(A) No physical connection shall be maintained between any other source of water or liquid and the village water supply piping. No spigot or outlet shall be physically connected to a drain or sewer or be submerged. The proper cross-connection prevention device shall be installed in accordance with the village and OEPA regulations.
(B) There shall be no electrical ground of A/C and/or D/C power source permitted on the water system or any private extension thereof.
(C) A permit must be obtained by the property owner or a plumber engaged by the property owner in order to receive a service line connection. At this time the Administrator will check the property records to verify that all assessments levied against the property have been paid prior to issuing the permit. If the assessment and other charges levied have been paid, a permit will then be issued; if not, the property owner must pay the assessments and other charges levied before a permit is issued. Should a renewal of a service be desired, a permit will be issued by the Administrator after it is determined that there are no outstanding unpaid bills; then an employee of the village will restore the service. If the connection is made without first obtaining a proper permit, water service will be discontinued until a valid permit is obtained.
(D) The owner of the property may have a service discontinued by request to the village. The meter will be turned off or removed and water shut off at the curb by the village. Should it not be possible to obtain a final reading, a final invoice will be estimated on the time elapsed since the last reading and the estimated consumption as determined by the village. Under no circumstances shall the closing statement be less than the minimum rate prorated for the time the water was used. When service is re-established, a reconnection charge will be levied.
(E) All employees of the village, designated for the purpose with proper identification, are authorized to enter, at reasonable hours, into any house, building or place supplied with water from or connected to, or traversed by water mains of the village, to examine bibs, pipes, meters, cisterns, reservoirs, tanks or other apparatus for the purpose of ascertaining the quantity of water consumed or supplied or for placing or taking away any meter, instrument, pipe fitting or other material belonging to the village or for any other reasonable purpose in connection with the water supply system.
(F) Meter reading.
(1) All meters will be read monthly.
(2) (a) If the meter reader is unable to obtain a reading because a meter is out of order, the meter will be replaced and the amount of water consumed will be estimated. If the meter reader cannot gain entrance to a building having an inside meter, he will leave a card upon which the user may record the meter reading and return it to the village within five days.
(b) The village will base the current bill upon the reading sent in by the customer. If a card is not returned, the bill will be estimated based upon past consumption records. This will be done for no more than two consecutive meter reading periods, or the village will have the service discontinued.
(G) The village shall make a charge for any service requiring a special trip to the property, such as temporary shut-offs. Only representatives of the village are authorized to install, disconnect or remove water meters from a service. Any meter not properly removed, which becomes lost or not recoverable, shall be chargeable to the property owner. No person without a permit from the village is allowed to turn a stop chock, hydrant or valve owned by the village or on public right-of-way, other than as provided in the “Rules of Regulations” governing plumbers, excepting, however, members of the Fire Department in the performance of their duties. In case trouble occurs between the main and the curb stop, or in the meter, the village should be called. If the trouble is beyond the curb stop, it should be shut off and a plumber called.
(H) Service branches are installed at the expense of the property owner who is held responsible at all times for any leakage that may occur between the curb stop and the building. The plumber taking out the permit for the service is responsible for one year after final inspection for any leaks developing between the corporation stop in the water main and the curb stop. The village has the right to replace any water meter it deems necessary.
(I) All meters must be accessible at all times. Failure to comply with this rule will be cause for discontinuing service which will not be resumed until the trouble has been remedied. This rule shall apply to meters in meter pits which are covered with dirt or other materials or that are filled with matter or gas, or where passage to meters is blocked so that the meters are not accessible.
(J) The village will require each water service to have its own separate accessible municipal shut off valve and box. All shut off valves must be clear and accessible at all times so that water may be shut off as necessary by the Public Works Department. No valve box shall be covered with concrete, asphalt or other materials. The shut off valve and box shall be constructed pursuant to village standards and the site selected by the village. The valve box will be located prior to the meter. The valve box and shut off are the responsibility of the owner to install and maintain. No person other the authorized village personnel are permitted to turn water on or off at the shut off valve. If current services do not comply with this chapter, they will need to be retrofitted to meet village standards. The property owner will have 60 days from notification to comply. If they do not comply within 60 days, service will be terminated for that property or properties.
(K) The owner of the property may request turn-off in order to permanently or temporarily terminate charges.
(L) A list of all current charges, fees, and rates for the various water service performed are on file in the village office. These charges, fees, and rates are subject to amendment by the village and are not to be construed as being fixed for an indefinite period of time.
(M) Bills rendered to landlords having multiple establishments or apartment units should be computed where the minimum billing shall not be less than the minimum rate times the number of units.
(Ord. 1036-93, passed 3-23-1993; Am. Ord. 1609-12, passed 11-27-2012; Am. Ord. 1654-14, passed 7-8-2014) Penalty, see § 51.99