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Houston County approves phased increases to water connection fees to fund capital projects
Summary
Houston County Commissioners voted to raise water connection fees over four years to fund water capital improvements, citing $25 million in ARPA funds already spent and $17 million in additional project requests. The change phases in higher fees for meter sizes from 1-inch to 8-inch beginning April 7, 2026.
The Houston County Board of Commissioners on April 7 approved a phased increase to water connection fees intended to fund planned capital improvements without raising existing customer rates.
Under the schedule the board approved, a 1-inch meter connection fee will rise from $2,500 in 2026 to $6,500 in 2029; 2-inch meters increase from $5,500 in 2026 to $9,500 in 2029; 4‑inch meters from $8,500 to $12,500; 6‑inch meters from $11,500 to $15,500; and 8‑inch meters from $14,500 to $18,500. Commissioners said meters larger than 8 inches and industrial accounts will be assessed individually by Public Works and that the County will furnish and install 1‑ and 2‑inch meters for residential county accounts only.
Chairman Perdue said the phased-fee approach is meant to “help fund water capital improvement requests through fees, not by increasing rates for water customers.” The board noted that it has already invested $25 million in ARPA funds for water projects and that staff has requested about $17 million more in water capital improvements.
The motion to adopt the fee schedule carried unanimously and includes provisions that transition meters will not be assessed a fee, that a $200 cut-on fee will be charged to open accounts served by existing meters, and that crossing highways or other site-specific factors may increase owner costs as determined by Public Works.
