My bill shows that my water usage has gone up but I know I haven't used more water. How do I check for a leak in my home?
See this page to learn more about preventing leaks in your home. If you do all this and do not find a leak call 222-5667 and we will have one of our servicemen come out and inspect your water meter.
I've had a sewer backup, who do I call?
Call us first before you call a plumber at 222-5667 and we will send out our sewer crew to check the mainline where your sewer connects. If the issue is in our mainline it could save you having to call a plumber. We will notify you if the issue is on your end or ours.
Why have my utility rates gone up?
On July 16, 2019 the Livingston City Commission voted to approve the proposed rate increases for the Water Rate in the amount of 3% (approximately 37¢ to $1.12, depending on the amount of water consumed by the customer), the residential Solid Waste rate in the amount of $2.00, and impose a recycling fee of $1 per month for residential customers and $2 per month for commercial customers (see attached schedules)
What are the requirements of tying into the City sewer and water main or repairing an individual line?
Individual service line: The property owner hires a licensed, bonded plumber to do the work for him. If the mainline tap requires work, the city crew will do the tap work and bill the property owner for time and materials.
Tapping into a line: The property owner must purchase a permit at the City's Water Counter, pay a tapping fee in accordance with ordinances, pay the city for the first water meter, and pay any reimbursement fee associated with the main, as well as Impact Fees based on the size of the water service.
Who is required to pay for sewer or water main extensions?
The owner of a building site located beyond present sewer or water mains is required to pay the total cost of extending that main to the far side of the site, per ordinance. If the line passes any vacant property the owners of those properties will be assessed their share of the costs of extending that line based on calculations performed by the City's staff at the time they tie into the line and the original owner will be reimbursed that amount, or a special improvement district may be created to fund water and sewer main extensions.
Does City policy permit non-resident property owners to connect their property to City water and Sewer Facilities?
Yes. But a signed Waiver of Protest of Annexation Form must be submitted by the property owners when the permit is obtained.
Why do I have a recycling fee charge on my utility bill? I don't recycle.
Recycling of glass is provided to the citizens of Livingston at no charge and the City Commission found that this service is desired by and beneficial for the citizens of Livingston, and Livingston is the only municipality in the State of Montana that provides for the recycling of glass and the cost to the city of glass recycling is not covered by the current fees.
The City of Livingston operates solid waste services as an enterprise fund, i.e. that the cost of providing the services to the general public on a continuing basis is financed or recovered through user charges and are not supported by the general tax levy.
A recycling fee of $1/month for residential users and $2/month for commercial users will cover the cost of glass recycling.
The City Commission held a public hearing on July 16, 2019, at which time the public was invited to attend and comment on its intent to create a user recycling fee of $1/month for residential users and $2/month for commercial users to become effective for solid waste services starting July 2019, to be billed beginning on August 2019.
69-7-101 et sec. Montana Code Annotated (MCA), authorizes increases in utility rates when deemed necessary by the City Commission.
