(A) Water shall not be turned on for any purpose at any premises until a contract for service has been executed. A water utility representative for the city is the only person authorized to turn on water. At least one adult that is at least 18 years of age must be present to assure that all water outlets on the premises are closed in order to prevent any possible water damage, unless the customer has signed on the line in the contract “Releasing the Utility of any Responsibility for any Damage to the Premises” and said customer shall assume full responsibility for any damages to the premises.
(B) Appointment for water turn on will be scheduled with a one-hour window during normal business hours from 7:30 a.m. up to 3:00 p.m., on a normal scheduled workday, excluding holidays/weekends normally within 24 to72 hours of application/contract approval. In some situations, it may be up to five days. If a customer is not present at the scheduled appointed time, a service fee will be assessed for a second turn-on appointment based upon the rate schedule. If the water has been off at the service address for a period of one month, a service fee shall be assessed for the purpose of resetting the meter. The exception to this rule shall be any monthly scheduled disconnect shall be turned on normally within two hours, and if an error occurred, water shall be turned on immediately.
(C) No person, but an authorized representative of the Utility Department, a member of the Fire Department, or a member of the Street Department, shall turn on, operate, or remove the nozzle cap from any of the city’s fire hydrants to which water is supplied by the utility. Anyone other than the prior mentioned people who turn a fire hydrant on shall incur a fine for each infraction as stated in the rate ordinance.
(D) Any customer/property owner/contractor or any other person that is found to have tampered with a water meter pit including removing the lid of such pit, with a water turn-on or shut-off valve, or any part of the meter shall incur a fine for each infraction as stated in the rate ordinance and the water will be turned off by the utility and shall not be turned back on until the fine is paid. The customer whose name appears on the application is responsible to ensure the theft of water service is discovered, the city shall take legal action and reserves the right to collect any legal costs incurred for prosecuting a customer, homeowner, or contractor that has stolen water from the city. The Utility Superintendent and other duly authorized employees of the city shall be the only authorized agent to turn water on/off.
(E) The utility shall establish administrative guidelines on locking, pulling of water meters and the procedures for turning water off/on for those that has been disconnected due to delinquency or for standby service. All charges for these activities are listed in the rate ordinance.
(F) Any legal action taken by the utility the property owner shall be accountable for all attorney and court costs/fees.
(Ord. 1-2021, passed 6-22-2021) Penalty, see § 10.99