Warning: Your water bill is about to increase

05:15 PM CST on Wednesday, March 30, 2005

By Carolyn Campbell / 11 News

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HOUSTON -- Water rates in Houston are going up again Friday -- just in time for the summer watering season. But not all residents are moaning and groaning about the increase.

KHOU

It will cost you more to keep your lawn and garden watered this summer.

Cindy Keenan loves a pretty yard and she doesn't mind spending a little extra to keep it looking good. She also doesn't mind paying a little more on her water bill to prevent flooding.

"I understand they're putting in a storm sewer, drainage right down the middle here, sometime this year, but what are you gonna do?" said Keenan. "And it is gonna help."

Even though Keenan dodged the flooding bullet, dozens of homes in another part of her neighborhood were flooded by Tropical Storm Allison.

To help pay for drainage improvements, the city raised water and sewer rates last year by nearly 10 percent. This year rates will go up 3.5 percent.

"It's got to be done, certainly can't have subdivisions, neighborhoods flooding like that did, I mean people just lost everything," Keenan said. "I mean if that's what they need to do for that then I'm in favor of that."

No complaints from Candace Croker either.

"I'm actually not opposed to it. I think as long as it's very clearly justified, it's fine," Croker said. "I think it's very important to do. But I don't think it's something that should be done with a short-term outlook."

Mayor Bill White says higher rates are a necessary evil.

"Either we can cut the water services that we have -- water and sewer and the drainage program -- we could cut those things or we could pretend that there's not rising costs and lie to the public," White said. "And cover the amount we need through debt and eventually cause there to be much higher rate increases on down the line."

Houstonians can expect annual increases to pay for drainage improvements from now on.

But for many who remember the damages from Tropical Storm Allison, it's a small price to pay.