City of Alamo Heights, TX WATER CHARGES

A fifty dollar ($50.00) deposit shall be required from any property owner. A seventy-five dollar ($75.00) deposit, refunded at move out, shall be required from any residential tenant who does not own the premises to which water is to be furnished. A one hundred fifty dollar ($150.00) deposit shall be required from any restaurant consumer which does not own the premises to which the water is to be furnished. A one hundred dollar ($100.00) deposit shall be required from any other business or commercial consumer who does not own the premises to which the water is to be furnished.

Upon termination of water service to a consumer, the deposit shall be refunded if all water bills of the consumer have been paid. If the consumer discontinues water service with an unpaid water bill, the deposit shall be first applied to the unpaid water bill and the balance, if any, refunded to the consumer.

Customers shall receive an early refund of their deposit, applied to the account as a credit payment, if they have paid twenty-four (24) consecutive bills with no disconnects or returned checks and no more than one penalty.

Customers that have received an early refund of their deposit or would qualify for an early deposit refund, shall not be charged a deposit if they are opening a new account.

(1965 Code, sec. 21-14; Ordinance 1558 adopted 8/9/2004; Ordinance 1812, sec. 3, adopted 2/23/2009)

§ 19-28 Service installation charge.

On all new connections to the water system, the following service line installation charge, payable in advance of installation, will apply:

Size of Service Line	Charge
5/8" meter	$1,000.00
3/4" meter	1,150.00
1" meter	1,250.00
1-1/2" meter	1,350.00
2" meter	1,450.00
3" meter and larger	Time and materials

If there is no water main immediately adjacent to the property where service is desired, there will be an additional charge, based on cost of time and material, to extend a water main to the property.

(1965 Code, sec. 21-15; Ordinance 1240 adopted 9/24/1990; Ordinance 1558 adopted 8/9/2004)

§ 19-29 Categories of users and water rates.

Categories of users.

Residential.

Customers with a meter serving only a one-family or two-family residential dwelling.

Multi-Family.

Customers with a meter serving a structure that contains three (3) or more dwelling units.

(3)

Commercial.

Customers conducting retail, manufacturing and other business activities, including, but not limited to, restaurants, laundries, offices and stores. Includes hydrant meter consumption as described in section 19-37.

(4)

Institutional.

Customers that are churches, public and private schools and other facilities for training and educational purposes.

(5)

Irrigation.

Customers with a meter that is utilized solely for the irrigation of landscaping or other exterior uses. Irrigation meters shall be required for any irrigation systems providing coverage to more than two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet of turf or other landscaping.

The monthly charge for water service shall be determined by adding the base charge for meter size to the charge for water consumed. Water bills to customers, which may include other authorized charges for city services shall be rendered monthly.

The meter size charge shall be established as follows:

Meter Size	Monthly Charge Effective October 1, 2023	Monthly Charge Effective October 1, 2024	Monthly Charge Effective October 1, 2025	Monthly Charge Effective October 1, 2026	Monthly Charge Effective October 1, 2027
5/8"	$3.78	$4.12	$4.49	$4.90	$5.34
3/4"	$11.36	$12.38	$13.49	$14.71	$16.03
1"	$18.92	$20.63	$22.48	$24.51	$26.71
1-1/2"	$47.32	$51.58	$56.22	$61.28	$66.79
2"	$75.71	$82.53	$89.95	$98.05	$106.87
3"	$189.27	$206.30	$224.87	$245.11	$267.17
4" or greater	$283.91	$309.46	$337.32	$367.67	$400.77

The water consumption charge shall be established as follows:

Effective October 1, 2023
Consumption in Cubic Feet (cf)	Residential Rate per 100 cf	Multifamily Rate per 100 cf	Commercial Rate per 100 cf	Institutional Rate per 100 cf	Irrigation Rate per 100 cf
500 or less	$1.05	$1.05	$1.49	$1.05	$1.05
501 to 1,000 cf	$1.43	$1.43	$1.86	$1.43	$1.43
1,001 to 2,300 cf	$2.06	$2.06	$2.50	$2.06	$2.06
2,301 or more	$3.49	$3.49	$3.93	$3.49	$3.49

Effective October 1, 2024
Consumption in Cubic Feet (cf)	Residential Rate per 100 cf	Multifamily Rate per 100 cf	Commercial Rate per 100 cf	Institutional Rate per 100 cf	Irrigation Rate per 100 cf
500 or less	$1.14	$1.14	$1.63	$1.14	$1.14
501 to 1,001	$1.56	$1.56	$2.03	$1.56	$1.56
1,001 to 2,300 cf	$2.25	$2.25	$2.72	$2.25	$2.25
2,301 or more	$3.80	$3.80	$4.29	$3.80	$3.80

Effective October 1, 2025
Consumption in Cubic Feet (cf)	Residential Rate per 100 cf	Multifamily Rate per 100 cf	Commercial Rate per 100 cf	Institutional Rate per 100 cf	Irrigation Rate per 100 cf
500 or less	$1.24	$1.24	$1.77	$1.24	$1.24
501 to 1,000 cf	$1.70	$1.70	$2.21	$1.70	$1.70
1,001 to 2,300 cf	$2.45	$2.45	$2.97	$2.45	$2.45
2,301 or more	$4.14	$4.14	$4.68	$4.14	$4.14

Effective October 1, 2026
Consumption in Cubic Feet (cf)	Residential Rate per 100 cf	Multifamily Rate per 100 cf	Commercial Rate per 100 cf	Institutional Rate per 100 cf	Irrigation Rate per 100 cf
500 or less	$1.36	$1.36	$1.93	$1.36	$1.36
501 to 1,000 cf	$1.85	$1.85	$2.41	$1.85	$1.85
1,001 to 2,300 cf	$2.67	$2.67	$3.23	$2.67	$2.67
2,301 or more	$4.52	$4.52	$5.10	$4.52	$4.52

Effective October 1, 2027
Consumption in Cubic Feet (cf)	Residential Rate per 100 cf	Multifamily Rate per 100 cf	Commercial Rate per 100 cf	Institutional Rate per 100 cf	Irrigation Rate per 100 cf
500 or less	$1.48	$1.48	$2.11	$1.48	$1.48
501 to 1,000 cf	$2.02	$2.02	$2.63	$2.02	$2.02
1,001 to 2,300 cf	$2.91	$2.91	$3.52	$2.91	$2.91
2,301 or more	$4.92	$4.92	$5.55	$4.92	$4.92

Editor's note—Ordinance 1683, adopted Nov. 13, 2006, repealed former § 19-29, and enacted a new § 19-29 as set out herein. The former § 19-29 pertained to water rates and derived from the 1965 Code, § 21-16; Ordinance 1241, adopted Sept. 24, 1990; Ordinance 1287, adopted June 22, 1992; Ordinance 1374, adopted May 20, 1996; Ordinance 1536, adopted Sept. 22, 2003; Ordinance 1558, adopted August 9, 2004; Ordinance 1587, adopted July 12, 2005; Ordinance 1660, adopted July 31, 2006.

(Ordinance 1683 adopted 11/13/2006; Ordinance 1812, sec. 3, adopted 2/23/2009; Ordinance 2113 adopted 10/22/2018; Ordinance 2157 adopted 4/13/2020; Ordinance 2213 adopted 9/11/2023)

§ 19-30 When bills are due and payable; late payment charge.

All water bills are payable monthly to the city on or before the due date shown on the water bill. After the due date a ten (10) percent penalty will be added to the bill.

If no penalty has been assessed to the account for the previous twelve (12) months, the penalty shall be waived.

(1965 Code, sec. 21-17; Ordinance 1812, sec. 4, adopted 2/23/2009)

§ 19-31 Termination of service.

If any water bill is unpaid after the due date shown on the water bill, the city shall notify the consumer that the water supply shall be turned off ten (10) days from the date of the notice. If a city employee is sent in person to furnish such written notice to the consumers' premises, a fifteen dollar ($15.00) notification charge will be added to the water bill. If the water bill is not paid within the required time, the water supply shall be turned off, except in cases of bona fide emergency, and an additional twenty dollar ($20.00) turn-off charge shall be added to the bill.

Once the water supply has been turned off, it will not be turned on again until all previous water bills, notification charges, turn-off charges, and an additional twenty dollar ($20.00) turn-on charge, are paid.

In the event a tenant defaults in the payment of a water bill, the water will not be turned on again without payment of all notification, turn-off and turn-on charges owing on the account.

(1965 Code, sec. 21-18; Ordinance 1214 adopted 5/22/1989; Ordinance 1222 adopted 10/23/1989; Ordinance 1558 adopted 8/9/2004)

§ 19-32 Owner to provide shut-off valve.

Where water is supplied to any premises in the city by the city water department, the owner shall provide a valve of suitable size and the type to shut off the flow of water to the premises. In no case shall such valve be less than three-fourths-inch nominal pipe size. Such valve shall be located on the consumer's side of the water meter, outside of the meter box and not less than six (6) inches there from. It shall not be located in any public street, alley or parkway. It shall be protected by a suitable valve box or housing so that it will be accessible and operable at all times. Any key or wrench required for operating such valve shall be available on the premises at all time, such valve, box and key shall remain the property of the owner of the premises who shall be fully responsible for their maintenance and upkeep.

Whether or not a property owner installs the prescribed shut-off valve, said property owner or consumer shall be responsible for the cost of water through their meter that is related to uncontrolled or unattended leaks on their side of the city's meter. If warranted due to the volume of water being lost or because of water scarcity, the city may, with not less than twenty-four (24) hours' written notice to the property owner or consumer, temporarily discontinue service at the city's water meter until such leaks are repaired.

(1965 Code, sec. 21-19; Ordinance 1587 adopted 7/12/2005)

§ 19-33 Tampering with valves.

No person, other than an employee of the water department or of the city shall operate, open, close or tamper with the valve installed by the water department on the water main side of the meter. Such valve is reserved exclusively for the use of the water department. In case of an emergency, the water department shall be notified and they may send an employee to turn the water off or on as may be required. There shall be paid to the city a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each trip an employee of the water department makes to open or close the valve on the water main side of a water meter in the city.

No person, other than an employee of the water department or of the city shall work on or tamper with any water meter or any meter box or operate or tamper with a water valve or fire hydrant installed on the water system of the city; providing, however, that none of the provisions herein shall apply to the members of the city fire department in performance of their duties as firemen.

(1965 Code, sec. 21-20; Ordinance 1558 adopted 8/9/2004)

§ 19-34 Miscellaneous water service fees.

Size upgrade per customer request: Direct cost of new installation, plus fifty dollar ($50.00) processing charge.

Replace meter at customer request (charge reflects meter cost plus fifty dollar ($50.00) processing charge):

5/8" meter	$80.00
3/4" meter	150.00
1" meter	275.00
1-1/2" meter	300.00
2" meter	350.00
3" meter and larger	At cost plus $50.00 processing charge

Calibrate or check meter calibration at customer request:

Up to 2" meter	$30.00
3" meter and larger	At cost

Late fee for bills paid more than three (3) days past due date.

(Ordinance 1558 adopted 8/9/2004)

§ 19-35 Water conservation fee.

A monthly fee shall be collected to offset charges and costs incurred for the implementation of water conservation programs and measures. Such fee shall be added to the water bill of all customers to which the city supplies water.

The water conservation fee of $0.1024 per one hundred (100) cubic feet is established and may be increased by the city council from time to time after the date of enactment of this section.

(Ordinance 1660 adopted 7/31/2006; Ordinance 1812, sec. 5, adopted 2/23/2009)

§ 19-36 Edwards Aquifer fee.

A monthly fee shall be collected to offset charges and costs incurred as a result of the management fees assessed by the Edwards Aquifer Authority. Such fee shall be added to the water bill of all customers to which the city supplies water.

The amount of the fee shall be $0.33097 per one hundred (100) cubic feet of water consumed.

The above stated rate may be increased by the city council from time to time on account of any increase in the fees charged to the city by the Edwards Aquifer Authority, based on the amount of acre-feet of water rights held by the city, from the date of enactment of this section.

Subject to city council approval, the Edwards Aquifer fees shall be adjusted from time to time to reflect any charges assessed by the Edwards Aquifer Authority for funding the habitat conservation plan for amelioration of habitat destruction. The city budget shall be automatically amended to reflect the collection and disbursement of such fees.

(Ordinance 1660 adopted 7/31/2006; Ordinance 1933 adopted 7/23/2012)

§ 19-37 Hydrant meter service fees.

Water used for construction projects shall not be drawn from a residential or commercial customer connection without the express permission of that customer.

Failure to obtain said permission shall constitute theft from the customer and subject the violator to appropriate legal action.

Construction project water shall not be drawn from city sources without the use of a city-issued hydrant meter and backflow prevention assembly.

Use of city water without the use of a city-issued hydrant meter and backflow prevention assembly, or without receiving express permission for alternative arrangements prior to use of city water, shall be considered theft and shall be referred for appropriate action to the Alamo Heights Police Department.

(e)

A city-issued hydrant meter and backflow prevention assembly shall be requested through the utility division of the public works department prior to use of a city water source.

(f)

Fees for use of city water and a hydrant meter/backflow prevention assembly are as follows:

Deposit:

Five hundred dollars ($500.00) due upon application.

§ 19-38 Adjustments in utility bills for hidden water leaks and other water losses beyond the control of water utility customers.

Rental of meter:

One hundred ninety-five dollars ($195.00) per month, prorated per calendar day, due upon return.

(3)

Water rate:

Not less than one dollar ($1.00) per hundred (100) cubic feet, depending on use and city's tier rate structure, due upon return.

(g)

These fees may be changed from time-to-time upon the recommendation of the public works director and upon action of the city council.

(h)

Once the hydrant meter and backflow prevention assembly have been returned, the amount of water consumed and the number of calendar days the unit was used will be determined, and the fees due the city will be computed. These fees will be deducted from the deposit originally placed with the city. Any amount of the deposit remaining shall be refunded to the applicant. Any amount still due the city will be charged to the applicant and will be immediately payable to the city.

(i)

In the event an amount remains due the city and it is not paid by the applicant within five (5) business days of the date the bill was rendered, the city may, at its option, 1) choose to withhold further water utility service from the applicant until payment is made, 2) pursue legal remedies for theft of water, 3) revoke or suspend the applicant's registration that allows him to do business in the city, 4) terminate or issue stop work orders for all building permits associated with either the property and/or the applicant, or apply any and all of the options listed herein.

(Ordinance 1671 adopted 8/28/2006; Ordinance 1812, sec. 6, adopted 2/23/2009)

[Hidden water leak.]

Any customer of water utilities provided by the City of Alamo Heights who is billed for a substantial increase in water use during any single month billing period due to a hidden water leak of which the water utility customer had no prior knowledge and of which the water utility customer would not have reasonably had knowledge, or due to other water loss beyond the control of the customer, may request an adjustment in the amount billed for utility services that is based upon water consumption during that period.

[Notification.]

Customers who have been notified by the city of a water leak on their side of the city's meter in accordance with section 19-32, and who do not subsequently and expeditiously correct the conditions causing the leak or other water loss, may not be considered for an adjustment under this section.

Definitions.

For the purpose of this section, the following terms shall be defined as follows:

Excess usage

means the difference in the "greatest normal usage" of water at a service location and the actual amount of water metered and billed in the billing month for which the adjustment at the service location is requested.

Greatest normal usage

means the amount of water metered at the customer's service location in the billing month of greatest consumption during the past twelve (12) consecutive months; or, if there is less than twelve (12) prior billing months, the greatest consumption during any prior billing months. When the "greatest normal usage" recorded is less than twelve (12) consecutive prior billing months, the city reserves the right to determine an estimated "greatest normal usage" for those customers by using customers in similar usage categories. The "greatest normal usage" shall not include the billed usage for the month the adjustment is requested.

Hidden water leak

means any leak of a water pipe, line or other water conveyance equipment which is the responsibility of the customer to maintain and which is caused by deterioration, corrosion, natural forces, or other similar causes, excluding damage due to construction or excavation activity on the customer's side of the meter, which is not immediately and reasonably detectable from the surface of the ground.

Substantial increase

means an increase in the amount of water metered and subsequently billed at the customer's service location which is in excess of one hundred twenty-five (125) percent of the "greatest normal usage" for that customer.

Procedures.

Any customer requesting an adjustment pursuant to this section shall make said request in writing to the public works director upon such form or forms as the public works director shall require.

A request for an adjustment based upon a hidden water leak or other water loss beyond the control of water utility customer shall include the following minimum information:

Service address;

Customer name and account number;

Location of the leak or other water loss, including a location sketch or photograph if possible;

Probable cause of the leak or other water loss;

Date leak or other water loss was discovered;

Date leak or other water loss was remedied;

Name and firm [with address and telephone number] of person making the repair; and,

Legible and detailed copies of repair bill(s).

(3)

All requests shall be submitted within thirty (30) calendar days of the due date on the monthly bill for which an adjustment is requested.

(4)

Unless directed otherwise, the customer shall pay the rendered by the due date.

Payment arrangements for the amount in dispute may be available to the customer until the investigation regarding the adjustment request has been completed.

Any adjustments that are approved shall be credited to the appropriate account.

(5)

A visual verification by appropriate city staff is required if the customer made repairs without contracted assistance and valid receipts are not available.

(6)

The public works department shall review each of the customer's concerns in a fair and reasonable manner to determine the eligibility of such claim prior to forwarding its findings to the city manager.

(e)

Requirements for granting an adjustment.

Under most conditions, a request of an adjustment to a monthly bill for utility usage will be granted if it meets the following conditions:

A request in accordance with subsection (d) has been filed within the required timeframe;

The requested adjustment is for a monthly billing in which there was a substantial increase in water use resulting from a hidden water leak or other water loss beyond the control of water utility customer; and,

There has not been an adjustment made in the monthly billing for city-provided utilities at the same service location or the same customer within the previous twelve (12) months under the provisions of this section.

The administration and finance staff shall calculate the amount of the potential adjustment based on the public works department's findings forwarded to the city manager.

(f)

Amount of adjustment.

The adjustment shall be applied to the amount of water consumption in excess of one hundred twenty-five (125) percent of the greatest normal usage used to determine the eligibility of the customer for an adjustment.

Typical adjustment rates for consumption above the one hundred twenty-five (125) percent amount are as follows:

Underground leak+:

50%.

Under slab or in crawl space leak+:

50%.

Sprinkler (irrigation) leak+:

25%.

Vandalism—Overnight*+:

50%.

Vandalism—On vacation*+:

100%.

Water device failure+:

50%.

Repair and filling swimming pool:

0%.

*Police report required.

+Legible and detailed repair bill required.

(g)

Decision.

Consideration of extenuating circumstances will be taken into account when determining an adjustment.

The final decision regarding a utility bill adjustment and the amount of any such adjustment shall be the responsibility of the city manager.

(h)

Adjustments for leaks on the customer's side of meter caused by the city or its contractors.

Should the city or its contractors at any time cause a leak on the customer's side of a water meter, the city will use the twelve (12) months' water bills preceding the month(s) in which the leak occurred or continued to compute an average bill for the month(s) is which the leak occurred or continued. In no case shall the customer have to pay an averaged bill that would be greater than the bill rendered during the month(s) of the leak condition caused by the city or its contractors.