(a)
Generally.
Any party desiring to receive wastewater service from the city’s wastewater system shall make an application for water and wastewater service to the city on forms provided by the city, except as provided in subsection (c). All applications shall be made by the record owner or occupant of the property for which service is being requested. Proof of residency shall be furnished to the city’s representative upon request. Unless otherwise specified in the form, the application fee is as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(b)
Property located outside corporate limits.
Any party
requesting wastewater service from the city whose property, or any
part thereof, is located outside the city's corporate limits shall:
(1)
Request that said property be voluntarily annexed into the city's
corporate limits;
(2)
The city council shall have discretion to approve the request for
annexation pursuant to the city's comprehensive plan and development
guidelines;
(3)
Request that any service to said property shall be a continuing request
for voluntary annexation for said property for so long as the party,
or any successor in interest, receives wastewater service from the
city.
(4)
For properties located in the city's wastewater certificate of convenience
and necessity that do not wish to voluntarily annex into the city's
corporate limits, wastewater service will be limited to one (1) LUE
per platted lot or tract.
(c)
Connection to city water service.
Any party requesting
wastewater service from the city shall connect the subject property
to the city’s water supply and distribution utility. This condition
of service shall not apply to property wholly located inside the service
territory of a water certificate of convenience and necessity issued
by the state commission on environmental quality to an entity other
than the city.
(Ordinance 11-O-27 adopted 11/14/2011; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.061; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code; Ordinance 2023-O-046 adopted 10/25/2023)
(a)
Bills for sewer service shall be computed:
(1)
On the basis of the metered water consumption by the customer during
the winter season based upon the average of the monthly readings of
the customer’s water meter for the preceding December, January,
and February; or
(2)
On the basis of the customer’s current monthly water bill,
whichever is less.
(b)
If a residential customer does not have an acceptable history of
water usage during the preceding December, January, and February,
the customer’s monthly sewer bill shall be calculated based
upon:
(c)
If a nonresidential customer does not have an acceptable history
of water usage during the preceding December, January, and February,
the customer’s monthly sewer bill shall:
(Ordinance 06-O-49, sec. 4, adopted 6/26/2006; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.062; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
(a)
The monthly wastewater rates for the collection, treatment, and disposal of wastewater set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code shall be in effect for residential customers, including multifamily and apartment, and commercial customers both within and outside the corporate limits of the city.
(b)
In addition, the city shall charge each customer any regulatory assessment
required by the state commission on environmental quality.
(c)
The rates are estimated to be sufficient to provide for the expenses
of operation, maintenance, and replacement of the wastewater system,
including debt service. Such rates may be revised from time to time
as may be necessary. Prior to revising such rates, the city may obtain
a cost-of-service audit to be used as the basis for a rate increase.
(Ordinance 09-O-29 adopted 6/23/2009; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.063; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
Wastewater customers not introducing all of their water usage
into the city’s wastewater system may apply to the city for
exemption from wastewater charges for the water usage not introduced,
by requesting the installation of a meter to determine the amount
of water that is not being introduced into the wastewater system.
(Ordinance 06-O-49, sec. 4, adopted 6/26/2006; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.064)
No user shall introduce any “toxic substance” or
“hazardous substance” or “hazardous waste,”
as those terms are defined by applicable federal and state law (collectively,
“prohibited substances”), into the city’s wastewater
system without first receiving specific written approval from the
city. The city reserves the right to terminate wastewater service
at any time if the city determines that discharges of prohibited substances
are occurring. Any damages to the system or other costs to the city
caused by discharges to the city wastewater system of prohibited substances
or of abnormally strong domestic sewage or other substances which
are incompatible with the city’s wastewater system shall be
borne exclusively by the discharger of such wastewaters and at no
expense to the city. Such costs for which the discharger is responsible
include, but are not limited to, the costs of restoring wastewater
treatment services, cleanup and restoration of the environment, and
sludge disposal. The city reserves the right to terminate wastewater
service at any time if the city determines that such costs have not
been, or will not be, paid in a timely manner. The requirements of
this section will apply unless and until the city adopts a pretreatment
ordinance or other special ordinance establishing requirements, prohibitions
and limits on wastewater discharges to the city’s sewer system.
(Ordinance 06-O-49, sec. 4, adopted 6/26/2006; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.065)
(a)
No user shall cause to enter the grinder pump system any of the following:
(1)
Glass.
(2)
Metals.
(3)
Plastic objects.
(4)
Sanitary napkins or tampons.
(5)
Explosives.
(6)
Gasoline.
(7)
Eggshells.
(8)
Cigar butts.
(9)
Cigarette butts.
(10)
Diapers, socks, rags or cloth.
(11)
Toys, utensils, etc.
(12)
Seafood shells.
(13)
Strong chemicals.
(14)
Flammable material.
(15)
Lubricating oil and/or grease.
(16)
Kitchen grease.
(b)
Discharge of any of these items to the system shall be considered as misuse. The cost for repair or replacement of the grinder pumps, or clearing of any of the lines that resulted from the discharge of prohibited material, shall be assessed to the occupant or owner of the property from which the discharge originated. Repairs will be billed to the occupant or owner at a charge as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(Ordinance 06-O-49, sec. 4, adopted 6/26/2006; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.066; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
(a)
In the event wastewater delivered to the city system does not meet
the standards specified by the city, the customer shall pay to the
city, in the same manner provided in this article for the payment
of the volume charges, a surcharge calculated in accordance with and
subject to the requirements of this section (the “treatment
surcharge”).
(b)
The treatment surcharge shall be based on the following formula:
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S = V x 8.34 (A [BOD - 200] + B [TSS - 200]), where
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“S” means the surcharge that will appear
on customer’s monthly bill;
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“V” means wastewater actually billed
in millions of gallons during the billing period;
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“8.34” means pounds per gallon of water;
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“A” means the unit charge in dollars
per pound of BOD, which unit charge shall be based on the unit charge
adopted by the LCRA board of directors for wastewater service from
the LCRA, as amended from time to time, which unit charge is $0.49
per pound as of the effective date;
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“BOD” means biological oxygen demand
measured in milligrams per liter by weight;
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“200” means 200 mg/l;
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“B” means the unit charge in dollars
per pound of total suspended solids, which unit charge shall be based
on the unit charge adopted by the LCRA board of directors, as amended
from time to time, which unit charge is $0.1049 per pound as of the
effective date; and
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“TSS” means total suspended solids measured
in milligrams per liter by weight.
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(Ordinance 07-O-37 adopted 9/10/2007; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.067)
Moving a grinder or any parts thereof may only be performed
by a licensed plumber and/or electrician in accordance with city specifications
and with city-approved components. A city inspection is required prior
to a return of wastewater service. A customer is responsible for any
component replacement costs caused by moving the grinder or any parts
thereof.
(Ordinance 08-O-25, sec. 1, adopted 5/26/2008; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.068)
All customers or applicants for service are subject to the miscellaneous fees and charges set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code and shall, when applicable, pay such fees to the city.
(Ordinance 08-O-25, sec. 2, adopted 5/26/2008; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.069; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
Wastewater customers with water meters larger than 5/8" may
apply to the city council for a reduction in the city’s wastewater
charges per LUE based on the actual anticipated wastewater demand
of the customer. The city council shall make such reductions on a
case-by-case basis with input from the city engineer.
(Ordinance 10-O-22, sec. 2, adopted 9/17/2010; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.070)
(b)
The volume charge for wastewater is as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(c)
The city will calculate retail wastewater flow for each customer
based on the calculated average of monthly potable water metered and
billed to the customer during the previous December, January, and
February. If a residential customer does not have an acceptable history
of water usage during the preceding December, January, and February,
the customer’s monthly wastewater bill shall be calculated based
upon:
(Ordinance 12-O-09 adopted 4/9/2012; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.071; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
(b)
Wastewater rates are based on the current rate study and are adopted
by the city council.
(Ordinance 15-O-06 adopted 2/23/2015; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.072; Ordinance 12-O-09 adopted 4/9/2012)
