Montgomery County Municipal Utility District MUD No. 8, which provides water and wastewater services to a significant portion of Walden, as well as various other service areas on the Walden Peninsula, will be increasing water and wastewater rates, effective January 1, 2023. Such increase will be reflected in February’s water bills. This will be the first increase in water and waste rates since 2015. The rate increase is due to the increased costs of operation and the various capital improvements needed to maintain the District’s water and wastewater facilities that were first constructed almost fifty years ago. Operating expenses, especially chemicals costs needed to treat drinking water and wastewater, have significantly increased over the past year.
For water rates, the monthly minimum bill, which includes the first 4,000 gallons of water, will increase from $12.00 to $15.00. Depending on water consumption beyond the minimum, rates will increase between $0.25 to $1.50 per 1,000 gallons with customers consuming higher volumes of water paying more than those customers consuming lower volumes. The flat monthly wastewater fee will increase from $26.00 to $35.00. If a customer typically consumes 10,000 gallons of water during a month, the total bill (including Lonestar Ground Water Conservation District fees) will increase from $53.50 to $67.00.
The District’s Board of Directors reluctantly approved these rates knowing that many families have been impacted by the inflation that has affected this region and the nation. However, the increased rates are needed to maintain the financial viability of the District and allow for the continued high quality of services residents in the District are accustomed to and deserve.