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ARTICLE II. WATER MAIN EXTENSIONS (11-12-170 et seq.)
The commissioner may extend water mains or expand existing distribution facilities where the person desiring such extension or expansion shall advance and pay into the city treasury a sum of money equal to the entire estimated cost of the improvement.
(Prior code § 185-17; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 1.12; Amend Coun. J. 7-29-15, p. 3537, § 1)
Whenever an ordinance is hereafter passed by the city council for the filling, grading, curbing and paving of any street, it shall be the duty of the commissioner to ascertain whether the street or streets upon which such improvement is ordered contains a sufficient number of houses to pay a permanent annual revenue to the city of seven percent of the estimated cost of laying water main on such street or streets, and if the commissioner finds that such water main will pay such revenue to the city, he shall at once notify the city council as hereinafter provided.
(Prior code § 185-18; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 1.12)
It shall be the duty of the commissioner, whenever he shall deem necessary or advisable to lay or extend any water mains in the city, and before he shall cause the same to be laid or extended, to report to the city council the proposed action and extent of the same, together with the size of pipe necessary or advisable to be laid, and the probable expense thereof. No water main shall be laid or extended by the commissioner unless upon an order of the city council directing the laying or extension of the same, fixing the location thereof, the size of pipe to be used, and the maximum cost of same; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to the laying or extension of water mains where provision shall have been made for paying for the same by special assessment, or where the cost of the same shall be paid by private individuals, as provided in Section 11-12-170, or to cases of upgrading, repairing or relaying mains already laid, where the same shall have burst or otherwise become in need of upgrade or repair.
(Prior code § 185-19; Amend Coun. J. 11-10-99, p. 14998, § 7.2; Amend Coun. J. 11-17-99, p. 17487, § 7.2; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 1.12; Amend Coun. J. 7-29-15, p. 3537, § 1)
Whenever any special assessment shall be collected by or for the city for the purpose of laying or extending any water main within said city, there shall be repaid out of the moneys of the city to the credit of the water fund, to the person to whom the special assessment receipt shall be given, or upon his, order, upon production of the original receipt, 90 percent of the amount for which any such receipt was given, less the rebate previously paid and for which such receipt was given, when from the surplus of the net income from the water rates not otherwise appropriated or pledged, there is in the city treasury sufficient money therefor, and when the city comptroller shall so certify; provided, however, that no money shall be repaid unless the permanent annual water rates derived by reason of the laying of such water main for which any such receipt was given, shall at the time of such proposed repayment equal at least seven percent of the total cost of the main so laid and for which such special assessment was paid.
(Prior code § 185-20)
ARTICLE III. WATER METERS (11-12-210 et seq.)
Water meters shall be required on all service pipes to all new buildings and on any new services to existing buildings in the City of Chicago, and shall be installed at the time the building is connected to the city's water system.
Water meters shall be required on service pipes supplying city water to all existing buildings, structures or premises other than private residences within the City of Chicago in which only one family resides, or in two- flat buildings in which only two families reside. Water meters shall be required on service pipes supplying city water to existing private residences in the City of Chicago in which only one family resides, and existing two-flat buildings in which only two families reside, if devices which require large quantities of water are installed therein or if a new water service of larger size is installed.
Water meters may be installed on any existing service pipe supplying city water to any existing building not otherwise required to have a meter where written request is made by the owner or agent of the premises supplied.
Water meters previously installed on service pipes to comply with the requirements of Section 11-12-210 of this chapter or water meters previously installed by the owner or agent of the premises supplied may not be removed because the requirement for the meter has been removed or because the owner or agent wishes it removed.
Except as provided in Section 11-12-540 of this chapter, the city shall furnish and maintain at its own expense all water meters authorized and required hereunder, but where a meter is required to control additional service pipes for auxiliary or emergency water supply, or where such meter is installed on service pipes to which private supply pipes are connected, or where it is so provided in this chapter, said meter shall be furnished by the owner or consumer, but it shall be maintained by the city at the cost and expense of said owner or consumer.
Whenever leaks, waste, unauthorized or excessive use of water are found and in the judgment of the commissioner metering will effectively reduce the waste of water, the commissioner shall require installation of meters on service pipes to consumers of water not already metered as required in this Code.
All meters should be installed by the owner's plumbing contractor.
(Prior code § 185-21; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 1.12; Amend Coun. J. 7-29-15, p. 3537, § 1)
(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Voluntary Water Meter Installation Program". The Commissioner shall develop a program to promote the voluntary installation of water meters by the owners of single-family homes and residential two-flats.
(b) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
"Dwelling unit" has the same meaning ascribed to that term in Section 17-17-0248.
"Metered rate" means the amount assessed for metered water service pursuant to Section 11-12-310, but does not include any late charges, interest, or penalties.
"Residential Building" means a building used exclusively for residential occupancy.
"Single-family home" means any single-family type structure with separate and distinct plumbing, consisting of a separate and independent means of controlling the water supply to the unit.
"Two-flat" means a residential building that contains two dwelling units.
(c) The terms of the program shall be as follows:
(1) The Commissioner is authorized to designate geographic areas dispersed within the City, as determined by the Commissioner.
(2) In those areas designated by the Commissioner pursuant to paragraph (b)(1), the owner of a single-family home or a two-flat may request the installation by the City of a water meter on the property occupied by the single-family home or two-flat.
(3) The number of yearly installations pursuant to this program shall be limited to no more than twenty-five thousand, or to the extent that funds are appropriated to it.
(4) There shall be no charge to the owner for the cost of the installation of the water meter of for any minor carpentry work required to create an access door to the service pipe. Such charges and costs shall be paid by the City.
(5) For the first seven years after the date of the installation of the water meter, the City shall bill the owner the metered rate, provided (i) that the total amount charged for the metered rate shall not exceed the annual non-metered rate for water service that would have been in effect at the property at the time of the billing if no water meter had been installed, and (ii) that subsection (5)(i) only applies if the following conditions are met during the entire seven year period:
(A) the owner does not sell or otherwise transfer the property;
(B) the owner remains current on the water bills for the property;
(C) the owner permits reasonable access to the property by the City for the purpose of installing, reading, and maintaining the water meter;
(D) the owner does not remove or tamper with the meter; and
(E) there are no leaks, broken water pipes, or other plumbing problems at the property with regard to which the owner has received notice from the City.
(6) Any owner who participates in the program will receive, subject to availability, at no cost to the owner, a water saving device or kit for the property, if the property is suitable for a water saving device; provided that if all eligible owners of a block request the installation of water meters, then an owner on the block will be eligible to receive two water saving devices or kits. For purposes of this subsection, "block" means both sides of any street between street intersections.
(7) An owner shall not remove, or request the removal of, the water meter after its installation.
(8) By participating in the voluntary water meter installation program, the owner agrees to give the City access to the property for the purpose of installing the water meter and necessary water meter related devices.
(d) The terms of the program shall not apply to any water meter installed prior to April 1, 2022.
(e) Those sections of the Municipal Code of Chicago related to water meters and water meter service, including installation, water rates, or billing, shall be applicable to this program except to the extent that those sections are inconsistent with this ordinance, in which case subsection (c)(5) shall prevail.
(f) No water meter shall be installed under this program unless the Commissioner has determined that adequate funding for such installations has been appropriated.
(g) The Commissioner is authorized to adopt such rules as the Commissioner may deem necessary for the proper implementation, administration, and enforcement of this section.
(Added Coun. J. 5-23-22, p. 47631, § 1)
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