(a) 
Any person desiring to obtain water service from the city shall make application therefore to the utility customer accounts department. Before such service is connected, the person desiring same shall provide a water deposit set forth in the fee schedule found in Appendix A to this code to secure the payment of any water bill incurred by such person or firm.
(b) 
Developers, realtors or any other qualified persons may, subject to the approval of the city manager or designee, make a blanket deposit for service to vacant properties. Application for such deposit must be made in writing and applicant must guarantee payment for all water and sewer service. The city manager, at his sole discretion, may cancel and revoke the deposit privilege for reasonable cause. Deposits in amounts as fixed set forth in the fee schedule found in Appendix A to this code may be made in cash or bond satisfactory to the city manager or designee.
(Ordinance 1517-03 adopted 2/4/03)
All water furnished by the department to its customers shall be measured by meters, the size and type of which shall be determined by the head of the department. All such water meters shall at all times be considered the property of the city, regardless of location.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 11, Article 11.200, Section 11.202)
Any customer desiring that water service be discontinued shall give notice of such fact to the water department on or before the date upon which such customer wishes such service disconnected. Any customer shall be liable for all amounts that might become due for water furnished to such customer's premises until the notice herein provided is given.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 11, Article 11.200, Section 11.203)
(a) 
Residential and Commercial.
The monthly water rates to be charged and collected by the City of DeSoto, Texas from all customers obtaining service from the waterworks system of said city shall be and are hereby fixed as follows:
(1) 
Base Rate.
The base rate shall include 0-1,000 gallons of metered water usage for meter size categories as provided for in the fee schedule found in the appendix of this code.
(2) 
Multifamily and Mobile Homes - Base Rate.
In all cases of multifamily or mobile home dwellings where more than one (1) residential living unit is supplied water measured through a single meter and the water service charge is made in connection therewith, the minimum base rate charge herein provided for a 3/4" size meter shall be made for each unit supplied water through such meter. The method for determining the number of units shall be by count. Each unit counted shall include 1,000 gallons base rate usage.
(3) 
Volume Charge.
A volume charge as provided for in the fee schedule found in the appendix of this code shall be charged in addition to the base rate.
(b) 
Minimum Charge.
The minimum charge shall be the base rate applicable to the meter size serving each metered location.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 11, Article 11.200, Section 11.204)
(a) 
Billing and Delinquency.
Water meters shall be read monthly and the consumer billed in writing showing the amount consumed and the charges due by consumer thereon and such bill shall be due and payable by the date indicated on the monthly bill. Such billing shall be deemed sufficient when sent to the last known address of the consumer, and bills not paid before the indicated due date will be considered as delinquent and shall have added thereto a late charge penalty set forth in the fee schedule found in the appendix to this code. If such bills are not paid within ten (10) days after the indicated due date, water service shall be discontinued as to such nonpaying consumer and shall not be renewed until the full amount of said bill has been paid. In addition, any consumer whose service has been discontinued shall pay a reconnection fee as set forth in the fee schedule found in the appendix to this code before such water service shall be reconnected.
(b) 
Utility Services Fee Schedule.
Charges for customer accounts services including, but not limited to, reread services, special deposits, after-hour services, handling of nonsufficient fund checks to banks upon which it is drawn, photocopy of utility account record and all other customer account services are hereby authorized as listed set forth in the fee schedule found in the appendix to this code.
(Ordinance 1517-03 adopted 2/4/03)
The owner of any building in which water and sewer services are furnished to two (2) or more families or parties shall be liable to the city for all water and sewer service charges.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 11, Article 11.200, Section 11.206)
(a) 
The city reserves the right at any time to shut off the water in its mains for the purpose of cleaning, repairing, or making any connections or extensions, or for the purpose of repairing machinery, the reservoir or any part of the waterworks system.
(b) 
It is expressly understood as a prerequisite to furnishing water and sewer services to customers that the city is not liable for any damages on account of leakage or breakage of pipes on any premises.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 11, Article 11.200, Section 11.207)