Rate Changes for Some City Services Take Effect Oct. 1, 2025

Published on September 30, 2025

The Arlington Water Utilities annual budget ensures safe, high-quality water with some of the lowest rates in North Texas. The Fiscal Year 2026 budget includes costs for the operation of two water treatment plants and a modern water laboratory, 10 elevated storage tanks, nearly 1,500 miles of public water mains and 1,260 miles of sanitary sewer mains.

This year, a 6.54% rate increase (or about $2.18 a month) for minimum residential users and a 7.94% increase (or about $5.89 a month) for average residential users are necessary to help pay for $13.9 million in additional costs Arlington Water Utilities anticipates in FY26.

Arlington Water Utilities' budget for the coming year includes increases of:

•              $1.7 million for raw water purchases from Tarrant Regional Water District;

•              $7 million for wastewater treatment by Trinity River Authority;

•              $2.7 million for debt service payments;

•              $434,396 for electricity.

The impact of these rate changes will affect customers for 12 months of FY26, from Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 20, 2026. Effects will vary according to customer class and water usage levels. Customers with remote read meters can monitor their hourly water usage and sign up for high usage and high bill alerts by visiting ArlingtonTX.gov/KnowYourH2O or by downloading the Arlington Water Utilities app from Google Play or the App Store.

New rates will also start on Oct. 1, 2025, for trash/recycling collection services and Arlington’s stormwater (drainage) fee. The Stormwater Utility Fee will increase from $9.50 to $10 per Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU). The residential refuse charge (trash/recycling collection) will increase from $21.80 to $22.71.

Help is available for Arlington Water Utilities customers facing financial difficulties. Visit ArlingtonTX.gov/CareandShare to learn more.