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(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)
The Commissioner shall not permit any building, structure or premises which is or are controlled by meter to have in any portion thereof a pipe connected with the City waterworks system which is not also controlled by meter.
If it shall be found that any portion of such building, structure or premises is not controlled by meter, the owner, agent or person in possession, charge or control thereof shall be notified to bring such portion under meter control within ten days from date of such notice, and upon failure to do so, the supply of water shall be shut off. The Commissioner shall assess the amount due for the water service used in violation of the provisions of this section and the cost and expense of cutting off or stopping such water supply and advise the Comptroller of the total amount assessed. No water service shall be turned on until the total amount assessed, and any late charges or other charges authorized by this code are paid, as determined by the Comptroller; or the owner or occupant enters into an approved payment plan with the Department of Finance for said amounts determined by the Comptroller.
(Prior code § 185-22; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 1.12; Amend Coun. J. 12-2-09, p. 78837, Art. 5, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. I, § 9; Amend Coun. J. 7-20-22, p. 50569, § 4)
Each water meter, proportional, indicating or recording device, including meters for domestic supply, for fire lines, submeters, or any other kind, which is connected or is to be connected with any pipe supplied by the Chicago Waterworks System shall be of a type, design and size recommended by the commissioner, and approved by the city council.
Except as otherwise specified in this Code, all meters or detecting devices, including vaults, whenever required, installed on any pipeline greater than one inch in diameter to be used for domestic water service, or on any pipeline to be used for combination water services, shall be constructed, installed and maintained by and at the expense of the owner or consumer.
(Prior code § 185-23; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 1.12; Amend Coun. J. 7-29-15, p. 3537, § 1)
The supply of water through any service pipe on which there are installed or maintained for fire protection purposes, and within the premises of the consumer, either standpipes, fire hydrants, pumps, fire protection tanks or any other outlets or devices from which water may be drawn to extinguish fire, shall, except as hereinafter provided in this section, be entirely controlled by a meter or meters which shall accurately measure all of the water used through said service pipe.
The commissioner may, at his discretion and in order to insure more accurate measurement of water supplied through said service pipe, require the installation of separate meters and separate lines leading from said meters to said premises, one or more of said lines to be connected only to fire protection devices and one or more of said lines to be used for supplying water for domestic or industrial purposes.
Or the commissioner may, at his discretion, require the installation of separate pipe line for the domestic or industrial uses of water and for fire protection purposes, installing on the former lines a meter or meters to register accurately all of the water used for said domestic or industrial purposes; and installing on the line or lines which are to be used only for fire protection, devices capable of detecting and recording every instance in which any water may be drawn through said fire protection lines, said devices being so constructed and installed as to permit, in case of necessity, an uninterrupted flow through said fire protection lines.
All meters or detecting devices installed on any pipeline to be used only for fire protection, including vaults, whenever required, shall be constructed, installed and maintained by and at the expense of the owner or consumer. All such meters or detecting devices installed or replaced on or after July 15, 2010, shall be equipped with remote reading technology in accordance with regulations promulgated by the commissioner.
There shall be no charge for any registration occasioned on any meter as the result of the use of water for fire purposes and the commissioner is authorized to reduce by an amount corresponding to such registration the charge for metered water against the consumer. No water for other than fire purposes shall be used through any fire line.
It shall be the duty of the commissioner to read, or cause to be read, all fire meters or detecting devices and to inspect seals on same, at least annually.
For any violation of any of the provisions of this section, the commissioner may, at his discretion, cause the water supply to be shut off.
(Prior code § 185-24; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 1.12; Amend Coun. J. 6-30-10, p. 95374, § 1)
No person shall be permitted to tamper, test, repair, remove, relocate or in any way interfere with any water meter, proportional, indicating or recording device, installed in any building, structure or premises for the control of the water supply thereto, excepting under authority granted by the commissioner. The owner of the building, structure or premises for which such meter is installed shall be held responsible for any unauthorized tampering or interference in violation of this section. Such owner shall be subject to a fine of not less than $500.00 nor more than $750.00 for each violation; and the water supply to such owner's building, structure or premises may be cut off, and shall not again be permitted to be turned on until such owner or person shall have paid to the department of finance the cost and expense of cutting off and turning on such water supply; provided, however, where such owner can show that such tampering was done contrary to his efforts to prevent same there shall be no such cutting off of the water supply nor shall such owner be subject to a fine.
(Prior code § 185-25; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 1.12; Amend Coun. J. 12-2-09, p. 78837, Art. 5, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 14596, Art. IV, § 1)
ARTICLE IV. WATER CHARGES (11-12-260 et seq.)
At the close of each fiscal year, the department of water management shall prepare a statement of the revenues and expenditures of the water system of the city and a balance sheet thereof. The department shall then prepare an ordinance, for submission to the city council, establishing the rates to be charged for water service in the following year. The fees, charges, and rates established by said ordinance shall be sufficient in all times to pay the cost of operation and maintenance of the water system, to make principal and interest payments on any outstanding bonds, and to establish and maintain any reserve funds or accounts as may be covenanted for in bond ordinances authorizing the issuance of outstanding bonds.
(Prior code § 185-25.1; Added Coun. J. 12-12-84, p. 11883; Mayoral veto. 12-18-84, p. 11998; Corrected. 2-4-85, p. 13433; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 1.12)
The minimum amount to be charged for water service to any building, structure or premises fronted by a public street, in or to which such building, structure or premises any water supply is laid, but excepting such service which is wholly controlled by meter, shall be as follows as of January 1st of the years indicated:
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | |
For buildings having a front width of 12 feet or less | $63.01 | $78.76 | $90.58 | $104.16 | $119.79 |
For buildings having a front width: | |||||
Exceeding 12 feet but not exceeding 15 feet | $87.00 | $108.75 | $125.06 | $143.82 | $165.40 |
Exceeding 15 feet but not exceeding 18 feet | $118.68 | $148.35 | $170.60 | $196.19 | $225.62 |
Exceeding 18 feet but not exceeding 21 feet | $143.31 | $179.14 | $206.01 | $236.91 | $272.45 |
Exceeding 21 feet but not exceeding 24 | $151.95 | $189.94 | $218.43 | $251.19 | $288.87 |
Exceeding 24 feet but not exceeding 27 feet | $175.94 | $219.93 | $252.91 | $290.85 | $334.48 |
Exceeding 27 feet but not exceeding 30 feet | $206.97 | $258.71 | $297.52 | $342.15 | $393.47 |
Exceeding 30 feet but not exceeding 33 feet | $229.52 | $286.90 | $329.94 | $379.43 | $436.34 |
Exceeding 33 feet but not exceeding 36 feet | $238.31 | $297.89 | $342.57 | $393.96 | $453.05 |
Exceeding 36 feet but not exceeding 40 feet | $277.51 | $346.89 | $398.92 | $458.76 | $527.57 |
Exceeding 40 feet but not exceeding 44 feet | $295.25 | $369.06 | $424.42 | $488.09 | $561.30 |
Exceeding 44 feet but not exceeding 48 feet | $318.46 | $398.08 | $457.79 | $526.45 | $605.42 |
Exceeding 48 feet but not exceeding 52 feet | $342.76 | $428.45 | $492.72 | $566.63 | $651.62 |
Exceeding 52 feet but not exceeding 56 feet | $366.43 | $458.04 | $526.74 | $605.75 | $696.62 |
Exceeding 56 feet but not exceeding 62 feet | $391.23 | $489.04 | $562.39 | $646.75 | $743.76 |
Exceeding 62 feet but not exceeding 67 feet | $405.61 | $507.01 | $583.06 | $670.52 | $771.10 |
Exceeding 67 feet but not exceeding 72 feet | $429.77 | $537.21 | $617.79 | $710.46 | $817.03 |
Exceeding 72 feet but not exceeding 77 feet | $453.92 | $567.40 | $652.51 | $750.39 | $862.94 |
Exceeding 77 feet but not exceeding 82 feet | $478.07 | $597.59 | $687.23 | $790.31 | $908.86 |
Exceeding 82 feet but not exceeding 87 feet | $509.58 | $636.98 | $732.52 | $842.40 | $968.76 |
For each additional five feet, or major fraction thereof, in excess of 87 feet, the following charges shall be made as of January 1st of the year indicated:
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
$24.00 | $30.00 | $34.50 | $39.68 | $45.63 |
Wings, bays, or projections of a depth not greater than 75 percent of the depth of the main portion of the structure shall have but one-half of their front width included in computing the front width of the building.
In applying the aforesaid schedule to buildings, structures or premises where the outline is a right-angle triangle; only two-thirds of the measurement of the base of such triangular outline shall be taken as the front width.
Where the measurement of the front width of a building of a rectangular outline is greater than the measurement of its depth, the measurement of such depth may be taken instead of the measurement of the front width in applying the schedule of frontage charge.
For each story in height of building in excess of one story, the following charges shall be made in addition to the foregoing as of January 1st of the years indicated:
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
$38.55 | $48.19 | $55.42 | $63.73 | $73.29 |
The term "story" as used in the foregoing shall include:
(a) Basements containing two or more finished rooms, not including laundry rooms;
(b) Basements or attics used for business purposes, other than those used exclusively for storage, and in which no person is regularly employed;
(c) Attics containing two or more finished rooms. Outbuildings, rear buildings or buildings on alleys shall be exempt from a service charge when located in the rear of other buildings assessed such service charge; but such buildings shall not be considered as rear buildings when fronted by any street.
For the purpose of assessment, the occupancies of buildings, structures or premises shall be classified as nearly as possible as follows:
Class A. Buildings used as private residences exclusively, which are occupied by members of one family only, and in which no portion of the building is rented or maintained for rent to other persons.
Class B.
(b1) Flat or apartment buildings containing one or more flats or apartments with a minimum of one water closet, one bath and one sink.
(b2) Flat or apartment buildings not having baths for any of the flats or apartments.
The amounts to be charged for service to buildings in Class A shall be the amount heretofore specified as minimum charge for service. This charge shall include service for all ordinary domestic fixtures and openings, but shall not include service for outbuildings, air conditioning, or use of hose for sprinkling, washing or like purposes, or other devices which require large quantities of water. Such service as is not included shall be charged for additionally at rates hereinafter specified.
The amounts to be charged for service to buildings in Class B shall be the amounts heretofore specified as minimum charge for service, and this charge shall include, in Class (b1), one flat or apartment equipped with not less than one water closet, one bath and one sink, and in Class (b2), one water closet and two-family sinks, each of such sinks being open to use of not to exceed one family. If either sink is open to use of other families charges per annum, as of January 1st of the year indicated, shall be made for each such other family:
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
$79.33 | $99.16 | $114.04 | $131.14 | $150.81 |
For each other flat or apartment equipped with not less than one water closet, one bath and one sink, the following charges per annum, as of January 1st of the year indicated, shall be made:
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
$182.81 | $228.51 | $262.79 | $302.21 | $347.54 |
For fixtures for use of apartments having less than the above equipment, the following:
For each water closet – per annum, as of January 1st of the year indicated:
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
$79.33 | $99.16 | $114.04 | $131.14 | $150.81 |
If such water closet is open to the use of more than one family, an additional charge per annum shall be made for each such family as of January 1st of the year indicated:
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | |
For each bath per annum | $79.33 | $99.16 | $114.04 | $131.14 | $150.81 |
For each wash basin per annum | $24.15 | $30.19 | $34.72 | $39.92 | $45.91 |
For each family sink which is open to the use of not more than one family per annum | $24.15 | $30.19 | $34.72 | $39.92 | $45.91 |
If such sink is open to the use of more than one family, additional charges per annum, as of January 1st of the year indicated, shall be made for each such family:
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
$24.00 | $30.00 | $34.50 | $39.68 | $45.63 |
All openings at trays used for private laundry purposes shall be allowed with service charge, but service for outbuildings, air conditioning, use of hose for sprinkling, washing or like purposes, or other devices which require large quantities of water, shall not be included. Such service as is not included shall be charged for additionally at rates hereinafter specified.
For other special water fixtures or for any other special or unusual use of water for which no charge is specified, the commissioner shall determine the amount to be charged for such special fixtures and for such use of water, such charge to be based upon an estimate of the water used.
(Prior code § 185-26; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-84, p. 11883; Mayoral veto. 12-18-84, p. 11998; Amend Coun. J. 1-23-85, p. 12937, 4-26-89, p. 425; Amend Coun. J. 6-28-91, p. 2475; Amend Coun. J. 6-23-93, p. 34793; Amend Coun. J. 11-15-95, p. 11995; 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. 11-19-03, p. 14216, § 7.1; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 15814, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 14596, Art. III, § 1)
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