The following rules and regulations of the Village water system are hereby enacted:
(a) Memorandum. The Village water system was originally financed under revenue bonds. This means that the water user is paying for the pumping station, the water tower and all of the water mains and accessories, as well as for treated water, when he or she pays his or her water bill, and the cost of the foregoing items were included in determining the rate charges.
(b) Water Department Defined. As used in these rules and regulations, "Water Department" means the Village Water Department.
(c) Enumeration of Rules.
Rule 1. Applications for installation of services.
A. The applicant shall apply to the Utilities Office. The applicant shall furnish all information needed and sign a contract for water service.
B. The applicant shall pay his or her tap-in fee and meter charge before the Water Department will issue a work order to make the water tap and installation of the water meter.
Rule 2. Rendering of water bills. Water bills shall be made out and mailed in the property owner's name, and no bill, except initial or final bills, will be rendered for less than the three-month (quarterly) minimum charge. Billings shall be quarterly.
When meters are installed prior to the fifteenth of the month, the full month shall be billed. In rendering final bills where consumers move out at odd dates in the month, water must be turned off and a final meter reading taken. When the use of water exceeds fifteen days of the month, a full monthly minimum charge will be billed.
Rule 3. Due date of water bills. Water bills are due and payable quarterly at the Utilities Office or an authorized agent on the due date as shown. All bills paid after the final date for payment shall bear a penalty of ten percent of the billing.
Rule 4. Order of payment. Accounts for water service must be paid in the order in which they are contracted. The Village Administrator may refuse payment of an account except when each account is paid in the order incurred; in other words, payment of a current account will not be accepted until all prior accounts for the same premises have been paid.
Rule 5. Delinquent accounts. Once each year delinquent water accounts may be certified for collection pursuant to law.
Rule 6. Shutting off water. Delinquencies in the payment of water bills shall subject the user to the shutting off of water at the premises until the bill is paid in full. A charge of twelve dollars ($12.00) will be added to the bill for turning water on again.
When water service is shut off because of delinquency, the property owner shall continue to be billed the minimum charge for the size of the water meter.
Rule 7. Estimating of water consumption. If a meter fails to register, the consumption of water shall be estimated from the amount consumed during a period when water was supplied under similar conditions and was correctly measured.
Rule 8. Purchase and location of meters. All meters shall be purchased from the Water Department. A meter shall be set, removed or adjusted only by employees of the Department. The location of such meter must be satisfactory to the Department, and the plumbing must be so arranged that the meter can be set in place without disturbing any of the water piping. Meters will not be permitted to be installed in coal cellars, crawl spaces or other inaccessible places.
Rule 9. Meter boxes. On property where there is no suitable place for a meter, a meter box shall be required, and the same shall be supplied at the property owner's expense. The meter box shall conform to standards set by the Water Department. Meter boxes may be purchased from the Department.
Rule 10. Meter readings. Meter readings shall be taken quarterly as near the same date each quarter as is possible. If the meter reader is unable to procure a reading after two calls, an estimated charge shall be made upon an estimated reading as provided in Rule 7.
Rule 11. Meter repairs. The cost of repairing or replacing meters shall be paid by the property owner if, in the opinion of the Water Department, there is evidence of negligence contributing to the disrepair or need for replacement of the water meter. The Department shall provide the service and add the cost to the water bills. If the meter seal is found broken or other proof of tampering with the meter is found, the bill for the period in question shall be estimated.
Rule 12. Tampering with meters. The criminal laws of the State provide severe penalties for tampering with water meters, meter seals, etc. The payment of any penalty levied against a property owner will not in any way relieve any person from criminal prosecution.
Rule 13. Meter testing. The Water Department will test a water meter, subject to the following conditions:
A. A deposit of twelve dollars ($12.00) is required.
B. If the meter is found to over register by an amount exceeding two and one-half percent, the deposit shall be refunded, another meter shall be furnished and an equitable reduction shall be made on the water bill over a period not to exceed twelve months.
C. If the meter does not over register by an amount exceeding two and one-half percent, the bill shall be paid in full and the deposit will not be refunded.
D. If the meter is found to under register by an amount exceeding two and one-half percent the deposit shall not be refunded and an equitable charge shall be added to the consumer's billing over a period not to exceed twelve months. The charge shall be based on previous consumption over a period not to exceed twelve months.
Rule 14. Service connections. New water service connections shall be placed not closer than twenty-four inches to any sewer or water line. Minimum cover shall be three feet six inches. Service shall not be located under driveways and shall be placed as close to the center of the lot as is practical.
Rule 15. Single service connections required. No service pipe connection to the main by one corporation cock shall be extended into two distinct premises, dwellings or tenements.
In the case of a double or duplex dwelling, there shall be two service connections and two meters. Only one tap-in fee need be paid, but a double header connection must be purchased from the Water Department.
In apartment houses or business places, the plumbing shall be so arranged that all water used on the premises shall pass through one master meter.
Rule 16. Tampering with curb and corporation cocks. The curb shut off as well as the corporation cock shall be under the absolute control of the Water Department and shall not be tampered with or operated by any person except an authorized employee or agent of the Department.
A licensed plumber may, upon notification of the Department, turn on the water for testing purposes, but must shut it off after the test is made. When the plumbing has been tested, the jumper or spacer pipe shall be removed so the meter can be set. The plumber shall call the Department to have the meter installed.
Rule 17. Stop and waste shut off. A service pipe for domestic supply must be provided with an approved stop and waste cock where it enters the building. Such stop and waste cock shall be easily accessible and so installed that the water can be shut off and drained from the pipes and meter. In all houses where there is no basement and where meters have to be set in utility rooms or kitchens, a shut-off valve must be set ahead and back of the meter to stop the siphoning of water from plumbing and hot water tanks on the floor. All services larger than three-fourths inch in diameter must have a shut-off valve on both sides of the meter so that the meter may be removed without draining all pipes in the building. All meters two inches or larger must be by-passed by the plumber and sealed by the Water Department.
Rule 18. Opening streets. Where services are laid crossing a paved street, the property owner shall pay the cost of repaving such street so excavated for construction of the service. Application to open a street must be made to the Village Administrator.
Rule 19. Leaks in services. Water service pipe between the curb stop and the water meter must be maintained at the expense of the property owner. The property owner will be held responsible for any leakage which may occur in such service pipe, and the Water Department reserves the right to turn off the water in cases where leakage does exist.
Service pipe between the main and the curb stop shall be maintained by the Department.
Rule 20. Installation of new service connections. When the service pipe between the main and the curb stop is found to be deteriorated to the extent that permanent repairs cannot be made, a new service will be required to be installed at the expense of the property owner. The failure of the owner, within thirty days after notification, to authorize such new service to be installed will be deemed to be sufficient cause for discontinuing the supply of water to the premises.
Rule 21. Additions and alterations. No additions or alteration in any service pipe between the water main and the meter, and no change of any meter, shall be made without the permission of the Water Department.
Rule 22. Leaking pipes. The Water Department may not furnish water where there are leaking pipes. The Department reserves the right to not furnish water until the necessary repairs are made.
Rule 23. Use of fire hydrants. Fire hydrants are intended primarily for the use of the Fire Department. Permits for their use for other purposes are given reluctantly and only in cases when their use cannot be avoided. The drawing of water from fire hydrants by unauthorized persons is strictly prohibited, and a violation of this rule may cause arrest.
Rule 24. Turning on water. No plumber or other person, except a duly authorized agent of the Water Department, shall turn water on in any premises except in the manner provided in Rule 16.
Rule 25. Water for building purposes. Water used for individual home building purposes shall be billed at the minimum rate of fifteen dollars ($15.00) for three months of use. Developers shall install a master meter and shall pay for actual water consumed with a minimum quarterly charge depending on the size of the meter if use does not exceed the minimum consumption.
No water for building purposes shall be furnished between November 1 and April 1 due to freezing weather.
Rule 26. Access to property. Authorized employees of the Water Department shall have access at all reasonable hours to the premises supplied with water for the purpose of reading meters and to see that all rules are observed.
Rule 27. Water in subdivisions. The contractor or developer shall install new services from the water main to the houses or buildings. The contractor shall tap the main and set curb stops. Services to buildings will be placed in the center of the lots. The Village shall not be responsible for services until the water system has been officially accepted by the Water Department. All water transmission lines installed after the effective date of these rules and regulations shall be a minimum of eight inches in diameter.
Rule 28. Water rates for new subdivisions. The Village will give the developer a credit for enough standard water tap fees to equal the approved construction cost of the water distribution extension.
All tap-in fees above the approved construction cost must be paid by the developer. If the total credit for tap-in fees does not equal the approved construction cost, the developer must bear this additional cost.
The water rates for users within the subdivision shall be the same as those stipulated under Section 1042.05.
The developer must also bear the cost of all other charges, including the cost of water meters, water tap inspection fees, etc.
Rule 29. Transfer of water rights and responsibilities. A purchaser of property being served by the water system shall visit the Water Department, supply needed information and sign a contract for the transfer of water rights and responsibilities. No person is entitled to receive water unless he or she has signed such contract. The Department reserves the right to shut off the water to any premises when the owner is not under contract to the City.
Rule 30. Private fire pipe lines. All fire extinguisher service connections to supply water to sprinkler systems or private fire hydrants (for fire use only) must be metered. The design of the system must follow good design practice and all cross-connections between possible sources of pollution and the general water supply must be avoided.
Rule 31. Payment for fire lines. All charges and water rates provided for in these rules and regulations shall apply to fire lines. The property owner shall pay all costs for repairing leaks in fire lines and apparatus.
Rule 32. Private water lines. No private lines will be allowed in the water system. All users must be tied into adequately sized water mains.
Rule 33. Emergencies. In times of emergency or during periods of temporary problems relative to the supply, production or distribution of water, the Village Administrator may restrict the use of water with any action deemed necessary in order to best provide for the protection of life and property and for the ultimate welfare of Village residents. Actions taken under this rule must be reported to the Mayor and Council.