Extensions and Taps
Water Department
The basic procedures for requesting water and sewer service are listed below. Usually the developer will have an engineer or architect prepare a site plan and evaluate existing utility availability. The evaluation will determine whether extensions will be required from the existing system.
If an extension is required, the following steps should be followed:
- Select an engineer to design the water / sewer extension to be bid or request the Water Department to design and construct the extension if the extension is less than 600 feet.
- Meet with the Development Engineer in Water Engineering Service to review main extensions and tap locations.
- Meet with the Fire Department for fire protection coverage.
- Developer’s engineer prepared Community Facilities Agreement Exhibit / Cost Estimates, which defines the City’s and the developer’s cost participation in the project (if applicable). Developer’s engineer is responsible for coordinating with Developer on submitting required executed Informal Community Facilities Agreement and financial guarantee.
- Submit two sets of Water and Sewer Public Improvement Construction Plans to Water Engineering Services for review or allow a minimum of four weeks for design and preparation of cost estimates for extension to be installed under City project if the extension is less than 600 feet.
- Include water and sewer taps in the extension project.
- Pay impact fees to the Applications Section of the Water Department located on the Lower Level of City Hall within the Development Department.
- Provide financial guarantee for the public water and sewer improvements, or pay the Water Department for construction and design by the miscellaneous contract. A two percent inspection fee will be required prior to construction if the contractor is to install this work.
- The utility contractor will install taps and meters at the location in the size required by the architect (or developer’s mechanical / plumbing experts).
- The utility contractor must be pre-qualified by the Water Department.
If utilities are available to the site, the following steps should be followed:
- Bring a site plan to the Water Engineering Section and review water and sewer locations and tap sizes.
- Review fire protection and coverage with the Fire Department. Additional fire hydrants and fire lanes may be required for a new building and this will require a main extension (refer to above).
- Pay for City crew to install the required service connections at the Applications section of Water Engineering. Tap fees and impact fees will be assessed for any new connections.
- Allow at least two to three weeks for taps to be installed.
Water Department “Utility Site Plan” checklist:
- Utility site plan should be a certified plat or re-plat
- Include a property legal description showing block, lot and addition, or, abstract, tract and survey
- Show all utility easements
- Show all streets with street names
- Show boundary streets to scale with street names
- Specify tap sizes and locations on property for each water tap including domestic, irrigation, fire lines, and hydrants
- Specify tap sizes and locations on property for each sewer tap including sanitary taps and grease traps, showing capacities
- Specify who will install the water & sewer taps, either the city or the customer
- Include a ‘north’ arrow on every page, including insert diagrams
- Include the name of the business
- Addresses must be shown. To obtain addresses, contact the Fort Worth Fire Department.
Tap and Service Fees
Tap fees are associated with connections to existing public water or sewer lines that do not exceed 54' from the property line. All new connections incur both a tap and impact fee Click for Website. Water taps also require a meter deposit for billling purposes. A licensed plumber must connect the tap at the property line to the homeowner's or business's private service lines.
Any connection in excess of 54' is considered an extension project. These are more expensive with charges incurred per linear foot, with an 8" diameter minimum. If taps are done under an extension project by a pre-qualified private contractor, visit the Water Engineering Development section on the second floor for assistance. The Water Engineering Development Section can be reached at 817.392.7585 or 817.392.8428.
The following fees cover all water or sewer tap construction by city personnel