Murphy water and sewer rates to take hike on Oct. 1
Increase results from higher supplier rates
Increases to the rates charged for water and sewer will go into effect on Saturday, Oct. 1 for customers of the Murphy Water Utility as a result of hikes in charges from the North Texas Municipal Water District.
“The water, irrigation and sewer rates are affected by a pass-through charge from the supplier,” says Candy McQuiston, Murphy’s Customer Service Manager. “The monthly base meter fees are not affected.”
Base meter fees are largely controlled by the City of Murphy and will remain unchanged. However, since the water and sewer rates set by the City’s supplier, the NTMWD, can fluctuate, an increase to the consumer will appear in November bills.
As of Oct. 1, water rates in all tiers will rise by $0.24. This applies to all customer classes for water, including homes, commercial customers, HOAs and water for irrigation. And, at the same time, the rates for sewer service will increase by $0.42.
“Water is charged on a tiered system, meaning that the more water one uses, the higher the rate per gallon,” said McQuiston. The tiered system encourages consumers to be thoughtful and judicious in their water consumption.Similarly, the rate for sewer service is a volumetric rate based on an average of residential water use over a three-month period in winter, combined with the base fee. The sewer rate increase will also have an impact on all customer classes.
Water charges are comprised of a City of Murphy charge and an NTMWD charge.
The City charge, which will not change, pays for the distribution, metering and storage aspects of the water system. The NTMWD charge, which is the one increasing, is basically the cost of the water that runs through the distribution system to homes and businesses.
“We really have little choice in the matter when it comes to increases in the NTMWD rate hikes,” she added. “If and when we are charged more for the water we distribute, those increases are passed along to the end consumer. Virtually all municipal water systems do that, since we can’t absorb the increase.” The new rates are posted here.