Houston County water customers are in the second year of a three-year rate adjustment. In 2025 the county raised the monthly base rate from $9 to $14, with the base covering the first 2,500 gallons, and adopted tiered usage rates above that: $2 per 1,000 gallons up to 10,000 gallons, $2.50 per 1,000 gallons from 10,000 to 15,000, and $3 per 1,000 gallons beyond 15,000. Effective July 1, 2026, the second step added 25 cents per 1,000 gallons to the usage rates while leaving the base rate unchanged, according to the county's public notice and the Houston Home Journal.
A third step is scheduled for 2027. The county said the adjustments were needed because the water system posted operational losses in both its 2024 and 2025 audits and the cost of operating the system for existing customers had nearly doubled. The county had been supporting the water fund with federal American Rescue Plan Act money, which is not a permanent revenue source. When the 2025 base rate increase took effect, 13WMAZ reported some customers seeing bills rise sharply, driven by the combination of the higher base and the tiered usage structure.
The rates apply to Houston County water customers, which means households in unincorporated Houston County including Bonaire, Kathleen and the county areas around Perry and Warner Robins. Households inside Warner Robins, Perry and Centerville city limits are served by their own municipal water systems with separate rate schedules, and neighboring Byron is served by its city system. Which provider serves a specific address determines which rate plan applies.
How a Houston County Water Bill Is Calculated
Component | 2025 rate | July 2026 change |
Monthly base (first 2,500 gallons) | $14 | No change |
2,501 to 10,000 gallons | $2 per 1,000 gallons | +25 cents per 1,000 |
10,001 to 15,000 gallons | $2.50 per 1,000 gallons | +25 cents per 1,000 |
Above 15,000 gallons | $3 per 1,000 gallons | +25 cents per 1,000 |
Sources: Houston County public notice; Houston Home Journal, June 2026; 13WMAZ, August 2025. Confirm the current tier table on houstoncountyga.gov.
The tiered structure means the price per gallon rises with consumption. A household using 5,000 gallons in a month pays the base plus the first tier on 2,500 gallons. A household with an irrigation system using 20,000 gallons in a summer month pays the base, the full first tier, the full second tier and the third tier on the remainder. The tiers were designed to encourage conservation, and the county issued voluntary water restrictions and a Level 1 drought declaration in April 2026.
Who Provides Water Across Houston County
Community | Water provider | Rate plan |
Bonaire | Houston County | County three-year plan |
Kathleen | Houston County | County three-year plan |
Unincorporated Perry and Warner Robins areas | Houston County | County three-year plan |
Warner Robins (city limits) | City of Warner Robins Utility Department | City rate schedule |
Perry (city limits) | City of Perry | City rate schedule; 12 percent consumption increase noted in FY2023 |
Centerville (city limits) | City of Centerville | City rate schedule |
Neighboring Byron | City of Byron / Peach County | City rate schedule |
Do I Need to Disclose My Water Bills When I Sell in Bonaire or Kathleen?
Georgia's seller disclosure does not require utility cost disclosure, but buyers and their agents in Bonaire and Kathleen increasingly ask for 12 months of water bills because the tiered structure makes summer usage on larger lots meaningfully more expensive than winter usage. A seller with an irrigation system and a well-kept lawn should expect the question. Providing the bills up front removes a due-diligence step and, for a home with efficient usage, becomes a selling point.
What I tell sellers on county water is that the bill is part of the cost of ownership the buyer is calculating, alongside the county tax rate and the absence of a city levy. Bonaire and Kathleen owners pay no city property tax, which is a real advantage in the comparison against Warner Robins, and a modest water bill keeps that advantage intact. A seller who knows the 2026 step and can explain the tiers is a seller the buyer trusts on everything else in the house.
What Should I Ask About Water Before Buying in Bonaire or Kathleen?
Ask which provider serves the address, since county and city rate schedules differ and the answer follows the parcel, not the postal city. Ask for 12 months of water bills rather than one, because summer irrigation on a large lot can push a household into the $3-per-1,000-gallon tier while winter usage stays in the first tier. Ask whether the home is on county sewer or a septic system, which affects both the bill and the inspection. And for new construction, ask who paid the connection fee, since the county's 2026 fee schedule for a standard meter rises from $2,500 to more than $6,000 by 2029.
My advice to buyers is to treat the water bill the way they treat the insurance quote: a number that varies by property and should be known before the offer, not after. Twelve months of bills from the seller and one call to the county water department answer the question in an afternoon. Houston County's rates are still low compared with many Georgia systems even after the increases, but the tiers reward the household that knows how they work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Houston County water rates go up in 2026?
Effective July 1, 2026, Houston County added 25 cents per 1,000 gallons to each of its water usage tiers as the second step of a three-year rate plan. The monthly base rate, which was raised from $9 to $14 in 2025 and covers the first 2,500 gallons, did not change in 2026. A third adjustment is planned for 2027.
What are the Houston County water usage tiers?
As adopted in 2025, Houston County billed usage above the 2,500 gallons included in the base rate at $2 per 1,000 gallons up to 10,000 gallons, $2.50 per 1,000 gallons from 10,000 to 15,000 gallons, and $3 per 1,000 gallons above 15,000 gallons. Each tier increased by 25 cents per 1,000 gallons on July 1, 2026. The current table is published by the county.
Why is Houston County raising water rates?
The county said its water system showed operational losses in both the 2024 and 2025 audits and that the cost of operating the system for existing customers had nearly doubled. The county had been supporting the water fund with federal ARPA money, and the three-year rate plan is intended to bring rates in line with operating costs.
Does the Houston County water rate increase apply to Warner Robins?
Not to customers on the City of Warner Robins water system. Warner Robins, Perry and Centerville operate their own municipal water utilities with separate rate schedules. The county rate plan applies to Houston County water customers in unincorporated areas including Bonaire, Kathleen and the county areas surrounding the cities. Provider is determined by parcel, not mailing address.
Who provides water in Bonaire and Kathleen?
Bonaire and Kathleen are unincorporated communities served by the Houston County water system, so households there pay the county's three-year rate plan. They pay no city property tax and receive fire, EMS and law enforcement from the county as well.
How much is the Houston County water base rate?
The monthly base rate is $14, raised from $9 in 2025, and it includes the first 2,500 gallons of usage. Usage above 2,500 gallons is billed in tiers by the thousand gallons.
Will Houston County water rates go up again in 2027?
Yes. The county has described the rate adjustment as a three-year plan, with the 2025 base rate increase as the first step, the July 2026 usage rate increase as the second, and a third step scheduled for 2027. The size of the 2027 adjustment will be published by the county in advance.
Why did my Houston County water bill jump in the summer?
Houston County uses tiered usage pricing, so the rate per 1,000 gallons rises at 10,000 and 15,000 gallons. Households with irrigation systems or large lots often cross into the higher tiers in summer months, which raises the bill faster than the usage increase alone. The county also issued a Level 1 drought declaration and voluntary water restrictions in April 2026.
What are Houston County's new water connection fees?
Separately from usage rates, Houston County adopted a new water connection fee schedule for new construction in 2026. A standard one-inch meter connection currently costs $2,500 and rises to more than $6,000 by 2029, with larger connections for commercial and multifamily development increasing proportionally. Connection fees apply to new service, not existing customers.
Is Houston County building a new water plant?
Yes. The Houston County Commission approved a $15 million water treatment facility in Kathleen in January 2026 to address rising demand. County officials reported that daily water consumption rose from about 11 million gallons in January 2022 to about 15 million gallons by January 2025.
Should I ask for water bills when buying a home in Houston County?
Yes, particularly for homes on county water in Bonaire and Kathleen with irrigation systems or large lots. Twelve months of bills show the seasonal range under the tiered structure, and the responding provider can be confirmed with the county or city water department. The bill is part of the cost of ownership alongside property taxes and insurance.
How do Houston County water rates compare to other Georgia counties?
Houston County's $14 base rate and $2 to $3 per 1,000 gallon tiers, before the 2026 step, remain below many Georgia systems; some Georgia water authorities announced 2026 usage rate increases of more than $1 per 1,000 gallons. Direct comparison depends on base charges, tier thresholds and included gallons, which vary by system.
About the Author
William Walton-Dean is a licensed REALTOR® with Walton Dean Realty, operating under Real Broker LLC, serving buyers and sellers across Houston County, Georgia, including Perry, Warner Robins, Bonaire, Kathleen, Byron, and the surrounding Middle Georgia housing market. Known for a data-driven, hyper-local approach and deep expertise in the military and PCS relocation market around Robins Air Force Base, he helps buyers and sellers at every price point make clear, confident decisions backed by real market insight.
📱 478-371-7069
Walton Dean Realty | Real Broker LLC
Buying or Selling in Bonaire or Kathleen? Let's Talk
County water is one of the costs that separates a Bonaire or Kathleen address from a city one, and knowing the tiers is part of buying or selling well out here. Reach out and I will help you get the 12 months of bills and the right provider confirmed before anything is signed.
William Walton-Dean | Walton Dean Realty
📱 478-371-7069
A More Strategic Approach to Real Estate
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute real estate, legal, tax or financial advice. Figures reflect the reporting periods, sources and reporting areas stated and are subject to change. Public meeting dates, proposals, votes and project timelines are subject to revision by the governing bodies involved and should be confirmed directly with the applicable agency before relying on them. Consult a licensed REALTOR®, attorney or tax professional regarding your specific situation. Walton Dean Realty operates under Real Broker LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity.
