Four ways to fight huge water bills

HOUSTON – Have you noticed a massive increase in your water bill this month? Dozens of Channel 2 viewers have contacted us, with sticker shock over bills that skyrocketed hundreds of dollars.

It's not just isolated to one neighborhood or part of town. We're hearing from people across the area.

Tonya Walker of Hockley says she literally feels like she is pouring her money down the drain, watching her monthly water bill soar higher and higher.

"There's no way one person, or two people, or even a family could use 22,000 gallons, there's just no way," Walker told Channel 2 Investigates.

But Walker says she reached the boiling point when her August bill showed her water usage doubled from 11,000 gallons in July to 22,000 gallons in August.

She says it doesn't make sense.

"We're being ripped off. It's highway robbery. I work too hard for my money to be giving it away," she said.

In that one month Walker's water bill jumped from $87 to $128.

And she's not the only one in her Hockley neighborhood complaining about skyrocket water bills.

"Last month I used 13,000 gallons. This month they say I used 43,000 gallons," said resident Danielle Smith.

Roy Phillips lives in the same neighborhood and he's also fired up about his high water bill.

"What's going on, what's causing all these water usages to go up sky high?" he asked.

Kay Seelinger of Spring Valley emailed Channel 2, writing: "We have had a huge increase in our water bill. City of Houston is provider."

Polly Kerrick of Point Blank writes: "We started at $40 a month and are now at $147.00, with Monarch Water Utilities."

And Jeff Flint lives in the Willowbrook area and writes: "My water bill has skyrocketed. It's up 85 percent."

Walker and her neighbors all get their water from Harris County MUD#434. But a company called Severn Trent Services does the billing for that MUD and about 140 others in the area. So, investigator Bill Spencer went straight to them for answers.

Todd Burrer with Severn Trent Services says there is an explanation.

"A lot of factors go into people's water usage. Environmental, the weather, sometimes even their sprinkler systems," Burrer said.

Burrer says a recent summer drought has caused many homeowners in our area to use thousands of gallons of extra water to water their lawns.

He maintains the company does not estimate meter readings.

So what's the best way to fight a water bill you think is dead wrong?

Step one: Call the customer service number, and make sure you have your current bill right in front of you. Be specific in your argument and polite.

Step two: Ask if the water company has done any recent work on your water meter.

"What I recommend they ask is, ‘has there been any work performed on or near their water meter that could potentially cause a problem,'" Burrer said.

Step three: Ask the water company to re-read your water meter. You have that right.

"We will go out and re-read the meter to look for meter accuracy, we'll test the meter to see if it's actually measuring the right amount of water," Burrer told Channel 2.

And step four: Read your own water meter and check the usage from one month to the next.

If you are still not satisfied, file an official complaint with the Texas Attorney General's consumer protection division here.

The city of Houston has an official complaint form you can fill out to try and adjust your bill.


About the Author:

Emmy-winning investigative reporter, insanely competitive tennis player, skier, weightlifter, crazy rock & roll drummer (John Bonham is my hero). Husband to Veronica and loving cat father to Bella and Meemo.