(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:
(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.
(d)
Sewer service.
(1)
Sewer rates inside city limits.
The schedule of monthly charges and rates for sanitary sewer service furnished by the city is as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(2)
Sewer service outside city limits.
(A)
Sewer rates outside the city limits shall be as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code. (This provision shall not be construed, however, as requiring the city to furnish any sewer outside the municipal limits of the city.)
(B)
No sewer 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.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 5,
adopted 9/-/2019; Ordinance adopting
2024 Code)
The rates and charges fixed and prescribed by the provisions
of this article shall be due and payable at city hall on or before
5:00 p.m. on the fifteenth (15th) of the month, [or] a ten percent
(10%) penalty will be charged. If not paid by the twenty-fifth (25th)
of the same month, service will be discontinued the following work
day and without further notice. Schools, churches and government agencies
are exempt from late payment penalties.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 6,
adopted 9/-/2019)
(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:
(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:
(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)
The city shall not be liable for any damage to property of any
consumer of any utility service furnished by the city.
(Ordinance 2019-09-19-2A, sec. 27,
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)
