History: Water - A Question from the Campaign Trail... Why is Water so Expensive?

Q:      Water.  Why is the water so expensive in Leander?

A:      In 1998, Leander was running out of water.  Mayor Charles Eaton and his council entered in to a partnership with the LCRA to bring a reliable water source to Leander; the Sandy Creek Water Treatment Plant was built.  The LCRA built and paid for the plant up front at a cost of 60 million dollars.  Leander agreed to repay the LCRA over time.

Leander citizens have been repaying the LCRA for the last 14 years until this year when your city purchased outright the Sandy Creek Water Treatment Plant from the LCRA at a cost of +-$36.6 million dollars.  Now that we own our system, we believe we can save 1 million dollars in administrative costs and associated fees each year for our citizens.  All that being said, before you draw one drop of water from your faucet, a fee of $37.35 is assessed each account to service the loan and administrative costs.  There is a $5.00 water reservation fee on your bill; your city has reserved 24,000 acre feet in Lake Travis. There is a base sewer fee of $14.58.  Also on the water bill is a garbage collection fee of $12.25.  Adding these fees up on your water bill the following is the minimum charged each and every month to City of Leander residential customers:

Water:         $37.35 base rate

Sewer:         $14.58 base rate

Garbage:      $12.25 monthly rate

Reserve:        $5.00 monthly rate

                    $69.18 + usage fees and applicable taxes

Water is a precious natural resource, and your city leaders made the right decision in 1998 to secure a reliable source of water for our future.

Additionally, electric customers (PEC) pay a $22.50 base fee before drawing any electricity, and Gas customers (Atmos) pay a base fee of $7.50 before using any gas.  The bottom line is for water, sewer, garbage, electric and gas, Leander residents will pay a fee of $99.18 in set utility costs prior to any usage.