§ 86.026. Water system connections.

(a)

It is unlawful for any person to make a connection to the city water system without submitting a completed application on a form provided by the city and paying the water tap fee established by the city council.

(b)

For all connections made after March 27, 1972, each single-family residence and each dwelling unit within a duplex shall be individually metered. For all connections made after January 1, 2003, each single-family residence and each dwelling unit within a duplex, triplex or fourplex shall be individually metered.

(c)

For all connections made on construction begun after January 1, 2003, the manager of each condominium, or owner of each apartment house, manufactured home rental community, multiple use facility or any residence other than those identified in subsection (b) above, shall provide for the measurement of the quantity of water used by each individual living unit in accordance with Subchapter H, Rules 291.121—291.127 of the Utility Regulations established by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. For this purpose, construction is begun upon the issuance of a building permit for the use to be served by the connection. In addition:

(1)

Where a single platted lot requires multiple water service connections, service may be provided by a single city master meter with private submeters, or multiple city meters. If the owner or manager elects to use multiple city meters, the meters shall be located in the public right-of-way in conformance with city design standards, unless location of the meters in a utility easement is specifically approved by the director of water and wastewater.

(2)

If private submeters are used, they shall be properly installed and maintained by the property owner in compliance with city standards and with state laws. At the request of the city, the owner or manager of property subject to this subsection shall provide documentation of individual usage through private submeters, or shall provide the city with access to the private submeters for the calculation of fees associated with city programs such as the industrial pre-treatment program and for verification of compliance with state laws.

(d)

A developer who dedicates right-of-way and constructs water lines of a size adequate to serve an area being developed in accordance with the city's subdivision regulations is exempt from payment of the water tap fee, but must pay a water meter fee established by the city council for each city installed meter.

(e)

All water facilities connected to the city's water system shall be capable of providing water for heath and emergency purposes, including fire protection as required in chapters 14 and 38 of this Code.

(f)

In this section:

(1)

Apartment house means a building or buildings containing five or more dwelling units which are occupied primarily for nontransient use, including a residential condominium whether rented or owner occupied, and if a dwelling unit is rented, having rental paid at intervals of one month or longer.

(2)

Manufactured home rental community means a property on which spaces are rented for the occupancy of manufactured homes for nontransient residential use and for which rent is paid at intervals of one month or longer.

(3)

Multiple use facility means a commercial or industrial park, office complex or marina with five or more units which are occupied primarily for nontransient use and are rented at intervals of one month or longer.

(Code 1970, §§ 30-1, 30-2; Ord. No. 1995-22, § 1 (30-1), 2-27-95; Ord. No. 2003-6, § 1, 1-27-03; Ord. No. 2018-04 , § 30, 4-17-18)