Rates & Service Fees

3/8/22

Brass Parts Used for New Meter Sets

Due to the shortage of brass parts from the factory that are used for new meter sets, BSUD will only be setting new meters as the parts become available. With that we will only be taking your name and number and call you to fill out paperwork and pay for meter sets as the parts become available. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

If you have any questions concerning this matter, you may contact Brookesmith Special Utility District at 1100 County Road 554, Brownwood, TX or (325)646-5731.

Listed below, you will find our current rates and policies for our Standard Residential Meters. Larger Meter information will be in Section G of our Service Policy. If you do not find the information you need, please contact our office and we will provide it for you.

Brookesmith SUD reads all meters monthly.  The register on your meter measures water in gallons.  Your bill reflects the difference between the current reading and previous month's reading.

When you wish to end your water service, please call or come by the office.  Remember, you have a refundable deposit with Brookesmith SUD minus final bill,  but paperwork must be filled out in order to obtain the refund.

Standard 5/8" Residential Service Rates

Monthly Minimum:
Water Included w/ Minimum Bill:		 $43.00
zero (0)/gallons
Consumption Rate $6.60/1,000 gallon
Drought Restriction Tiers (gal.) Drought Restriction Rates
0-10,000 No Surcharge
10,001-20,000 Base Rate + $2.00 per 1,000 gallons
20,001-30,000 Base Rate + $5.00 per 1,000 gallons
30,000-40,000 Base Rate + $10.00 per 1,000 gallons
Over 40,000 Base Rate + $20.00 per 1,000 gallons

The District's water meters are read on monthly basis.

***As of June 16, 2015, Tiered Surcharges for Stage 3 of our

Drought Contingency Plan are no longer in effect.***

Please contact our office for any additional information.

 

Average Billing Examples

2,000 $56.20
5,000 $76.00
10,000 $109.00
25,000 $198.00
30,000 $241.00

Deposits

Rates Service Fees
Meter Size / Minimum Charge Deposit Amount
5/8" meter = $200.00 X 1 service unit $200.00
3/4" meter = $200.00 X 1.5 service unit $300.00
1" meter = $200.00 X 2.5 service unit $500.00
1 1/2" meter = $200.00 x 5 service unit $1000.00
2" meter = $200.00 X 8 service unit $1600.00
3" meter = $200.00 X 18 service units $3600.00

Deposit Change Effective September 10, 2013

At the time the application for service is approved, an Applicant shall pay an account deposit which will be held by the District, without interest, until settlement of the customer's final bill.  The deposit will be used to offset final billing charges of the account. In the event that an outstanding balance exists after the deposit is applied, the District shall attempt to collect the outstanding balance by all lawful means available.

  1. The deposit for water service is $200.00 for each service unit.
  2. The deposit for oversized or Master Metered Accounts shall be based on multiples of meter size equivalence.

Tap Fees (Effective January 1, 2024)

Rates Service Fees
Meter Size Water Tap Installation Fee
5/8" $3000.00 Tap Fee + $200.00 deposit
3/4" $3600.00 Tap Fee + $300.00 deposit
1" $3600.00 Tap Fee + $500.00 deposit
1 1/2" $4800.00 Tap Fee + $1000.00 deposit
2" $4800.00 Tap Fee + $1600.00 deposit
3" $12000.00 Tap Fee + $3600.00 deposit

Monthly Charges (Effective August 15, 2023)

Rates Service Fees
Meter Size Monthly Charge/1,000 Gallons
5/8" meter $43.00 / $6.60 per 1,000
3/4" meter $64.50 / $6.60 per 1,000
1" meter $107.50 / $6.60 per 1,000
1 1/2" meter $215.00 / $6.60 per 1,000
2" meter $344.00 / $6.60 per 1,000
3" meter $774.00 / $6.60 per 1,000

Additional Fees

Beginning January 15, 2013 a Regulatory Assessment Fee will be applied to customer charges for water service.

What is the Regulatory Assessment?
The regulatory assessment is a fee collected from retail customers by water and wastewater utilities regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). It was authorized in response to a State Comptroller's report that recommended a higher level of user charges be used to finance state programs.

The fee for customers of Water Districts is 1/2%, and calculated as 0.005 x receipts.

Late Fee Charges
Any bill not paid before 8 a.m. on the 21st of each month will be charged a late fee of $10.00 or 10% of the bill - whichever is larger.

Returned Check Fee
Any payment returned by the bank or similar institution as non-negotiable for any reason, shall be assessed a returned check charge of $35.00 and returned eChecks will be charged a fee of $40.00.

Reset Fee (Re-Service Fee)
The District shall charge a fee of $100.00 for reconnecting service the District has previously disconnected the service for any reason.

Service Fee
A fee of $25.00 for setting up your account for new service when the service is being changed over to a new customer and the meter is still active.  This includes reading the meter for your beginning reading and processing paperwork.

Reconnect Fee (Locking/Unlocking Fee)
A fee of $50.00 for unlocking the water meter after the District has locked the meter due to non-payment of the water bill during office hours.  Fee also applies if bill is collected on-site.

After office hours a fee of $100.00 will be charged. Fee also applies if bill is collected on-site.

Equipment Damage Fee
If the District's facilities or equipment has been damaged due to negligence or unauthorized use of the District's equipment, right-of-way, or meter shut-off valve, or due to other acts for which the District incurs losses or damages, the Customer shall be liable for all labor, materials or water loss incurred as a result of said acts of negligence. Examples of damages, but not limited to: tampering, by-passing, breaking water lines without contacting office for line locates, service diversion, etc.

Customer History Report Fee
A fee of $5.00 shall be charged to provide a copy of the customers record of past water purchases in response to a customer's request for such a record.

Meter Test Fee
The District shall test a Customer's meter upon written request of the Customer.  Under the terms of Section E of the District Service Policy, a charge of $25.00 shall be imposed on the affected account.

Customer Request Trip Fee
This fee includes, but is not limited to, the following.

Check leak indicator on meter at customer request. Re-read, after BSUD has already verified reading (if reading is in error - no charge).Customer request to turn water off at meter.

  • $60.00 during office hours
  • $100.00 after office hours

Other Fees
All services outside the normal scope of utility operations that the District may be compelled to provide at the request of a customer shall be charged to the recipient based on the cost of providing such service.

Rules & Regulations

Service Entitlement
An Applicant requesting service within the boundaries of the District or the District’s CCN service area shall be considered qualified and entitled to water service when proper application has been made, terms and conditions of service have been met and continues to be met and all fees have been paid as prescribed.  An Applicant requesting service outside the District’s boundaries or CCN service area shall be considered for service in accordance with current District policies on providing service outside the District boundaries or CCN service area.

Shut-off Valve
The Customer shall install, at his own expense, a service line with a shut-off valve from the water meter connection to the point of use for purposes of isolating the Customer’s service pipeline and plumbing facilities from the SUD’s water pressure.  The valve shall meet AWWA standards (a ball valve is preferred).  The Customer’s use of the SUD’s curb stop or other similar valve for such purposes is prohibited.

Pressure
All Public Water Supply Systems must have a minimum of 35 lbs to all customers.  This minimum pressure is to be maintained throughout the water system.  In order to maintain a 35 lb minimum service pressure some areas of our system will experience much higher pressures.  If pressures are viewed as high or excessive a pressure regulator may be used to reduce water pressure at your house and/or business.  The installation of a regulator or other pressure-reducing device is the Customer’s responsibility and must be installed by a licensed plumber or by the owner according to State Regulations.  All plumbing, fittings, regulators, or other type of connections on the Customer’s side of the meter are the Customer’s responsibility.  The Customer is also responsible for all costs associated with water loss or damage.

 The Customer shall hold the SUD harmless from any and all claims or demands for damage to real or personal property occurring from the point the Customer ties on to the water meter to the final destination of the line installed by the Customer.  The Customer agrees to grant to the SUD an easement of right-of-way for the purpose of installing, maintaining, and operating such pipelines, meters, valves, and any other equipment which may be deemed necessary for the SUD on such form as is required by the SUD.

Prohibition of Multiple Connections to a Single Tap
No more than one (1) residential, commercial, or industrial service connection is allowed per meter.  The District may consider allowing an apartment building or mobile home/RV park to apply as a “Master Metered Account” and have a single meter. Any unauthorized sub-metering or diversion of service shall be considered a Multiple Connection and subject to disconnection of service.  If the District has sufficient reason to believe a Multiple Connection exists, the District shall discontinue service under the Disconnection with Notice provisions of this Service Policy. 


Prohibited Plumbing Practices

  • No direct connection between the public drinking water supply and a potential source of contamination is permitted.  Potential sources of contamination will be isolated from the public water system by an air gap or an appropriate backflow prevention device.
  • No connection, which allows water to be returned to the public drinking water supply, is permitted.
  • No pipe or pipe fitting which contains more than eight percent (8.0%) lead may be used for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection that provides water for human use.
  • No solder or flux which contains more than two-tenths of one percent (0.2%) lead can be used for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection that provides water for human use.

Charge Distribution

The Service Availability Charge is for the billing period from the 16th day of the previous month to the 15th day of the current month.  Charges shall be prorated for meter installations and service termination’s falling during the billing period.  Billings for this amount shall be mailed on or about the 21st of the month preceding the month for which this charge is due.

Gallonage Charge shall be billed at the rate for meter size and billing shall be calculated in one hundred (100) gallon increments.  Water charges are based on monthly meter readings and are calculated from reading date to reading date. Readings used in all billing calculations shall be taken by the District’s employees or designated representative.

Great care is taken to ensure that consumers are billed correctly for the usage registered on their water meter.  Meter readers enter readings by using an electronic reading device.  If the reading exceeds expected limits, the meter reader is alerted to verify the reading.  These readings are loaded into our computer, which checks the validity of the data and generates reports of possible exceptions before the bills are printed.

Brookesmith SUD reads all meters monthly.  The register on your meter measures water in gallons.  Your bill reflects the difference between the current reading and previous month's reading.

Fire Protection Responsibility

The District generally does not provide nor does it imply that fire protection is available on any of the distribution system, except where expressly specified and agreed to by the District.  All hydrants or flush valves are for the operation and maintenance of the system and may be used for refill only by authorized fire departments.  Any hydrant, flush valve or similar fixture painted black is not available for fire flow and shall not be used for such purposes according to state law. The District reserves the right to remove any hydrant, due to improper use or detriment to the system as determined by the District, at any time without notice, refund, or compensation to any third party.