The city of Mexico has entered into a new agreement with Missouri American Water that will make it easier for the city to take action on delinquent sewer bill accounts.

In Mexico sewer service is provided by the city but Missouri American Water bills residents for water services that ultimately end up in the sewer lines which makes it tougher in collecting delinquent bills. Mexico Deputy City Manager Roger Haynes explained the agreement to the Mexico City Council on Jan. 8 and said, “Having such an agreement provides the city with an effective tool in collecting the delinquent sewer accounts in lieu of property liens and direct disconnects of the sewer line to the city’s collection system.”

The new agreement replaces an agreement that was entered into in 2012. Haynes said the new agreement comes with increased fees if water services are disconnected. To get reconnected to the system a customer was charged $28.58. That fee will increase to $94 if the connection occurs during regular business hours and jumps to $188 for after hours connections. Haynes said those charges are added to the sewer bill.

Haynes said the agreement, like the last agreement, allows Missouri American Water to request recovery of estimated lost revenue while water services are disconnected. Haynes said those fees are then applied to the customer’s sewer bill. Councilman Chris Miller asked if there’s a limit to what a water company can recover. Haynes said the Missouri Public Service Commission sets those guidelines. Haynes said Missouri American Water has not made such a request since the last agreement was put in place.