Council votes to lower water rates

City Council took action Thursday to lower water and wastewater rates for retail water customers. The savings – which will be about $2.40 per month for the average residential customer – will take effect on May 1. The savings come from an increase in capital recovery fees, which are charged to developers for new connections to Austin Water service. The fees have increased substantially over the past few years. In 2013, the city collected $8 million in such fees. This year, it expects to collect about $30 million. Council approved the lower rates in a vote of 9-0, with Council members Greg Casar and Delia Garza absent for the vote. “I think this is a really big deal,” said Mayor Steve Adler. “This is the first water decrease … in anyone’s memory. This is a really big day.”