This means Katy water utilities customers' rates will increase from $2.19 per 1,000 gallons of groundwater pumped to $2.35.
The WHCRWA provides groundwater to the city of Katy and is also responsible for the reduction of groundwater withdrawals; the conservation, preservation, protection, recharge and prevention of waste groundwater and groundwater reservoirs; and the control of subsidence caused by withdrawal of water from those groundwater reservoirs.
A Sept. 22 notice to the utility districts, the cities of Houston and Katy, and nondistrict/noncity well owners within the WHCRWA stated these increases will fund water supply projects necessary to meet the Harris Galveston Subsidence District's groundwater reduction regulations.
These regulations require the reduction of groundwater pumpage to no more than 40% of water demand by 2025,and no more than 20% of water demand by 2035.
One such project jointly funded by the WHCRWA and the North Fort Bend Water Authority is the $1 billion Surface Water Supply Project, which will see the construction of a pipeline from Lake Houston to the western portions of the Houston region, including Katy. Construction is estimated for completion at the earliest by 2025.
According to WHCRWA documents on the project, pumping large amounts of groundwater causes land subsidence—the lowering of the elevation of the land.
Entities such as the HGSD and the WHCRWA note that subsidence can cause infrastructural damage to homes and roads as well as making areas which experience extensive sinking more susceptible to flooding. Recent reports from the University of Houston show Katy has experienced higher-than-average rates of subsidence between 2016-20.
Council members asked City Attorney Art Pertile III if they had the option to vote against the increase since the notice came directly from the water authority.
Pertile advised the city would be accountable for what would happen next if they did not adopt the new rate.
“It is just like a resident,” Pertile said. “They can decide not to pay the water bill, [but] you know the consequences.”
Pertile also said Katy residents might not know that the city subsidizes its water utility rates, so customers do not incur the full cost of increases.
In fact, the WHCRWA increased its rate for the city from $3.70 per 1,000 gallons of groundwater pumped to $3.95 per 1,000 gallons of groundwater pumped, a $0.25 increase. But residents will pay $2.35 per 1,000 gallons as opposed to the full rate.
