouri City City Council approved a $0.40 pumpage fee increase per 1,000 gallons of water in a 5-2 vote. Mayor Robin Elackatt and council member Monica Riley were the dissenting votes.
The fee comes as the city works to meet the groundwater reduction requirements set by the state alongside the Fort Bend Subsidence District to prevent further sinking of land, which can cause flooding and infrastructure damage. The city completed the required 30% reduction of groundwater use in 2013 and is on track to achieve the required 60% reduction by 2027, Assistant Utilities Director Nicholas Cook said.
Digging in
Residents can expect to see an average increase of $4 monthly, Cook said. The average is based on the usage of 10,000 gallons.
Base pumpage fees are used to help fund future water projects to ensure the city meets its groundwater reduction requirements, he said. The base fees differ based on where residents reside with some districts already converted to surface water, while others are still using water wells.
New base fees include:
- $1.99 to $2.39 for groundwater users
- $2.58 to $2.98 for surface water users
Zooming out
Even with the increase, Cook said the city’s rate remains competitive to other Fort Bend County entities.
“We are competitive in the region ... even with our increase, we are actually cheaper than every other Fort Bend [groundwater reduction entity]," he said.
Although it was ultimately approved, Elackatt said he did not feel that now was the right time to increase after prices were already raised two years ago.
“Right now times are tough and I’m not convinced that the [city] has to have it [now],” he said.
Going forward
The new pumpage fees will take effect Oct. 1 for FY 2025-26, Cook said.
