TRWD weighs 3% water tax hike as Fort Worth leak concerns grow

The Tarrant Regional Water District is considering a 3% increase in water delivery taxes for 2027 and a higher raw water sale price as aging pipes drive costly leaks in Fort Worth. Plumbers are urging homeowners in older neighborhoods to check for underground leaks and replace corroded service lines.

Why it matters: - Fort Worth’s aging water infrastructure is driving leak losses, higher utility costs and added pressure on homeowners with older pipes. - TRWD’s proposed rate and tax changes would help fund river-related levee and pipe upgrades, but they do not fix many residential service lines linked to underground leaks. - Older homes in historic neighborhoods face the highest risk of slab leaks, foundation movement and plumbing emergencies.

What happened: - The Tarrant Regional Water District discussed a 3% increase in water delivery taxes for 2027 in August. - The proposed increase would add $33.24 million in revenue. - TRWD expects most of that money to go toward levee and pipe system improvements along the Trinity River. - TRWD’s board is also scheduled to vote on raising the raw water sale price to $1.50 per thousand gallons. - Steven Smith, a Responsible Master Plumber at Mother Modern Plumbing’s Fort Worth office, said the planned upgrades help flood control but do not address corroded pipes buried around many homes.

The details: - KERA reported in 2023 that the City of Fort Worth lost $5.8 million worth of water through leaks in degraded water lines. - Many of those pipes are on residential properties and fall outside TRWD’s planned system improvements. - Smith said homeowners are responsible for updating their own water supply lines. - Homes built mid-century or earlier are most at risk because of galvanized supply lines. - Galvanized steel lines were previously flagged as dangerous because of past connections to lead service lines. - Those lines are now considered outdated and prone to corrosion and channel rot. - Fort Worth’s historic and vintage properties face the greatest risk of major leak events, especially under-slab leaks near settling concrete foundations. - Smith urged homeowners to check the city’s Water Service Inventory Map for lines labeled Galvanized Requiring Replacement. - Smith said more underground leaks are appearing on older properties in Historic Southside and Fairmount this year. - Smith said extra groundwater combined with clay soil can increase foundation movement and structural instability. - Demand is rising for non-invasive leak detection in historic Fort Worth neighborhoods. - Smith pointed to acoustic listening devices and infrared thermal imaging as preferred leak-location tools for older homes. - Smith said those tools avoid trenching and property damage. - Smith said exploratory digging can be especially risky around unstable foundations and broken underground pipes.

Between the lines: - TRWD’s proposal addresses public infrastructure, but the private side of the problem remains with homeowners whose service lines are aging faster than citywide replacement plans. - The leak issue is now a broader property and foundation concern, not just a water-loss problem. - The emphasis on non-invasive detection suggests homeowners are trying to find hidden leaks before they become structural repairs.

What’s next: - TRWD’s board is expected to vote on the raw water price increase. - Fort Worth residents with older homes are being advised to review their water service line status and schedule underground leak detection if needed. - Homeowners in affected neighborhoods may need to plan for pipe replacement before leak damage worsens.

The bottom line: - Fort Worth is likely to spend more on water infrastructure, but many of the most urgent leak risks remain under private homes.**