Hutto, TX Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)
Key Facts
- Billing relief
- Written request to city manager, § 24.04.039(e)
- Covers
- Leaks on customer side of the meter
- Drought-plan duty
- Repair after notice or it's 'nonessential use'
- Penalty for non-repair
- Class C misdemeanor, § 24.07.040
- Repeat violations
- Water service may be disconnected
Summary
City of Hutto customers who want a bill credit for a leak on their side of the water meter must request the adjustment in writing to the city manager. Once the city gives notice of an unrepaired leak, failing to fix it counts as a nonessential water use that can trigger drought-plan penalties.
Adjustment of charges due to leaks.Exemption to the rates provided in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code may be requested by a customer, in writing, from the city manager, or his assigned agent, for leaks that occur on the customer side of the meter. ... Nonessential water use.Water uses that are not essential nor required for the protection of public health, safety, and welfare, including: ... (7) Failure to repair a controllable leak(s) within a reasonable period after having been given notice directing the repair of such leak(s); and
Full Breakdown
Two separate provisions of the Hutto Code of Ordinances cover leaks. Section 24.04.039(e) lets a customer ask, in writing, for an exemption from the water rate charged for a leak occurring on the customer's side of the meter; the city manager or an assigned agent reviews the written request. Separately, the city's Drought Contingency Plan (Article 24.07) treats an unrepaired leak as a form of water waste. Section 24.07.037 defines 'nonessential water use' to include 'failure to repair a controllable leak(s) within a reasonable period after having been given notice directing the repair of such leak(s).' That same failure is listed again among the specific uses prohibited once Stage 2 of the plan is in effect (section 24.07.039(b)(2)(C)(viii)(d)).
In practice, once the city gives a customer written notice of a leak, the customer must fix it within a reasonable time or the ongoing leak becomes an enforceable violation of the plan rather than just a billing issue. Enforcement runs through section 24.07.040: a person who lets a controllable leak run after notice is subject to the same Class C misdemeanor penalty as any other drought-plan violation, with each day of continued leaking prosecutable as a separate offense, and repeated convictions can lead to water service being cut off under that section.
Violations & Fines
Failing to repair a leak after the city's notice, once a drought stage restricting nonessential use is in effect, is a Class C misdemeanor under section 24.07.040, fined under the general penalty in section 1.01.009, with each day counted separately. A leak-adjustment request under section 24.04.039(e) that is not submitted in writing to the city manager is simply not eligible for a rate credit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a credit for a water bill spike caused by a leak?
Is there a deadline to fix a reported leak?
What happens if I never fix the leak?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hutto
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Leak Reporting Duty in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Williamson County handle leak reporting duty.