The Commissioner of Water Management shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) To operate and maintain the waterworks of the city;
(b) To construct, extend, install, repair or relocate water pipes, including those installations to be constructed by contract, permit or any other agreement with the city or any other governmental entity;
(c) To develop plans and proposals, and to encourage or conduct studies, investigations or research, including joint cooperative investigations and research with public and private agencies and organizations, related to the Chicago water and sewer systems, stormwater management or water quality, including methods to eliminate or reduce water pollution;
(d) To enter into grant agreements, cooperation agreements and other agreements or contracts with governmental entities or with private business or civic and community groups to implement programs related to the Chicago water and sewer systems, storm water management or water quality, including programs to eliminate or reduce water pollution, as the commissioner may deem necessary or advisable; and to enter into and execute all such other instruments and to perform any and all acts, including the allocation and expenditure of funds subject to appropriation therefor, as shall be necessary or advisable in connection with the implementation of such agreements, including any renewals thereto.
(e) To issue permits in connection with the waterworks system;
(f) To operate and maintain all public sewers and works pertaining thereto and all sewerage permits and licenses;
(g) To construct, extend, install, repair or relocate sewer pipes;
(h) To plan, design, construct or improve sewer and sewer works projects undertaken pursuant to contracts with the city;
(i) To make recommendations with respect to street grades to the city council from time to time as the requirements of the city and the public improvements being made therein may demand;
(j) To establish the city bench marks from and referring to city datum and after they have been confirmed by the city council;
(k) To make and keep a record of all street grades established by the city council;
(l) To designate from among the corps of engineers in the department of an experienced engineer to be known as the bench engineer, whose duty it shall be to establish and record city standard bench monuments and their precise elevations;
(m) To adopt, promulgate and enforce rules pertaining to the administration and enforcement of this chapter and other provisions of this Code administered by the department of water management, and to do any and all other acts which may be necessary or advisable for the implementation of the powers conferred on the commissioner and department under this Code;
(n) To negotiate and to enter into right-of-entry and easement agreements, including releases thereto, with public and private persons in connection with managing the Chicago water and sewer systems or stormwater management, and, in connection with any such agreements and any renewals thereto, to enter into and execute all such other instruments and to perform any and all acts, including the allocation and expenditure of duly appropriated funds, as shall be necessary or advisable. Any such agreement may include provisions providing indemnification. The authority conferred in this subsection shall not include the ceding of governmental ownership of public way or the transfer of title to real estate; and
(o) To negotiate and execute agreements or contracts and any renewals thereto with municipal corporations, political subdivisions, public water districts and other agencies in connection with the purchase of a supply of water from the City, and to enter into and execute all such other related instruments and to perform any and all related acts as shall be necessary or advisable; and
(p) To create and administer the Lead Service Line Replacement Programs, Article IX of Chapter 11-12.
(q) The materials and methods used for post-construction restoration shall be uniform throughout the City and be, at minimum, consistent with industry standards; provided, however, that post-construction restoration of right-of-way within the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Transportation shall comply with the Illinois Department of Transportation Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction.
(Added Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 1.1; Amend Coun. J. 12-2-09, p. 78837, Art. 5, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. II, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-16, p. 37901, Art. IV, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 6-27-18, p. 79245, Part D; Amend Coun. J. 11-24-20, p. 24619, Art. IV, Ch. 2, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-21-21, p. 29739, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 10-27-21, p. 39543, Art. VIII, § 1)