Keller briefed on Fort Worth‑led switch to AMI‑based enforcement of watering rules; council to consider ordinance in January

KELLER, Texas — Keller city staff on Tuesday urged the City Council to adopt a Fort Worth‑style enforcement program that would use smart‑meter (AMI) data and escalating noncompliance fees on utility bills to curb irrigation violations.

Hannah Smith, introduced by staff, told the council that Keller, as a wholesale customer of Fort Worth, is contractually required to mirror Fort Worth’s time‑of‑day and day‑of‑week watering restrictions. "The future of water in Texas is dry," Smith said, summarizing regional projections and the rationale for a more assertive enforcement approach.

Under the model presented, the city would keep the existing watering rules but change how violations are handled. Smith described a progressive enforcement sequence: an initial educational notice followed by up to three escalating noncompliance fees (examples cited were $25, $50 and $75 aggregated on the monthly utility bill). For accounts that remain in significant noncompliance over several months, the program allows nonemergency termination of irrigation service at the irrigation meter or backflow device; essential domestic service would remain intact.

Smith said Fort Worth piloted the approach on commercial irrigation meters and reported a large reduction in violations after switching from citation‑based enforcement: "They reduced violation rates from percentages in the 40s to less than 1%," she said, citing Fort Worth results and urging Keller to focus initial implementation on commercial irrigation meters.

Council members asked for details about notification, handling of auto‑draft customers, leak vs. repair events and the timeline. Smith said notices would be mailed, hand‑delivered or emailed; certified mail would be used for citations. A repeat‑offender threshold would rely on patterned detection (timed irrigation cycles or unusually high hourly usage) and a four‑month rolling window for escalation to a shutoff for repeat violations.

City staff emphasized education as the primary tool and proposed a January adoption schedule for the code amendments and fee schedule. "We're trying to model them letter by letter," Smith said of Fort Worth, adding the changes will not alter the watering rules themselves but the abatement and billing process.

Council members voiced support for education and asked that staff design robust public outreach and make clear how the program would treat repairs and temporary water use (such as pool repairs). Smith said staff will return in January with ordinance language, fee details and templates for customer notification.

What’s next: The council will consider ordinance adoption at its first meeting in January and directed staff to prepare communications and operational plans in the meantime.