HOUSTON – Houston residents facing higher water bills have another reason to take a close look at their monthly statements. City of Houston Controller Chris Hollins says new fees and changing water rates can raise costs, but an unexpected spike in usage could also signal a leak or meter problem.
“I talked about this a lot during budget season, we’re now taking $200 million dollars a year out of the water fund and using it to pay for trash and using it to pay for police and firefighters, and so that money is going to ultimately result in you getting a higher water bill because the water rates are going to have to be increased to continue to invest in the water system that you pay for now,” he said.
Hollins said residents should not assume every increase is caused by higher rates or new fees. Instead, he encouraged customers to review their bills each month and act quickly if their water usage appears unusually high.
“The main thing you want to look for is if that leak is happening,” Hollins said. “Because if that’s the case, you want to get that fixed as soon as possible.”
The advice comes as Houston residents adjust to a new $5 monthly solid waste fee and other changes to how city services are funded.
Hollins said the new garbage fee is part of the city’s recently approved budget and represents a shift from the way residents historically paid for services such as trash collection.
“Up until this year, your property tax bill, when you paid it, or, you know, if you’re a renter, the property tax bill that your landlord paid, it covered all city services that you’re used to getting,” Hollins said.
“That’s now changed in the budget that passed back in June. The mayor instituted a garbage fee for the first time in Houston’s history. Right now, it’s $5 a month, which of course you know is $60 a year, but it’s going to go up and up and up.”
FIRST, DETERMINE WHY YOUR BILL WENT UP:
If a water bill suddenly increases, Hollins said residents should compare their current usage with previous months before assuming there is a billing error.
A water bill shows how many gallons were used during the current billing period as well as previous usage. A significant jump can be an early warning sign of a leak.
Residents should also look at the rates and fees listed on the bill.
“You want to kind of figure out: Is this just because my water rate went up and the garbage fee got added on, or do I have a leak? Am I being charged for increased usage?” Hollins said.
The distinction matters. A higher rate or new fee is different from being charged for hundreds of dollars in water that a household did not actually use.
HOW TO CHECK FOR A POSSIBLE LEAK:
Hollins offered a simple first step for homeowners who see unusually high usage: Turn off all the water inside the house. That means making sure faucets are off and appliances such as dishwashers are not running.
Then, check the home’s water meter.
“If that water meter is still spinning, even though the water is off, that means it’s registering some kind of leak somewhere,” Hollins said.
Residents can then walk around the property looking for visible signs of water, including pooling water or unexplained puddles.
Hollins said residents should also check near the curb. Standing water on a dry, sunny day could be a sign that water is escaping somewhere it should not.
WHAT TO DOCUMENT BEFORE CALLING THE CITY:
If the problem is not obvious, residents should document what they are seeing before contacting the city.
Take photos or videos of:
- The water meter and its reading.
- Any visible pooling water or suspected leak.
- The area around the property and curb if unexplained water is present.
- The current water bill.
- Previous bills showing normal usage.
- Any unusual jump in gallons used or charges.
That information can help establish what has changed and give the city more information when investigating the problem.
If there is no visible leak but the meter appears to be registering water when everything is turned off, Hollins said residents should contact 311.
“You want to call 311 and say, hey, there seems to be something wrong with the meter itself,” Hollins said. “It seems like it’s not reading the water usage accurately, or something’s wrong with it. So, can someone come out and test this for us?”
Residents can also ask whether the city can conduct another meter reading or check whether the meter is functioning properly.
DON’T IGNORE THE BILL WHILE A DISPUTE IS PENDING:
One of the most important pieces of advice from Hollins is not to simply stop paying the bill while a billing dispute is being investigated.
Instead, he recommended continuing to pay the amount a household normally pays while working with the city to resolve the disputed portion.
“When you’re in the middle of a dispute, right? If you’re waiting on them to come and check these water meters or get this situation figured out, pay your normal water bill,” Hollins said.
“If you normally pay $30 or $50, make sure you send that in, and then wait for the dispute to play itself out, and then figure out what you’re on the hook for, if anything, at the end of that.”
The goal, he said, is to avoid allowing an unresolved dispute to become a much larger balance.
“You don’t want to sit there and pay nothing for six months, and now even if they resolve it in your favor, you still owe much more money than you’re used to paying, and you find yourself, in a tough spot,” Hollins said.
CAN’T AFFORD THE BILL? ASK ABOUT A PAYMENT PLAN:
For households struggling to pay their water bill, Hollins said the answer is to contact the city rather than allow unpaid bills to accumulate.
“Reach out to the city and ask to be put on a payment plan,” Hollins said.
He encouraged residents to explain their circumstances and make clear that they want to resolve the balance.
“Don’t just disappear and have those bills pile up,” Hollins said. “Reach out to 311. Say, look, I want to pay my bill. I want to make sure that I’m in good standing.”
Residents facing financial hardship should ask what payment arrangements or other options may be available for their account.
DON’T LET AUTOPAY REPLACE CHECKING YOUR BILL:
Autopay can help prevent a missed payment, but Hollins said residents should still review every bill.
“Auto pay is good because it makes sure that your bill gets paid,” he said. “But sometimes, if you have that set up and you’re not looking at it, you’ll realize three, four, five months later that you got charged some enormous amount.”
His recommendation: Make checking the bill part of the monthly routine.
Look for three things:
- Water usage: Is your current usage dramatically higher than previous months?
- Rates and fees: Are you seeing new or increased charges?
- Unexpected changes: Does anything on the bill look inconsistent with your household’s normal usage?
A monthly review can make it easier to catch a leak or billing issue before it turns into a much larger balance.
A SIMPLE CHECKLIST FOR HOUSTON HOUSEHOLDS:
If your water bill suddenly rises, Hollins’ advice can be boiled down to a few steps:
- Check the bill. Compare current gallons used with previous months and review the charges.
- Check the meter. Turn off all water in the house and see whether the meter continues registering usage.
- Check the property. Look for unexplained puddles, pooling water or water near the curb.
- Document the problem. Take photos, save bills and record unusual meter readings.
- Contact 311. Ask about a possible leak, inaccurate meter reading or other billing issue.
- Keep paying what you normally can. Don’t allow the entire balance to accumulate while a dispute is pending.
- Ask about payment options. If you cannot afford the bill, contact the city and ask whether a payment plan or adjustment is available.
- Keep checking your bills. Even with autopay, review each statement so an unusual charge does not go unnoticed for months.
For Houston residents dealing with rising household expenses, Hollins said understanding the bill is one of the simplest ways to avoid being caught off guard.
“Check that bill when it comes, and you’ll be able to see: Is it charging me for usage that’s triple last month, even though you know I’ve been using the water like normal?” Hollins said.
“And if so, that gives you the opportunity to make that phone call to 311 and get the situation resolved.”
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