Residents hope panel gives them break on water rates

Published Sunday, March 16, 2008

By Brandon Evans

For the residents of Shale Creek, a housing subdivision just east of Rhome on Texas 114, the results of an environmental hearing next Wednesday might have a substantial effect on their water bills.

A private water company called Aqua Texas, whose parent company is Aqua America, Inc., provides water to more than 155,000 Texans in 49 counties, including 255 customers in Shale Creek.

The company set its base rate for water service at $97.09 per month. This is the rate a customer is charged before using a single gallon of water.

The high water costs resulted in Shale Creek resident Ross Brewer receiving a water bill of about $200 per month. He and his daughter shhare a home.

"We do everything we can to keep the water bill low," Brewer said. "We turn off the tap when brushing our teeth and take shorter showers, but it is still high.

"I have to buy medication for my MS, my family is having to help me out because the water bill is so high."

He said the high rates might even be stifling additional development in the area.

"One of the builders out here, Sheldon, got involved because it was keeping people out of here. This is a really good neighborhood, but it has a chance of failing because of the water rates."

In Austin, on March 19, a panel from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will decide to approve or deny Aqua Texas' $97 base rate for water.

Caleb Troxclair, State Rep. Phil King's chief of staff, said King will testify at the hearing on behalf of the Shale Creek residents.

"He is against the rate increases and will testify at the hearing," Troxclair said. "There are a lot of people on fixed incomes in Shale Creek."

If the base rate cannot be lowered, then perhaps a compromise could be reached, where a certain number of gallons could be included in the base rate.

Aqua Texas has defended its base rate by pointing to $28 million in infrastructure upgrades done throughout Texas from 2003 to 2006.

"We have to spread out the costs throughout all of Texas for the improvements," said Terry Maenza, a spokesperson for Aqua America, which is based in Pennsylvania.

Brewer encourages all people affected by the rates to attend the hearing if possible or to contact King and voice their concerns.

"I think these rates are really unfair and not good for the state of Texas or Wise County," he said.