Our mission has always been to provide high-quality water and dependable service at the lowest possible cost.

NTMWD is a wholesale water provider serving 2.2 million people in 10 North Texas counties. The rate paid by water consumers varies by each city we serve as it sets customer rates to cover the wholesale cost as well as local system costs.

To ensure a reliable, uninterrupted water delivery now and in the future, ongoing investments are needed to maintain our existing system and plan for and build additional water projects and infrastructure.

Rates Fund Critical Projects

The FY24 wholesale water rate is effective from Oct. 1, 2023 – Sep. 30, 2024 to fund critical projects to operate, maintain and expand the regional water system. The FY23 Member City wholesale rate is $3.69 (per 1,000 gallons) and $3.74 (per 1,000 gallons) for regional water system Customers. This is still roughly one-third of a penny per gallon of treated water delivered to the cities we serve.

Large capital projects require upfront investment – sometimes years before customers experience the benefit. By funding projects with bonds, we can spread those costs over time so that future users share in the costs. Financing this way requires rate adjustments to maintain our financial stability and high credit ratings. This results in lower interest rates for financing construction and maintenance projects, ultimately saving customers money in lower borrowing costs.

As it has worked since the 1950s, the cities and communities we serve share equitably in infrastructure investments that support the operation and maintenance of the shared regional system, as well as ongoing population growth, which is expected to double over the next 50 years.

How Our Costs Compare

Even with planned rate increases, our wholesale water rates are lower or comparable to similar water suppliers in North Texas. Nationally, our costs are lower than average for combined water services.

Customers frequently ask why rates need to go up if they are conserving water. Water rates are not only set by the amount of water used, but for the costs associated with operating, maintaining and expanding our system, as well as to repay debt for existing pipelines and facilities.

Fixed Costs = operations, system maintenance, system expansion, debt service

Variable Costs = chemicals, power, water purchased

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Water Rates

  • What's behind your water bill?

    NTMWD is a wholesale water provider and charges its cities and communities about one-third of a penny per gallon for safe drinking water. That covers paying to acquire the water, storage, transportation, treatment and testing, and then delivering it to cities and water providers who in turn, pipe it to North Texas homes and businesses.

    The cities and communities we serve establish the water rates they charge and bill their customers. They also have to pay for the facilities, pipes and systems to store and distribute water to homes and businesses. Most cities set water rates in tiers based on water usage. The less water people use, the lower their rates. Homeowners who have large lawns and water frequently will usually pay a higher rate.

    To understand how your community calculates its water rates, visit your provider’s website. We have links to NTMWD Member Cities and Customers at the bottom of our water system page.

  • What does your bill include?

    Water delivered to a home or office is a service, not just a commodity. For every $1 we charge our member cities, about 15 percent covers the actual cost of water. That cost goes up and down, depending on how much water a community uses. The remaining 85 percent pays for fixed costs. These costs add up and do not change, no matter how much water a city uses.

    Fixed costs include:

    • Operating, maintaining and expanding the pipes, pumps, motors, and facilities to capture, store, treat and deliver water.
    • Repairing aging and leaking pipes.
    • Repaying bonds secured to finance new infrastructure and water sources to meet future needs.
    • Meeting strict government regulations to keep water safe and protect the environment.
    • Employing highly specialized technical experts required to do all this work.
  • How can saving water help manage my bill?

    One of the best ways to manage your water bill is to conserve water both indoors and outdoors. The most water savings are gained by only watering your yard when it needs it – which is usually no more than twice a week during hot summer months. This helps stretch our existing water supplies and may delay the need for new projects we must invest in. It also can make your monthly water bill more affordable. To help determine when and how much to water your yard, sign up for a free weekly watering recommendation at WaterMyYard.org.

  • How is NTMWD financed?

    The North Texas Municipal Water District does not use property taxes or any other form of general taxation as a revenue source. Its revenues are generated by the services it provides. NTMWD has contractual relationships with the cities served which allow the District to issue bonds to finance the development of projects needed to provide its services.

  • How are rates set?

    The State of Texas requires water providers to receive sufficient revenues from the cities they serve to pay their debt service, operations and maintenance costs. The cities must then charge a sufficient amount to cover both our wholesale costs and the costs of operating their own distribution systems. These contracts must be approved by the state Attorney General in order for water providers to issue bonds.

  • Are there rebates for variable costs?

    If a city consumes less water than its minimum annual demand, the NTMWD Board of Directors typically rebates the variable cost of operations for unused power (pumping) and chemicals (treatment). The NTMWD must still charge cities to cover annual fixed costs for maintaining the regional pipelines and facilities, constructing capital projects and repaying debt, regardless of how much water is consumed.