HWU Policy and Procedure Manual

Henderson Water Utility has developed policies and procedures to help standardize the way we do business.  We want to be fair and consistent with all of our customers.

The links below contain PDF documents that relate directly to items of interest to our customers.

If you have trouble accessing the PDF files, contact our main office (Phone 270-826-2421) and we will be happy to provide you with an explanation or a printed copy of the policy in question.

Budget, Purchasing and Expenditures Policies

  • B-100 – Disposal of Surplus Personal Property (PDF File Download)
    (Revised 20 October 2014)
    This policy is established to control the accounting for and proper disposal of surplus personal property, software, inventory and equipment owned by the Henderson Water Utility.  Surplus real property (real estate) is disposed of in accordance with State statute, by sealed bid or auction, or by transfer/donation to another government entity.
    .
    The guiding principles are to ensure assets to be disposed of are made available to the public on an equitable basis, to realize the maximum return on investment when disposing of assets, and to ensure that assets are removed timely and accurately from the Utility’s accounting and inventory records.

Water System Policies

  • E/F-100 – Water & Sewer Taps (PDF File Download)
    (Revised 10 July 2019)
    This policy is to establish procedures and payment for water and sewer tap fees, locating services and sewer cleanouts.
  •  E-200 – Adjustments to Bills for Water Leaks (PDF File Download)
    (Revised 18 May 2015)
    Adjustment of monthly bills for leaks will be considered in accordance with Henderson Water Utility Policy E-200, which applies to all residential and commercial customers.  Leaks associated with irrigation meters will not be considered for adjustment.
    .
    Details of Policy E-200 are contained in the PDF file at this link.
    .
    This policy applies to all residential and commercial customers.
  •  E-300 – Fire Hydrant Meters (PDF File Download)
    (Effective 10 July 2019)
    Fire Hydrant Meters may be made available to customers of the Henderson Water
    Utility (HWU) for temporary water service. They may also be used by non-HWU
    customers (contractors, developers and others) subject to a deposit. Temporary meters may not be used as the primary source of water for an occupied residence or building.

    All usage shall be charged based upon Tier 1 in table A of the current water rates, as
    established in Chapter 23-21 of the City Code of Ordinances and adopted by the HWU
    Board and the Henderson City Commission, for all water consumed. No sewer charges shall apply to temporary water meters.

Sewer System Policies

  • F-200 – Disconnection of Downspouts from Combined and Sanitary Sewers (PDF File Download)
    (Revised 11 January 2019)
    City Ordinance Chapter 23-29 (b)(1) states:

    “No person shall make connection of roof downspouts, basement wall seepage or
    floor seepage, exterior foundation drains, areaway drains, or other surface runoff or
    groundwater to a building sewer or building drain which in turn is connected directly
    or indirectly to a public sanitary sewer. Any such connections which already exist on
    the effective date of this division shall be completely and permanently disconnected
    within sixty (60) days of the effective date of this ordinance. The owner(s) of any
    building sewers having such connections, leaks or defects shall bear all costs
    incidental to removal of such sources. Pipes, sumps, and pumps for such sources of
    ground and surface water shall be separate from wastewater facilities. Removal of
    such sources of water without presence of separate facilities shall be evidence of
    drainage to public sanitary sewer.”

    It is the policy of HWU to cause all such connections to be removed, at the Owner’s expense. New connections will not be allowed.

  • F-400 – Cleanout Installation (PDF File Download)
    (Revised 10 July 2019)
    City Ordinance Chapter 23-29 (c)(3) contains the following
    three sections:

    (13) Property owners shall be responsible for maintaining sewer laterals, including sewer taps, from the building plumbing to the main sewer lines, unless a suitable cleanout is provided at the property or easement line. Where a cleanout is provided at or near the property or easement line, the City will assume responsibility for maintenance of the lateral from the cleanout to the main sewer.

    (14) New connections to the sewer lines, including sewer taps, shall include a 6” dia. cleanout at the property line, right of way line, or easement line that is readily accessible for sewer maintenance.

    (15) Repairs to existing sewer lines, whether performed by HWU or by the property owner, shall include the addition of a 6” dia. cleanout where none existed before or where a 4” dia. cleanout existed before.

Chapter 23-27 Use of public sewers
(e) Prohibited discharges into sanitary sewer and combined sewer.  No user shall contribute or cause to be contributed, directly or indirectly, any pollutant or wastewater which will interfere with performance of the POTW.  These general prohibitions apply to all such users of a POTW whether or not the user is subject to national categorical pretreatment standards or any other national, state, or local pretreatment standards or requirements.  A user shall not contribute the following substances to the POTW:
……..
(4) Solid or viscous substances in quantities or of such size capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers, or other interference with the proper operation of the wastewater facilities.

Chapter 23-98 Water and sewer charges
(a)     Special rates:
(1) If the sewage, water or other liquid wastes being discharged into the sewers from any building or premises is determined by the city to contain unduly high concentrations of any substances which add to the operating cost of the sewer facilities of the city, the city may establish special rates or charges as to such class of building or premises, or the city may require the owner or other interested party to specially treat such sewage, water or other liquid wastes before it is discharged into the sewers.
(2) The city may establish rules and regulations regarding the use of the sewer facilities which may control the amount and characteristics of wastes permitted to be discharged therein where such quantities or characteristics may be injurious to the works or deleterious to their operation.

Environmental regulations and best practices require the Henderson Water Utility (HWU) to prevent sewer system blockages and obstruction in its sewer system caused by fats, oils and grease (FOG).  Pollution discharge limits are specified in the City Code of Ordinances.

The management of an effective FOG program with commercial and industrial facilities, and food service establishments (FSEs), will help to prevent sewer system overflows and will reduce operational costs to HWU.

Stormwater System Policies

  • G-100 – Installation and Acceptance of Residential Driveway Culverts (PDF File Download)
    (Effective 10 July 2019)
    By agreement with the City of Henderson, HWU is responsible for maintenance of pipes installed in roadside ditches and accepted for maintenance. Proper sizing
    and installation of driveway culverts is necessary to insure adequate drainage. To this end, HWU will advise individual residential property owners of the proper size and type of culvert required and will provide the labor, free of charge, to install a new or replacement residential driveway culvert. The customer is responsible for the cost of all materials used.

    The roadside ditch is an integral part of the roadway. In only limited cases can a ditch along a street be piped without sacrificing the overall service life of the street. Without the ditch, stormwater cannot efficiently leave the pavement section and enter the stormwater system.  Drainage of the subgrade of the street will be blocked if ditches are filled in, leading to trapped water and reduced pavement life due to freeze/thaw. Open ditches allow stormwater flow to slow down and spread out, reducing time of concentration and increasing ground infiltration. It is the policy of HWU to leave roadside ditches open to the maximum extent possible, and to
    discourage filling in or piping roadway ditches.

    This policy applies to individual residential properties. It does not include multi-family,
    commercial or industrial driveway culverts.