(a)
Inside
the City Limits.
|
Residential:
|
|
|
First 2,000 gallons minimum
|
$25.55
|
|
2,001–10,000 gallons
|
$2.50 per 1,000 gallons
|
|
10,001–15,000 gallons
|
$2.53 per 1,000 gallons
|
|
15,001–25,000 gallons
|
$2.55 per 1,000 gallons
|
|
25,001–50,000 gallons
|
$2.60 per 1,000 gallons
|
|
Over 50,000 gallons
|
$2.70 per 1,000 gallons
|
|
Commercial:
|
|
|
First 2,000 gallons minimum
|
$30.00
|
|
2,001–10,000 gallons
|
$2.50 per 1,000 gallons
|
|
10,001–15,000 gallons
|
$2.75 per 1,000 gallons
|
|
15,001–25,000 gallons
|
$2.90 per 1,000 gallons
|
|
25,001–50,000 gallons
|
$3.15 per 1,000 gallons
|
|
Over 50,000 gallons
|
$3.50 per 1,000 gallons
|
|
Industrial:
|
|
|
First 2,000 gallons minimum
|
$40.00
|
|
2,001–10,000 gallons
|
$2.50 per 1,000 gallons
|
|
10,001–15,000 gallons
|
$2.90 per 1,000 gallons
|
|
15,001–25,000 gallons
|
$3.15 per 1,000 gallons
|
|
25,001–50,000 gallons
|
$3.50 per 1,000 gallons
|
|
Over 50,000 gallons
|
$3.75 per 1,000 gallons
|
(b)
Outside
the City Limits.
For water service outside the city limits,
the rates are 1 and 1/2 times the above amounts.
(c)
Bulk
Water Sales.
(1)
The unattended coin water vendor located in the 100 block of Euclid
Avenue provides water at the rate of $0.50 per 100 gallons.
(2)
Fire hydrants are provided for the purpose of extinguishing fires
and shall only be opened by the water and fire departments, or by
such persons as may be authorized by the city manager. All persons
wishing to purchase bulk water from a fire hydrant must contact the
city manager, in person, and in advance of the of the date the water
is to be purchased. All persons will be required to pay a $1,200.00
deposit which $50.00 of that will be nonrefundable for installation
of the water meter for their water supply. Water shall then be sold
at a rate of $5.00 per 1,000 gallons. The public works director or
his designee shall make all meter readings. Any person who owes a
delinquent obligation to the city shall not be allowed to purchase
water as specified above until said obligation is paid in full.
(d)
Exceptions.
(1)
The Panhandle-Carson county airport is considered to be within the
city limits for the purpose of calculating water rates.
(2)
If a meter is in current use on a fire hydrant, then the $50.00 fee for the installation of one will not be necessary if the current location is the approved location (by the city manager) for the point of sale. The $50.00 deposit and $10.00 administrative fee will still be required as provided for in section 13.109 and section 13.118.
(Ordinance 508 adopted 8/26/04; Ordinance 541, sec. I, adopted 10/9/08; Ordinance 576, sec. I, adopted 9/11/14; Ordinance 621 adopted 2/8/2024)
(a)
Inside
the City Limits.
|
Residential minimum
|
$10.27
|
|
Additional if over the minimum
|
$20.00
|
|
Mercantile minimum
|
$11.57
|
|
Additional if over the minimum
|
$20.00
|
|
Service stations, wash racks, equipment repair, garages, cafes
laundries and schools minimum
|
$11.57
|
|
Additional if over the minimum
|
$20.00
|
|
Multiple units on single bill
|
$31.57
|
(b)
Outside
the City Limits.
1-1/2 times the rates for all sewer
service outside the city limits.
(c)
Sewage
Dump Rate.
The following rate will be charged based on
the number of gallons dumped:
|
Gallons
|
Charge
|
|---|---|
|
240 or less
|
$20.00
|
|
241 to 1,000
|
$25.00
|
|
1,001 to 2,500
|
$35.00
|
|
2,500 and up
|
$45.00
|
(Ordinance 522, sec. I, adopted 3/23/06; Ordinance 576, sec. III, adopted 9/11/14)
(a)
All
water meter taps regardless of size will be assessed according to
the cost of materials plus labor, which is assessed by the 1/4 hour
increment times the number of utility techs needed to perform the
job based on review by the director of public works.
(b)
For taps made outside the city limits, the charge is 1-1/2 times the above rate in subsection (a).
(c)
If
additional water lines are needed to provide service to either inside
the city limits or outside the city limits in the ETJ, the consumer
seeking the service from the city pay for 100% of the cost of installation
and materials of said lines. All materials used in the additional
water line must be approved by the city manager or his designee and
installed by a licensed plumber of the state. The city manager or
his designee will determine the line size, specifications and the
location of the connection that the new line will join the city water
main. A final inspection of the additional water line (between the
meter and the city main connection) will be performed by the public
works director before the line is buried and only qualified city personnel
will perform the actual tap to the water main.
(d)
All
water taps, backflow prevention devices, and water meters shall be
installed and provided by the city and its personnel and no other
person or entity has this authority under any condition to provide
these key components or workmanship.
(Ordinance 508 adopted 8/26/04; Ordinance 549, sec. IV, adopted 10/8/09)
(a)
For
any sewer taps to be installed on the sewer main there shall be a
fee to be determined as follows:
(1)
Tie into city sewer main covered by dirt or caliche: $250.00.
(2)
Tie into city sewer main covered by asphalt chips: $350.00.
(3)
Tie into city sewer main covered by seal coat or asphalt: $500.00.
(4)
Tie into city sewer main covered by brick: $550.00.
(5)
City performed street/alley cuts (equipment and personnel): $100.00.
(6)
The cost for any type of surface not listed above will be determined
by the cost associated with the respective surface to be repaired
and shall be assessed to the customer.
(b)
All
sewer taps shall be installed by plumbers licensed by the state and
shall be inspected and approved by the public works director before
the line can be buried. The city and its personnel shall bury the
tap and repair the street or area in accordance with the necessary
standards to maintain the previous appearance and functionality of
the surface.
(c)
All
sewer taps will be a minimum of 4 inch in diameter and the thickness
of pipe adequate for the application as determined by the public works
director.
(Ordinance 530, sec. V, adopted 9/13/07)
The deposit for water and sewer services to be paid to the city
shall be $150.00. The city shall hold the deposit as long as the customer
receives service from the city. Upon discontinuation of service, the
final bill shall be deducted from the deposit or any remaining deposit,
if any, or the final bill shall be mailed to the customer. Renters/tenants
who are not the property owner must show proof of lease agreement.
Any outstanding balances by any applicant must be paid before water
is turned on. Only the person on the lease agreement may apply for
water from the city. A credit check may be issued for anyone seeking
water service before that service can be turned on, and the city may
require varying utility deposits for customers as it seems appropriate
in each case or who have multiple months of disconnects. The city
manager has the authority to waive a required deposit as special circumstances
as may be needed for various reasons.
(Ordinance 508 adopted 8/26/04; Ordinance 541, sec. I, adopted 10/9/08; Ordinance 604 adopted 3/12/2020; Ordinance 606 adopted 4/9/2020)
(a)
The
city utility billing date is the first day of each calendar month.
All bills are due and payable when the customer uses the service,
although payment is not expected until billed. All bills are considered
delinquent if not paid, in full, on or before 5:00 p.m. on the fifteenth
day of each calendar month. If the fifteenth day of the calendar month
falls on a weekend or city holiday, payment, in full, must be made
on or before 5:00 p.m. on the next regular business day. No partial
payments are accepted without approval, in writing, of the city manager.
(b)
Upon
failure to pay the bill before delinquency, the city shall send a
second notice in writing by regular mail service to the customer stating
that the service will be discontinued if the bill is not paid, in
full, on or before 5:00 p.m. on the 25th day of the calendar month.
If the 25th day of the calendar month falls on a weekend or city holiday,
payment, in full, must be made on or before 5:00 p.m. on the next
regular business day.
(Ordinance 522, sec. III, adopted 3/23/06)
Upon failure to comply with the rules and regulations established
as a condition to the use of water, or failure to pay the rates or
any charges imposed in the time and manner provided by this article
on any and all services where the delinquent customer is being supplied
with water, the water may be turned off and not turned on again until
payment of the amount due, in full, is paid plus an additional $60.00
to cover the cost of turning the service off and on, if the service
is turned on Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., other
than a city holiday. If the service is turned on at any time other
than stated above, the additional charge will be $45.00 and is due
and payable before the reconnection of utility. However, special circumstances
may require special provision and allowances. The city manager or
his/her designee may consider the situation for the nonpayment and
make special allowances, as necessary, contrary to this article.
(Ordinance 508 adopted 8/26/04; Ordinance 541, sec. I, adopted 10/9/08)
When a bill is considered delinquent as specified in Section 13.106 of this article, ten (10) percent of that portion of the bill, which is unpaid and delinquent, is added and becomes due and payable. This late fee shall not include the sales tax charged on the original bill in the sum that the 10 percent fee is calculated.
(Ordinance 522, sec. IV, adopted 3/23/06)
An administrative fee is charged to customers opening or transferring
a city utility account in the amount of $20.00. This fee is established
for each account (either combined or independent services of water,
sewer and garbage) and the fee is non-refundable.
(Ordinance 508 adopted 8/26/04; Ordinance 541, sec. I, adopted 10/9/08)
As allowed by Texas Utilities Code Section 181.902, the city
has the authority to prevent the waste, free or unauthorized use of
water and sewer service. No citizen or entity shall waste or have
free or unauthorized use of water or sewer service. If it is determined
that a waste is occurring and/or free or unauthorized use is occurring
the city shall turn off the water and/or stop the source of the sewer
abuse to prevent further waste, free or unauthorized use. An investigation
by the city manager or his designee shall be made and if waste or
abuse has occurred, the city will take the necessary action to be
compensated for the waste and free or unauthorized use of the water
or sewer service.
(Ordinance 522, sec. V, adopted 3/23/06)
The city council ordains that extension of water service connections
outside the municipal boundaries of the city shall be limited to the
extraterritorial jurisdiction of the city.
(Ordinance 415 adopted 7/22/93)
The city shall own and maintain the water line from the main
to the curb box and the property owner shall own and maintain the
service line from the curb box to the premises served. All meters,
curb boxes, and fittings shall be the property of the city. All shut
off valves are installed by the city for the use of the water department,
and it shall be unlawful for any unauthorized person to tamper with
or to turn off or turn on any water service between the water meter
and the water main, or to turn off or turn on any water main valve
of any description, except in case of emergency. Before operating
any water service valve or water main valve, written permission must
be obtained from the superintendent of the water department or his
authorized representatives. For ordinary usage all consumers shall
provide their own shut off valves.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 15, Article 1,
Sec. 15-8)
If any person should turn water on or suffer or cause it to
be turned on after it has been shut off at the curb valve by the water
department, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished
as provided herein.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 15, Article 1,
Sec. 15-11)
In addition to any other remedy provided herein for the enforcement
and collection of any water rate, charge or account, all rates or
other charges provided for in this article shall be charged against
the owner thereof and shall be deemed delinquent at the same time
and in the same manner as the next regular water bill and shall be
a lien against the property where furnished, and if for any cause
any sums owing therefore become delinquent, the water shall be shut
off and in no case shall it be turned on to the same property until
such delinquencies shall have been paid in full, and such property
owner shall be responsible to the city in an action prosecuted in
any court of competent jurisdiction for the amount of all such rates
or other charges as may be due and unpaid, together with all penalties
provided herein. No change of ownership or occupation shall in any
way affect the application of the section.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 15, Article 1,
Sec. 15-12)
The superintendent of the water department, or his duly authorized
personnel, is hereby authorized to turn off and on water from mains
and pipes of the city without notice. Consumers dependent on a continuous
supply of water should provide emergency storage. When water is turned
on for any consumer, the water department’s jurisdiction and
responsibility ends at the water meter, and the city will in no case
be liable for damages occasioned by water running from open or faulty
plumbing fixtures or from broken or damaged pipes beyond the water
department’s meter.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 15, Article 1,
Sec. 15-13)
The superintendent of the water department shall have the right
to restrict the use of water for sprinkling, wetting, irrigating,
or construction purposes to such hours and for such time as he may
deem advisable for the best interest of all concerned.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 15, Article 1,
Sec. 15-14)
Editor’s note–Former section 13.117,
pertaining to fire hydrants; use and sale of bulk water and deriving
from 1993 Code, Chapter 15, Article 1, Section 15-15, was deleted
at the request of the city.
Effective September 20, 1987, the city establishes an administrative
fee to be charged to customers opening or transferring city utility
accounts. City utility accounts include those for water service, sewer
service and/or garbage service. The non-refundable fee is hereby established
at $5.00 per account opening or transfer.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 15, Article 1,
Sec. 15-16)
The transporter shall be required to provide the director of
public works or his designee with a signed manifest approved by the
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for each load of liquid
waste delivered into the city wastewater system.
(Ordinance 522, sec. II, adopted 3/23/06)
Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions
of this article, upon conviction or on a plea of guilty in the municipal
court of the city, shall be fined any sum of money not exceeding the
limit for a misdemeanor offense, which is currently five hundred dollars
($500.00).
(Ordinance 522, sec. VI, adopted 3/23/06)
