(a) 
Written application shall be made to the city upon forms furnished therefor for water, sewer, garbage collection or any other utility service which may be furnished by the city. Such application shall state the name and address of the applicant, the type of utility service desired, the purposes for which the application is made, and such other information as the city may request. See appendix A (Customer Service Agreement) attached to Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A.
(b) 
All applicants are required to have water, sewer service, garbage collection or any other utility service which may be furnished by the city. Exceptions:
(1) 
Applicants not occupying the home may request water only (if water usage for any month is over 300 gallons, all services will be added to the billing); or
(2) 
Applicants not living in the city limits where these services are not provided.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 1, adopted 9/-/2019)
(a) 
Amount of deposit.
Along with the application for water service the applicant shall pay to the city a residential or commercial deposit on such property in the amount set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(b) 
Refund of deposit.
Any deposit made in the city by any applicant shall be held by the city until such applicant’s utility service for which the deposit was made shall be terminated. Upon termination of such service, the applicant shall be entitled to a refund of said deposit, less any amount which is due and owing to the city.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 2, adopted 9/-/2019; Ordinance adopting 2024 Code)
(a) 
The city shall install and maintain all service connections from water mains to the customer’s meter within the city and it shall be unlawful for any other person or persons to repair or renew service pipe from the main to the meter.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any plumber or other person, other than the tapper employed by the city, to tap any street main, make connection with the street main or extend service pipe from the main, said work to be under exclusive control of the city.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 3, adopted 9/-/2019)
(a) 
Required.
Meters shall be required to measure the consumption of each utility service furnished by the city, except garbage collection and sewage service.
(b) 
Control of meters.
All meters, curb cocks, goosenecks, valves, and meter boxes connected with the city’s water main and service pipe, including those furnished at the expense of consumers or property owners, shall remain under direct control of the city.
(c) 
Tampering with meters.
It shall be unlawful for any person other than those authorized by the city to connect, disconnect, move, or tamper with any such meter, or to turn on or off the water at the curb cock, valve, or meter; or to open or tamper with any meter box. A tampering fee plus a connect fee as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code will be charged by the city.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 4, adopted 9/-/2019; Ordinance adopting 2024 Code)
(a) 
Approval of rates charged by privately owned utility company.
The city council shall fix and approve the rates charged by a privately owned public utility company doing business within the city. It shall be unlawful for any such public utility company, or any officer or employee thereof, to assess or charge for services rendered at any rate other than the rate so fixed or approved.
(b) 
Tap charges.
A charge shall be made by the city for each water tap and sewer tap made to the city’s water and sewer system as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(c) 
Garbage collection and disposal.
(1) 
Monthly charges shall be made for the collection and disposal of garbage or trash as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(2) 
Residential or commercial property within three hundred feet (300') of the city limit line is to have trash and garbage collected.
(d) 
Wastewater service.
(1) 
Applicability
(A) 
General Conditions.
This ordinance shall apply to all utility customers that benefit and exercise the use of the Bartlett Sanitary Sewer System.
(B) 
Commercial users.
Except as hereafter provided, each commercial use of sewer, including churches, financial establishments, hospitals, nursing homes, offices, retail and wholesale businesses supplied with sewer service by the city shall be charged a monthly sewer service charge for each meter (regardless of the size of the meter) based upon the amount of water consumed by the user and applied to the rate schedule as established from time to time by ordinance.
(C) 
Institutional users.
(i) 
Except as specifically provided otherwise by written agreement, an institutional user shall pay to the city a monthly sewer service charge and a volume charge based upon the amount of wastewater discharged by the user into the city's publicly owned treatment works at a rate established from time to time by ordinance.
(ii) 
The amount of wastewater discharged by an institutional user shall be based upon and determined to be the metered amounts of water delivered to the user through lines connected to plumbing fixtures, which then return wastewater to the city's publicly owned treatment works or by wastewater metered connections authorized by the city administrator.
(2) 
Metering Responsibility
The City of Bartlett shall install and maintain metering devices for each commercial and institutional user that exceeds 30,000 gallons of water usage.
(A) 
Notice to Out-of-City Ratepayers.
(i) 
Pursuant to Texas Water Code Section 13.043(i), the City shall, within 60 days of this rate change, provide individual written notice to each out-of-city ratepayer eligible to appeal. The notice must include, at a minimum:
a. 
The effective date of the new rates;
b. 
The new rates as established in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code;
c. 
The location where additional information on rates may be obtained.
(ii) 
The notice may be provided electronically if the city has access to a ratepayer's e-mail address.
(e) 
Water service.
(1) 
Water rates inside city limits.
The schedule of monthly rates or charges for water service furnished by the city is as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(2) 
Water service outside city limits.
(A) 
Water rates outside the city limits are as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(B) 
No water utilities will be extended outside the city limits to any area, land, subdivision or lot that has not complied with all the requirements of the subdivision regulations of the city.
(C) 
Notice to out-of-city ratepayers.
(i) 
Pursuant to Texas Water Code section 13.043(1), the city shall, within 60 days of this rate change, provide individual written notice to each out-of-city ratepayer eligible to appeal. The notice must include, at a minimum:
a. 
The effective date of the new rates;
b. 
The new rates as established in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code;
c. 
The location where additional information on rates may be obtained.
(ii) 
The notice may be provided electronically if the city has access to a ratepayer's e-mail address.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 5, adopted 9/-/2019; Ordinance adopting 2024 Code; Ordinance 2025-02-23-04 adopted 2/24/2025)
(a) 
The rates and charges fixed and prescribed by the provisions of this article shall be due and payable at city hall on or before 4:30 p.m. on the fifteenth (15th) of the month. If the 15th of the month is on a holiday or weekend, then the following business day shall be the due date.
(b) 
A ten percent (10%) penalty shall be applied on accounts that fail to deposit a complete payment by the aforementioned date. Late fees shall be applied the day after the due date established in subsection (a) of this section.
(c) 
If rates, charges, and penalties are not paid in full by the ten (10) days after a notice of termination on or before 4:30 p.m., service will be discontinued the following workday without further notice. Schools, churches, and government agencies are exempt from late payment penalties.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 6, adopted 9/-/2019; Ordinance 2024-11-25 adopted 11/25/2024)
(a) 
Disconnection of service for nonpayment.
In the event that any consumer of utility services furnished by the city does not pay the rates and charges on or before the service suspension date for the same billing period, the city shall have the authority to disconnect or terminate, or cause to be disconnected or terminated, all utility services furnished such consumer.
(b) 
Service suspension fee.
Any consumer of utility services furnished by the city whose service charges are unpaid by the service suspension date as noted in section 12.01.006 shall be assessed a suspension fee as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code, after 5 p.m. that day. Services shall not be restored until all fees have been paid.
(c) 
Financial hardship exceptions.
In the interest of humane and compassionate management and administration of public service, the city administration reserves the right to evaluate assessed utility charges, penalties, disconnection and reconnection services applied and payment deadlines implemented, in unique and extraordinary circumstances. For purposes of this policy, unique and extraordinary shall be defined as life changing event(s) causing major financial disruption or hardship. All final determinations will be left to the discretion of the city administration.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 7, adopted 9/-/2019; Ordinance adopting 2024 Code)
(a) 
Sewer connection required.
All owners or occupants of buildings, or agents for owners, situated within one hundred and fifty feet (150') of a sanitary sewer are hereby required to construct, or cause to be constructed, suitable water closets on their property, and to connect the same with the city sanitary sewer system under the direction and supervision of the city.
(b) 
Maintenance.
It shall be the duty of any owner or occupant of any building connected with the city sanitary system to keep and maintain the connection to the sewer system in perfect condition and free from obstruction.
(c) 
Septic tanks, cesspools and privies restricted.
It shall be unlawful for any person to build, construct, dig, maintain or use any dry toilet, surface privy, cesspool or septic tank within the city; provided, however when connection to the city sanitary sewer system is impossible or impracticable at any time the construction, maintenance and use of a septic tank constructed in conformity to state law and the requirements of Williamson County and approved by the health officer may be permitted until such time as connection to the sewer system may be made.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 8, adopted 9/-/2019)
The city shall constantly inspect all parts of the water system and maintain them in good condition, and shall keep in good repair at all times for constant service, all pumps, machinery, hydrants and all other waterworks fixtures and property. The city shall at all times endeavor to keep a sufficient supply of water in the tanks:
(1) 
To assure adequate fire protection and pressure;
(2) 
To make taps and connections to mains and repairs, etc.; and
(3) 
To keep said water system in good condition.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 9, adopted 9/-/2019)
All property owners, their agents and/or tenants shall be held responsible as consumers for loss of water due to leakage in pipes or plumbing on the discharge side of the meter or on the property; and if this water is not paid for according to the rates provided herein, when it becomes due, the water shall be cut off by the city and not turned on again until all claims are paid or adjusted to the satisfaction of the city. In the event of any change during this time of payment of billing for past leakage, the landlord and/or property owner shall be held accountable for payment of this billing before service will be extended and water furnished to a second or other tenant.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 10, adopted 9/-/2019)
No plumber or any other person shall turn water service on or off from the street stop cock without a written permit being first obtained from the city utility department, except in cases of emergency.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 11, adopted 9/-/2019)
After water is introduced into a building, or upon any premises, the same shall not be extended by any plumber or any other person to any other premises for additional fixtures without written permission of the city.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 12, adopted 9/-/2019)
Every person taking service from the city shall at all reasonable times permit the city, its superintendent, or agents to enter any premises and building for examination of pipes, connections and fixtures and to determine how the water is being used. Refusal of the right of entry by any consumer shall result in refusal of a water supply from the city water until such permission is granted.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 13, adopted 9/-/2019)
(a) 
Repair of service pipes.
The city water reserves the right to make all repairs and renewals of service pipes from the main to the curb, and it shall be unlawful for any other person or persons to repair or renew service pipe from the main to the meter.
(b) 
Connection with main.
It shall be unlawful for any plumber or person, other than the tapper employed by the city, to tap any street main, to make connection with the street main or to extend service pipes from the main; said work shall be under the exclusive control of the city.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 14, adopted 9/-/2019)
All consumers’ water heaters and boilers for heating water shall be provided with safety valves to protect the water meter from hot water. All steam boilers connected directly with the city water supply are required to provide a tank or tanks for storage purposes. Any consumer failing to comply with this provision shall have his water supply cut off and not turned on again until such valve has been installed; and, if a water meter has been damaged by failure to comply with this section, then the consumer shall pay for such damages.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 15, adopted 9/-/2019)
All service pipes shall be laid at least eighteen inches (18") under the ground and provided with a gate valve inside the property line, such as to properly drain all pipes above ground.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 16, adopted 9/-/2019)
Consumers shall install and have an approved gate valve inside of the property line within six inches (6") from the meter box in case of emergency, and shall not use the curb cock at the meter in lieu thereof. When no gate valve is found and it is necessary for the homeowner to have water cut off at the meter, there will be a charge added to the utility bill.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 17, adopted 9/-/2019; Ordinance adopting 2024 Code)
(a) 
Fire hydrants shall be provided for the sole purpose of use in extinguishing fires, and shall be used or opened only by the water and fire department or such persons as may be given authority by the city.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to carry away water from a hydrant without written permission from city, or to place upon or about any fire hydrant, gate valve, curb cock, meter, or meter box, any object, material, debris, or structure of any kind so as to prevent immediate access to same.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 18, adopted 9/-/2019)
(a) 
Property.
It shall be unlawful for any person in any manner to deface the houses, walls, machinery or fixtures connected with or pertaining to the city and its water system.
(b) 
Water system.
It shall be unlawful for any person to break, damage, or tamper with any part of the water system of the city for any purpose whatsoever, or in any other manner maliciously interfere with or prevent the running and operation of such system and the water supply therein.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 19, adopted 9/-/2019)
It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully or negligently waste water in any manner whatsoever. Any person having knowledge of any condition whereby water is being wasted shall immediately notify the city.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 20, adopted 9/-/2019)
In case of fire or other emergency or a shortage in the water supply, water consumers shall be required to shut off lawn sprinklers or any steady flow of water in use when fire or emergency occurs, and keep the same off until the emergency is under control.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 21, adopted 9/-/2019)
The city may, at any time, without notice, order the water cut off for repairs, extension, or other purposes from any premises connected to the system.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 22, adopted 9/-/2019)
(a) 
Permit required.
It shall be unlawful for any customer of city water to knowingly resell, give or otherwise furnish water to any land or premises outside of the corporate limits of the city without first having received a permit therefor approved by the city council.
(b) 
Granting of permit.
Any consumer of city water within the corporate limits of the city who desires to resell, give, permit or otherwise furnish water to land or premises outside of the corporate limits shall first make application in writing for a permit to do so with the city secretary, stating the use or uses to be made of such water and the maximum amount of water estimated to be resold or furnished monthly outside the corporate limits. Upon receipt of such application for said permit, the city secretary shall forthwith refer such application to the city council, who shall have the sole and absolute authority to grant or refuse such application for such permit in accordance with what it believes to be the best interest of the city, its citizens, and residents.
(c) 
Violations.
In the event that any consumer of city water violates or continues to violate the provisions of this section, after the effective date of this section, and refuses to immediately discontinue the resale or the furnishing of water to land or premises outside the corporate limits of the city, the city secretary shall have the authority, after giving written notice to such consumer by certified United States mail, return receipt requested, to immediately cease and desist from such violation, to disconnect and suspend all water service to the land or premises of the consumer from which the water is being supplied to the land or premises outside the corporate limits of the city.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 23, adopted 9/-/2019)
All of the provisions of this article shall be deemed to be incorporated into every contract between the city water and its consumers, and each consumer shall be charged with the responsibility for knowledge of the provisions of this article, and by applying the responsibility for knowledge of the provisions of this article, and by applying for and accepting water from the city water, to have assented to the provisions hereof.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 24, adopted 9/-/2019)
(a) 
Definitions.
(1) 
Manual M14.
The American Water Works Association’s Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control, current edition.
(2) 
TCEQ.
The state commission on environmental quality.
(3) 
290 Rules.
The TCEQ’s rules and regulations for public water systems, which appear in title 30, Texas Administrative Code, chapter 290.
(b) 
General provisions.
(1) 
No water service connection shall be made to any establishment where a potential or actual contamination hazard exists unless the water supply is protected in accordance with the 290 Rules and this article. The water purveyor shall discontinue water service if a required air gap or backflow prevention assembly is not installed, maintained, and tested in accordance with the 290 Rules and this article.
(2) 
No backflow protection at the water service meter is required where an adequate internal cross-connection control program is in place.
(c) 
Installation, testing, and maintenance of backflow prevention assemblies.
(1) 
All backflow prevention assemblies must be tested upon installation by a licensed backflow prevention assembly tester and certified to be operating within specifications. Backflow prevention assemblies that are installed to protect against health hazards must also be tested and certified to be operating within specifications at least annually by a recognized backflow prevention assembly tester.
(2) 
Backflow prevention assemblies installed on fire suppression systems must be tested by a backflow prevention assembly tester permanently employed by an approved fireline contractor.
(3) 
Gauges used for backflow prevention assembly testing must be tested for accuracy at least annually in accordance with the AWWA’s Manual M14 or the current edition of the University of Southern California’s Manual of Cross-Connection Control. A copy of the gauge accuracy test report must be submitted to the city to demonstrate the gauge has been tested for accuracy.
(4) 
A recognized backflow prevention assembly tester must hold a current license issued from the TCEQ.
(d) 
Customer service inspections.
(1) 
A customer service inspection must be completed before the provision of continuous water service to all new construction, on any existing service when the water purveyor has reason to believe that cross-connections or other contaminant hazards exist, or after any material improvement, correction, or addition to the private water-distribution facilities.
(2) 
Only individuals with the following credentials shall be recognized as capable of conducting a customer service inspection:
(A) 
Plumbing inspectors and water supply protection specialists that have been licensed by the state board of plumbing examiners.
(B) 
Customer service inspectors that have been licensed by the TCEQ.
(3) 
The customer service inspection must certify that:
(A) 
No direct connection between the public drinking water supply and a potential source of contamination exists. Potential sources of contamination must be isolated from the public water system by a properly installed air gap or an appropriate backflow prevention assembly.
(B) 
No cross-connection between the public water supply and a private water source exists. Where an actual, properly installed air gap is not maintained between the public water supply and a private water supply, an approved reduced-pressure-zone backflow prevention assembly is properly installed and a service agreement exists for annual inspection and testing by a recognized backflow prevention assembly tester.
(C) 
No connection exists that allows water to be returned to the public drinking water supply.
(D) 
No pipe or pipe fitting that contains more than 0.25 percent lead is used for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection that supplies water for human use.
(E) 
No solder or flux that contains more than 0.2 percent lead is used for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection that provides water for human use.
(F) 
This requirement may be waived for lead joints that are necessary for repairs to cast iron pipes.
(e) 
Irrigation systems.
(1) 
Any irrigation system that is connected to a public or private potable water supply must be connected through a backflow prevention assembly approved by the state commission on environmental quality.
(2) 
Backflow prevention assemblies installed on irrigation systems that are classified as health hazards must be tested at least annually or as required by the adopted plumbing code.
(f) 
Fire hydrant protection.
An approved reduced-pressure-principle backflow prevention assembly (RPBA) is to be the minimum protection for fire hydrant water meters that are being used for a temporary water supply during any construction or other uses which would pose a potential hazard to the public water supply.
(1) 
An RPBA must be installed if any solution other than potable water can be introduced into the system.
(2) 
It is the responsibility of all persons engaging in the use and rental of a fire hydrant water meter to abide by the conditions of this article. All fire hydrant meter rentals shall meet the current requirements of the city.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 25, adopted 9/-/2019)
(a) 
Permit to drill water well.
Any person desiring to drill a water well within the limits of the city shall be governed by the following rules, regulations and procedures:
(1) 
A permit shall be obtained from the building inspector, who shall issue the same upon a form prepared for that purpose before any drilling operations of any kind whatsoever are conducted or commenced.
(2) 
A fee shall be paid to the city in accordance to the city’s building permit fee schedule.
(b) 
Windmills.
In the event of the erection of a windmill over a well or to generate power within the corporate limits of the city, such windmill shall be kept at a distance of not less than thirty feet (30') from all overhead electric wires, and the erection of the same shall be under the supervision and control of the building inspector.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 26, adopted 9/-/2019)
(a) 
Fees established.
Each applicant for a permit for either new construction or for a new structure which has been moved and placed upon a lot within the city or with respect to property which may be converted into living units from other uses shall at the time the permit is issued pay service availability fees as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(b) 
Exemption from capital recovery fee.
All property within the city limits that has existing city facilities is exempt from capital recovery fees.
(c) 
Penalty.
Any person or other legal entity who commences construction of any structure upon which a service availability [fee] is imposed under and pursuant to the terms hereof without having paid such fees shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined in any amount in accordance with the general penalty provided in section 1.01.009 of this code for violation hereof.
(Ordinance 85-3 adopted 9/18/1985; 1989 Code, secs. 20.101, 20.103, 20.104; Ordinance adopting 2024 Code)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to throw or allow any person under his or her control to throw or deposit on the surface of the ground, or in any hole or vault, in or under the surface of the ground, or any lot reaching within one hundred feet (100') of any city sanitary sewer, except in the proper and necessary manuring of the soil, any water which has been used for domestic purposes, or any liquid or solid filth, feces or urine.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to throw or deposit or cause to permit anyone under his or her control to throw or deposit in any city sewer, or in any vessels or receptacles connected with any city sewer, any garbage, hair, ashes, fruits, or vegetable peelings, or refuse, rags, cotton, cinders, or any other matter whatsoever, except feces, urine, the necessary closet paper and liquid slops.
(c) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse to connect all wash stands or slop stands in his or her house or yard with the city sewer, or to allow any slops, wash or waste waters of any kind to flow over the pavement or into any open gutter or into the street.
(1989 Code, sec. 9.606)
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be subject to a fine in accordance with the general penalty provided in section 1.01.009 of this code. Each transaction in violation of any of the provisions hereof shall be deemed a separate offense.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 28, adopted 9/-/2019; Ordinance adopting 2024 Code)