CHAPTER 51: WATER SERVICES
Section
   51.01   Water Works Superintendent
   51.02   Application for installation of service connections
   51.03   Installation
   51.04   Plumbers rules applying to water services
   51.05   Meters
   51.06   Charges for water connection and usage
   51.07   Water service billing and collection of charges
   51.08   Refusal of water service
   51.09   Interference with hydrants
   51.10   Water for lawn sprinkling
   51.11   Shut off of water
   51.12   City inspectors
   51.13   Cross connections and backflow prevention
 
   51.98   Violations
§ 51.01 WATER WORKS SUPERINTENDENT.
   (A)   There is created and established within the city the office of Water Works Superintendent, such office to be filled by the chief operator of the Water Department as so designated by the City Council.
   (B)   (1)   It shall be the duty of the Water Works Superintendent to assume general supervisory control over the water works system of the city; to carry out the provisions of this section and of all other laws hereafter enacted by the Council relating to the water works; to operate and repair the system and to keep the same in good working order at all times; to maintain such daily and monthly records as may be deemed necessary by the Council or Clerk; provided, however, the Superintendent shall be and remain at all times under the immediate direction and control of the Council, the Clerk and administrative assistant, and subject to assignment to duties other than those herein expressly provided.
      (2)   Whenever mentioned in this section, the word “Superintendent” shall mean and refer to Water Works Superintendent.
(Prior Code, § 18.02, Subds. 1, 2)
§ 51.02 APPLICATION FOR INSTALLATION OF SERVICE CONNECTIONS.
   (A)   Property owners desiring service connection made to their premises must file an application with the Clerk’s office on blanks provided for this purpose. The application must be accompanied by a payment for the total cost of the service from the main to the curb stop, the cost to include the cost of a water meter, and the costs to be according to the schedule hereinafter set forth. If it appears to the Superintendent that the application is in due form and that the purpose for which service connection is desired is consistent with a proper use of the water works system, he or she will then cause the connection from main to curb box to be installed by the person or persons duly authorized by the Council to do the work or shall make the connection himself or herself.
   (B)   The application must state the purpose for which the water is to be used, together with the proper description and location of the property and must be signed by the owner or his or her duly authorized agent. The application must state distinctly the point on the property line where the service is to enter the premises. No service shall be installed under concrete walks, steps or other permanent structures, either existing or contemplated, between the property line and the buildings to be supplied. Every person making application as herein provided shall be deemed to have entered into a contract with the city. This section and all amendments thereto shall be considered a part of the contract and every person accepting and receiving water from the city shall be deemed to have expressed his or her consent to be bound thereby. Whenever any of the rules or regulations are violated, the water shall be turned off from the place of the violation, even though 2 or more parties are receiving water through the same pipe and shall not again be turned on except by order of the Superintendent and the payment of costs hereinafter set forth for turning water off and on.
   (C)   Each application shall be accompanied by a fee in an amount established by Council resolution payable to the city, which fee shall not be refundable if the application is denied.
(Prior Code, § 18.02, Subd. 3)
§ 51.03 INSTALLATION.
   (A)   The cost incident to the introduction of water services to any premises shall be a charge against the applicant therefore. The installation is to be done under the supervision of the Superintendent and in accordance with the rules and regulations herein set forth and as may be amended.
   (B)   The city is to furnish the corporation valve, curb cock, curb box, and necessary piping, all completely installed from the main to the curb box, for which a charge will be made according to the schedule hereinafter set forth. Perch connection from the main to the curb box shall remain the property of the city and shall not be operated without authority from the Superintendent. The service connection from the curb box to any premises must be installed by the consumer, owner, or occupant subject to the rules in this section provided. All water meter charges must be paid in full prior to the water turn on by the city and all water meters must be fully installed and operational 30 days after turn on of water service by the city.
   (C)   Excavation for water service connection or repairs shall be done in such a manner as to occasion the least inconvenience to the public. The trench shall be properly guarded at all times and during the night. Warning lights shall be maintained at any excavations lying within the street lines.
   (D)   Refilling the opening after service pipes are laid shall be carefully done. The earth must be laid in layers of not more than 12 inches (1 foot) in depth, each layer compacted to prevent settling. This and the replacing of sidewalks and other public structures must be done so as to leave the street in as good condition as before it was disturbed. Opening the streets or tapping the mains when the ground is frozen may be prohibited by the Superintendent.
   (E)   Tapping the mains will be done only by such person or persons who are expressly authorized by the Superintendent to do the work, or it shall be done by the Superintendent or other city employees, under the supervision of the Superintendent. Mains shall be tapped at a 45 degree angle from the horizontal and not in any case at or within 12 inches back or 30 inches ahead of a hub or another tap.
   (F)   Curb boxes shall be set as nearly in line with the property line as possible, and the top of the box shall level with the ground surface unless the Superintendent specifies otherwise. Where there is a continuous concrete surface between the building and the curb, then the box shall be set 6 inches inside of the curb. If the box is situated in or under any permanent hard surface, a lockable cover must be installed over the box. If a curb box set at grade is extended more than three-quarters of an existing extension, an additional extension must be provided to prevent the initial extension from being disconnected from the corp valve
   (G)   Every separate building supplied with water must have its own service connection directly with the mains, except that double houses under the same roof may be supplied with one service. Two or more adjacent buildings owned by the same person may be supplied with the same connection provided that the single ownership continues and that the owner agrees to pay for all water consumed on the entire premises. Upon termination of the single ownership, a separate connection shall be made immediately to the building or premises theretofore having the indirect connection, provided that in case there is no water main on any street on which the premises abut, the Council may permit the connection to remain until the water main is laid in the abutting street.
   (H)   (1)   New water connections shall be constructed of materials as specified by city engineering standards.
      (2)   Water service connections must be laid 7-1/2 feet below the finished grade of the ground or street surface. If it necessary to lay the connection at less than 7-1/2 feet below the finished grade, 2 inches of insulation must be provided for each foot by which the depth of installation is decreased. Before the trench is backfilled, the complete service connection line is to be tested in accordance with the Minnesota Plumbing Code. Unused water service connections are required to be cut off at the main when property is redeveloped and at the time the new service connection is installed.
   (I)   Every service shall be metered and only meters/metering systems furnished by the city shall be installed. Metering systems shall consist of a water meter, a radio read device and a connecting cable. Seasonal cottages may be exempted from this provision in the discretion of the Clerk. However, at the time that any seasonal cottage is remodeled into a year-round dwelling, a meter/metering system shall be installed at the owner’s expense. In cases where services exist that are not metered, the owner of the services must install a meter within 30 days after receiving notification from the Superintendent or the Clerk and pay for the meter according to rates established in this chapter. If the owner fails to install the meter, the city may order one installed and charge the cost against the water bill of the premises served. If the owner does not pay for the installation, the amount shall be certified to the County Auditor as in the case of delinquent water bills. If the person refuses entry to his or her premises for purposes of installing the meter, the Clerk may discontinue water service to the premises.
(Prior Code, § 18.02, Subd. 4)
§ 51.04 PLUMBERS RULES APPLYING TO WATER SERVICES.
   (A)   All work done by any person on the pipes, fixtures or appurtenances of the water works system must be done in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by law governing the work.
   (B)   No person or plumber, except an authorized city employee, shall turn on or turn off the water supply at any corporation valve at curb or main, nor allow any person in his or her employ to do so, except when expressly authorized by the Superintendent.
   (C)   Two or more services must not be connected together. No connection shall be made at any time between the fire service pipe system and the regular water supply unless the water meter is within 6 feet of the entrance of the sprinkler pipe to the interior of the building. There shall be no connection whereby unsafe water can be drawn into the city water system unless an air gap or an acceptable and approved backflow preventer is provided at the connection point.
   (D)   Services must enter the front of the building whenever possible or practicable. Where there is no basement the meter shall be of the remote reading type, will have provisions made to prevent it from freezing, and shall be paid for as prescribed in these regulations. No meter shall be placed in any location where it will be subject to becoming submersed in water. Where the installations exist, the owner shall be liable to have the meter location changed to a location where it will not be subject to submersion and will be easily accessible for reading and maintenance. Where the meters require replacement or rebuilding because of the submersion, the cost will be paid by the water user or the property owner. If the user or owner refuses to pay the costs, the costs will be added to the water bill for collection in the usual manner and, when delinquent, shall be certified to the County Auditor.
   (E)   Meters and remote meter reading receptacles must be easily accessible at all times so that they may be examined and meter readings obtained by city staff. Meters must not be exposed to danger from frost or contamination. Meters damaged due to freezing shall be repaired or replaced at the expense of the consumer or property owner. Any meter improperly installed shall be relocated at the expense of the property owner.
   (F)   No plumber or other person shall make an attachment to a service connection, nor extend any service connection without prior approval from the city. No lateral pipe branches will be allowed to be connected to the service except on the house side of the meter; service pipes must not be smaller than 5/8" up to the first kitchen sink. Branches for lawn sprinklers must be at least 3/4" in diameter with separate shutoff and drip.
   (G)   All corporation valves on the service or branches underground up to 1" inclusive shall be ball valve and waste cocks with solid core and socket heads of heavy pattern and shall be made of hard brass, red metal. Valves of 2" and larger sizes shall be straightway gate valves. The first valve on the house side of the meter must be provided with a waste for draining.
   (H)   No bibs are allowed to be used. Stop cocks are not allowed to be used as a house shut-off valve on the house side of the meter.
   (I)   Approved backflow preventers must be installed on all connections to steam plants used for the generation of power. A swing back flow preventer of a size not less than the service pipe must be installed near the meter on the house side of the meter on all connections to furnace coils or any other kind of plant for the purposes of heating water for domestic purposes, for heating buildings or dwellings where there is no expansion tank. A brass body compression disc and safety valve of a size not less than 3/4" must also be installed on the service.
   (J)   For violation of any of the foregoing rules relating to plumbers, or for the introduction either voluntary or at the request of any consumer of any pipe or fixture not in compliance herewith, the plumber shall be liable on his or her bond for any damages which the city or any individual may sustain by reason thereof.
(Prior Code, § 18.02, Subd. 5)
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