FAQs
How do you bill me?
We bill each customer on a monthly basis on a tier schedule. Click here to view the City’s current adopted rates.
How can I pay my bill?
The City of League City has multiple options for you to pay your bill each month. You can pay your bill online, over the phone, in person, drive thru, mail in, drop payments and/or sign up for automatic bill payments. Please see our contact information below.
| 300 W Walker |
| City of League City/Utility Billing |
| Utility Billing Website |
| (281) 554-1357 |
When is my payment due?
Your payment is due on a monthly basis approximately 15 days after the bill is generated.
What services are provided from the City?
The City of League City provides water and sewer services. Your waste service will appear on your bill as well, but it is picked up and maintained by an outside vendor, Ameriwaste. For questions about your trash services, please see the Trash/Recycling Collection FAQs (PDF).
How do I read my bill?
Please see the example bill here (PDF).
Why are the read dates on bill from over a month ago?
We bill you on actual metered water consumption. To do so, you will always see a gap of at least 15 days from the read date to the bill date. Right now, the gap is approximately 37 days from read date to bill date. Over the next couple of years, we will be trying to get closer to the 15-day target gap. To do so, your read cycle will not fluctuate, and you will be billed for a 31-day read cycle. Click here for a detailed read schedule by cycle.
How do you know how much water I used?
We bill you based on your water meter reads. We read the meters monthly on a schedule based on the cycle that your home is located in. The reading on the meters are listed in hundreds and we bill in thousands. For instance, if your meter reading was 10 last month and this month it is 20, you would be billed for 10,000 gallons of water.
- 20 (New Read) -10 (Previous Read) = 10 (Difference)
- 10 (Difference) *1,000= 10,000 (The number of gallons used for the specific time frame)
Why are my bills the same amount month over month?
We bill you in thousands which means that we round your read down each month to the nearest thousand. For instance, if your meter shows a reading of 129119.3 The reading will show on your bill as 129. This means that if your household consumption does not fluctuate month over month, then your bill may be the same each month.
Do you estimate my consumption?
No, we bill you based on actual meter reads. The only time your bill will ever be estimated is if we are unable to get a read on your meter. If this happens, your meter will be replaced to ensure that the issue does not continue.
Do you meter my sewer?
We do not meter your sewer, only your water. This means that the way we bill your sewer is based from your metered water consumption. If your water consumption for a cycle is 5,000 gallons, then you will be billed for 5,000 gallons of sewer. We understand that many people have an irrigation system, pool or other water consumer that does not utilize sewage. Because of this, we cap the sewer consumption at 10,000 gallons.
Why is my bill so high?
Your bill could be higher than normal for many reasons. There are several steps that you can take to see why you received a high bill.
- Check the service dates on your bill. Did you have anything abnormal happening during the service period? (i.e. house guests, pool fill, pressure washer, someone left the hose on).
- Check the water tracker to see what days the consumption came out and whether the consumption is still abnormal.
- Use the checklist to make sure that you do not have a leak.
- If you are unable to find a leak or reason for the high consumption, give us a call at 281-554-1335 and we will investigate your account.
Do I have a leak?
For the most part, Utility Billing is unable to verify that you have a leak. What we can do is check the water tracker for patterns, verify that the meter is reading accurately and give you a recommendation as to what might be causing high consumption. We highly suggest that if you believe that you have a leak, to utilize the checklist and see if you can determine where the water is going.
What do I do if I found a leak?
If you find a leak, verify that the leak is on your side of the meter and get it fixed as soon as possible. Once the leak is fixed, submit a Leak Adjustment Request online, along with repair receipts, and we will review your account for a possible adjustment. Please note that any adjustment will be made after we can see that the high consumption has gone back down to your normal water consumption range.
How do I know that my meter is reading accurately?
If you believe that your meter is reading inaccurately, there are a few home tests that you can do to see if the meter is reading your consumption accurately.
- Manually turn off all the water in your home and check the meter to ensure that there is no water reading on the meter.
- Do a test run over night or for a scheduled amount of time. Turn off all water for allotted timeframe then check the water tracker in the morning. Verify with the tracker that no water was recorded at any time during the allotted timeframe.
If you are questioning the accuracy of the meter after doing manual testing, we will do the following to ensure accuracy:
- A Meter Technician will go out to the house and check the functionality of the meter.
- A Utility Billing Representative will check the tracker for patterns and high consumption.
- If the meter is reacting normally, then we can do a bench test to acquire the accuracy of the meter. This test requires us to remove the meter and replace it with a new meter. This test is at the cost of the resident.
When is my bill past due?
Your bill is considered past due any day after the due date and subject to penalties.
What do I do If I am unable to make a payment on or before the due date?
If you are unable to make your payment, please contact us at 281-554-1335 to discuss arrangements. We are happy to help!
Do you charge a late fee?
We charge a late fee/penalty of 10% of the bill the day following your due date.
How long do I have before you cut off my water?
Any account that is more than 10 business days delinquent is subject to disconnection of service and all fees associated with reconnection. If you are experiencing hardship, please contact our office at 281-554-1335 to discuss payment arrangements.
How do I get my services reconnected when disconnected for delinquency?
If your services were interrupted for non-payment, please contact out office at 281-554-1335 to discuss payment arrangement and a timeframe to reconnect service.
How do I start water services with The City of League City?
To start services, please fill out the application to start new service online and submit the required documentation. For more information, please visit our welcome page.
Is there an upfront cost with starting services with the City?
No, there is not an upfront cost to start services. However. you will see a deposit and admin fee applied to your first statement.
How do I transfer services with The City of League City?
To transfer service, please fill out a start new service application online and submit the required documentation.
Where is my first bill?
To request to terminate services, please fill out the terminate service application online and a member of Utility Billing will process your request. Please note that after termination you will receive a final bill.
Where is my first bill?
We bill you based on actual consumption. This means that there will be a delay in used consumption and the generation of your bill. You may not see your first bill for up to 35 days after moving in depending on your address. If it has been over 35 days since you started service and you still have not seen a bill, please contact our office at 281-554-1336.
Do I need to fill out a separate application to initiate garbage services at my address?
No, you do not have to fill out a separate application for each service provided. Once you fill out the application to start service, all services provided at the address will be activated.
Why is my water bill going up?
After months of discussion, presentations by City staff, and a study conducted by a nationally recognized utility rate expert, the League City Council approved an increase to the City’s water and sewer rates in February of 2020. As a result, residential and commercial utility customers began to see a gradual increase in their monthly bill in May 2020. The last time League City increased its utility rates was in 2015. In addition to an overall water and sewer rate adjustment, City Council also approved an adjustment to the monthly rate for commercial meters. The rate adjustment will differentiate residential and commercial customers to better reflect the additional demand commercial customers place on the City’s water and sewer systems.
What does this mean to you?
The average League City residential customer uses 7,000 gallons a month. Under the new rates, they will see an approximate 4% annual increase in their monthly water and wastewater bill each year for five years, starting in May 2020 and ending in 2024. The total increase after five years will be nearly 20%.
Why are the rates increasing?
The new rates are supported by a recent study conducted by WillDan, a nationally recognized water rate consultant. The 2019 study recommended League City increase its current rates to ensure the City’s water and sewer systems remain financially sound. The study cited several reasons to support an increase, including:
- Annual inflation costs associated with daily operations and expenses.
- Need to increase City’s surface water capacity for future buildout and costs associated with the wholesale purchase of a safe and reliable water source. Currently League City’s population is 110,000 and is expected to double in the next 30-40 years.
- Nearly $500 million in water and wastewater infrastructure needs over the next 10 years including the replacement and enlargement of a nearly 50-year-old transmission line that supplies 70% of the City’s surface water.
How does League City’s utility rates compare to other cities?
Currently, League City’s residential rates are near the statewide average and are lower than several cities in the surrounding area, including Houston, Galveston, Pearland, Baytown, and Alvin. According to research by the American Water Works Association, average utility rates across Texas have been increasing around 6% each year. AAWA is also forecasting water and wastewater rates across the U.S. to triple in the next 15 years because of inflation, capital improvement costs, and because almost 40% percent of cities are currently not charging rates that cover their costs. The chart below compares monthly utility bill charges for cities in the Houston-Galveston region based on 10,000 gallons of monthly water use.
How are the operational and maintenance costs of the City’s water and wastewater systems funded?
League City’s water and wastewater systems operate as a “citizen’s cooperative.” Those who pay a monthly utility bill (nearly 35,000 residential and commercial customers) are part of the cooperative and essentially own a piece of the cooperative. As part of the cooperative, City staff work to ensure incoming revenue (from customer utility bills) is equal to, or slightly above, the cost of running and maintaining the City’s water and wastewater systems. The newly approved water and sewer rate will:
- Enable League City to operate the cooperative on a stand-alone basis independent of general fund assistance (property taxes).
- Fund much needed capital improvements to the City’s water and wastewater infrastructure that ultimately will improve the quality of service customers receive.
- Provide well-functioning and financially sound water and sewer systems for future generations.
Shouldn’t developers pay for the new infrastructure needed to support the growth of the City’s water and wastewater systems?
When a new home or commercial development is built, a fee is paid to League City in order for that home or business to have access to the City’s water and wastewater systems. These are called capital recovery fees. Currently, League City collects the maximum water and wastewater capital recovery fees allowed by the state. The typical single family, new home with a 3/4" meter will pay about $8,000. Based on League City’s current growth, 26% of the $500 million in water and wastewater infrastructure needs over the next 10 years will funded by capital recovery fees.