The City of Houston will begin disconnecting water service Tuesday for thousands of utility customers with significantly overdue balances.
Houston Public Works has sent notices to approximately 15,000 customers who collectively owe the city about $30 million.
The city said customers were identified based on several factors, including having made no payment for at least 90 consecutive days, owing more than $500 and having a Sensus remote-reading device.
Mayor John Whitmire’s administration said the city had held off on water shutoffs for the past two years following widespread complaints about inaccurate water bills in 2024.
During that time, the city replaced faulty meters, corrected billing problems and worked to improve the accuracy of its utility bills.
“Today, we have confidence in the accuracy of our billing, and we have a responsibility to collect payment for services that have been provided,” the city said in a statement. “We cannot continue to carry unpaid balances indefinitely.”
Customers should receive notice and an opportunity to address their balances before service is disconnected. The city said payment plans and information about financial assistance are available.
Anyone who believes their bill is incorrect or needs help with a past-due balance should call Houston Public Works at 713-371-1400 to ask about billing disputes, payment arrangements or assistance options.
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