(a)
Except as provided otherwise in this article, no building, tract
of land or structure in an area of the city for which water service
is available shall be occupied for residential, commercial, industrial
or other such purposes unless such buildings or structures are connected
by a separate connection to the city water system, unless specifically
excepted herein. Property that abuts a street, road or other public
way in which a public water supply is located and is within two hundred
feet of such water line is deemed to have access to the city water
system. No tract of land shall be required to be connected to the
city water system that requests connection to the city water system
in writing and has been denied connection.
(b)
Each residential unit and business unit within the city shall be
connected by separate connection to the city water system as soon
as city water service is available to such unit, unless specifically
exempted herein.
(c)
Any unoccupied residential unit or business unit within the city
for which water service has been provided previously by the city water
system or its predecessor shall be connected to the city water system
by a separate connection prior to occupancy.
(d)
Any two or more residential, business, or commercial units that are
found to be obtaining water service through a single meter shall be
required to pay the base amount according to the meter size times
the number of units, plus the per-thousand-gallon charge as per the
rate schedule in effect at that time. Any persons receiving water
through a joint sharing of a single meter without the consent of the
city must pay the cost of connecting an additional meter and may be
disconnected from the system should either refuse to be responsible
for connection through a single meter to each individual lot.
(e)
Any residential unit within the city being served by a privately
owned water well on the effective date of this article (ordinance
adopted April 7, 2003) shall be connected to the city water system
by a separate connection at such time as the well fails to meet permit
or department of state health services requirements or other regulatory
statutes or regulations of the state.
(f)
Each business unit within the city shall be connected by a separate
connection to the city water system as soon as city water service
is available to such unit, unless permission is granted by the city
manager to do otherwise.
(g)
Any commercial or industrial establishments or entities located within
a single building or upon a single property and served by a master
meter on the effective date of this article (ordinance adopted April
7, 2003) may elect to continue to receive water service through such
master meter. All new premises seeking to receive service from a master
meter must receive permission from the city manager.
(h)
From the effective date of this article (ordinance adopted April 7, 2003), no person or commercial or industrial establishment shall be permitted to obtain service through a master meter or otherwise provide water service to another person or entity, except as specified in subsection (g) of this section.
(i)
Customers receiving water services from a provider other than the
city on the effective date of this article (ordinance adopted April
7, 2003) shall not be required to connect to the city, but shall be
permitted to continue to receive service from the other provider until
such time as the city and the provider agree that connection to the
city system would be appropriate.
(j)
Landowners having a septic system on the effective date of this article
(ordinance adopted April 7, 2003) shall not be required to connect
to the city system so long as the septic system is operating and being
maintained according to state and local requirements. Violation of
state or local requirements for the safe operation and maintenance
of the septic system shall be grounds to mandate immediate connection
to the city system. Within ten days of notice to cease and desist
use of a septic system, with a list of violations, the property owner
shall make arrangements to connect to the city wastewater system at
the earliest date available.
(Ordinance 2003-04-07-009, art.
II, sec. 1, adopted 4/7/03)
Each person desiring water service shall be required to complete
an application for such service and pay such fees as are established
by this article. No service shall be rendered until such fees are
paid.
(Ordinance 2003-04-07-009, art.
II, sec. 2, adopted 4/7/03)
(a)
Certification of system.
Connections shall not be made
to either the city water or wastewater system until the city’s
operator or other party designated by the city council has certified
that the respective system or applicable portion thereof is adequate
and operational. Water or wastewater service shall not be provided
to any residential or business unit not in compliance with rules and
regulations promulgated by the department of state health services
and the state commission on environmental quality, as set out in the
Texas Water Code, or as otherwise required by statute or regulation.
(b)
Access for service.
Upon application for connection
to the water or wastewater system the applicant shall grant an easement
of ingress and egress to and from the meter or point of service for
such installation, maintenance and repair as the city, in its judgment,
may deem necessary. Taps and connections will not be made when, in
the opinion of the city’s operator, the work area is obstructed
by building materials and debris or the work area is not completed
to finished grade. When sidewalks, driveways or other improvements
have been constructed prior to application for service, such application
shall be construed and accepted as a waiver of a claim for damages
to such improvements resulting from the reasonable actions of the
city’s operator in installation of the customer’s connection.
(c)
Fixtures installed by city to remain city property; responsibility
for maintenance.
All meters, fittings, boxes, valves
and appurtenances installed by city personnel shall remain the property
of the city. City maintenance of the water service ends at the customer
side of the connection to the water meter itself. City maintenance
of the wastewater service ends at the tap, or point of connection,
of the lateral line into the city wastewater line.
(d)
Connections, repairs and alterations to be made only by authorized
persons; new dual or multiple connections.
All connections
to the city water system and/or wastewater system shall be made by
the city’s operator unless specified otherwise by the city council.
No person, other than the properly authorized agents of the city,
shall be permitted to tap or make any connections with the mains or
distribution or collection lines of the city’s water system
or wastewater system, except for emergency firefighting purposes,
or make any repairs or additions to or alterations in any meter box,
tap, pipe, cock or other fixture connected with the water service,
except by the written permission of the city council. No new dual
or multiple connections (being more than one user on a single meter)
shall be permitted without written permission of the city manager.
(e)
Information to be submitted with application; approval of application.
(1)
Each applicant for a connection shall within ten (10) days prior
to payment of tap fees submit to the city operator the following information:
(2)
The city’s operator or other party designated by the city council
shall review the information presented and may approve or reject the
application, or request that further information be submitted prior
to approval of the application. The applicant shall be notified in
writing as to the basis for rejection. Failure to construct the facilities
in accordance with approved drawings shall constitute a basis for
denial of city water and/or wastewater services. If the application
information is not timely made, the city shall not be held responsible
for delays in the installation of any water or wastewater connection.
Payment of tap fees to the city prior to the approval of plans shall
not constitute approval of said plans or approval for service as set
forth herein; any unauthorized connection or connections may be removed
at the expense of the person or firm causing such connection or connections
to be made.
(Ordinance 2003-04-07-009, art.
II, sec. 3, adopted 4/7/03)
Interconnection or cross-connection of the city’s water
or wastewater system, whether directly or through the customer’s
private system to another source of water or otherwise, is strictly
prohibited. Initial customers shall construct, and each customer shall
maintain, water connections and appurtenances so as to avoid infiltration
of any substance into the city water system. City personnel shall
have access to all customer water and wastewater line connections
and appurtenances within reasonable time periods to inspect for suspected
unauthorized connections. The city reserves the right to immediately
and without notice disconnect water service to any customer whose
internal private system has been found to be interconnected or cross-connected,
and to assess against the customer such penalties as are provided
by law and penalties provided herein in addition to any charges necessary
to repair the damaged or contaminated portion of the system.
(Ordinance 2003-04-07-009, art.
II, sec. 4, adopted 4/7/03)
