Why is my water bill so high?

Your water bill is so high because Ruiz voted for about $1 billion in water infrastructure debt that we didn't need and that we now have to repay from our monthly bills.

The short version

  1. The average water and sewer bill went from $82 to $212 a month while Ruiz was on the council.

    Up 159%. In 2020 the city promised $146.65 by 2025. You got $192.75.

    See the proof

    Average monthly water and sewer bill

    $78 $125 $173 $220 $822020 $129FY2023 $193FY2025 $212FY2026

    Average household, 8,000 gallons water and 5,000 gallons sewer. Sources: FOX 7, Oct. 2020 · KVUE, Oct. 2022 · Statesman, July 2025

    Reported

    The city tied the latest increase to the new sewer plant and debt payments.

    Staff said debt payments would double by 2027 and triple by 2029.

    Austin American-Statesman, July 2025

  2. Pflugerville has the highest water and sewer bill of any nearby city.

    $175 a month for a home using 5,000 gallons. Hutto is next at $135. Round Rock is $65.

    Pflugerville$175 Hutto$135 Elgin$119 Georgetown$119 Austin$112 Manor$84 Cedar Park$70 Round Rock$65
    See the comparison

    Monthly water and sewer bill at 5,000 gallons

    Pflugerville$175 Hutto$135 Elgin$119 Georgetown$119 Austin$112 Manor$84 Cedar Park$70 Round Rock$65

    Current residential rates, inside city limits, smallest meter, winter-averaged sewer. Sources: Pflugerville FY2027 budget · Austin · Hutto · Elgin · Georgetown · Manor · Cedar Park · Round Rock. Leander's residential rates were not published in a form we could verify.

  3. Pflugerville now has the highest base water charges of the 10 largest utilities in Travis County.

    $115 a month before you use a drop. Austin customers pay $19.

    See the proof

    Monthly base charge before using any water

    $138 $92 $46 $0 $115Pflugerville $30Wells Branch* $19Austin

    *Wells Branch includes trash. Source: KXAN, July 27, 2026.

    Reported

    A university water-finance expert called the charges very high for Texas.

    KXAN: highest base charges of the 10 largest water utilities in Travis County

  4. He voted for more than half a billion dollars in water and sewer construction.

    A bigger treatment plant, a new sewer plant and a second raw water line, all financed with debt.

    See the proof

    Water and sewer contracts he voted for, in millions

    $285M $190M $95M $0M $146MTreatment plant $16MPlant change order $237MSewer plant $105MRaw water line $21MSewer interceptor $16MWeiss/Pecan line

    From the contract captions in the minutes.

    Voted yes

    $146 million to expand the treatment plant, Nov. 2022.

    City Council minutes, 2022-11-08, page 4: 8A. 2022-1079 Discuss and consider action to approve a construction contract with PLW Waterworks, LLC., in the amount of $146,256,682 associated with the Water Treatment Plant Expansion to 30 MGD Project and authorizing the City Manager to execute the same. Mayor Gonzales opened the item for discussion. Mr. Jaeger provided a review of the history of the project and the items included in the water treatment plant. Mr. Jaeger stated through negotiations the final contract amount was over $5 million less than the proposed cost. … Mayor Gonzales seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The motion carried.

    City Council minutes, 2022-11-08, p. 4 · Official PDF

    Read the minutes
    8A. 2022-1079 Discuss and consider action to approve a construction contract with PLW Waterworks, LLC., in the amount of $146,256,682 associated with the Water Treatment Plant Expansion to 30 MGD Project and authorizing the City Manager to execute the same. Mayor Gonzales opened the item for discussion. Mr. Jaeger provided a review of the history of the project and the items included in the water treatment plant. Mr. Jaeger stated through negotiations the final contract amount was over $5 million less than the proposed cost. … Mayor Gonzales seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The motion carried.
    Voted yes

    $202 million more for the Wilbarger Creek sewer plant, June 2024.

    City Council minutes, 2024-06-11, page 5: construction contract with PLW Waterworks in the amount of $201,902,913 for construction services associated with the Wilbarger Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility, and authorize the City Manager to execute the same. Mayor Pro Tem Weiss opened the item for discussion. Mr. Pritchett reviewed the overall project and the Construction Manager at Risk delivery method. Mr. Pritchett provided information about the balance of the project and the pieces included. Mr. Pritchett reviewed the delivery timeline. … Mr. Pritchett provided information about the process and reviewed the project total. Mr. Metayer asked about potential to provide direct potable reuse. Mr. Pritchett provided information about indirect and direct potable reuse that will be available. Mayor Pro Tem Weiss asked about purple pipe reuse. Mr. Pritchett stated that is targeted to come from the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant. … Ms. Holiday seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The motion carried.

    City Council minutes, 2024-06-11, p. 5 · Official PDF

    Read the minutes
    construction contract with PLW Waterworks in the amount of $201,902,913 for construction services associated with the Wilbarger Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility, and authorize the City Manager to execute the same. Mayor Pro Tem Weiss opened the item for discussion. Mr. Pritchett reviewed the overall project and the Construction Manager at Risk delivery method. Mr. Pritchett provided information about the balance of the project and the pieces included. Mr. Pritchett reviewed the delivery timeline. … Mr. Pritchett provided information about the process and reviewed the project total. Mr. Metayer asked about potential to provide direct potable reuse. Mr. Pritchett provided information about indirect and direct potable reuse that will be available. Mayor Pro Tem Weiss asked about purple pipe reuse. Mr. Pritchett stated that is targeted to come from the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant. … Ms. Holiday seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The motion carried.
    Voted yes

    $57 million for a piece of a new raw water line, Oct. 2024.

    City Council minutes, 2024-10-22, page 5: 6D. 2024-1020 Discuss and consider action to approve a construction contract with S.J. Louis Construction of Texas, Ltd. in the amount of $56,665,407.35 associated with the Secondary Colorado River Raw Water Line - Package 3 project, and authorize the City Manager to execute the same. Mayor Gonzales opened the item for discussion. Mr. Dunsworth reviewed package 3 for a water line within the City of Austin and stated it is poly-coated steel with a savings of about $12 million and reviewed the anticipated time line. Mr. McDonald asked about the poly-coated steel option. Mr. Dunsworth provided information stating it is lighter, transport is more efficient, and comes in greater links so there are fewer joints. … Mr. Metayer seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The motion carried.

    City Council minutes, 2024-10-22, p. 5 · Official PDF

    Read the minutes
    6D. 2024-1020 Discuss and consider action to approve a construction contract with S.J. Louis Construction of Texas, Ltd. in the amount of $56,665,407.35 associated with the Secondary Colorado River Raw Water Line - Package 3 project, and authorize the City Manager to execute the same. Mayor Gonzales opened the item for discussion. Mr. Dunsworth reviewed package 3 for a water line within the City of Austin and stated it is poly-coated steel with a savings of about $12 million and reviewed the anticipated time line. Mr. McDonald asked about the poly-coated steel option. Mr. Dunsworth provided information stating it is lighter, transport is more efficient, and comes in greater links so there are fewer joints. … Mr. Metayer seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The motion carried.

  5. The city built more than Pflugerville needs, and your bill repays the debt.

    The treatment plant went from 17 to 30 million gallons a day. The city carries more than $254 million in water revenue debt, and rates are set to cover the full loan amounts.

    See the proof
    City Council minutes, 2025-09-23, page 5: Ms. Evans read the caption of the ordinance. Ms. Ryan discussed concern with the water and wastewater rates and the impact of debt. Ms. Waldron provided information about how the rates are calculated. Ms. Waldron stated the WIFIA draw down does not change the rates because the City still has to calculate the debt coverage and debt coverage is based on the full loan amount and is not based on how much has been drawn down. Discussion followed regarding rate

    City Council minutes, 2025-09-23, p. 5 · Official PDF

    Read the minutes
    Ms. Evans read the caption of the ordinance. Ms. Ryan discussed concern with the water and wastewater rates and the impact of debt. Ms. Waldron provided information about how the rates are calculated. Ms. Waldron stated the WIFIA draw down does not change the rates because the City still has to calculate the debt coverage and debt coverage is based on the full loan amount and is not based on how much has been drawn down. Discussion followed regarding rate

    KXAN, July 27, 2026 · Community Impact, Nov. 25, 2025

  6. He voted for the rate increases himself, and in 2024 he made the motion.

    Rates are set in the city's annual fee schedule.

    See the proof
    Voted yes

    He voted for the 2025 fee schedule.

    City Council minutes, 2025-09-09, page 5: discussed keeping up with updating the fees. Mr. Weiss moved to approve the ordinance on first reading. … The vote was as follows: … Mayor Pro Tem Holiday - yes, Mr. Weiss - yes, Mr. Ruiz - yes, Ms. Ryan - no, Mayor Gonzales - yes. Mr. Metayer was not present for the vote. The motion carried.

    City Council minutes, 2025-09-09, p. 5 · Official PDF

    Read the minutes
    discussed keeping up with updating the fees. Mr. Weiss moved to approve the ordinance on first reading. … The vote was as follows: … Mayor Pro Tem Holiday - yes, Mr. Weiss - yes, Mr. Ruiz - yes, Ms. Ryan - no, Mayor Gonzales - yes. Mr. Metayer was not present for the vote. The motion carried.
    Made the motion

    He moved the 2024 fee schedule.

    City Council minutes, 2024-09-24, page 6: Mr. Ruiz moved to approve the ordinance on first reading. Mr. Metayer seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The motion carried.

    City Council minutes, 2024-09-24, p. 6 · Official PDF

    Read the minutes
    Mr. Ruiz moved to approve the ordinance on first reading. Mr. Metayer seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The motion carried.
Aerial view of treatment plant clarifiers under construction
Treatment plants are built for decades of growth, and today\'s customers pay for the extra capacity.
Storage tanks at a water treatment plant
Plants, tanks and pipelines are financed with 20 to 30 year debt.
Equipment inside a wastewater treatment plant
That debt is repaid from your monthly bill.

Stock photos of water and wastewater plants, not Pflugerville facilities.