The Residents Of Amarillo Will Be Charged Water Drainage Fees Starting This Month

On Monday, October 1st, the city of Amarillo began their water drainage fees.  So that means your residents and businesses alike will see an increase in their water bill this month, but what exactly are we paying for?

It seems that every year one of our utility companies decides to add charges or fees to our bills.  So what exactly is the drainage fee for and why do we have to pay for it?

If you are from Amarillo or have lived here for a while, then you know that when we get a good rain, we get a good flood.  Many streets throughout the city flood really fast.  Well the drainage system that Amarillo has now, actually helps from even worse flooding.  Without it, who knows how many houses or businesses would experience flood damage.

The city runs into a problem with the systems; there is 120 million dollars worth of infrastructure and no budget for upkeep and maintenance.  The fee will allow the city to make sure these systems work properly and to improve them.

The fee will be determined by how much property you own.  If your home is up to 2,072 square feet, the fee is $1.71 per month. For a home, between 2,072 and 3,236 square feet, the monthly fee is $2.51. And for a large residential property greater than 3,236 square feet, the additional monthly charge is $3.79.   And if you own commercial property then you will have to pay $39.15 / acre impervious area (43,560 square feet).