Longwood commissioners advance plan to more than double water rates
Longwood households could see a $20.01 jump in the base water bill by 2029, after commissioners moved the plan ahead in a 3-2 vote.
A Longwood household with a 3/4-inch water meter could see the base charge jump from $15.29 to $35.30 a month by October 2029, a $20.01 increase, after commissioners advanced the first reading of the rate proposal in a 3-2 vote.
The city’s current utility rate sheet, effective Oct. 1, 2025, lists the 3/4-inch residential water base rate at $15.29 before tiered volumetric charges. Under the proposal, the base fee would more than double over three years, then face annual adjustments starting in 2030 to account for inflation and rising utility costs.
Residents at Monday night’s meeting in Longwood Commission Chambers responded with frustration, pressing city leaders on affordability and transparency as they weighed the price of an essential service against already rising household costs. Longwood officials said the higher rates are needed for maintenance, repairs and upgrades to aging water-treatment infrastructure, including construction of a new water treatment facility and work on existing facilities.
The debate comes as the city faces a run of visible water-system problems. Longwood’s public works and news pages show recent boil-water notices and water-main breaks in March and May 2026, including a May 5 precautionary boil-water notice for Bearss Circle after a water main break tied to third-party utility work by WOW and subcontractors during fiber installation. That backdrop has strengthened the city’s case that the system needs more revenue, even as residents question whether they should absorb the cost now.
Some residents said neighborhoods have dealt with dirty water and sprinkler repairs for years, while others raised concerns about why the city approved new apartment development before fully addressing infrastructure needs. The criticism centered on a basic question for families and renters who pay directly for service: whether Longwood is asking ratepayers to cover years of deferred system work all at once.
The city has also posted a public meeting notice for May 28, 2026, on potable water treatment plant improvements. A preliminary draft planning document prepared by CPH Consulting, LLC outlines alternatives, financial impacts and a recommendation to proceed with design and construction.
Commissioners are scheduled to hold a second public hearing and final vote on June 1. If approved, the new rates would set Longwood on a steeper utility path for the next several years, with the most immediate effect landing on monthly bills and the long-term effect tied to how quickly the city can rebuild its aging system.
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