We have heard from several residents about concerns regarding two main questions about their water bills in the wake of last week's winter weather event that left many dealing with major damage in and around their homes. Below are the answers to the questions, plus additional information to help you navigate through the process.
1) Will I have to pay for the water that leaked during the winter storm? The short answer is,
NO. However, we do need some help on your part. We need your request in writing. You can either fill out the leak adjustment form found on our
website* OR you can email your request to
publicworks@westlake-tx.org. Please include your name, service address, contact information, start/end dates, description of the leak, and how the situation was resolved.
Leaks may include water lost to burst pipes, broken or damaged pool pumps, broken or damaged fountains, and draining and refilling your fire sprinkler system. Many of you left your faucets dripping, as recommended. However, those losses were likely not enough to qualify for an adjustment (2000 gallons) or to make an impact on your
Winter Quarter Average.
If you are concerned, you can still send in your request or sign up for our
Eye on Water program. It is free and completely optional. This program allows you to view your water consumption and check for leaks. You can read more about our
leak adjustment policies here.
2) Will the events of the winter storm affect my Winter Quarter Average and sewer bill? Winter Quarter Averaging officially runs from December through February. We usually take the month of March to run the numbers and analyze any large deviations from last year's averages. The new charges should show up on the bill that is issued in April (April 8th this year).
Luckily, we only have about 500 residential sewer customers. That means that we can take a closer look at the numbers instead of just trusting the report. We usually look for anything that looks like a leak or landscaping usage patterns. Rest assured that this year, we will also take a look at the usage during the week of February 15th if we see an unusual spike in consumption. We do not want anyone paying extra because of one week of difficulties.
If November consumption or a March estimate looks to be lower than February, we may use those numbers instead. Obviously, we want this to be fair. If you have any questions at all about this or any other issue surrounding your water, please email Westlake's
Utility & Facility Coordinator Dianna Orender or call her at 817-490-5732.
*The online form does not need to be printed or emailed. Once you hit the "submit" button at the bottom, it will be delivered.