SUBJECT:
Payment approval for the sum of $2,317,354.10 to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for the 2018 Water System Fees.
RECOMMENDATION: (Summary)
That City Council Approve payment of $2,317,354.10 to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for the 2018 Water System Fees.
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:
The Department of Public Works and Engineering, Drinking Water Operations Branch request Council to approve payment of the Annual Water System Fees for the period of January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. These fees are paid every year to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for regulatory activities required for this agency under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. These activities include coordination of chemical sample collection, system inspections, plan reviews, and other technical assistance.
The TCEQ fee schedule for service to Drinking Water Systems set forth in 30 TAC 290.51 is based on the number of service connections. The City of Houston operated 7 separate Drinking Water Systems in 2016. The fee for 2018 are based on data collected during the last inspection in 2017.
In 2017, the Drinking Water Operations Branch paid $2,317,354.10 for Water System Fees. The fee rate in 2017 is $2.45 per connection.
ESTIMATED FISCAL OPERATING IMPACT:
Funding for this item is included in the FY2018 Adopted Budget. Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policy Ord. 2017-1078.
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Carol Ellinger Haddock, PE
Acting Director
Department of Public Works and Engineering