Aqua Texas customers not amused with high rates or water quality

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:

http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Aqua.Texas.Inc.903-852-7083/review/read?cid=1203074

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!!!

September 21, 2010 by Ivey in Chandler, TX

CASE #2  Bigger Problem than high water bills

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!!!

April 27, 2010 by Alana Scott in Wimberley, Texas

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.

August 09, 2009 by Melissa in Chandler, TX

CASE #5  AQUA TEXAS TAKES YOU FROM BEHIND!!!!!

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

Aqua-Texas Inc. Exposé

Aqua-Texas, Incorporated (ATI) is well known in small towns and villages in Texas. The Parent Corporation is Aqua America and they go around the country buying up small water supply systems that the towns or private companies can no longer afford to run. They claim to serve more than 155,000 residents in 365 communities in 51 counties across Texas. It is a legal enterprise but their customers often get slammed with exorbitant costs. I believe that to be our case, how about you?

Be Careful What You Wish For

When we moved to the Wimberley Valley in the summer of 2008 we were not prepared for, nor had we ever heard of a Water War. Like many Americans we were used to turning on the tap and receiving clean plentiful water from the cities we lived in. We moved here after living in Colorado Springs for 22 years, where we irrigated about ¼ acre of a beautiful Kentucky Bluegrass lawn, washed our cars and even used the water to sweep our driveway and sidewalks. I always felt a little guilty about some of that water use or misuse but there seemed to be an unlimited supply and we were paying for it. The population of Colorado Springs was rapidly growing and we were just beginning to see the effects of water shortages. The city instituted water rationing and everybody complied; so well in fact that the City complained that they lost revenue so the raised or rates. We felt we had been robbed; little did we know.

The water we received was sweet, clean, clear and soft, being from snowmelt that flowed down from the nearby Rockies. Our water bills ran around $30 per month with an occasional summertime bump to $50. Yes, we were wasteful and spoiled!

Having lived most of my early life in Texas; I knew we would have to adjust to some differences here, some more subtle than others. Both my Wife and I are retired and we expected to live out our days in the relative peace and quite of the Texas hill country. We really believed that. Deep in the dark recess of my memory I recalled an old saying, “Whisky is fer Drinkin ... Water is fer Fightin". I have often thought of that phrase in the last two years. Another old saying which I remembered was, “Be careful what you wish for”; it was to haunt me later on

After settling in, our first negative experience with water was when we received or water/sewer bill from Aqua Texas. The bill was about $170 and we attempted to call the company and protest, with no success. After asking around the neighborhood we found that our bill was typical and maybe a little low for the area. To make things even worse Texas was in the throws of record setting drought and everybody was saying to conserve water. We figured that conserving water would be the right thing to do morally and would make our water bill shrink as well. To our surprise and horror our bill stayed the about same since the ATI bill was comprised mostly of “Base Facility Charges” and “Deferred Capital Expenses Surcharges” amounting to about $150 per month. The actual water only cost about $10 for 2700 gallons. So, no matter how much water we used or didn’t use we would still have to pay at least the $150 per month. That way ATI makes a ton of money even if a drought condition exists and they have to enforce water rationing. Where I come from that would be called a scam! I was told this is not a scam; it’s just Texas politics as usual. Damn The TCEQ! 

Nothing about this encouraged conserving the water, which I thought was important; apparently Aqua Texas doesn't care. It looked like we were sunk! We began to attend just about every meeting of every organization in the valley that might have a stake in the water situation. We met as many people as we could even some politicians and some real nutcases (in some instances they were the same people). We quickly found that there were various factions in the area, all concerned about water. These factions ran from the “true believers” that ‘walk the walk’ and ‘live the life’ of conservation on all fronts, to the “deniers” that believe that we will never run out of any natural resource especially water. We listened to all sides and learned a lot.

We were surprised to find that several people had converted over to rainwater harvesting for all of their home use since that practice had been outlawed in Colorado. That State claims to own the water that falls on your property and you are not allowed to interfere with it. You can’t even use a 50-gallon rain barrel. Likewise, graywater recycling is strictly controlled rendering it all but forbidden. So far Texas has not caught on to outlawing the collection of rainwater or taxing it. If it were to become widespread, the Texas Legislature and our local governments might take notice. Wouldn’t it be ironic if rainwater harvesting were to be blamed for interfering with the re-charge of the aquifers therefore requiring regulation? Never underestimate our politicos. That is another quote to live by.


 A smaller group that included those of us who live in the area and was more concerned about the extremely high water/sewer bills. We were beginning to see that although about 1600 people were affected we were unorganized and most of that number was not motivated to act and felt that we were wasting our time. They would rather complain than get involved. Going up against ATI, the TCEQ, the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District was going to take time, numbers and money. Since we had none of those, we made the decision to mount an attack on ATI over their wasting of aquifer water. CARD was a little extreme in their methods but we appreciated any help we could get but chose not to align to closely with them or join them.

We went forward wishing for the water wasting to end. This was not really a sound method of getting the water bills lowered but it felt good to get even with the enemy, so we lobbied the local groundwater board to do their job and stop the leaks. All through 2009 and the first half of 2010 they didn’t listen or act. When a new Board was elected in April of 2010 we saw hope that our wish might come true.

Finally, we were told by the local groundwater board that ATI was going to present an plan to fix their leaks over the next 5 years. The kicker was that they will bill the customers as provided by Texas law for the work amounting to about $5 million. This is not what we wished for.

As far as conservation is concerned ATI would be allowed to keep the pumping rights to the roughly 80 megagallons/yr. they are now wasting through their leaks. They could use it in any “legal way” such as selling it. That is bound to anger the conservationists as it does me.

We must stop wishing and chose between embracing the offer by ATI and paying higher water bills or rejecting the offer and let the leaks continue. In other words our choice is between cost and conservation. What a predicament!

We have therefore decided to let the pipes leak, thinking that ATI will eventually have to fix them on their own, as they get worse or it becomes necessary for increased development in the area.


Those of us in Woodcreek, Texas have already seen our property values plummet as our water bills increased to the point of a financial hardship. We simply can’t take any more costs added to our utility bills and we can’t move out since we are all “under water” on our mortgages. Renters can move but the landlords will likely suffer lack of a cash flow. Many have lowered their rent below their costs to mitigate the impact. Foreclosures are increasing and home are not selling in Woodcreek. Frankly, anyone would be foolish to buy a home here, as we did.

This agreement does nothing for our already overstressed pocket books or the overstressed Trinity Aquifer; it is a win-lose situation that actually makes our predicament much worse. This could be the financial tipping point for a few property owners in The City of Woodcreek and Woodcreek North.

 

Aqua Texas Presents Offer to HTGCD

Aqua Texas Makes Magical Offer

If the newest proposals by Aqua Texas are approved and executed,

Aqua Texas will have:

• an additional 80 million free gallons of water/year to sell.

• enhanced sales potential due to more a favorable climate for additional development.

• fixed their leaky system substantially increasing its value, at no cost to them.

• the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, the TCEQ and the Public will be off of its back for wasting water.

• a 3-year uninterrupted pumping permit to allow for increased expansion and contracting.

The Customers will have:

• increased water/sewer bills.

• some further lowering of their property values.

• knowledge that most of the 80 million gallon leaks have stopped however, now ATI can sell the water and gain increased revenues.

• increased development in the area, therefore more pressure on the aquifers.

• construction inconveniences and water interruptions for about 5 years

• no guarantee that Aqua will not ask for further rate increases during their 3-year permit period.

Although I feel that everything here is proven fact, it is the responsibility of the reader to do his or her own research before arriving at their own conclusions about the veracity of any statement(s) herein. Everything contained within these pages is protected speech guaranteed by the United States Constitution. So There!

Posted by Richard S.