(A) Public.
(1) Fire hydrant installations for the city. The Department will install and maintain public fire hydrants for fire protection within the corporate limits of the city. The number and location of fire hydrants to be provided on new mains shall be determined by the Department in accordance with general policies of the City Commission. The City Commission may, of course, direct the Department to provide additional hydrants or otherwise upgrade the water system with regard to its fire flow capability.
(2) Charges. Charges for public fire protection service shall be those charges set forth in the current contract between the Public Utilities Board of the city and the City Commissioners.
(3) Water taken from fire hydrants for purposes other than firefighting.
(a) No person shall take water from a fire hydrant for purposes other than firefighting, except for municipal employees authorized to do so and such other persons as may hold a current permit for this purpose duly issued by the Water Department. The permit must designate the hydrants to be used and the period of time for which the permit is valid.
(b) When water is taken from fire hydrants for any purpose other than firefighting, such as sprinkling of streets, construction purposes or other temporary uses, the hydrant from which the water is so taken must have a reducing appliance attached to the nozzle of the fire hydrant with an independent valve capable of regulating the supply. The main valve of the fire hydrant must be fully opened it the beginning of each work day and remain open until the close of work at night.
(c) The supply is to be regulated by independent valves. Fire hydrants shall be operated only by a wrench of the type which must be approved by the Department. When taking water from a fire hydrant for any purpose other than firefighting, no wastage will be tolerated.
(4) Fire hydrant installations outside the city. The Utilities Department may permit the installation of public fire hydrants outside the corporate limits of the city where a contract may be executed with a suitable agency, body or individual to ensure payment of the annual charges for operation and maintenance. Any such hydrants shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of the Utilities Department and shall be deeded to the Department in an instrument. The Department may install hydrants outside the city with an installation cost share basis with the county. Private parties that install hydrants must pay the monthly unmetered fire line service charge based on the water line providing water to the hydrant. If the Department determines the private party is not maintaining the hydrant properly and water is leaking, the Department has the option to turn off water service to the service after due notice to the private party.
(B) Private.
(1) Private fire hydrants and fire lines. Private fire hydrants and fire lines will be installed at the expense of the customer and the construction will be made in accordance with specifications of the Department. Such facilities shall be owned and maintained by the customers and the charges for service shall be in accordance with published rates or, in the absence thereof, shall be subject to negotiation, but in no case shall they be less than the charges for similar public installations.
(2) Charges for sprinkler systems.
(a) Facilities installed for providing water for automatic sprinkler systems for fire protection shall be owned and maintained by the customer and charges for water service to such installations shall be in keeping with charges outlined in the schedule of rates and charges.
(b) Multiple connections for sprinkler service to one structure in service at the time of the effective date of these rules and regulations shall, for billing purposes only, be considered a single connection.
(3) Limited use of unmetered private fire lines.
(a) Where private fire lines are not metered no water will be used from such lines or from any fire hydrant thereon, except to fight fire or while being inspected in the presence of an authorized agent of the Department.
(b) All private fire hydrants shall be sealed by the Department and shall be inspected at regular intervals to see that they are in proper condition and no water shall be used therefrom in violation of the Department’s rules and regulations. When a seal is broken on account of fire or for any other reason, the customer taking such service shall give the Department written notice of such occurrence as soon as possible.
(c) No customer furnished service by an unmetered service connection shall use any device requiring or allowing the continuous flow or water unless such use has been approved in writing by the Department.
(1994 Code, § 18-204) (Ord. 421, passed 12-18-1986; Ord. 423, passed 3-5-1987; Ord. 784, passed 4-25-2016)