(a) This section applies to a municipality with a population of more than 1,000 that owns and operates a water system for its residents for fire protection or domestic consumption. Except as otherwise provided by this section, a municipality’s authority under this section is in addition to authority granted by municipal charter.
(b) The municipality may acquire any interest, including a fee simple interest, in publicly or privately owned property, including riparian rights, located anywhere in the state. The municipality may acquire the interest by purchase, gift, devise, or eminent domain.

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Terms Used In Texas Local Government Code 552.013

  • Devise: To gift property by will.
  • Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Municipality: means a general-law municipality, home-rule municipality, or special-law municipality. See Texas Local Government Code 1.005
  • Population: means the population shown by the most recent federal decennial census. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Property: means real and personal property. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.

(c) To furnish an adequate and wholesome supply of water for the residents, the municipality may exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire and condemn public or private property to extend, improve, or enlarge its water system, including water supply reservoirs, riparian rights, standpipes, and watersheds, to construct water supply reservoirs, wells or artesian wells, or dams, and to construct or establish necessary facilities or appurtenances.
(d) For purposes of this section, the municipality has the same powers relating to eminent domain conferred by statute on water improvement districts or water control and preservation districts or conferred by general law on municipalities.
(e) The municipality may acquire fee simple title to property under this section if the resolution ordering condemnation proceedings specifies that such an interest is to be acquired.