Metering Equipment.

Austin City Code tit. 15, ch. 15-9, art. 15, div. 3

in effect

Austin City Code § 15-9-271 APPROVAL OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS REQUIRED.

§ 15-9-271 - APPROVAL OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS REQUIRED. (A) Before installing a wastewater meter, the applicant must submit to the director three copies of the plans and specifications for the installation of the wastewater meter, data logging equipment, telemetry equipment, or other equipment required under this article. (B) The plans and specifications for the wastewater meter, data logging equipment, telemetry equipment, or other equipment required under this article must be prepared and sealed by a registered professional engineer and must conform with this article. Source: 1992 Code Section 18-4-391; Ord. 031204-14; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 15-9-272 INSTALLATION OF WASTEWATER METER REQUIRED.

§ 15-9-272 - INSTALLATION OF WASTEWATER METER REQUIRED. (A) An applicant seeking approval for metered wastewater billings must install, at the applicant's expense, a wastewater meter of a size, type, design, number, location, and configuration approved by the director to measure the total amount of wastewater discharged to the City from the applicant's service address. (B) Unless otherwise approved by the director in writing, the applicant must install a wastewater meter at each point of connection at the applicant's service address where wastewater is discharged to the City. The meter must be readily accessible for inspection and maintenance. Source: 1992 Code Section 18-4-392; Ord. 031204-14; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 15-9-273 INSTALLATION OF DATA LOGGING EQUIPMENT, AND TELEMETRY EQUIPMENT REQUIRED.

§ 15-9-273 - INSTALLATION OF DATA LOGGING EQUIPMENT, AND TELEMETRY EQUIPMENT REQUIRED. (A) In addition to a wastewater meter, an applicant seeking approval for metered wastewater billings must install, at the applicant's sole expense: (1) a data logger with both a resettable and non-resettable totalizer; and (2) telemetry equipment of a size, type, design, number, location, and configuration the director determines is necessary for the safe, accurate, and efficient reading of the wastewater meter. (B) The applicant must install the data logging and telemetry equipment above ground level in a weatherproof housing at a location at the service address that approved by the director and readily accessible. Source: 1992 Code Section 18-4-393; Ord. 031204-14; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 15-9-274 COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE CITY CODES.

§ 15-9-274 - COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE CITY CODES. A customer shall comply with all applicable City codes and ordinances when installing and operating a wastewater meter, data logging equipment, telemetry equipment, or other equipment required under this article. Source: 1992 Code Section 18-4-394; Ord. 031204-14; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 15-9-275 DEDICATION OF METERING FACILITIES.

§ 15-9-275 - DEDICATION OF METERING FACILITIES. (A) On the request of the director, the customer shall dedicate to the City the wastewater meter or data logging, telemetry, or other equipment required under this article. The customer may not charge the City for the meter or equipment. (B) Unless otherwise agreed with the customer in writing, the City shall arrange and pay for monthly electric and telephone service for equipment dedicated to the City. Source: 1992 Code Section 18-4-395; Ord. 031204-14; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 15-9-276 EASEMENTS DEDICATED TO THE CITY.

§ 15-9-276 - EASEMENTS DEDICATED TO THE CITY. (A) If a customer dedicates equipment to the City under this article, the customer shall provide to the City, at the customer's expense, easements determined by the City to be necessary for the safe and lawful presence of the equipment and for the construction, operation, maintenance, upgrade, repair, or removal of the equipment by the City. (B) The customer shall submit the easements to the director for review. The director must approve the easements before the easements are recorded in the county real property records. Source: 1992 Code Section 18-4-396; Ord. 031204-14; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 15-9-277 CALIBRATION AND TESTING OF EQUIPMENT.

§ 15-9-277 - CALIBRATION AND TESTING OF EQUIPMENT. A person required to calibrate and test equipment under this article shall perform the calibration and testing in accordance with specifications set by: (1) the manufacturer of the equipment; (2) the National Institute of Standards and Testing; (3) the American Water Works Association; or (4) another source approved by the director. Source: 1992 Code Section 18-4-397; Ord. 031204-14; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 15-9-278 INITIAL CALIBRATION AND TESTING OF EQUIPMENT.

§ 15-9-278 - INITIAL CALIBRATION AND TESTING OF EQUIPMENT. (A) Before an application may be approved, the applicant must have the wastewater meter, data logging equipment, and telemetry equipment calibrated and tested by a qualified independent meter calibration and testing firm approved by the director to ensure proper calibration and performance of the equipment. (B) The applicant shall notify the director in writing not less than 10 days before the calibration and testing required under Subsection (A). The director may be present during the calibration and testing. (C) The applicant shall provide the results of the initial testing and calibration to the director in writing not later than 30 days after the date of the testing and calibration on a form provided by the director. Source: 1992 Code Section 18-4-398; Ord. 031204-14; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 15-9-279 GRANT OR DENIAL OF APPROVAL FOR METERED BILLING.

§ 15-9-279 - GRANT OR DENIAL OF APPROVAL FOR METERED BILLING. (A) If the director determines that the wastewater meter, data logging equipment, and telemetry equipment have been properly calibrated and tested and can accurately and reliably measure wastewater discharge from the customer's service address, the director shall grant approval for metered wastewater billing and provide the customer with written notice of the approval. (B) If the director determines that the wastewater meter, data logging equipment, and telemetry equipment have not been properly calibrated and tested and has not been shown to be able to accurately and reliably measure wastewater discharge from the customer's service address, the director shall deny approval for metered wastewater billing and provide the customer with written notice of the denial and the reasons for the denial. (C) If the customer does not dedicate the wastewater meter, data logging equipment, and telemetry equipment to the City, an approval for metered wastewater billing expires five years after the date the approval is granted. (D) If the customer dedicates the wastewater meter, data logging equipment, and telemetry equipment to the City, an approval for metered wastewater billing is valid until revoked. Source: 1992 Code Section 18-4-399; Ord. 031204-14; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 15-9-280 RENEWAL APPLICATION.

§ 15-9-280 - RENEWAL APPLICATION. A customer may submit an application for renewal not later than the 30th day before the date an approval under this article expires. Source: 1992 Code Section 18-4-400; Ord. 031204-14; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 15-9-281 ANNUAL CALIBRATION AND TESTING OF DEDICATED EQUIPMENT.

§ 15-9-281 - ANNUAL CALIBRATION AND TESTING OF DEDICATED EQUIPMENT. (A) The director shall calibrate and test a wastewater meter, data logging equipment, and telemetry equipment dedicated to the City for accuracy at least one time every 12 months. The director shall report the results of the calibration and testing to the customer in writing. (B) The director shall notify the customer in writing not later than the 10th day before the date of the annual calibration and testing. The customer may be present during the calibration and testing required under Subsection (A). (C) If the customer requests an additional test of a dedicated meter or equipment within a 12-month period, the director shall test the meter or equipment. If the director determines that the meter or equipment is operating within its proper calibration range, the director shall charge the cost of the additional test to the customer. If the director determines that the meter or equipment is operating outside its proper calibration range, the director shall calibrate the meter or equipment, and may not charge the customer for the additional testing and calibration. Source: 1992 Code Section 18-4-401; Ord. 031204-14; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 15-9-282 ANNUAL CALIBRATION AND TESTING OF EQUIPMENT NOT DEDICATED TO THE CITY.

§ 15-9-282 - ANNUAL CALIBRATION AND TESTING OF EQUIPMENT NOT DEDICATED TO THE CITY. (A) The customer shall have a meter and equipment that is not dedicated to the City calibrated and tested for accuracy at least one time every 12 months. The customer shall provide the director with the results of the testing and calibration on a form provided by the director. The customer shall provide the results of the testing and calibration to the director in writing not later than 30 days after the date of the testing and calibration. (B) The customer shall notify the director in writing not later than the 10th day before the date of the annual calibration and testing. The director may be present during calibration and testing. (C) If a customer fails to timely provide the director in writing the results of a test as required under Subsection (A), the director shall bill the customer for wastewater service based on the customer's actual water usage or the rated capacity of the wastewater meter for the customer service address, whichever is greater. The director shall bill the customer under this subsection for the period beginning on the 31st day after the date of the testing until the date the customer provides the director with the results of the test. (D) A customer may not receive a billing adjustment for a period the customer was billed under Subsection (C). (E) All calibrations shall be performed to the same standard required for the initial calibration. Source: 1992 Code Section 18-4-402; Ord. 031204-14; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 15-9-283 METERING EQUIPMENT IS SUBJECT TO INSPECTION AND TESTING BY THE CITY.

§ 15-9-283 - METERING EQUIPMENT IS SUBJECT TO INSPECTION AND TESTING BY THE CITY. The customer shall keep the wastewater meter, data logging equipment, and telemetry equipment available for inspection and testing by the director at all times. The customer shall allow the director access to the equipment, without delay, for the purpose of inspection and testing. Source: 1992 Code Section 18-4-403; Ord. 031204-14; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 15-9-284 REPORT OF CHANGES IN PROCESSES OR OPERATIONS.

§ 15-9-284 - REPORT OF CHANGES IN PROCESSES OR OPERATIONS. A customer shall provide a written report to the director not later than 90 days before the date of the start of a change in the customer's processes or operations that may affect: (1) the metering of water or wastewater at the customer's service address, or (2) the chemical composition, volume, or rate of wastewater discharge from the customer's service address. Source: 1992 Code Section 18-4-404; Ord. 031204-14; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 15-9-285 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS.

§ 15-9-285 - OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. (A) The director shall operate and maintain a dedicated wastewater meter, data logging equipment, or telemetry equipment in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications. (B) The customer shall operate and maintain in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications a wastewater meter, data logging equipment, or telemetry equipment installed at the customer's service address and not dedicated to the City. Source: 1992 Code Section 18-4-405; Ord. 031204-14; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 15-9-286 USE OF BYPASS PIPING RESTRICTED.

§ 15-9-286 - USE OF BYPASS PIPING RESTRICTED. (A) A customer may not install or use piping to bypass a wastewater meter without the approval of the director. (B) If approved by the director, a customer installing piping configured to allow for bypass of the wastewater meter shall install, at the customer's expense: (1) a valve on the bypass piping with a lock and seal or other means of security of a size, type, design, and location approved by the director; and (2) a sensing device and appurtenant equipment that will detect, record, and provide notice to the City of the customer's use of the bypass piping. (C) A customer may not use bypass piping for wastewater discharge unless the customer: (1) notifies the director by telephone not later than one city business day before the customer begins to use the bypass piping for scheduled maintenance activities, or not later than the next city business day after the customer begins to use the bypass piping in an emergency; (2) notifies the director by telephone not later than the next city business day after the customer stops use of the bypass piping; and (3) sends the director a letter not later than seven days after the customer stops use of the bypass piping stating: (a) the date and time that the use of the bypass piping started and finished; and (b) the customer's estimate of the volume of wastewater that flowed through the bypass piping and a statement of how the estimate was calculated. (D) The director may calculate the wastewater bill for bypassed flows on the basis of historical billing data if the director determines that the historical data is a more accurate estimate of the wastewater volume during a customer's use of bypass piping than the customer's estimate submitted under Subsection (D). Source: 1992 Code Section 18-4-406; Ord. 031204-14; Ord. 031211-11.

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=TIT15UTRE_CH15-9UTSERE_ART15MEWABI_DIV3MEEQFetched: 10/27/2026