Sewer Rates

The City provides water and sewer services to the citizens of Burnet. The Water/Wastewater Department is responsible for all water and sewer issues. Report any breaks immediately by calling (512) 756-6093. City water is regulated by state regulatory agencies and mandatory guidelines are followed to assure high standards. The City uses surface water from Inks Lake.

Definitions:

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Sanitary sewage shall include, but not be limited to, the waste from water closets, urinals, lavatories, sinks, bathtubs, showers, household laundries, cellar floor drains, garage floor drains, storerooms, soda fountains, cuspidors, refrigerator drips, drinking fountains and stable drains.

Volumetric rate means the rate charged on each 1,000 gallons of sewer in any given billing period.

Sewer charges:

1. Levy and collection of charges for use of the sewer system. It is hereby determined and declared to be necessary for the city to levy and collect charges from all persons, firms and corporations that are using the sanitary sewer system and the lines of the city. These charges shall be in accordance with the user charge system developed under EPA Grant Project C-48-1638-03. The charges shall be based upon actual sewer use as measured by the average monthly water usage during the winter months of December, January and February. Sewer charges shall be calculated once each year and remain fixed throughout a 12-month period.
2. Amendment of sewer user charge system; minimum billing. The sewer user charge system shall be amended to provide for a minimum billing based upon a basic level of service required by all sewer customers including, but not limited to, costs for meter reading, monthly billing, overhead administration services, and wastewater collection and treatment.
3. Schedules. The rates shall apply unless changed or altered by ordinance. The schedules of sewer user charges shall be as follows:

Monthly Sewer Charges

Wastewater Connection Fee

Each building or residence will be classified as a separate connection.

WASTEWATER CONNECTION FEE ................................$ 100.00

Sewer Only With No Water Service

RESIDENTIAL:  $ 54.19 per billing period or fraction thereof

COMMERCIAL: A commercial customer shall be charged based on the City's estimation of customer's return flow to the City's wastewater system.  The City may, at its discretion, require the installation, at customer's expense, of a water or wastewater meter to verify return flow.

Service Outside the City Limits

The fees for service outside the city limits of the City of Burnet shall be charged a a multiplier of 1.15 times for sewer customers whose connection is located outside the City limits, excluding tap fees.

Sewer System

The City of Burnet treats its customer's wastewater at a treatment plant located south of town. The treatment process consists of two Contact Stabilization Plants. Plant #1 was completed in 1966, as flow increased Plant #2 was completed and brought online in 1986.

The current treatment plant has a capacity of 0.726 mgd. The average flow of wastewater treated in 2010 was 0.652 mgd per day, or about 106 gallons per person per day. Based on the current flow and receiving stream requirements the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required the City to increase treatment capacity to meet current and future demands and require the City to meet increasingly stringent water quality requirements to protect the receiving stream.

The City of Burnet intent is not to discharge to the receiving stream, however, rain events and effluent storage limitations may require discharging.

The new treatment plant will have the capacity to treat 1.7 mgd and is a Biological Nutrient Removal Facility and will be designed to meet higher water quality standards should a discharge be required. The Facility will also be capable of producing Type I or Type II water for reuse.

The treatment process is a biological process that works similar to our digestive system. Since it is a biological process it cannot tolerate excessive fats, oils, greases and chemicals. Material that cannot be treated will make the WWTP upset and negatively affect effluent water quality.

The City is permitted to land apply the digested sludge on hay fields at the WWTP site and has a Reclaimed Water Authorization Permit to reuse the effluent at the onsite hay fields, Delaware Springs Golf Course and other areas permitted by TCEQ.

The collection system consists of approximately 40 miles of piping, 650 manholes, and 13 lift-stations. The City is currently under a Sanitary Sewer and Evaluation Study (SSES) agreement. This agreement will improve inflow and infiltration (I&I) which cause a negative impact during rain events.

All City operations personnel that are responsible for producing treated water participate in advanced training and achieve licensing to ensure that water quality and facilities operations remain at their best.