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Steep Hike in Water Bills Angers Residents

Posted on: Monday, 6 February 2006, 09:00 CST

By Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

Feb. 6--When Steve Barron first got the notice from Deer Creek Water Works about a sale and rate increase, he wasn't concerned.

Then he and his neighbors got their water bills.

One bill was for $205.59. Another was for $539.16. One came in at $1,947.19.

That, Barron said, sent residents into a panic over how they'd pay for the higher water and wastewater costs.

"I just got mad," he said.

Now he and a group of neighbors in rural Parker County are fighting the city of Willow Park, saying that its purchase of two water companies and a related rate increase are unfair to residents.

The group, called the Parker County Citizens Coalition, has taken its case to state officials, who will weigh in on the matter this year.

Willow Park officials contend that the purchase and rate increases are fair and necessary to serve the Deer Creek subdivision and a fast-growing area that includes Aledo, Hudson Oaks and the Annettas.

They say the rates are intended to encourage water conservation.

Last year, Willow Park bought two private water companies, Deer Creek and Dyegard. In November, the city increased water and wastewater rates for those customers.

Under the old billing practice, the first 2,000 gallons was included in an $18 meter fee, with a flat $1.50 charge for each 1,000 gallons thereafter. The new system is tiered, beginning at $3.05 for 1,000 gallons after a tiered meter fee of at least $36.50.

That means 10,000 gallons now costs at least $67, compared with $27.50 before. Residents who use 100,000 gallons pay $762.82, compared with $165 under the old system.

City officials said the rates were raised in part because the previous company hadn't raised rates in 20 years.

"There are people who use very, very large amounts of water without regard for conservation," said Claud Arnold, Willow Park city administrator.

Willow Park is the largest supplier of groundwater for that area, and the city paid more than $4 million for the water companies to conserve water over time, Arnold said. The city will use the extra funding to make system improvements, he said.

Barron and his neighbors say they're not satisfied. His group has filed a complaint with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which had a fact-finding meeting in Austin last week.

A state administrative hearing will be held to settle the dispute, but no date has been set.

Barron said that neighbors have been conserving water because of the drought. Lot sizes in the subdivision vary from about half an acre to 2 1/2 acres, he said.

Todd Shearer, a Deer Creek resident, said he used to pay about $120 a month for water. Under the new rate structure, his water bills are $180 even though, he said, he does no outdoor watering on his 1-acre property.

"My three small children are sharing baths," he said. "It may be a small amount, but to people being charged, it's thousands of dollars."

But city officials say that the highest water bills have fallen on those residents using the most water. The user that was billed $205.59 used 24,000 gallons in November, and the user billed $539.16 used 60,000 gallons, the records show.

The water user that was billed nearly $2,000 used 191,000 gallons, which Barron said occurred because of a leak.

In an open letter to the community, Willow Park Mayor Terry Skaggs noted that half of Deer Creek's 544 customers used less than 10,000 gallons and were charged $85 or less. Meanwhile, 85 residents used 40,000 gallons or more in one month -- roughly 45 percent of the total water usage.

Barron replied, "His assertions that 3 to 4 percent of the people will pay higher rates is stupid."

Barron said he believes Willow Park has been underhanded in its dealings and needs to explain the high rates to the water customers.

"You have a municipality that has run amok," he said. "Look at this greed and control."

Arnold says the city has acted in good faith and has the future of eastern Parker County in mind.

"When you start using 200,000 to 300,000 gallons of water, that is showing a total disregard for your neighbors," Arnold said. "The groundwater aquifers are a finite source."

Elizabeth Campbell, (817) 390-7696 liz@star-telegram.com

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Copyright (c) 2006, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

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Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas)

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