Customer Service/Water Billing

Location: City Hall
                 1801 9th Avenue North
                 Texas City, TX 77590
Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (excluding city holidays and weekends)
Phone: (409) 643-5923

NOTICE: Change in water bill format beginning June 2011

Water bills will now be printed on 8.5" x 11" paper, folded and mailed in a city envelope instead of the standard postcard. Click on the image to the left to see a sample water bill. If you have any questions, please contact the Water Department Customer Service at (409) 643-5923.

City of Texas City Enacts Stage 2 Water Restrictions

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(City of Texas City, TX) August 11, 2011 — The City of Texas City is now implementing mandatory water restrictions in accordance with the City's Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan. Due to extreme drought conditions, which are predicted to continue for the foreseeable future, many municipalities that draw water from the Brazos River Basin are requiring restrictions for all outdoor watering so that adequate quantities of drinking water can be maintained. These restrictions will continue until further notice. Violating water use restrictions could result in fines and penalties.

The City of Texas City has instituted the following Stage 2 water restrictions:

• Irrigation of landscaped areas with hose-end sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems shall be limited to Tuesdays and Thursdays for customers with a street address ending in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6 or 8), and Monday and Wednesdays for water customers with a street address ending in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9). Irrigation of landscaped areas is further limited to the hours of 8:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. on designated watering days. However, irrigation of landscaped areas is permitted at anytime if it is by means of a hand-held hose, a faucet filled bucket or watering can of five (5) gallons or less, or drip irrigation system.
• Use of water to wash any motor vehicle, motorbike, boat, trailer, airplane or other vehicle is prohibited except on designated watering days between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight. Such washing, when allowed, shall be done with a hand-held bucket or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shutoff nozzle for quick rises. Vehicle washing may be done at any time on the immediate premises of a commercial car wash or commercial service station. Further, such washing may be exempted from these regulations if, as determined by the Director of Utilities, the health, safety, and welfare of the public is contingent upon frequent vehicle cleansing, such as garbage trucks and vehicles used to transport food and perishables.
• Use of water to fill, refill, or add to any indoor or outdoor swimming pools, wading pools, or Jacuzzi-type pools is prohibited except on designated watering days between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.
• Operation of any ornamental fountain or pond for aesthetic or scenic purposes is prohibited except where necessary to support aquatic life or where such fountains or ponds are equipped with a recirculation system, with auto fill valves closed.
• Use of water from hydrants shall be limited to fire fighting, related activities, or other activities necessary to maintain public health, safety, and welfare, except that use of water from designated fire hydrants for construction purposes may be allowed under special permit from the Director of Utilities or designee.
• Use of water for the irrigation of golf course greens, tees, and fairways is prohibited except on designated watering days between the hours 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. However, if the golf course utilizes a water source other than that provided by the City of Texas City or the GCWA, the facility shall not be subject to these regulations.
• All restaurants are prohibited from serving water to patrons except upon request of the patron.
• The following uses of water are defined as non-essential and are prohibited:
1. wash down of any sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts, or other hard-surfaced areas;
2. use of water to wash down buildings or structures for purposes other than immediate fire protection;
3. use of water for dust control;
4. flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street; and
5. failure to repair a controllable leak(s) within a reasonable period after having been given notice directing the repair of such leak(s).

Report Water Leaks and Violations:
To report water leaks or violations please call the Utilities Department, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 409-643-5860. For water leaks after 5 p.m. on weekdays, as well as on weekends, please call 409-682-6846. To report violations after 5 p.m. on weekdays, as well as on weekends, please call the Texas City Police Department's non-emergency number at 409-643-5760.

Irrigation Meter Shut Off Offered Free of Charge:
The City is offering to shut off irrigation meters free of charge upon request. The City is offering to help absentee homeowners comply with the mandatory water use restrictions. Any homeowner that contracts with an irrigation service should first contact the company for assistance. To request a shut-off please call the Utilities Department, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., at 409-643-5860. To request assistance after hours or on the weekend please call the Utilities Department on-call number at 409-682-6846.

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New and transfer water accounts for the City of Texas City are required to have the following:

1. Rental/Contract Agreement (between lessee and leaser/owner/property management company)
   (if one is not available, a written agreement between the legal owner and renter(s) indicating date of move in/out, location, owner's name(s), renter name(s) and telephone number of owner/landlord.
2. Closing Papers: from owner of property (Settlement page) or check CAD internet location for owner's verification.
3. Copy of the current driver's license. (new accounts only)
4. Meter deposit (new accounts only: call the office for a deposit quote).
5. Contract for Service (new accounts only: complete in our office).
6. If the applicant or renters/leases have outstanding water account balances, these amounts must be paid in full prior to any water service to begin or transfer to new location.
7. Transfer fee assessed to the first bill - $25 (transfer accounts only)

New Residential Service Contract (pdf)
New Business Service Contract (pdf)

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Water accounts can be finaled or closed for the following reasons, but limited to:

1. By customer request: verified with a personal identifier.
2. Non-payment on water account five days after water service has been disconnected.
3. NSF check / bank draft: On the fourth day after door hanger/notice to pay check/bank draft plus charges.
4. Death of customer: verification with death certificate

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At this time, the City of Texas City does not accept credit/debit cards or online payments. To bank draft your water account, complete the bank draft form and attached a voided check. Bank draft your water account from your checking account every month on the Due Date. To avoid late charges and possible service disconnection due late payments, bank draft your water account.

Online payments are mailed to the City usually by a third party. Many times these payments are received later than your online payment date and the due date.

Bank Draft Form (pdf)

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Water service can be disconnected for the following issues, but not limited to:

• No payment on water account after the disconnect date noted on the reminder notice.
• Vacant location showing consumption of water.
• No payment on a NSF check/bank draft
• NSF check on a deposit for a water account.
• Missed payment on a payment plan.
• In receipt of a NSF check/bank draft after customer's signature on "no longer accepting checks/bank drafts on the water account letter
• Theft of water from either City or another's customer's connection.
• Reconnection service charge = $25 per account.

For water resumption, all past due amounts including service charges must be paid in cash or money order.

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•  How can we use that much water?
Upon receiving your water bill write down the date you received it and read your meter. (see "How to read your meter?") The difference between the time the City read it and the date you received it in the mail is approximately two weeks. The read dates and readings are on the left side of the bill. After reading your meter, calculate the difference. If the current reading on the bill is higher than the reading you just read. Call our office.

•  How can they read the meter is so dirty?
Since the meter is the lowest part in your yard it acts like a drain. Therefore, any moisture (rain, car wash, watering the yard) will create mud in the meter box. But, each month the meter reader wipes only the glass register to take the billing reading.

•  Upon a divorce, can I transfer the water bill into my name?
Only if the divorce decree denotes the ownership of said location to the individual can the water bill transferred into that name without a new deposit.

•  Upon death of spouse, can I transfer the water bill into my name?
Yes, with a copy of the death certificate the water bill can be transferred to the surviving spouse without a new deposit.

•  Can the water bill be transferred out of my parent's name into my name without a new deposit?
No. A new deposit, legal document(s) showing proof of ownership of said property and payment of any outstanding balance on the estate must be paid prior to start of water service.

•  How is my water bill determined?
From the difference between previous and current readings, the water usage is determined in the thousands. Water cost is $3.83 per thousand after the first 2,000 gallons. The first 2,000 gallons is included in the base cost. Residential meters are 5/8 x 3/4 and their base cost is $6.75. Example:

Previous reading 345
Current readings 350
Difference in readings equals 5 = -0- gallons of usage.
Base cost $6.75 (first 2,000 gallons included) + 11.49 (3 x $3.83) = Water $18.24
Sewer Cost is $2.55 per thousand gallons of usage plus $0.60 per sewer unit. An older home usually has 1 bath and kitchen sink = 6 sewer units x .60 = $3.60. Sewer cost = 5 x $2.55 = $12.75 + $3.60 = $16.35.
Water cost = $15.15
Sewer cost = $16.35

•  How can my sewer cost be higher than my water cost?
Sewer cost is based upon the number of sewer units in your home and the amount of water in the thousands pulled through the meter into your home. A sewer unit is one single drain. The total number of sewer units is provided to the water billing department from the Inspection Department upon time of building permit. Each unit is $0.60. Therefore the cost of the sewer per thousand is $2.55 and each drain at $0.60 becomes a higher cost than the water cost.

•  How can my water bill be the same amount each month?
Since the City only bills in the thousands, it's not uncommon to have the same bill during the year. You may use 3,590 gallons of water, but the City will only bill 3,000 gallons of usage. Therefore, if you use 3,999 or 3,001 gallons of water, you are only billed 3,000 gallons of usage.

•  If my water is shut off, and I know I paid my bill, what can I do?
Please contact the Customer Service to check on your account. If the disconnect was not generated from this office, it is possible there is a water leak in your area. Please contact the Utilities office at (409) 643-5860 or after hours, weekends and holidays at (409) 643-5959 to verify possible leak.

•  What do I do when I'm experiencing a slow sewer drain, sewer back up or see a water main break or leak?
Please contact the Utilities office at (409) 643-5860 or after hours, weekends and holidays to verify possible leak.

•  What is the mailing address to send my water bills?
      P.O. Box 3837
      Texas City, Texas 77592-3837
      Attn: Water Department

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Public Works Director: VACANT
Phone: (409)643-5810

• GIS Map - (Web Link) ( 6-6-08)
• MUD (pdf)
• Annex (pdf)) (Updated 6-3-09)
• Land Use (pdf)
• Storm System (pdf)

The following files above are in .pdf format. You need Acrobat Adobe reader to view and print these files. You can download this free program at .

Utilities

• Water main line repair
• Sewer main line repair and stop ups
• Repair water meter leaks from the main to the meter
• Locating water and sewer mains only
• Installation of water and sanitary sewer taps

Apply for water and sewer services at City Hall - 1801 9 ^th Ave N - Customer Service Department.

Every Tuesday @ 3 p.m. @ City Hall Annex
928 5th Avenue North
Texas City, TX 77590

Reviews plans and provides guidance for any construction or development activity within the City limits.

Before you dig - Call 1-800-669-8344
To locate all other utility, service, pipelines, etc. lines.

To report street light outages - Citizens should call 1-888-866-7456 this will generate a work ticket to TNMP to do the repairs.

• Outdoor Water Conservation (Power Point)
• Water Conservation Tips (Power Point)
• 2010 Annual Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report (pdf)
• 2009 Annual Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report (pdf)