(A) Responsibility for customer equipment. The Water Department shall not be liable for any loss or damage of any nature whatsoever caused by any defect in the customer's line, plumbing, or equipment, nor shall the Water Department be liable for loss or damage due to interruption of service or temporary changes in pressure. The customer shall be responsible for valves on the premises being turned off when the water service is turned on.
(B) Responsibility for Water Department equipment. Water Department equipment on the customer's premises remains the property of the Water Department and may be repaired, replaced, or removed by the Water Department employees at any time without consent of the customer. No payment will be made to the property owner for the right to install, maintain, replace, or remove Water Department equipment on the premises. The property owner and tenant shall not interfere with its operation. The property owner and tenant must keep vicious dogs or other animals secure or confined to avoid interference with the utility operation and maintenance.
(C) Pressure-reducing valves. The Water Department may, at its option, install pressure-reducing valves at the expense of the Water Department, and for the purpose of reducing pressure from the distribution mains only in order to protect the Water Department's meter. The installation of a pressure-reducing valve is not designed nor intended to protect any property beyond the meter to the customer's lines. If any property of the customer, after water passes through the meter, is subject to damage by reason of water pressure or changes therein, the loss or damage that may result to the customer's property will be at the sole and exclusive expense of the customer and shall not be a responsibility of the Water Department. Failure of Water Department control valves or devices will not in any way indicate negligence by the Water Department or responsibility for damage caused thereby.
(D) Damage to Water Department equipment. The customer shall be liable for any damage to equipment owned by the Water Department that is caused by an act of the customer, the customer's tenants, agents, employees, contractors, licensees, or permittees. Damage to equipment shall include but not be limited to breaking of seals and locks; tampering with meter; injury to meter, including but not limited to damage by hot water or steam; and damaged meter boxes, curb stops, meter stops, and other service appurtenances.
(E) Damage to mains, valves, and appurtenances by others. When underground mains, valves, and other Water Department equipment is damaged by a contractor or private individual, the entire cost of repairs shall be borne by that contractor or individual.
(F) Excavations. The Water Department shall be notified before excavation by others on city rights-of-way and easements, so location of water pipes and other buried utilities can be established by the city at no cost to the requesting party. Location of utilities will be made according to the best available maps and plans, but in no way relieve a contractor or individual from responsibility for damage.
(Ord. 90.01, passed 1-8-1991; Am. Ord. 2008-08-01, passed 8-12-2008)