Taps FAQ

First, decide upon the scope of your development. 

• Are you planning to simply remodel your home?
• Are you demolishing and re-building?
• Are you developing on a brand-new land lot?
• Are you building a new single-family dwelling, or are you building multiple dwelling units?

After the scope of your development has been decided, the first step is for Austin Water to review your service plan, so an Austin Water Analyst can ensure that prior to beginning a residential project, adequate water and wastewater services can be provided to your site. Austin Water will advise you on how to proceed in getting the right meter and the correctly sized ‘Tap’ or service line.

An architect or engineer can create a site plan or plot plan for your proposed project. The plot plan (or site plan) should be to standard scale and show all existing water meter and wastewater connection locations as well as any proposed improvements. The plot plan should also reflect locations of your driveways (existing and proposed) as well as the layout of the new structures on your lot.

Complete the Water & Wastewater Service Plan Verification (WWWSPV) form found on the Austin Water Taps webpage to inform Austin Water about the scope of work will be. All questions must be answered on the form including:

• Was there an existing dwelling unit on the lot that was or will be demolished? 
• Are multiple dwelling units proposed on the lot? 
• Was the lot re-subdivided or did it require a legal land status determination?  
• How many bathrooms are being proposed?

The Austin Water analyst will research the property and determine if any upgrades or adjustments are required to proceed with your project.  The completed WWWSPV form is turned in with the initial plan review to generate the building permit.

NOTE: The site or plot plan must be submitted to Austin Water Taps together with the WWWSPV.

During the WWWSPV review, an Austin Water taps analyst will advise you regarding the steps necessary to complete the water and wastewater portion of your project and bring the services up to current codes and standards. Once reviewed, the analyst will stamp both the SPV form and the plan.

The infrastructure is examined and if necessary, a service line upgrade may be required. In addition, a new water meter may be necessary to provide adequate pressure and flow rate to your structure due to proposed bath count or fire suppression system. 
The completed and stamped WWWSPV form and the stamped plot plan are turned in to Austin Development Plan Review Offices at the Development Assistance Center for approvals.

NOTE: A service line upgrade is not always required.

If it is determined that your development will require a service line upgrade, a utility tap plan will have to be generated.  The property owner must hire a licensed civil engineer to draw up the utility tap plan detailing the work to be performed.  This plan is submitted electronically by the civil engineer to the City of Austin - Utility Development Services Department (DSD). 
The completed utility tap plan is a civil engineered drawing that will show the size and location of the new proposed water and wastewater service lines, the location of the meter box(es) and if any existing lines or meters are to be abandoned. 

The tap plan will also detail the number and size of water meter(s) to be installed for the project.

Tap fees and costs are determined by three factors:

1. Meter size
2. Plat date – the date that the property, in the current configuration, was platted and recorded with Travis County.
3. Impact Fee Ordinance Zone – Where the property is located.

You can find the meter cost and tap fees on the Austin Water Taps page. 

In addition to the cost of the meter, Austin water charges Impact Fees or Capital Recovery Fees.

A Capital Recovery Fee is applied to any connection made to the city utility systems. This fee is for both water and wastewater and the cost impact of additional capacity is calculated based on plat date and service units.

This fee is utilized by Austin Water to allow for maintenance of the city systems and repair or updates to infrastructures that are worn or aged.  The Capital Recovery Fee is an essential part of enabling Austin Water to provide safe, reliable services to our customers.  

The plat date is used to determine Impact Fees based upon a tiered system of cost assessment.

The Impact Fee Ordinance Zones effect the cost of the Capital Recovery Fee.  Different areas of Austin have different fees associated with developing within the zone.  Also, fees are adjusted based on location inside or outside the city.  Austin Water services certain areas outside the Austin city area in what is known as the Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ).

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