Pei Wu
1/5
In my honest opinion, this utility company doesn’t even deserve a single star, but since I have to leave one to post this review, here we are. My experience with the North Fort Bend Water Authority (NFBWA) has been nothing short of frustrating, and I can no longer stay silent about their unreasonable and unjustified fees.
We moved to Fort Bend County in June 2023, and I was utterly shocked by how much my water bill had increased compared to what I was accustomed to paying before. What used to be a routine and insignificant expense has now turned into one of the biggest headaches of my monthly budget. Despite being conservative with our water usage—something we have always been mindful of—I find myself grappling with an exorbitant bill, thanks to the mysterious and absurd “NFBWA fee” that we are forced to pay every single month.
This so-called NFBWA fee adds at least $40 or more to our bill each month, regardless of how much water we use. It’s not tied to consumption; it’s just a flat, unrelenting burden on residents. Why are we paying this fee? What exactly is it for? These are the questions I’ve been asking since day one, and the lack of transparency from NFBWA only makes matters worse. It feels like we’re being extorted under the guise of “water management” or “infrastructure improvements.” But where is the evidence that these funds are being used responsibly or for the benefit of residents?
Let’s break this down: $40+ per month may not seem like a lot to some, but over a year, that’s nearly $500. Multiply that by the thousands of residents in the area, and we’re talking about millions of dollars being funneled into the NFBWA’s coffers annually. Yet, as a paying customer, I have no idea where that money is going. Are we funding water quality improvements? New infrastructure? Future-proofing against droughts? None of this is clear. All I see is an arbitrary fee tacked onto my bill with no real explanation or justification.
What’s even more infuriating is that this fee is unavoidable. It doesn’t matter how much water you conserve or how little you use—this flat fee is there every single month, taking a chunk out of your wallet. It’s almost as if NFBWA is punishing people for simply living in Fort Bend County. At least with other utilities, you can control your bill by managing your usage. With NFBWA, that logic doesn’t apply. It feels unfair and predatory.
I’ve tried reaching out for answers, but good luck getting any meaningful response. Their customer service is unhelpful at best and dismissive at worst. It’s as if they know the fee is ridiculous but have no intention of addressing residents’ concerns because they hold all the power.
This fee is a perfect example of unchecked bureaucracy at work, and it’s unacceptable. Residents deserve to know why we’re being charged this amount and what it’s being used for. Better yet, we deserve a fair billing system that reflects actual water usage instead of being subjected to these ridiculous charges. Until then, I’ll continue to voice my frustration and warn others about the financial strain NFBWA puts on families.
If you’re considering moving to Fort Bend County, be prepared for this hidden cost. And if you’re already here and as fed up as I am, I urge you to speak up. Enough is enough.
