Our Fees
We get asked all the time: What is the NFBWA and why is there a fee on my water bill?
Learn moreCurrent Fees
Effective January 1, 2022
Groundwater – $4.55 per 1,000 gallons and
Surface Water – $4.90 per 1,000 gallons
How Our Fee Works
The North Fort Bend Water Authority "NFBWA" charges retail water providers for the surface water we provide and groundwater that is pumped. Retail water providers then pass our fee through to residents based on the amount of water used. Most retail water providers include a mark up on our fee to pay for water loss and other monthly operations of their system.
Unlike other retail water providers, the NFBWA does not collect tax dollars to help fund our infrastructure and operations costs. Our water usage fees are the only funds NFBWA receives in order to accomplish the important mission of preventing subsidence in our community.
You can find your exact water rate by contacting your retail water provider’s customer service representative. Visit our online interactive map to find your retail water provider and their contact information.
What Our Fee Provides
The NFBWA fee provides our community with a groundwater reduction strategy to protect our area from subsidence. Developing alternative water supplies, like surface water, is an essential part of that plan.
The vast majority of our fee is used to pay for the large-scale infrastructure projects necessary to deliver a reliable source of surface water to our community. The fee also provides surface water rights, operations, maintenance, and the administration of putting it all together.
View the NFBWA Rate Order
The more you use, the more you pay! Reduce your water bill by conserving water.
Reduce Irrigation Usage
It's estimated that 50% of outdoor water usage is water waste. Sign up for Water My Yard to learn how much you should be watering your yard - it's probably much less than you think!
Check for Leaks
Don't let water waste increase your bill. Sign up for a FREE irrigation system evaluation with no strings attached to make sure your sprinklers are running efficiently.
Purchase Water-Efficient Appliances
Many of our retail water providers participate in the NFBWA's rebate program, which provides rebates to residents who purchase new water-efficient appliances, toilets, and irrigation controllers.
Why is water expensive?
Our region has traditionally relied on groundwater. Groundwater is water pumped from underground aquifers through water wells. These water wells are located within the communities they serve and are often treated with just disinfectant.
Groundwater is not a sustainable water source for our growing population because overusing this limited resource causes subsidence and lowers the groundwater level, threatening our precious water supplies.
Surface water comes from sources like lakes or rivers. It is more costly than groundwater because it is treated to a much higher degree and is located much farther away. Large-scale infrastructure is required to treat and distribute this water. NFBWA pays to acquire rights to surface water and construct the infrastructure necessary to treat and distribute surface water to retail water providers in our community.
“Being conscientious about how and where we get our water is really important if we want to avoid subsidence in our District.”
Simon VanDyk
Water Force Member and Willow Point MUD Director