By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Bowie City Councilors approved the first reading of an ordinance for new water rates Tuesday night, following months of debate over first rate change for water since 2018.
The residential customer in the city limits uses on average 2,000 to 3,000 gallons of water per month, and under the new rates will see an increase from $5 to $7.50 a month. This water rate proposal was different from the previous offerings as it adjusted usage, not the base rate or adding any new fees.
This approval came on the heels of a workshop on March 4 where the council members learned more about pending infrastructure needs at the water plant including a new raw water pump and upgrades to the plant as it nears 85% capacity.
Public Works Director Stony Lowrance and Plant Director Jerry Sutton last week told the council the pump is already a mandate from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and has to be done; however, the plant is operating at about 80% capacity. When it hits 85% the city will have to undertaken plans to expand to meet the larger capacity.

Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.