DontWaterDownGeorgetown

The City is promoting water conservation this summer as we have in past years. For most households, the single biggest step you can take is to reduce the number of days you water your lawn to two or even one day each week. You can see the watering schedule that shows your days for outdoor watering based on your address at water.georgetown.org.

Another step you can take is to drop three minutes on the zone run times on your irrigation system. Shaving a few minutes off each zone run time can save a significant amount of water. And your lawn will still be getting enough to stay healthy. If you need help adjusting your controller, contact Customer Care at (512) 930-3640 or customercare@georgetown.org.

Click on the images below for more information, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for additional tips to conserve water throughout the summer.

TipsToSave
CheckYourSchedule
PickTwo
NoWateringMonday

Op-Ed by Mayor Dale Ross

Are We Running Out of Water?

Water use by Georgetown customers jumped dramatically in July. Daily water consumption increased from 18 million gallons in June to more than 30 million in July—an increase of nearly 70 percent.

The main factor for the sharp increase is the weather. The thermometer reached the upper 90s or the triple-digits almost every day in July. That kind of heat means we are watering lawns more often. Based on patterns in prior years, we know that in the hottest months of the summer, 75 percent of daily household water use, on average, is for landscape irrigation.

The City is promoting water conservation this summer as we have in past years. For most households, the single biggest step you can take is to reduce the number of days you water your lawn to two or even one day each week. You can see the watering schedule that shows your days for outdoor watering based on your address at water.georgetown.org. Pick two days on the schedule.

Another step you can take is to drop three minutes on the zone run times on your irrigation system. Shaving a few minutes off each zone run time can save a significant amount of water. And your lawn will still be getting enough to stay healthy. If you need help adjusting your controller, contact Customer Care at (512) 930-3640 or customercare@georgetown.org.

Given that Lake Georgetown—our primary water supply—is at the full mark, some may ask why water conservation is needed.

Others may wonder, “Are we running out of water?” Since we are the fastest-growing city in the U.S., do we have enough water for all those new residents?

The short answer is: we are not running out of water.

Georgetown’s current water supply comes from ground water as well as surface water in Lake Georgetown and in Stillhouse Hollow Lake. The untreated water from Stillhouse Hollow is pumped through a pipeline. The current projection in the Water Master Plan, given population growth, is that these water sources will meet demand through 2047. With additional conservation measures, our water sources can meet demand past 2060. Acquiring additional water resources could extend the timeline even further.

To extend our current water supply to meet demand through 2060, we need to reduce overall demand by 20 percent. Meeting that goal involves a multi-faceted strategy including reasonable limits on irrigation, promoting drought-tolerant grasses, and reducing the irrigated lawn area for new homes.

When the City promotes water conservation, there are really three factors to consider. The first is this long-term goal to reduce our overall consumption to meet the needs of future residents and economic development.

The other two factors are short-term and not fundamentally related to our supply contracts and sources. The first is severe drought conditions, or other extreme events, that lead us to enact our Drought Contingency Plan. In 2009 and 2011, water utilities across the region, including Georgetown’s, put water restrictions in place.

The second short-term factor is related to our just-in-time approach to building new water infrastructure to meet demand. Our goal is to deliver new water treatment, distribution, and supply capacity only when it is needed so that customers pay for capital expenses only when they are needed. With our fast-growing city, for example, we now have water storage tanks under construction on Westinghouse Road and at Daniels Mountain in the former Chisholm Trail SUD service area that is served by Georgetown. New storage tanks are planned on Cedar Breaks Road at DB Wood Road and in Sun City. Treatment plant expansions also are planned.

While the City will continue to invest in our water utility infrastructure to meet the demands of our growing population, we all have a role to play. Each of us can adjust our water use habits and take steps to reduce our overall demand. This long-term issue is one that we can solve together to ensure we have the water we need for our future.

Water Quality

Georgetown Utility Systems is proud to serve our customers with water system rated as “Superior” by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

In order to achieve and maintain recognition as a Superior Public Water System, the utility must exceed the minimum acceptable standards set forth by the TCEQ. Additionally, the following requirements must be met:

  1. adequate licensed operators;
  2. no violations for water quality;
  3. comply with all drinking water standards;
  4. proper reporting;
  5. adequate capacity;
  6. proper maintenance.

TCEQ requires each water purveyor in the state to provide its customers with an annual water quality report. The report provides detailed information about the quality of the water we provide to you.

The report also includes information about significant current and future activities. We hope that you find this additional information helpful. If you have any questions about this report or any other details about your water utility, please contact Customer Care at (512) 930-3640, toll free at (888) 474-4904 or email customercare@georgetown.org.

City of Georgetown Annual Water Quality Report 2018

 

If you would like to review the old Water Quality Reports, please visit our online historic documents repository.

Other Information

Water Data

Rates

Electric

(effective 01/07/19)

(PCA effective 01/01/2021)

  • Residential Sales Tax :: Inside City Limits: 2.00% of total electric charges; Outside City Limits: None
  • Commercial Sales Tax :: Inside City Limits: 8.25% of total electric charges; Outside City Limits: 6.25% of total electric charges
Customer Charge (per month) Demand Charge (per kW) Energy Charge (per kWh) Power Cost Adjustment (per kWh) Transmission Cost of Service (per kWh) Minimum Bill
Residential Service $24.80 $0.0958 $0.01375 $0.00
Small General Service $50.00 $0.0902 $0.01375 $0.00
School Service $200.00 $0.1150 $0.01375 $0.00
Municipal Water &
Wastewater Pumping
$195.00 $19.58 $0.04504 $0.01375 $0.00
Large General Service $175.00 $11.00* $0.06543 $0.01375 $0.00 $725.00
Industrial $350.00 $16.00** $0.05648 $0.01375 $0.00 $8,350.00
Large Industrial Service $510.00 $19.25*** $0.05317 $0.01375 $0.00 $39,010.00
Municipal Service $132.00 $0.0700 $0.01375 $0.00
Lighting Service

High Pressure Sodium Lighting (HPL)

100 Watt HPL (35kWh) 200 Watt HPL (71 kWh) 250 Watt HPL (86 kWh) 400 Watt HPL (137 kWh)
Security Lighting $8.50 $14.50 $16.70 $23.50
Municipal Street Lighting $5.09 $9.29 $11.13 $17.33
Retail Street Lighting $5.26 $9.75 $11.64 $18.17
Water

Base Rates
(effective 04/01/2024)

Customer Charge (per month) Inside City Limits Outside City Limits
5/8 inch meter $27.30 $32.85
3/4 inch meter $40.95 $49.25
1 inch meter $68.25 $82.10
1 1/2 inch meter $136.50 $164.15
2 inch meter $273.00 $328.35
3 inch meter $655.20 $788.00
4 inch meter $1,146.60 $1,379.00
6 inch meter $2,511.60 $3,020.65
8 inch meter $4,368.00 $5,253.35
Fire Hydrant $655.20 $788.00
Residential Water Rates (effective 10/01/2022)* Cost is per 1,000 gallons
(1,000 gallons) Volumetric Rate
Up to and including 7,000 gallons $2.30
Over 7,001 gallons, up to and including 15,000
gallons
$3.45
Over 15,001 gallons, up to and including 25,000
gallons
$6.05
Over 25,001 gallons $10.60
Non-Residential Volumetric Water Rates (effective 10/01/2022)*Cost is per 1,000 gallons
Meter Size Tier 1 Rate Tier 2 Rate Tier 2 Threshold
Small Commercial <2″ $3.05 $8.20 300,001 gallons
Large Commercial 2″ $3.05 $8.20 600,001 gallons
Large Commercial 3″ $3.05 $8.20 900,001 gallons
Large Commercial 4″ $3.05 $8.20 4,000,001 gallons
Large Commercial 6″ $3.05 $8.20 6,000,001 gallons
Large Commercial 8″ $3.05 $8.20 8,000,001 gallons
Manufacturing <8″ $3.05
Municipal Interruptible $3.05
Restaurant $3.05
Evaporative Cooling $3.05
Fire Flow $3.05
Irrigation Only $5.05 $10.80 500,001 gallons
Fire Hydrant Meter $10.75

*Residential low-income discount of 30 percent is available to customers who can provide us with verifiable proof of participation in the Medicaid Program by a permanent resident in the household.

Non-Potable Rates
*Rates take effect Oct. 1, 2023    *Cost is per 1,000 gallons
Reclaimed Water $1.60
Multifamily (Master Metered) Water Rates
*Rates take effect Oct. 1, 2023    *Cost is per 1,000 gallons
Inside city Limits | October 1, 2023* Outside city limits | October 1, 2023*
Base $27.30 x Unit Count $32.85 x Unit Count
Tier 1 Unit Count x 7,000 gallons $2.30
Tier 2 Unit Count x 8,000 above Tier 1 $3.45
Tier 3 Unit Count x 10,000 above Tier 2 $6.05
Tier 4 all flows above Tier 3 $10.60
RV (Master Metered with oversized meter for fire flow) Water Rates
8 spots = one 3/4″ Single Family Unit
*Rates take effect Oct. 1, 2023    *Cost is per 1,000 gallons
Inside city Limits | October 1, 2023* Outside city limits | October 1, 2023*
Base $40.95 x 1/8th the number of Dwelling Units $49.25 x 1/8th the number of Dwelling Units
Tier 1 Unit Count x 7,000 gallons $2.30 $2.30
Tier 2 Unit Count x 8,000 above Tier 1 $3.45 $3.45
Tier 3 Unit Count x 10,000 above Tier 2 $6.05 $6.05
Tier 4 all flows above Tier 3 $10.60 $10.60
Wastewater
Wastewater Rate Schedule (effective 10/01/2023)
Customer Charge Inside City Limits
(per month)
Volumetric Charge
(per 1000 gals)
Customer Charge Outside City Limits
(per month)
Volumetric Charge
(per 1000 gals)
Residential Service
Single family /
Domestic use only
$48.85 N/A $56.20 N/A
Small Commercial Service
4″ sewer line /
3/4″ wtr mtr /
10 fixtures or less /
must be requested in writing
$48.85 N/A $56.20 N/A
Commercial Service
6″ or smaller sewer line
$73.85 $4.25 $85.00 $4.85
Multi Family Service
8″ or larger sewer line
2/3 (0.666) of Residential Rate = $32.53 x # of Dwelling Units 2/3 (0.666) of Residential Rate = $37.43 x # of Dwelling Units
Large Commercial Service
8″ or larger sewer line
$131.15 $4.25 $150.90 $4.85
Industrial Strength Commercial
BOD over 250 / food
processing or high level of oil
or chemicals in the discharge
$101.90 $4.25 $113.05 $4.85
Large Industrial Strength
BOD over 250 / food
processing or high level of oil
or chemicals in the discharge
$159.20 $4.25 $178.90 $4.85

*Residential low-income discount of 20 percent is available to customers who can provide us with verifiable proof of participation in the Medicaid Program by a permanent resident in the household.

**Volumetric Charge is per 1,000 gallons multiplied by the customer’s wastewater strength factor. An annual wastewater sample and pretreatment renewal by the City is used to determine the Industrial Users wastewater strength factor. The wastewater strength factor remains in effect for a 12-month period following the sample results, or until replaced by a wastewater strength factor calculated as a result of a more recent sample. 

Garbage Rates

(Rates effective 11/01/2023)

All customers inside City limits must pay for solid waste service. All customers outside City limits who receive City utilities and live on a City solid waste route may select City solid waste pickup.

Sales Tax on Garbage Service: Residential and Commercial
Inside City Limits: 8.25%
Outside City Limits: 6.25%
Residential Rate: Inside City Limits – $22.69 (with recycling)
Outside City Limits – $31.31 (cart only)
Non-Residential Rate: Varies – Rates will be set by type, amount and frequency of service.

Click here for a breakdown of all solid waste rates.

Stormwater Drainage Fees (effective 10/01/15)

(effective 10/01/15)
Residential Inside City Limits: $6.50 per month

Non-Residential Inside City Limits: $6.50 per unit (2,808 sq ft)

All residential customers within the city limits must pay a monthly charge of $6.50. Non-residential customers within the city limits must pay $6.50 per unit (2,808 square feet) which is calculated on the total square footage of impervious cover on the property.

Utility Deposit Requirements and Service Charges
  • Residential Deposit – $150.00 (cash, check or credit card); Will be waived with qualifying 12- month letter of credit from a previous metered utility provider or by signing up for auto draft.
  • Non-Residential Deposit – 2x average billing. May substitute a Letter of Credit from a bank or surety bond.  Will waive with a qualifying 36-month letter of credit.
  • Utility Account Setup Fee (move in) – $75.00
  • Service Trip Fee $120.00
  • Same Day Connect (move-in) – $195 ($75 + $120 trip fee)
  • Disconnect Service Charge for Delinquent Bill or Insufficient Check (Reconnect Fee) – $95
  • After Hours Reconnect Fee – $125.00 (additional) Requests received after 4pm
  • Meter Tampering Fee – $585.00 + any possible damage parts/components per incident
  • Payment Plan Administration Fee – $15.00
  • Temporary Meter Charge – $215.00 (Applies where there is no meter pedestal available)
  • Late Payment – 10%
  • Insufficient Check Charge – $30.00
  • Water Meter Test (3rd Party Cost) – $85.00
  • Electric Meter Test – single phase (3rd party cost) – $42.00
  • Electric Meter Test – three phases + demand (3rd party cost) – $50.00
  • Credit Cards: Discover, VISA and MasterCard accepted
  • Online payments accepted