(a) 
There shall be appointed by the city council a superintendent of the waterworks, who shall be the administrative officer of the waterworks system, including all engine houses, engines, pumps, reservoirs, standpipes, elevated tanks, pipelines, hydrants, meters, wrenches, stopcocks, gate valves, fireplugs, testing equipment, and all other property and machinery used in or connected with the waterworks system. He shall have general supervision over all employees of the waterworks system and shall make frequent trips of inspection over all pipelines and all other property used in or connected with the waterworks system, and shall make all repairs deemed necessary and consistent with his duties.
(b) 
He shall also report all violations of this article to the city council and shall forthwith proceed to have prosecuted offenders as set forth in this article or any amendment thereof.
(c) 
He shall also attend to and control the water supply and at all times see to the sufficiency thereof, and shall notify the community, unless emergency requires otherwise, of the necessity of shutting off any pipeline for the purpose of making repairs, extensions, connections, etc., should he know beforehand the necessity to so shut off the water from any line or lines of the system.
(d) 
In the performance of his duties as required by this section, the superintendent shall be subject at all times to the city ordinances, rules, and regulations. He shall serve for such term and receive such compensation as may be fixed by the governing body.
(1995 Code, sec. 11.201)
It shall hereafter be unlawful for any person or persons to do, commit or assist in committing any of the following things or acts in the city:
(1) 
To open or close any fire hydrant or stopcock connected with the waterworks system of the city, or lift or remove the covers of any gate valves or shutoffs thereof, without the permission of the superintendent of the waterworks, except in case of fire, and then under the direction of officers of the fire department;
(2) 
To interfere with, destroy, deface, impair, injure, or wantonly force open any gate, or door, or in any way whatsoever destroy, injure, or deface any part of any engine house, reservoir, standpipe, elevated tank, building or buildings, or appurtenances, fences, trees, shrubs, or fixtures or property appertaining to the waterworks system;
(3) 
To go upon or ascend the stairway or steps, on any elevated water storage tank or standpipe of the waterworks system, except by permission of the waterworks superintendent;
(4) 
To place any telegraph, telephone, electric light pole, or any obstruction whatsoever within three feet of any fire hydrant;
(5) 
To resort to any fraudulent device or arrangement for the purpose of procuring water for himself or others from private connections on premises contrary to the city regulations or ordinances;
(6) 
To interfere with or insure any reservoir, tank, fountain, hydrant, pipe, cock, valve, or other apparatus pertaining to the waterworks system, or to turn on or off without authority the water in any street hydrant or other water fixture, or to hitch or tie any animal thereto;
(7) 
To make or permit to be made any connections with the main or service pipes of the waterworks system or to turn on or use the water of said system without first obtaining permission from the waterworks superintendent;
(8) 
To cover over or conceal from view any water valve box, service or meter box;
(9) 
To remove any water meter that has been placed by the city, or to any manner change, interfere with or tamper with any water meter; providing that the provisions of this section shall not apply to the employees of the city when acting in their official capacity; or
(10) 
To turn on the water supply to any building or to any supply pipe where the supply has been turned off for the nonpayment of the monthly water charge or for the violation of any rule or ordinance governing the waterworks system.
(1995 Code, sec. 11.202)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to make any connection to the mains or pipes of the waterworks system of the city without first making application to the city, stating fully the several and various uses for which water is wanted, giving the name of owner of the property, the number of the lot and block, name of the street and house number: upon the payment of the tapping fee, the superintendent shall make, or have made, the necessary connections; furnishing one hundred (100) feet of service line, or service line to the property line, whichever is the lesser, and furnish a meter box and cut-off valve, the cost of which is included in the tapping fee, and every premises connected with any water main, or being supplied with any water from the city waterworks, shall have a separate service connection, meter box, and cut-off valve. All fees, and charges shall be paid for at amounts and rates fixed by this article or by resolutions of the governing body.
(1995 Code, sec. 11.203)
Any person wishing to discontinue the use of water supplies from the waterworks system must give notice thereof to the city, otherwise the charge will be entered until such notice has been given. The charge for turning on of a discontinued service shall be fifty dollars ($50.00).
(Ordinance 86-01-09-19 adopted 1/9/19)
It shall be the duty of all employees of the city, including officers and members of the police force to report to the superintendent of the waterworks system, any leaks or unnecessary waste of water that may come to their attention, also any violations of this article.
(1995 Code, sec. 11.205)
All meters, whether private or belonging to the waterworks system shall be set by the employees of the city. If the meter gets out of order and fails to register, the consumer will be charged at the average daily consumption, as shown by the meter when in order. All water that passes through the meter shall be charged for, whether used or not.
(1995 Code, sec. 11.206)
Hereafter, each consumer of water, living in a separate house, must have a separate connection and meter for each house. Provided where a residence is not in reach of a city water main arrangements may be made, at the option of the city, to secure water from another user of city water, in which case the minimum monthly charge shall be made for each additional residence taking water through such meter. Each “minimum” will entitle user to one thousand (1,000) gallons per month. The regular minimum, the additional minimum and all water used over the minimums by such consumers, shall be charged to the customer having the meter.
(1995 Code, sec. 11.207)
Each residential water consumer shall put a one hundred fifty dollar ($150.00) meter deposit and each commercial water consumer shall put up a two hundred dollar ($200.00) meter deposit. The city secretary has the authority to require a greater deposit for customers the secretary deems appropriate. Any unused portion of the deposit shall be refunded at any time the account or service is discontinued.
(Ordinance 86-01-09-19 adopted 1/9/19)
The following definitions, terms and monthly rates shall be charged and uniformly applied for water rates furnished to all of the city and customers living outside the city limits:
(1) 
For domestic customers.
(A) 
“Domestic consumers” shall, for the purposes of this section be all persons who shall receive water service at a premises used as a residence, apartment, place of abode (permanent or seasonal), or as a stock pasture.
(B) 
“Place of abode” shall for the purposes of this section mean any residential house, apartment or place of abode in which domestic consumer may reside, permanently, temporarily, or seasonally. Rates hereinafter set forth shall be applicable to each unit, whether separately metered or not.
(C) 
Domestic consumers occupying dwelling units not metered separately shall be jointly liable for the water services furnished to all domestic consumers served through the single meter.
(D) 
Any premises which shall be used for business or commercial purposes in combination with a residence as a domestic consumer shall not receive the domestic consumer rate unless such residential portion of the premises shall be separately metered.
(E) 
The following monthly charges and rates shall apply to all domestic customers:
(i) 
For the first 1,000 gallons of water or any part thereof furnished during any calendar month: Ten and 25/100 dollars ($10.25). For garbage hauling, the rate shall be in accordance with the solid waste contract plus ten percent (10%) added by the city.
(ii) 
For all water used over one thousand (1,000) gallons: Five and no/100 dollars ($5.00) per thousand gallons.
(iii) 
A ten percent (10%) late charge will be charged on all bills paid after the 15th of the month, except when the 15th falls during a weekend, the customer will have the following Monday to pay without being penalized.
(2) 
For business and commercial consumers.
All persons, firms and corporations who are not domestic consumers as above defined shall pay the following monthly charges and rates as business and commercial consumers:
(A) 
For the first one thousand (1,000) gallons or part thereof furnished during any calendar month, ten and 25/100 dollars ($10.25). The minimum charge on garbage will be in accordance with the most current solid waste contract plus an additional ten percent (10%) added by the city.
(B) 
For all water furnished in excess of one thousand (1,000) gallons during any calendar month the following charge shall be made: five and no/100 dollars ($5.00) per thousand gallons.
(3) 
Bulk water.
The charge for bulk water sales will be $10.00 per 1,000 gallons of water or any part thereof with a minimum of $10.00 per load.
(4) 
The city council hereby establishes a fee of $2.27 per water meter to offset the city’s cost of the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation Cost.
(5) 
Volunteer fire department charge.
(A) 
Pursuant to the approval of Proposition 1 at the May 12, 2007 election, the city council hereby authorizes the addition of $1.50 per month to each utility account for the use, welfare, and benefit of the city volunteer fire department, effective with all bills rendered after July 1, 2007. For all bills rendered after March 11, 2020, the volunteer fire department charge shall be three and 00/100 dollars ($3.00).
(B) 
The city shall be entitled to avail itself of all of its legal remedies for collection of the charge imposed herein, if any utility account holder fails to pay said charge.
(1995 Code, sec. 11.209; Ordinance 74-0707-02 adopted 7/25/07; Ordinance 03252009 adopted 3/25/09; Ordinance 80-07-12 adopted 5/14/14; Ordinance 89-10-27-21 adopted 10/27/21; Ordinance 89-10-27-21-2 adopted 10/27/21)
All charges for water service furnished or rendered by the waterworks of the city shall be due and payable on the fifteenth (15th) day of each month at the office of the city hall. If the water service bill is not paid by the twentieth (20th) of the month, the city reserves the right to cut off and discontinue water service to the premises without further notice and same shall not be reconnected and no additional water furnished until all past due accounts and charges are paid in full. Where service has been disconnected for failure to pay for services rendered a charge of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be made for each and every meter disconnected and fifty dollars ($50.00) for reconnection of each and every meter before such service shall be restored or water turned on again. A surcharge of ten percent (10%) shall be added to the total charges due if same are not paid within fifteen (15) days after said charges become due and payable on the first day of each month.
(Ordinance 86-01-09-19 adopted 1/9/19)
The tapping charges for connections with the city water mains and laterals shall be as follows:
For 3/4" connection
$275.00
For 1" connection
$375.00 plus extra cost of meter
For 1-1/2" connection
$400.00 plus extra cost of meter
For 2" connection
$500.00 plus extra cost of meter
Sewer tapping fee
$300.00
(1995 Code, sec. 11.211)
From and after ten (10) days from date of the publication of this article any person, firm, partnership, association of persons, or corporations, or any agent or employee thereof, who shall violate any of the rules, regulations or provisions of this article, or any part of it or portion thereof, by any act either of omission or commission or cause the same to be done, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. Each violation of each part or any part of this article shall be and constitute a separate offense and where such violation is a continued act, each day such violation is continued or permitted to continue shall be and constitute a separate offense and be punishable accordingly.
(1995 Code, sec. 11.212)
(a) 
Notice required.
If by the payment date shown on a utility bill or a notice of rejection the city secretary has not received complete payment of the amount(s) shown on the bill or the notice, the city secretary shall mail to or personally serve upon the customer a notice of termination at least three (3) days after the payment date.
(b) 
Contents of notice.
The notice of termination shall contain the following:
(1) 
The amount to be paid;
(2) 
The date of the notice of termination;
(3) 
The date of the termination, which shall be at least five (5) days from the date of the notice of termination;
(4) 
Notice that, unless the city receives complete payment of the amount shown prior to the date of termination, service shall be terminated;
(5) 
Notice that, in lieu of paying the entire amount shown, a residential customer, prior to the date of termination, may notify the city secretary that he disputes the correctness of all or part of the amount shown, if all or part of the amount shown was not the subject of a previous dispute under this article.
(c) 
Failure to remit payment or dispute charges.
If, prior to the date of termination, the city secretary has not received complete payment of the amount shown on the notice of termination, or the residential customer has not notified the city secretary that he disputes the correctness of all or part of the amount shown on the notice of termination, then the service shall be terminated on the date of termination.
(d) 
Payment prior to termination date.
If the city secretary receives payment of the entire amount shown on the notice of termination prior to the date of termination, such payment shall be considered a timely and complete payment for purposes of this article.
(e) 
Cutting and plugging connections.
The authority to discontinue service includes the right to cut and plug water or wastewater connections to private property. The cost of cutting and plugging connections will be charged to the customer in addition to the delinquent charges due.
(f) 
Restoration of service.
Discontinued service will not be restored until the customer, owner or some other person either pays all charges due (including the charges to restore connections, a reconnection fee and a security deposit in the amount specified), or, where applicable, ceases violation of the particular code previously in question. The decision to restore service while delinquent charges or code violations still exist rests solely with the city council.
(g) 
Exceptions to notice requirement.
Notice as provided in this section does not apply to discontinuance of service resulting from a violation of this chapter if the city council determines that immediate discontinuance is necessary to prevent an imminent threat or occurrence of:
(1) 
Harm to the health or safety of persons;
(2) 
Damage to city or private property; or
(3) 
Contamination of the water system.
(h) 
Discontinuance of service at customer’s request.
Upon a customer’s request, service may be discontinued. However, the customer is liable for all charges incurred prior to removal of the meter.
(i) 
Remedies cumulative.
Enforcement of this section does not waive any additional remedies, civil or criminal, available to the city under law.
(Ordinance 86-01-09-19 adopted 1/9/19)
(a) 
Authority.
The city is authorized, in accordance with provisions of Local Government Code, section 552.0025, to perfect the lien upon property which occurs as provided in this article, for the purpose of securing the payment of delinquent charges incurred as a result of service to the property.
(b) 
Execution and recording.
The lien must be:
(1) 
Executed by the city secretary and acknowledged by a notary public of the state; and
(2) 
Filed in the deed or lien records of the county in which the property is located.
(c) 
Additional charges; correction lien.
Should additional delinquent charges be incurred subsequent to the date of the original lien’s execution, a correction lien may be executed and filed, fixing the additional delinquent charges. The correction lien, when filed of record, shall relate back to the date of recording of the original lien and shall become a part of the original lien.
(d) 
Release of lien.
Upon certification by the city secretary that all delinquent charges which existed against the property have been fully paid, the city secretary is authorized to execute a release of the lien. After execution, the city secretary shall deliver the release to the customer to be filed in the deed or lien records of the county in which the property is located.
(e) 
Form of notice.
Prior to recording of the water lien, the city secretary shall send notice, by certified mail, return receipt requested, that a lien will be fixed on the property in accordance with law. The notice must provide a time, place and means by which the charges causing the lien may be paid. The notice must be sent to:
(1) 
The customer in whose name the account for service to the property exists; and
(2) 
The last known record owner of the property according to the tax rolls of the city.
(f) 
Failure to receive notice.
Absence of receipt of notice does not affect the enforceability of a lien perfected under this section.
(g) 
This section shall not mean to require a customer to pay for utility service previously furnished to another customer at the same service connection as a condition of connecting or continuing service.
(Ordinance 86-01-09-19 adopted 1/9/19)