Thinking about moving to the Texas Hill Country?
You may want to think twice. There's a lot more to the water problem in the Hill Country than meets the eye.
Some people move to the Texas Hill Country and never have a water woe of any sort. They move to a place like Kerrville or Fredricksburg, they turn on the tap and the water flows. Those are the lucky ones.
Others, though, often learn the hard way. They find out what it means when their well runs dry or their beautiful spring-fed creek dries up. All of a sudden their lives are centered around measuring rainfall, hoping for more, following drought predictions, and hoping it won't be as bad as the last one.
But then there's one more category. And that's the Hill Country transplants who get ripped off by their water service provider. Those are the poor folks who never thought they'd have have to empty their bank accounts to pay for water and sewer service. Take the case of some Aqua Texas customers.
Their words pretty much tell the story.
The comments below are from Aqua Texas customers and were collected from the “Merchant Circle” website that allows visitors to post comments about various businesses.
Free free to add your own stories or comments about Aqua Texas Inc. (ATI) at the following link:
CASE #1 Service Sucks!!!
I have been complaining to Aqua Texas every month for over a year regarding my water staining my tub, dishwasher, & toilets yellow. You cant even see the bottom of my tub when taking a bath. Its also causing my blonde hair to turn green. They say that no other complaints in my area have been reported, so I guess that means they're not going to do anything in regards to fixing MY problem. They simply flush my lines & when it begins to become cloudy or begins staining again I have to call to have my lines re-flushed (which is at least every month). I pay $68 a month for dirty water. Im bathing my 4 month old son in water you cant even see through. Im irritated that nothing is being done to correct this problem!!! If I could change companies I would do it in a heartbeat!!!
While the extraordinarily high water bills are a major problem with Aqua TX, one must really take into account that the bigger underlying issue is that Aqua TX has such a bad reputation in the Hill Country that it is ruining the property values of the local homeowners. I decided to sell my home in Woodcreek because of Aqua TX. It finally sold after listing it several times over several years, but I had to sell it for quite a bit less than I paid because of Aqua TX. I had five potential buyers in the past 6 months who wanted the house, but after reviewing the information about Aqua TX, decided to buy elsewhere to avoid the high cost of water with Aqua TX. I was lucky to find a buyer willing to go ahead with the purchase in spite of Aqua TX, but you can bet I will make certain Aqua TX is no where near any neighborhood I buy into in the future. I am sorry for those of you who are stuck with them and wish you the best in ousting that vermin from our State. Aqua TX is horrible!!!
CASE #3 Corporate Theft
This company over prices, make sure you never have to deal with Aqua TX. Ask salesman about water provider!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Before moving in!
October 07, 2009 by F.C. Hernandez in Tomball, TX
CASE #4 My water stinks in more than one way
I have been here in the area and have never liked the service or the water.
The bills are high and the water stinks like chemicals all the time.
We have not had any reason as to why the water bill is so high, it runs 55.00 to 60.00 dollars a month that’s with out watering the yard. We do the regular watering at the house. and do not do much in the ways of the yard or in the way of personal use.
I RECENTLY GOT MY NEW BILL IN WHICH I AM NOW BILLED 38.94 WATER BASE INSTEAD OF THE ONCE BEFORE 26.43 (TO RECOVER IMPROVEMENTS) WHEN ASKED ABOUT THESE ALLEGED "IMPROVEMENTS" THEY SAID YES THEY HAD NOT DONE ANY IN THE AREA WERE UNSURE OF WHEN IT MAY HAPPEN. I ASKED MONTHS... YEARS? NO RESPONSE AND WERE UNABLE TO GIVE ME ANY OTHER PERSON THAT MIGHT KNOW. WE ALSO GOT A 2.50 CHARGE FOR HAVING FILED A LAWSUIT ON THE COMPANY IN WHICH THE TCEQ AGREED TO LET THEM COLLECT!!!!!! SO WE ARE PAYING FOR OUR LAWYERS AND APPARENTLY THEIRS TOO!!! ON TOP OF THIS WE ARE ALSO GETTING A 9.94 CHARGE FOR REPAIRS. THE GUY ON THE PHONE WOULD NOT LET ME SPEAK TO ANYONE ELSE REGARDING ANY PART OF MY QUESTIONS. MY MOTHER LIVES A HOUR AWAY AND ONLY SPENDS 15 ON HER WATER BASE AND HAS NO OTHER "SURCHARGES". I AM JUST GLAD THAT I HAVE A SEPTIC AND DON'T HAVE TO PAY THAT ADDITIONAL 87.97 BASE EVERY MONTH.
March 06, 2009 by Anonymous
CASE #6 AQUA SUCKS!!!!
I recently moved to the Woodcreek North area in Wimberley and I can not believe that my water bill is $130 before I use ANY WATER!This is RAPE!I work my ass to provide for my family and NOW what am I supposed to do,go on welfare because I am spending more $ on water.I'd like to know what "improvements" Aqua has made here,because the water taste like shit and it smells like wet dog,it's not my home because I don't own dogs!I just can't believe that this is legal.All I know is that it is pretty sad when I have to pay these outrageous prices for water and I don't even use that much in my home. What's even worse is that we as Aqua customers have to pay to pay our bill on line or by phone. All I have to say is there has to be a way around this RAPE of TX residents through this water company who is based on the EAST COAST,they are not even local.Why can't we use the same water company that Woodcreek South uses?How can they make us pay these outrageous amounts.This is BULLSHIT in TRUE FORM
March 05, 2009 by Sen in Wimberley, TX
CASE #7 Aqua Texas - RIP OFF!
We have Aqua Texas out here in Wimberley for sewage and water. I have never in my life felt so enraged about getting ripped off for a service.
Our base water is $40 before we even use a drop and the sewage is $90! I live in a 1200 sq ft condo with no yard and am paying the same water rates that the people who own large homes and big lots that use 4 to 5 times as much water as i do. I wish there was a way to burn their sorry asses into the ground and take them for everything they have, so that they know what it feels like! They say they have made improvements, but their have been none. They run the sewage for thousands of people on a 2" pipe, when they should be on a 10" or 12". PEC was exposed out here and paid dearly for it, its been long past due for Aqua Texas to have their actions paid for.
DAMN TO AQUA TEXAS!
January 23, 2009 by Matt in Wimberley, TX
CASE #8 Horrible! Horrible! Horrible!
This company is getting away with raping people and the State of Texas is allowing it! Our base rate BEFORE we use a single drop of water is $97.00 and in January, they've gotten approval from the TCEQ to raise it to $135.00!!!! And in the southeastern regions, its going up to $150.00!! And the TCEQ AND Governor Rick Perry are allowing it! This company is corrupt and living off the backs of hard workling Texas citizens. I pay more than double for my water bill in a 2600 sf home than people in Southlake that live in 5000 sf homes.
GOVERNOR RICK PERRY!!! WHY ARE YOU ALLOWING THIS COMPANY TO RIP OFF THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS??? I AM A REGISTERED VOTER BUT I SURE AS HELL WON'T BE VOTING FOR YOU AGAIN!!!
October 14, 2008 by Ripped Off in Rhome in Rhome, TX
CASE #9 Terrible customer service
I recently had a new septic system installed. We discovered a water line on the property that no one even Aqua Texas knew as there. Now the Wood County Septic inspector will not inspect the system until Aqua Texas sends a document stating their requirements for the water line to exist on the property with the new septic system. I have been trying for over a month to get Gary Douglas to fax that document to the Wood County inspector. He says it is written and on his desk but he keeps dragging his feet and will not fax it. I am being held hostage. I am close to being fined for not having a permitted system. I am a customer but this guy seems to want to show his power over customers. I am determined, I will get this resolved one way or another. If anyone reading this can help it I would recommend never becoming a customer of Aqua Texas.
October 13, 2008 by Michael Tate in Quitman, TX
CASE #10 Aqua Texas Legal Theft by Weak Texas Regulators
Read the web for all of the reviews. Base water rates of $150 vs most cities rates of around $60. No choice when you move in. Usually not mentioned by house salesmen in new developments. You find out in your first bill. Massive billing errors and the worst customer service ever. Will overbill and cut off if you do not pay. State of Texas bows to them so they get away with murder of your wallet. They grease the palms of every politician. Check the lobbying list in Austin. The only reason they get away with it is a corrupt state water board that allows the abuse. Call and protest hard if you are a customer and vote for polititions that have a backbone for the people.
August 18, 2008 by Madwateruser in Newark, TX
