The water supply source for the City is surface water obtained from Lake Livingston. The City is obligated to pay an annual standby charge on or before the 10th day of each February and August, beginning in August, 1978. Annual standby charges are calculated by multiplying the equivalent of the current annual average daily amount the Authority is obligated to sell to the City by the Authority's rates for sale of raw water to municipalities. Although the Authority is to retain title, the City shall have the exclusive use of the entire project throughout its natural life. There are three overhead storage tanks in the system with a total storage capacity of 845,000 gallons.
Fire protection is a secondary function of the water distribution system.
Maintenance of fire hydrants, along with other appurtenances, is carried out by the water department. A charge is made by the City for each new tapping of the water mains for a connection. The existing wastewater treatment plant was expanded in 1992 with financing through the issuance of Combined Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 1991. The plant is a 2,250,000 GPD activated sludge extended aeration plant consisting of a bar screen, grit canals, lift station, splitter box, sequencing batch reactor basin, ultraviolet disinfection channels, sludge holding tanks and sludge drying beds. All Rights Reserved.