Texas Homeowners Are ‘Sharing Flushes’ to Save on Water Bill After Skyrocketing Costs

Homeowners in one Texas town say they’ve had to get very creative to deal with the rising costs of their water bills. From taking shorter showers to limiting how often they flush the toilets, families in Magnolia, Texas, say they are doing everything they can to avoid using any more water than necessary.

That’s because residents like Steve and Kammie Bowen say that their water bills have risen astronomically this summer, topping $500 most months. And it seems like they are pointing the finger at Aqua Texas, which increased utility rates. 

However, when other homeowners like Doug and Deborah Kelton contacted the company about the increased rates, they were told that a leak could be to blame. But the Keltons tell KPRC 2 Click2Houston that no such leak has ever been found. 

Instead, Aqua Texas says that the increase is tied to a March rate hike, which was proposed in order to update the water and wastewater treatment plants. But Aqua Texas says the rate increase isn’t the only reason prices are going up.

Two Families Claim Their Bills Nearly Doubled

It’s no wonder that people like the Keltons and the Bowens are experiencing sticker shock. According to information they shared with Click2Houston, their bills have nearly doubled. The Bowens say that their bills were around $266 a month for 21,000 gallons of water in August 2025. A year later, they were spending $540 for roughly the same amount.

Meanwhile, the Keltons say that their bill jumped similarly, going from $240 this time last year to more than $500 in 2026. “We can’t see the logic behind this huge bill,” Deborah Keltons told the outlet. “I see dollar signs. We turn on the faucet, and you see dollar signs going down the drain.”

Aqua Texas Made Its First Statewide Rate Hike Request in 20 Years

When contacted about the concerns, Aqua Texas responded to the outlet with a statement. “At Aqua Texas, it’s our mission to protect and provide Earth’s most essential resource, water,” the statement said, noting that the increase would fund things like modernizing and upgrading the company’s pipelines, plants, wells, and related infrastructure.

Additionally, the company created a more aggressive tiered billing system, which charges higher rates for those who use more water. Aqua Texas told Click2Houston that this was an attempt to encourage people to conserve water. Lastly, the company also instituted a volumetric rate for wastewater and sewer charges, which also led to increases. 

The Rate Increase Will Be Reviewed by the Public Utility Commission of Texas

Magnolia families may have to keep sharing flushes in order to cut back on their bills, as the Public Utility Commission (PUC) of Texas gears up to review the new rates and decide if they should become permanent. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, homeowners can try other ways to conserve water while they wait for the PUC’s decision.

They include things like turning off the water while shaving or brushing teeth, opting for showers instead of baths, and using WaterSense-labeled products, to name a few.