931.03 WATER TAPS.
   (a)   Upon proper application accompanied by the permit set forth in Section 931.02, and provided that all the conditions of this chapter shall have been complied with, the City shall make a proper tap and construct a connection thereof from the water main or pipe to a point inside the curb line of the street in which such water main or pipe is located, in the manner and under the specifications provided by the Director of Public Service. The application must state the name of the owner of the property, the number of the lot the street or highway on which such lot is located and the streets between which the tap is to be made. No permit shall be issued unless the owner of the premises has paid all taxes, assessments and other public charges due and payable on such property. The cost of the construction of such connection and of tapping and connecting the same, with the water pipe or main shall be in addition to the permit fee provided in Section 931.02(d). All other expenses whatsoever for making and continuing such connection must be borne by the lot or land owner or other person making the connection, and the lot owner shall replace the sidewalk and highway, where opened in their former condition, and shall assume all liability for accidents on account thereof. He shall protect all excavations and obstructions on the sidewalk by proper barricades and red lights.
 
   (b)   No person shall do any of the work specified in this section or to make use of water from the water works system of the City except in strict accordance with the provisions of this chapter and with the provisions, requirements and specifications which may be deemed necessary and adopted by the Director of Public Service for the protection of such water, water mains, pipes and system, and the proper and economical use of water; and no tap or connection or extension shall be made except in the presence of the duly authorized agent of the City duly appointed for that purpose.
 
   (c)   All taps into such water mains or pipes made for the use of such persons beyond the limits of the City shall be of such size as to give proper service to the property which is to be connected therewith, and shall be extended with extra heavy lead pipe to the point hereinbefore specified within the curb line and provided with suitable brass fittings, corporation cock at the main and brass service cock within the curb; which curb cock shall be provided with a suitable iron box and these boxes shall be appropriately marked and numbered on a part thereof so as to be visible. The top of such boxes shall be at or slightly above the ground level and the Director of Public Service shall cause accurate measurements and locations of all taps, corporation cocks and curbs to be made and recorded in a book kept for that purpose. All cocks shall be of a pattern so as to open with the same key and to be turned to the left to open. The curb cock and box shall be included in the portion to be paid off by the owner of the premises and the cost thereof shall be in addition to the permit fee. No service pipe shall be laid at a depth less than three and one-half feet below the established grade of any street or highway or below the surface of the ground.
 
   (d)   No residence, store or other building or occupants thereof shall be permitted to use any water thereon or therein until the owner thereof at his expense has caused to be installed on the service pipe an accurate brass case meter for the purpose of measuring the quantity of water used. Such meter shall be so placed as to protect the same from the action of frost and the elements. No opening through which water can be drawn shall be made between the water main and the meter, such meter to be of such kind only as may be approved by the Director of Public Service. No part of the expense incident to the same or the location thereof shall be borne by the City and all meters shall be placed and located in such place and manner upon such premises as will permit easy access thereto, and such as may be approved by the Director of Public Service. All meters must be tested under the direction of the Director of Public Service or the department of Public Service of the City of Columbus, Ohio. If by the latter, a certificate of such test signed by the proper officials of the City of Columbus must be filed with the Director of Public Service. A stop and waste shall be provided in the service pipe at the inlet and a check valve and stop and waste at the outlet end of the meter. Properly authorized agents of the City shall at all times be given access to the meter for the purpose of reading of the meter. The Director of Public Service shall have the right at any time to temporarily remove any meter and to test the same, and if the same be found inaccurate they may order the same repaired or a new meter substituted. The necessary repairs or substitution shall be made under the direction of the Director. Meters shall only be removed by the consent of the Director.
 
   (e)   The service branches are considered the property of the water consumer, and as such the consumer will be held responsible for any leakage that may occur between the main pipe and the meter and for the care and maintenance of the curb box which at all times shall be free from obstruction and of ready access for the turning on or off of water. Failure to repair leaks or remove obstruction from the curb box when notified to do so will be sufficient cause for the City to shut off the water at the main until such leak has been repaired or curb box cleared from obstruction, and the expense of shutting off and turning on paid by the consumer.
 
   (f)   A deposit of five dollars ($5.00) shall be made with each application for use of water from the mains of the City for the purpose of securing payment of water rental. The owner of the property supplied with water, in all cases shall be held responsible for the payment of the water rent and if at any time such owner fails to pay the amount of such water rental at the time stipulated for the payment of the same, the Director of Public Service shall cause the water to be shut off and the same shall not be turned on again until such rental has been paid together with a fee of two dollars ($2.00) for the shutting off and turning on of the water, and in the event that such rental is not paid and is in excess of the deposit made by such consumer with the City the Director of Public Service shall proceed to collect the same.
 
   (g)   No tap or service pipe shall be connected with more than one building used for residence or other purpose except that buildings on the same premises with any residence and used for the accommodation of employees of the owner shall not be considered as separate residences.
 
   (h)   No person unless authorized by the Director of Public Service shall at any time open or close or otherwise operate or interfere with any gate valve, or curb cock connected with the water main. No person shall place or deposit any dirt or material over or adjacent to any stopcock, in such manner as to interfere with the operation thereof.
(Ord. 117. Passed 11-5-13.)