Crystal Clear Special Utility District provides an essential public service to communities throughout Central Texas. But many customers are facing increasingly high water bills, with some households receiving bills of $400 or more.

Crystal Clear customers generally have no ability to choose another water provider. Water is not a luxury—it is an essential necessity of life. Families should not be forced to bear unaffordable utility costs simply because they have no alternative.

Under Crystal Clear's current published rate schedule, a standard residential customer with a 5/8-inch × 3/4-inch meter pays a $53.99 monthly base rate before water consumption charges are added.

Residential water usage is then billed at increasing rates:

0–5,000 gallons: $7.27 per 1,000 gallons
5,000.1–10,000 gallons: $8.00 per 1,000 gallons
10,000.1–20,000 gallons: $9.52 per 1,000 gallons
20,000.1–50,000 gallons: $12.85 per 1,000 gallons
50,000.1–70,000 gallons: $16.43 per 1,000 gallons
Over 70,000 gallons: $17.13 per 1,000 gallons

In addition to high monthly rates, new customers may face a significant upfront financial barrier simply to establish water service. Crystal Clear required a $500 deposit just to turn on water service for our household. For families moving into the community, hundreds of dollars in upfront deposits—on top of monthly base rates and consumption charges—can create a substantial financial burden before they have even used a single gallon of water.

We recognize that providing safe and reliable water requires infrastructure, maintenance, and regulatory compliance. However, Crystal Clear is a governmental utility district providing an essential service to customers who cannot simply choose another provider when rates become too expensive.

Customers deserve transparency and accountability regarding how rates are determined and how customer revenue is being spent. We believe there should be a thorough review of whether the current rate structure is fair and affordable for the communities Crystal Clear serves.

We are particularly concerned about whether existing residential customers are being required to bear an unfair share of infrastructure, debt, and other costs associated with continued growth and development.

We respectfully demand:

A thorough and transparent review of Crystal Clear's current water rates and fees;

A clear public accounting of how customer revenue is being used;

A review of whether existing customers are paying a disproportionate share of costs associated with future growth and development;

Consideration of reasonable alternatives that could reduce the financial burden on residential customers;

A reduction of rates and fees to levels that are fair, reasonable, transparent, and affordable; and

Meaningful opportunities for customers to participate in future rate-setting decisions.

Water is an essential public service, and the people who depend on Crystal Clear deserve rates that are fair and affordable.

Sign this petition if you are a Crystal Clear customer or affected resident and believe action should be taken to address the cost of water service in our communities.