Humble City Council members approved a 10% increase to the city’s water rate for residential and commercial use during the Sept. 10 meeting.
The details
Humble City Manager Jason Stuebe said the rate increase is coming after Houston officials implemented a 3.5% increase in their purchase water contract, noting Humble currently purchases about 60% of its surface water from Houston.
According to Sept. 10 meeting documents, the new water rates are as follows:
Residents:
$20.60 for 0-3,000 gallons
$3.48 per 1,000 gallons over 3,000 gallons
$3.82 per 1,000 gallons over 10,000 gallons
Senior citizen residents:
$6.75 for 0-3,000 gallons
$2.54 per 1,000 gallons over 3,000 gallons
$3.47 per 1,000 gallons over 10,000 gallons
Commercial use:
$35.13-$499.20 for 0-3,000 gallons, depending on the tap size
$6.62-$8.97 per 1,000 gallons over 3,000 gallons, depending on the tap size
Stuebe noted there will be no increase to the senior citizen water or sewer rates or the residential or commercial sewer rates.
Some context
In July 2025, Humble was required to increase the amount of surface water purchased from Houston from 30% to 60% to curb subsidence in the area, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.
“The city has steadily increased the water and sewer rates over the last few years as necessary to account for the purchase of 60% of our water supply from the city of Houston’s surface water resources as required by the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District,” Stuebe said.
Humble's water is supplied, in part, through ground water pumped from five local wells, but also through surface water, which is purchased from Houston, according to the city's website.
What’s next
Stuebe said he believed rate increases should be more consistent moving forward.
“From this point forward, it is staff’s belief that we will resume more modest increases in rates that are in line with the purchase water rates that are passed down from the city of Houston,” Stuebe said.
Humble’s new water rates will go into effect beginning Oct. 1, according to Sept. 10 agenda documents.
