WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION.
Austin City Code § 2-1-186
in effect§ 2-1-186 - WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION.
(A) The Water and Wastewater Commission members should reside inside the utility's service area. Not more than two members should be involved in development or development-related activities.
(B) The commission shall:
(1) review, analyze, and advise the city council on the policies and resources relating to the city water and wastewater utility and water quality; and
(2) assist the city council in ensuring that the City's residents are provided with an adequate, economical, and potable supply of water and a stable, economical, and environmentally safe system of wastewater disposal.
(C) The commission shall act as an advisory body to the city council and shall review programs and make recommendations regarding:
(1) the protection and integrity of the water resources for the City;
(2) minimization of water quality impacts to downstream areas;
(3) implementation of programs that achieve goals and objectives relating to water supply management, water demand management, and land water quality control;
(4) the fiscal solvency of said programs; and
(5) the fiscal health of the utility.
(D) The commission may conduct an annual review of the commission's goals and objectives, and the activities needed to achieve these goals and objectives in the following areas, for the year covered by the program:
(1) water supply distribution;
(2) water demand and conservation management;
(3) wastewater treatment and collection;
(4) water quality;
(5) service area master planning and capital improvement project development;
(6) utility operating budget;
(7) rates and fees; and
(8) citizen education.
(E) The commission may review and make reports and recommendations to the city council, or other appropriate boards and commissions, concerning the following matters:
(1) water and wastewater capital improvement program proposals;
(2) water and wastewater bond programs;
(3) monitoring of capital recovery fee revenues on a quarterly basis, and review of capital recovery fee dollar amount on an annual basis from the effective date of capital recovery fee ordinance;
(4) review of the City's annual budget proposal for the water and wastewater utility;
(5) quarterly review of water and wastewater ending balances;
(6) cost effectiveness and financial impact on water supply and water conservation programs;
(7) water and wastewater tap and connection fees;
(8) quarterly review of the utility's total bonded indebtedness, including:
(a) contracts bonds approval, issuance, and expenditure: proposed and approved by council action, and issued;
(b) revenue bonds approval, issuance and expenditure: proposed and approved by council action, and issued; and
(c) municipal utility district bonds;
(9) water and wastewater service extension requests and policy;
(10) water treatment water supply, capacity, and demand projections;
(11) water and wastewater treatment capacity, loadings, and effluent quality and quantity by the City on a monthly basis;
(12) proposed and existing wastewater package treatment plants within the City's extraterritorial jurisdiction;
(13) desired service areas that the City should serve and the timing of the service;
(14) creation of area package treatment plant and alternative wastewater system conservation proposals;
(15) creation or modification of municipal utility districts, water control and improvement districts, and all other entities authorized by the Texas Water Code;
(16) water and wastewater treatment processes;
(17) review and recommendation to the city council regarding all water and wastewater rates and fees;
(18) annual review of the effectiveness of erosion and sedimentation controls and drainage criteria in protecting water quality; and
(19) monthly review of water and wastewater discharge by the City.
(F) The commission may obtain information from the Water Utility and communicate to the city council as follows:
(1) coordination with staff to develop programs to implement commission duties and responsibilities;
(2) evaluation of the economic feasibility and impacts of commission goals and objectives programs;
(3) coordination with the staff time and resource requirements for liaison activities with the commission;
(4) policy and budgetary recommendations to the city council relating to program implementation;
(5) periodic review of staff progress toward successful completion of utility programs;
(6) review of staff reports and studies relating to commission programs, including economic and rate impacts and environmental effects;
(7) review of development of program implementation strategies; and
(8) review of monitoring and enforcement of programs.
(G) The commission shall promote close cooperation and open communication between the city council, other City boards, commissions and committees, City departments and individuals, and institutions and agencies concerned with the policies and procedures and operation, maintenance and construction of the Water and Wastewater Utility so that all similar activities in the City may be coordinated to secure the greatest public welfare.
Source: Ord. 20071129-011; Ord. 20080618-030; Ord. 20101209-003.
Source: City of Austin, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT2AD_CH2-1CIBO_ART2BO_S2-1-186WAWACOFetched: 10/27/2026