diff --git a/docker-compose.test.yml b/docker-compose.test.yml
index 58c4af44..21113978 100644
--- a/docker-compose.test.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.test.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Test stack: PostGIS for integration tests; optional nginx/fswatch for stack markers;
 # optional Alloy + LGTM for observability smoke (profile: observability).
+# App path uses PgBouncer; host :5432 remains direct PostGIS for CI pytest.
 services:
   postgis:
     image: postgis/postgis:15-3.3
@@ -23,16 +24,53 @@ services:
     networks:
       - test-network
 
+  pgbouncer:
+    image: edoburu/pgbouncer:v1.25.1-p0
+    depends_on:
+      postgis:
+        condition: service_healthy
+    environment:
+      - DB_USER=tagbase
+      - DB_PASSWORD=tagbase
+      - DB_HOST=postgis
+      - DB_PORT=5432
+      - DB_NAME=tagbase
+      # Plaintext in userlist so PgBouncer can SCRAM to postgis/postgis (PG15 default).
+      - AUTH_TYPE=scram-sha-256
+      - POOL_MODE=transaction
+      - SERVER_RESET_QUERY=DISCARD ALL
+      - MAX_CLIENT_CONN=100
+      - DEFAULT_POOL_SIZE=10
+      - RESERVE_POOL_SIZE=2
+      - RESERVE_POOL_TIMEOUT=3
+      - MAX_DB_CONNECTIONS=20
+      - MAX_USER_CONNECTIONS=20
+      - IGNORE_STARTUP_PARAMETERS=extra_float_digits
+      - ADMIN_USERS=tagbase
+      - STATS_USERS=tagbase
+    expose:
+      - "5432"
+    healthcheck:
+      test:
+        ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -h 127.0.0.1 -p 5432 -U tagbase -d tagbase"]
+      interval: 5s
+      timeout: 5s
+      retries: 20
+      start_period: 10s
+    hostname: pgbouncer
+    networks:
+      - test-network
+
   tagbase_server:
     profiles: ["stack", "observability"]
     build:
       context: ./tagbase_server
     depends_on:
-      postgis:
+      pgbouncer:
         condition: service_healthy
     environment:
       - PGADMIN_DEFAULT_EMAIL=test@example.com
-      - POSTGRES_HOST=postgis
+      - POSTGRES_HOST=pgbouncer
       - POSTGRES_PASSWORD=tagbase
       - POSTGRES_PORT=5432
       - OTEL_SDK_DISABLED=${OTEL_SDK_DISABLED:-true}
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 787c825d..7913adf1 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -28,17 +28,18 @@ services:
     build:
       context: ./services/docker-cron
     depends_on:
-      postgis:
+      pgbouncer:
         condition: service_healthy
     environment:
+      - POSTGRES_HOST=pgbouncer
       - POSTGRES_PASSWORD=${POSTGRES_PASSWORD:-tagbase}
-      - POSTGRES_PORT=${POSTGRES_PORT:-5432}
+      - POSTGRES_PORT=5432
     labels:
       "docker_compose_diagram.cluster": "Internal Network"
       "docker_compose_diagram.description": "'metadata_types' and\n'observation_types' synchronization"
       "docker_compose_diagram.icon": "python"
     links:
-      - postgis
+      - pgbouncer
     networks:
       - internal-network
     restart: unless-stopped
@@ -173,16 +174,61 @@ services:
       - type: tmpfs
         target: /opt/data
 
+  pgbouncer:
+    image: edoburu/pgbouncer:v1.25.1-p0
+    depends_on:
+      postgis:
+        condition: service_healthy
+    environment:
+      - DB_USER=tagbase
+      - DB_PASSWORD=${POSTGRES_PASSWORD:-tagbase}
+      - DB_HOST=postgis
+      - DB_PORT=${POSTGRES_PORT:-5432}
+      - DB_NAME=tagbase
+      # Plaintext in userlist so PgBouncer can auth to PostGIS (SCRAM or md5).
+      - AUTH_TYPE=scram-sha-256
+      - POOL_MODE=transaction
+      - SERVER_RESET_QUERY=DISCARD ALL
+      - MAX_CLIENT_CONN=100
+      - DEFAULT_POOL_SIZE=10
+      - RESERVE_POOL_SIZE=2
+      - RESERVE_POOL_TIMEOUT=3
+      - MAX_DB_CONNECTIONS=20
+      - MAX_USER_CONNECTIONS=20
+      - IGNORE_STARTUP_PARAMETERS=extra_float_digits
+      - ADMIN_USERS=tagbase
+      - STATS_USERS=tagbase
+    # edoburu listens on 5432 (Postgres-compatible). Distinct from host PostGIS via hostname.
+    expose:
+      - "5432"
+    healthcheck:
+      test:
+        ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -h 127.0.0.1 -p 5432 -U tagbase -d tagbase"]
+      interval: 10s
+      timeout: 5s
+      retries: 10
+      start_period: 10s
+    hostname: pgbouncer
+    labels:
+      "docker_compose_diagram.cluster": "Internal Network"
+      "docker_compose_diagram.description": "PgBouncer connection pooler"
+      "docker_compose_diagram.icon": "docker"
+    networks:
+      - internal-network
+    restart: unless-stopped
+    # No host ports: app/cron use internal DNS; host DB clients keep PostGIS :5432.
+
   tagbase_server:
     build:
       context: ./tagbase_server
     depends_on:
-      postgis:
+      pgbouncer:
         condition: service_healthy
     environment:
       - PGADMIN_DEFAULT_EMAIL=${PGADMIN_DEFAULT_EMAIL:-admin@example.com}
+      - POSTGRES_HOST=pgbouncer
       - POSTGRES_PASSWORD=${POSTGRES_PASSWORD:-tagbase}
-      - POSTGRES_PORT=${POSTGRES_PORT:-5432}
+      - POSTGRES_PORT=5432
       - OTEL_SDK_DISABLED=${OTEL_SDK_DISABLED:-true}
       - OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT=${OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT:-}
       - OTEL_SERVICE_NAME=${OTEL_SERVICE_NAME:-tagbase_server}
@@ -194,7 +240,7 @@ services:
       "docker_compose_diagram.description": "tagbase-server tag \ningestion and administration"
       "docker_compose_diagram.icon": "flask"
     links:
-      - postgis
+      - pgbouncer
     networks:
       - internal-network
     restart: unless-stopped
diff --git a/renovate.json b/renovate.json
index 3207e63a..1fd83397 100644
--- a/renovate.json
+++ b/renovate.json
@@ -1,4 +1,12 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://docs.renovatebot.com/renovate-schema.json",
-  "extends": ["config:recommended", ":dependencyDashboard"]
+  "extends": ["config:recommended", ":dependencyDashboard"],
+  "packageRules": [
+    {
+      "description": "edoburu/pgbouncer uses tags like v1.25.1-p0 (image rebuild suffix)",
+      "matchDatasources": ["docker"],
+      "matchPackageNames": ["edoburu/pgbouncer"],
+      "versioning": "loose"
+    }
+  ]
 }
diff --git a/services/docker-cron/poll_metadata_and_obs_types.py b/services/docker-cron/poll_metadata_and_obs_types.py
index 5037b28d..39d6737e 100755
--- a/services/docker-cron/poll_metadata_and_obs_types.py
+++ b/services/docker-cron/poll_metadata_and_obs_types.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def connect():
         return psycopg2.connect(
             dbname="tagbase",
             user="tagbase",
-            host="postgis",
+            host=os.getenv("POSTGRES_HOST", "pgbouncer"),
             port=os.getenv("POSTGRES_PORT", "5432"),
             password=os.getenv("POSTGRES_PASSWORD", "tagbase"),
         )
diff --git a/tagbase_server/tagbase_server/utils/db_utils.py b/tagbase_server/tagbase_server/utils/db_utils.py
index d3cabe97..c86930f5 100644
--- a/tagbase_server/tagbase_server/utils/db_utils.py
+++ b/tagbase_server/tagbase_server/utils/db_utils.py
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ def connect():
         conn = psycopg2.connect(
             dbname="tagbase",
             user="tagbase",
-            host=os.getenv("POSTGRES_HOST", "postgis"),
-            port=os.getenv("POSTGRES_PORT"),
+            host=os.getenv("POSTGRES_HOST", "pgbouncer"),
+            port=os.getenv("POSTGRES_PORT", "5432"),
             password=os.getenv("POSTGRES_PASSWORD"),
         )
     except psycopg2.OperationalError as poe: