EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Customers of El Paso Water will see a $5.71 increase in their water bill following the approved Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budgets. The amount totals a 7 percent increase over last year's bill, the utility announced on Wednesday, Jan. 8. El Paso Water considers 7% rate increase under proposed budgets According to EP Water, the Public Service Board approved the water, wastewater and stormwater budgets to "improve reliability, water supply and flood control." Customers will see an increase of $5.71 per month on the residential bill for water, wastewater and stormwater charges, EP Water said. The budget, rates and fees will all go into effect on March 1, the beginning of the fiscal year. EP Water said they are providing customers a reduced rate and fees through the following conservation: Very low water users of 1 CCF (hundred cubic feet) will qualify for a 30 percent discount on the minimum charges. About 15,000 customers will qualify for this discount. The waiver for the Water Supply Replacement Charge will be raised from 3 CCFs or lessto 4 CCFs or less. An estimated 69,000 customers will be able to take advantage of this discount of $15.62 monthly. Additionally, multiple residential rebate programs are available at epwater.org. Businesses can apply for EPWater’s WaterWise Rebate Program. EP Water's funding will be distributed to the following priorities: Reliability - $342 million to wastewater plant improvements, pipes, pumping systems and meter replacement program. Bustamante Plant expansion and rehabilitation remains the largest project. Growth - $126 million to Northwest development waterline, east waterline extension andnortheast wastewater main upgrades. Water supply - $76 million to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant expansion, Advanced Water Purification Facility and aquifer replenishment. Flood control - $66 million to new ponds and improvements to dams and pipes. "We are prioritizing affordability this year by adding two new rate features to help our lowest water users," EPWater President and CEO John Balliew said. "While we continue to focus on reliability, we have to ensure sufficient funding to operate and maintain our system. We look forward to implementing these options to ensure our services remain affordable."