frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have a leak?
Do you have a leaky pipe? Is it your leak to repair, or is your water system responsible for it? This document helps you answer those questions.
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When is my bill due?
Normal monthly bills are due by the 15th of the month. After the 15th a late fee of $9.oo will be assessed. For more detail see the Pay Bill Here screen.

Who do I call if I have a problem?
Call the office phone 512-746-2114 any time of day. We have a 24 hour answering service that will page our crew if there is a water outage during non-business hours.

Can I get water to my property?
Meter requests need to be submitted in writing via our Standard Service Agreement. The application and a map of your property are submitted to our engineer for his assessment. There is a $50 fee for the engineer’s assessment.

How much does a new meter cost?
Engineer’s assessment $50, Membership Fee $300, Contribution in aid of Construction $3,700, Connection fee $500, Right of Way Easement recording fee depends on the county. Minimum cost is $4,560.

(Line extension, Road bore, or Line Relocation cost depends on the distance and the contractor. This is a pass through expense. JSWSC does not “up-charge”. If no line improvement is required, the fees above are the only ones which apply)

How much does water from JSWSC cost?
We utilize a graduated water rate with a base fee of $41.00 per month. Water is billed in 100 gallon increments after the minimum Base Rate.

$41.00    Base Rate for 5/8" Meter
From Gallons                 To Gallons                         Rate       
            1                              2000                               $ 1.00 per 1000 gal.
       2001                             8000                               $  2.30 per 1000 gal.
       8001                             50,000                            $  4.75 per 1000 gal.
      50001 >                                                               $  7.00 per 1000 gal.

For example, the billing for usage of 7500 gal. on a 5/8" meter would be figured as follows:

            Base Rate                 $41.00
           
                  0 – 2,000 gal.   $1.00 x 2 =            $  2.00
            2,001 – 4,000 gal.   $ 2.30 x 2 =            $  4.60
            4,001 – 6,000 gal.   $ 2.30 x 2 =           $  4.60
             6001 – 8,000 gal.   $ 2.30 x 1.5 =         $  3.45 

All customers have a .5 % state regulatory fee added to their bill. This money is collected and mailed to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality once per year. Customers located in the City Limits of Jarrell also have a 3% fee that is collected and paid to the City of Jarrell once per year. 

How do I know my meter is being read every month?
As of February 2006, all JSWSC meters are equipped with radio read electronics. Crew members no longer need to physically read each meter. The meter reader simply drives within half a mile of the meter and the reading is picked up by our truck mounted receiver and logged onto a laptop computer. If there is a problem with the electronics or a dispute over the reading, we do read the meter in person.

Can I use a credit card?
We do have an online payment service that accepts credit cards, debit cards and checking account numbers. There is a fee for this service. See the Pay Bills Here screen for more detail. 

What are the office hours?
JSWSC staff are available in the office from 8:30 to 3:30. We are open through the lunch hour.

Why is my water cloudy sometimes?
Often times when JSWSC crew repair a water line break, air can enter the water line and then due to turbulence water comes out of your faucet looking cloudy due to the multiple tiny air bubbles. If the cloudiness disappears after a glass has been sitting for a few minutes, you know that air is the reason. We flush water lines after a break in order to remove debris and these air bubbles.

How will I be notified if a Boil Water Notice is issued?
We will contact Temple and Austin news outlets, in the event of water contamination or potential contamination. We also post the latest updates here on our website under a flashing banner on the home page. Finally, we post a notice on the office door and in other public places close to the affected area.

My bill is really high. How could I have used that much water?
We are here to serve you and part of that service is helping you answer that question. Our new radio read meters log water use for an extended period of time. We can download that use information and help you pinpoint when water was running through your meter. A meter that is constantly running is an almost certain indicator that you have a leak somewhere.

How Hard is my Water?
Water Hardness is not tested every year. The water company follows the required testing schedule set forth by the TCEQ. The last measurement taken in 2005 showed Total Alkalinity as CaCO3 at 262 parts per million. By some assessments that is considered "moderately hard".