(a)
Meters are read on or about the 15th of each month.
(b)
Bills are mailed on or about the 20th of each month.
(c)
Payment is due no later than the 15th of the month, as stated on
the bill.
(d)
Late notices are mailed on or about the 16th of the month and the
disconnect date is stated on the late notice.
(e)
Unpaid account meters are shut off and locked 10 days after the late
notices are mailed.
(f)
The meter is unlocked once full payment of the outstanding water
bill is paid; this includes any late fees plus any disconnect and
reconnect fees.
(g)
For customers over the age of 60 and paying their bill by 5:00 p.m.
on the 25th day after the date the bill is issued, all late fees and
charges shall be waived provided the following procedure is followed:
Customers must make a request and shall provide proof of their age.
This subsection will only apply to the utility account in which the
"over 60" customer is the primary account holder and the "over 60"
customer must reside at such location the month of such request and/or
any subsequent months. (Texas Utilities Code chapter 182)
(Ordinance 068 Rev. 9, sec. 2, adopted 9/7/2021)
Base rate for meter size multiplied by number of months the
meter was disconnected, not to exceed six months within a twelve-month
period, or involuntary disconnect over 45 days.
(Ordinance 068 Rev. 9, sec. 2, adopted 9/7/2021)
(a)
The operator will perform a bucket test within 7 days of the customer's request. Appropriate action will be taken if the test results show a significant discrepancy. Applicable fees, included in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code, will be assessed if the problem is found to be on the owner's side of the meter.
(b)
At the customer's request, the city will send the meter to an authorized
meter test service center. If the meter test is within tolerance,
the customer will pay the water charge in question plus late and turn-off
fees, if applicable, the actual cost of the meter test and any shipping
costs and/or mileage expenses. If the meter is found out of tolerance,
the city will make an appropriate adjustment.
(c)
A customer may protest a water bill to an appeals board for resolution.
Water service will not be discontinued while the protest is being
dispositioned.
(Ordinance 068 Rev. 9, sec. 2, adopted 9/7/2021)
The following unacceptable practices are prohibited by state
regulations and a customer service inspection must certify that:
(1)
No direct connection between the public drinking water supply and
a potential source of contamination is permitted. Potential sources
of contamination shall be isolated from the public water system by
an air gap or an appropriate backflow prevention device.
(2)
No cross-connection between the public drinking water supply and
a private water system is permitted. These potential threats to the
public drinking water supply shall be eliminated at the service connection
by the installation of an air gap or a reduced pressure zone backflow
prevention device.
(3)
No connection which allows water to be returned to the public drinking
water supply is permitted.
(4)
No pipe or pipe fitting which contains more than 8.0% lead may be
used for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection
which provides water for human use.
(5)
No solder or flux which contains more than 0.2% lead can be used
for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection which
provides water for human use.
(Ordinance 068 Rev. 9, sec. 2, adopted 9/7/2021)
The following are the requirements of the city water system
and the customer:
(1)
A signed customer service agreement will be maintained by the city
water system as long as the customer or the premises is connected
to the city water system.
(2)
All backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed and tested
in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions or the American
Water Works Association's Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention
and Cross-Connection Control, current edition.
(3)
The customer shall allow the property to be inspected for possible
cross-connections and other potential contamination hazards. These
inspections shall be conducted by the city water system or its designated
agent prior to initiating new water service, when there is reason
to believe that cross-connections or other potential contamination
hazards exist, or after any major changes to the private water distribution
facilities. The inspections shall be conducted during the city water
system's normal business hours.
(4)
The city water system shall notify the customer in writing of any
cross-connection or other potential contamination hazard, which has
been identified during the initial inspection or the periodic reinspection.
(5)
Assemblies shall be repaired, overhauled, or replaced at the expense
of the customer whenever said assemblies are found to be defective.
Original forms of such test, repairs, and overhaul shall be kept and
submitted to the city within five (5) working days of the test, repair,
or overhaul of each backflow prevention assembly.
(6)
No backflow prevention assembly or device shall be removed from use
or relocated, or other assembly or device substituted, without the
approval of the city. Whenever the existing assembly or device is
moved from the present location or cannot be repaired, the backflow
assembly or device shall be replaced with a backflow prevention assembly
or device that complies with this section. The American Water Works
Association's Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection
Control, current edition, or the current plumbing code of the city,
whichever is more stringent, shall be applicable.
(7)
The customer shall immediately remove or adequately isolate any potential
cross-connections or other potential contamination hazards on his/her
premises.
(8)
The customer shall, at his/her expense, properly install, test, and
maintain any backflow prevention device required by the city water
system. Copies of all testing and certificates indicating such backflow
prevention device is operating within specifications and maintenance
records shall be provided to the city water system within five (5)
working days after being performed.
(9)
Test gauges used for backflow prevention assembly testing shall be
calibrated at least annually in accordance with the American Water
Works Association's Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention and
Cross-Connection Control, current edition. The original calibration
form must be submitted to the city within five (5) working days after
calibration.
(10)
A recognized backflow prevention assembly tester must hold a current
endorsement from the state commission on environmental quality (TCEQ).
(11)
Commercial accounts are governed by contracts approved by the board
of aldermen that will incorporate similar provisions therein.
(Ordinance 068 Rev. 9, sec. 2, adopted 9/7/2021)
(a)
If the customer fails to comply with the requirements, the city shall, at its option, either terminate service or install, test, and maintain an appropriate backflow prevention device at the service connection. Any expenses associated with the enforcement of this agreement shall be billed to the customer. The fees associated with such testing are as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code. Any person who violates this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punishable as provided in article 1.03, as a violation of a health, safety and welfare ordinance. Each day that one or more of the provisions of this article are violated constitutes a separate offense.
(b)
It shall be the duty of the water and wastewater superintendent to
immediately and without further notice disconnect the service connection
piping from the city water system. After termination of water services,
the services may be connected to the customer provided that the customer
obtains a plumbing permit and has the plumbing corrected so as to
comply with the provisions of this article. After the plumbing inspector
has approved the plumbing and ascertained that there is no longer
a cross-connection, the services may reconnect the premises to the
water system upon payment of a reconnection service charge.
(Ordinance 068 Rev. 9, sec. 2, adopted 9/7/2021; Ordinance adopting Code)
