TRAVIS COUNTY WATER DISTRICT 17
The District is planning a $10.3M project for our neighborhood to replace six water lines.
This project has brought to the forefront the issue of being an out-of-district customer vs. becoming an in-district customer.
Our current status is that we are an Out-Of-District customer. We do not pay taxes to WDIC17. Instead, we pay an Out-Of-District fee on our water bill.
The District began increasing its fee in 2025 from $40 to $80. Then again, it increased from $80 to $160 in January of 2026. If we choose to remain an Out-of-District service area, the District will most likely increase our Out-of-District fee to $300.
As your Friendly Volunteer Committee, we have been actively working with the Water District to understand the complexity of local government as it relates to water districts, the costs of this project, and the possible different avenues for cost savings of this type of project.
Why this matters
Our existing infrastructure is aging out, and the water pipes are past their life expectancy. It is time to replace them.
Water history
The River Ridge Water System originally served the neighborhood until 1999, when emergency intervention placed Mr. Stan Putman as our Court-Appointed Receiver. This was due to poor water quality, low water pressure, and numerous failed inspections of the water wells. In 2001, Mr. Stan Putman began working with Travis County Water District 17 to take over our water service. In 2004, the transfer was complete, and the District took a $1.1M bond to connect their main water line to our system and replace two water pipes to complete those upgrades. (We pay that bond back through the debt service fee and capacity buy-in fee on our water bill.) It was at this time that we became Out-of-District customers, and if you received water from the District, you paid an Out-of-District fee on your water bill.
The water project
To learn more about the specifics of this project, Click the links below:
River-Ridge-Water-line-Replacement-planning-with-map.pdf
The district also provided an FAQ document which can be viewed here.
In or out of district
So what are the differences between being an in-district and an out-of-district customer to the District? Click Here to learn about the differences.
How to join the district
It is basically a three-step process to join the district: 1) Petition for Annexation, 2) City of Austin Consent, and 3) Special Election to vote. Signing the petition is not a vote to join the District — it simply moves the process forward so the decision can be put to a formal vote.
Click Here to learn about the process for joining the District.
Sign the petition
Why your signature matters, what you're actually supporting when you sign, and how it moves the project forward.
Click Here to learn more and to sign the Petition.