Spring-area homebuyers should find out who supplies their water and review billing history before closing on a house, a Houston real estate agent and local utility districts warn.

Real estate agent Juan Lanza of The Agency Team told KPRC 2 in a Friday, Sept. 11 report that buyers need to investigate their water provider's track record, especially in Municipal Utility District territory.

"I always tell buyers, they have to check who the provider is. Look at the track record … Especially if you are in a MUD district, it just varies a lot, water, sewage, rates, all of that is important," Lanza said.

The advice comes as homeowners served by Aqua Texas across the Houston region report sharply higher bills. The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) allowed the company to implement interim rates on March 9 while a statewide rate case continues. KPRC 2 reported Sept. 10 that complaints included an $837 monthly bill one homeowner said compared with $291 for similar usage the prior year, and Magnolia residents reporting bills above $2,000. KPRC 2 separately reported that more than 330 protests had been filed with the PUCT as of Sept. 7.

What Spring buyers can do

Spring-area MUD districts offer tools that can help buyers evaluate costs before they sign.

Harris County MUD 82 completed smart meter installation across the district and urged residents in June to sign up for Eye On Water, a free service that tracks water consumption by the hour and sends leak alerts. Registration requires only a ZIP code and a water billing account number. Buyers can ask sellers for access to that usage history.

Harris County MUD 49 began replacing residential meters with smart meters on April 7. The district warned that bills may rise after installation because older meters tend to under-measure usage over time. A buyer purchasing a home with a newly installed meter should expect the bill to reflect actual consumption, not the lower readings the old meter may have produced.

Buyers should also ask about line-item fees. Many Spring-area MUD bills include a West Harris County Regional Water Authority fee that pays for a state-mandated conversion from groundwater to surface water, according to Harris County MUD 370. That fee varies month to month based on usage, and some districts add surcharges for system maintenance.

Smart meters record hourly usage data, which buyers can review before closing through the Eye On Water platform at eyeonwater.com.

Where to file a complaint

The PUCT and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulate water services statewide. Customers who believe a bill is incorrect should first contact the utility directly. If the issue is not resolved, they can file a formal complaint with the PUCT, which may open an enforcement investigation.

The Aqua Texas rate case remains pending before the PUCT with no final decision date announced.