SUBJECT: Payment approval for the sum of $2,009,199.75 to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for water system fees for calendar year 2016.
RECOMMENDATION: (Summary) That City Council approve payment of $2,009,199.75 to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for the 2016 Water System Fees.
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:
The Department of Public Works and Engineering Drinking Water Operations Branch requests Council to approve payment of the Annual Water System Fees for the period of January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016. 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 2015. The fees for 2016 are based on data collected during the last inspection in 2015. For more information, see the attached sheet.
In 2015, the Drinking Water Operations Branch paid $1,980,884.25 for Water System Fees.