(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)
(h) 
All water system fees including late fees are as set out in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(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)