(A) Water connections.
(1) All applicants shall be responsible for furnishing all materials, labor, equipment and excavation in conformance with the applicable standards and specifications set forth in the current Public Works Design Standards Manual, adopted and from time to time amended by the City Council, except as noted below.
(2) The city shall furnish all water meters based upon the service size stated in the current Public Works Design Standards Manual; the application shall bear the cost of the meter, box and lid according to the current fee schedule adopted and from time to time amended by City Council.
(3) All pavement replacements shall be the responsibility of the applicant.
(4) All workmanship and materials shall strictly confirm to the city’s standard specifications for the work.
(5) The city shall be responsible for tapping all water mains.
(6) The City Public Works Director or his or her representative shall inspect and have final approval of the work.
(7) Water service application fees, service fees and water rates shall be established by resolution of the City Council.
(Am. Ord. 80.7.1, passed 11-12-2003; Am. Ord. 2007-50.10(A)(1), passed 2-13-2007)
(B) Service connection. A service connection charge shall be charged to any applicant who files for service where no service previously existed, or who files for a change in service size or location. The applicant shall submit with the application the minimum service connection charge. The charge is to cover the actual cost to the Water Department to install the service from the main to and including the meter and the meter housing. In addition to the cost of the installation, the service connection charge may include a system improvement fee. The amount of the service connection charge shall be set by Council resolution.
(C) Size of service. The Water Department shall furnish and install a meter for the type of service requested. Specifications for the meter size and location shall be set forth in the current Public Works Design Standards Manual. The Water Department may refuse to install a service line that is undersized or oversized, as determined by Public Works staff.
(D) Changes in service size. Permanent changes in the size of the service line requested by the customer shall be paid by the customer on the basis of actual cost to the Water Department for making the change.
(E) Length of service.
(1) Where the main is in a public right-of-way, the meter shall be placed at the right-of-way line nearest the property to be served for the standard connection fee, provided that the length of service does not exceed the width of the right-of-way.
(2) Where the main is on an easement or publicly owned property other than designated public rights-of-way, the easement of public property by the Water Department, provided that the length of services does not exceed 30 feet.
(3) If, in either case cited above, the length of service line to the meter location exceeds the maximum distance stated, the applicant shall pay the extra cost of the line on the basis of actual cost to the Water Department for labor, materials, and equipment rental, plus 20% of the total.
(F) Joint service connections. The Water Department may, at its option, serve 2 or more premises with 1 service connection, but shall not allow more than 1 applicant for service to be connected to the same meter. The inside diameter of joint service lines shall be sufficient to provide a carrying capacity not less than the combined capacity of the individual services lines of the same size as the meters installed. Service extensions from an existing service to occupancies or ownership’s other than those for which the existing service was intended shall not be permitted.
(G) Number of service connections on premises. The owner of a single parcel of property may apply for and receive as many services as the owner and tenants require, provided that the application or applications meet the requirements of the rules and regulations.
(H) Standby fire protection service connections on premises.
(1) Purpose. Standby fire protection service connections of 2-inch size and larger shall be installed only if adequate provisions are made to prevent the use of water from the services for purposes other than fire extinguishing. Sealed fire sprinkler systems with water-operated alarms shall be considered to have the provisions. The Water Department may require that a suitable detector-check meter be installed in the standby fire protection service connections to which hose lines or hydrants are connected. All piping on the customer’s premises shall be installed in accordance with the plumbing code of the city.
(2) Charges for service. Charges for standby fire protection service shall be established by Council resolution. No charge will be made for water used in the standby fire protection services to extinguish accidental fire or for routine testing of the fire protection system. The customer shall pay the full cost of the standby fire protection service connection, any required detector-check meters, and any required special water meter or other device installed solely for the service to the standby connection.
(3) Violation of regulations. If water is used from a standby connection service in violation of these regulations, an estimate of the amount used shall be computed by the Water Department. The customer shall pay for the water used at the regular rates, including the minimum charge based on the size of the service connection and subsequent bills rendered on the basis of the regular water rates.
(I) Fire service connections other than standby. A service having fire protection facilities on the premises and water for other purposes flowing through the same service connection shall be considered an ordinary service and shall be metered. All water used through that service, regardless of its use, shall be charged at the regular rates.
(J) Temporary service connections. For water service of a temporary nature, applicants shall be required to pay in advance the estimated cost of installation and removal of metering equipment and materials, plus a reasonable depreciation charge for the use of equipment and material owned and furnished by the Water Department. The applicant shall pay the water bill in advance, based on an estimate of the quantity to be used.
(1) Time limit. Temporary service connections shall be disconnected and terminated within 6 months after installation unless an extension of time is granted in writing by the Water Department.
(2) Charge for water served. Charges for water furnished through a temporary service connection shall be at the established monthly rates for regular users set forth in the current water rate resolution.
(3) Installation charge and deposits. The applicant for temporary service shall:
(a) Pay the Water Department, in advance, the estimated cost of installing and removing all facilities necessary to furnish each service;
(b) Deposit an amount sufficient to cover bills for water during the entire period the temporary service may be used; and
(c) Deposit with the Water Department an amount equal to the value of any equipment loaned by the Water Department to the applicant for use on temporary service. This deposit is refundable under the terms of division (J)(4) below.
(4) Responsibility for meters and installation. The customer shall use all possible care to prevent damage to the meter or to any other loaned facilities of the Water Department. If the meter or other facilities are damaged, the cost of making repairs shall be deducted from the deposit refund. If the loaned materials are returned in satisfactory condition and all bills paid, the full amount of the equipment deposit shall be returned to the temporary customer at the termination of service.
(K) Customers’ plumbing.
(1) State Plumbing Code. The customers’ plumbing, which shall include the customer’s service line and all plumbing, piping, fixtures, and other appurtenances carrying or intended to carry potable water, sewage, or drainage, shall comply with the State Plumbing Code. No connection shall be made, nor shall water service be maintained, to any property in which the plumbing does not comply with the provisions of the State Plumbing Code and applicable state and federal regulations.
(2) Control valves. Customers shall install a suitable gate and check valve in the customer service line as close to the meter as possible, the operation of which shall control the entire water supply to the premises service and to prevent the backflow of water into the city mains. The customer shall install the additional pressure-reducing valves, pressure relief valves, check valves, pop-off valves, or other control valves, as the customer may desire or the Water Department may consider necessary to protect the customers piping from abnormal high or low pressures or from interruptions of service. Repair and replacement of the control valves shall be the responsibility of the customer. A customer shall not operate or cause unauthorized operation of the meter stop or any other appurtenance on the service connection.
(3) Pumps. Where pumping is required to serve a customer at too high an elevation to be served by gravity, the Water Department may, at its option, require the customer to provide a suitable pump as a condition of service. The installation shall be subject to approval by the Superintendent.
(Ord. 90.01, passed 1-8-1991; Am. Ord. 2014- 12-03, passed 1-13-2015) Penalty, see § 50.99