941.05 PERMITS FOR SERVICES.

   (a)    Any person or entity, in person or by agent, desiring a water service connection shall make application for such connection at the Bureau of Buildings, Inspections, Licenses and Permits. There shall be at least one meter for each customer. There may be more than one meter for each building and each such meter constitutes a separate service. Each meter shall serve a separate geographical area or be protected by an approved backflow prevention device. Each meter shall have a separate shut-off apparatus accessible to employees of the City Water Division for turning on and turning off service to that customer. Should property owners wish auxiliary meters inside a building on the same water service, they may have them, by establishing separate accounts under these regulations and the by-laws of the Water Division. Cost of meters and their installation must be at the expense of the owner and meet requirements of the water by-laws.

   (b)    Any person or entity in person or by agent, desiring a water service connection for one or more mobile homes to be placed upon a single lot or parcel under one ownership shall obtain one water tap and one meter only. Water service shall be extended to mobile home parks at the sole expense of the land owner(s)and such owner(s) shall be billed and pay for all water used on the premises. Water service consumers residing in mobile homes shall have the right to establish a group account as provided in Section 941.12(I).

   (c)    No water service tap or permit will be issued to any consumer on any private line unless the applicant files a signed release or order of authority to the Division of Water from the owners of such private line and then only at the discretion of the Director of Public Service. All rules and regulations not conflicting by law shall apply to all consumers receiving their supply of water over private lines from the Division of Water.

   (d)    Any residential consumer who is presently being billed for use of City water and is presently receiving service, in the sole opinion of the City, through an inadequate supply main, may request a new tap whenever an adequate supply main is made available. Such new tap shall be at no cost to the customer.

   (e)    A new tap shall include the removal and replacement of pavement, shut-off valve or curb stop and the extension of a service line to a location behind the sidewalk near the public right of way. All expense and costs relating to rearrangement of plumbing, resetting the water meter and/or connecting piping between the new shut-off valve or curb stop and the ultimate use of water shall be borne by the customer.

(Ord. 96-079. Passed 5-7-96.)

941.06 METERS AND REGISTERING DEVICES.

   (a)    Every water service shall be equipped with a meter and a remote register, unless approved otherwise. All meters shall be the property of the City. For the purpose of maintaining meters, the Division of Water reserves the right to remove and then replace or repair any meter at any time without notice.

   (b)    Each meter shall be sized according to the volume of water used by the consumer. The Division of Water reserves the right to size or change the size of any meter according to water use records of the consumer and the recommendations of the American Water Works Association "Standard for Cold Water Meters". The customer is responsible for providing facilities for a proper meter setting and for any required piping changes.

   (c)    All new water services shall be metered with a remote reading meter and register after the passage of this chapter. Remote reading meters and registers shall be installed on all existing water services unless determined otherwise by the Director of Public Service. Remote reading meters will require periodic inspection by the Division of Water. Failure of the customer or consumer to comply with this rule may result in water service to the unit being terminated in accordance with Section 941.12 (a), (f), (g) and (m).

   (d)    Upon request from an owner-customer and upon payment of the standard test charge as established by Section 941.08(g), the Division of Water shall remove any meter to the meter shop for test. If, upon examination and test, it is found that the meter registers outside of the tolerance limits of the following percentages of water through it, that is, two percent (2%) over or under on meter sizes five-eighths inch thru two inches on flows from one to twenty gallons per minute, five percent (5%) over or under on all other types and sizes of meters on flows from low to high rating, then it shall be considered "inaccurate" and the water charges will be adjusted upon basis of the test.

   (e)    The standard charge for the replacement of frozen or stolen meter shall be the current cost of the meter to the City of Mansfield plus the cost of any auxiliary devices such as remote radios if necessary.

(Ord. 14-047. Passed 4-15-14.)

941.07 METER READINGS AND BILLS.

    (a)    Each water service account bill shall represent water used as determined by an actual meter reading or an estimated reading based upon previously used water at the same premises, or a minimum service charge. Estimated readings shall be noted as such on the bill. Bills for each water service account shall be mailed to the customer on a monthly basis. Bills shall be due in full on the fourteenth day after the bill date. Failure to pay a bill by the twenty-first day after said bill date will result in the assessment of a ten percent (10%) late fee which shall appear on the next monthly statement. Failure to pay a bill on time, may be considered nonpayment for the purposes of Section 941.12 (a), (f), (g) and (m).

            (1)    All payments to the Utility Collections Division shall be in currency, by check or money order, credit or debit card, or other form of online payment. Any credit, debit, or other form of online payment may be subject to a servicing or processing fee determined by the Utility Collections Division. All checks will be accepted subject to collection at the bank. In the event a check is not honored by the bank and is returned for refund, the account to which payment has been credited will be charged thirty-five dollars ($35.00) for the returned check. Dishonored electronic funds transfer (EFT) transactions will also be charged at the thirty-five dollar ($35.00) penalty.

            (2)    If a check has been received by the Utility Collections Division that is returned by the bank as a dishonored check, upon notification to the payor of the return of the dishonored check, the payor shall make restitution on the dishonored check by making payment on the account as soon as possible in cash, by cashier's check or money order, only.

            (3)    If a payor causes two dishonored checks to be presented to the Utility Collections Division within a one year period, the Utility Collections Division shall notify that payor in writing that payment for all future water bills must be made in cash, by cashier's check or money order, only.

   (b)    Meter readings will be taken in accordance with the water by-laws as established by the Director of Public Service. Meter readings shall be taken as near the same day of the month as possible. Meters must be installed in such a location and manner so as to make them readily accessible for reading. If the meter reader is unable to obtain a reading by reason of the meter or remote register being out of order, or he is unable to gain access to either, an estimated charge will be made. If authorized by the Director of Public Service, a meter reading card may be sent to customers when their meter cannot otherwise be read. Such cards shall be accurately marked by the customer to indicate the true meter reading and returned to the Utility Collections Division. Returned cards shall be considered as estimates only since actual water used shall be determined by a reading taken by a City employee. If access to the meter or remote register is not available for four consecutive months, notice will be served upon the customer to take corrective action.

   (c)    Inspectors, meter readers or employees of the Division of Water whose duty it may be to enter upon private premises to examine meters, pipes or other fixtures used in connection with the City water supply shall be equipped with a proper badge or such other credentials as the Director of Public Service may deem necessary to identify them as agents of the Division of Water. Such inspectors, meter readers or employees authorized by the Division of Water must have free access at all reasonable hours to all parts of the building for the purpose of inspecting meters, examining fixtures and observing the manner in which the water is used. In case any authorized inspector, meter reader or employee is refused admittance to any premises or is hindered or prevented from making such inspection or reading, water service to the premises may be terminated in accordance with Section 941.12 (a), (f), (g) and (m), and not turned on again until free access is granted.

   (d)    Payment of water service accounts shall be deferred where the customer established: an inability to pay a water bill by the date on which such payment is due; and that termination of water service would be especially dangerous to the health of a consumer at the unit as certified in writing by a physician. Upon the establishment of both the foregoing conditions, payment shall be deferred entirely for so long as both conditions exist, or for ninety days, whichever occurs first. At the end of the deferment the customer shall be required to pay the past due bill in full, or, at the customer's option, in three equal monthly installment payments with each installment payment to be made by the fifteenth day of the month; and the customer shall also be required to pay the current bills for the water service account provided after the deferment in accordance with the requirements of subsection (a) hereof. Successive deferments may be granted only upon either payment of all past due amounts or upon the consent of the Director of Public Service. In the event that the customer's application for an emergency deferment is initially rejected by the City, or in the event that the City intends to terminate such a deferment prior to the expiration of the ninety days, the City shall give the customer written notice of the reason(s) therefor and of the opportunity for a hearing, pursuant to Section 941.13, at which he may contest the denial or the proposed termination of the deferment. Whenever a customer requests a hearing pursuant to this paragraph to contest a proposed termination, he shall not be obligated to pay the bill unless and until he is ordered to do so by the decision of the hearing officer, upon expiration of the ninety days, or upon prior settlement of the dispute, whichever occurs first.

   (e)    In the event that a customer fails to make payment of a monthly bill by the date it is due (see subsection (a) hereof) or fails to make either a full or monthly payment after the cessation of an emergency deferment as provided in subsection (d), the City may propose to terminate the water service as provided by Section 941.12 (a), (f), (g) and (m).

   (f)    Customers have the right to request and attend a hearing for the purpose of disputing: the amount of any charge assessed by the City against the water service account of the customer; the amount of any credit accorded by the City to the customer for prior payment on the water service account of the customer; or the failure of the City to accord to customer a credit for prior payment on the water service account of the customer. Any such hearing shall be conducted by the City in accordance with Section 941.13 and shall be limited to matters concerning the two billings immediately preceding the date of the request for hearing. Whenever a customer requests a hearing pursuant to this subsection, he shall not be obligated to pay the disputed portion of the bill unless and until, and only to the extent that he is ordered to domino by the decision of the hearing officer or upon prior settlement of the dispute.

   (g)   When water rents or charges are not paid when due, the Director of Public Service shall cause them to be certified to the County Auditor for placement as a lien upon the property served in accordance with the procedures set forth in Ohio R.C. 743.04. Certification of delinquent water charges shall be concurrent with certification of delinquent sewer charges as provided by Section 937.14.

   (h)    Notwithstanding any other provision within this chapter, where water service accounts are determined to be non-collectible by the Director of Public Service, he may charge-off delinquent accounts in the categories set forth below. In no event shall any account in any of the following categories be charged-off from the account receivables unless and until the Director has, after diligent effort, determined that the account cannot reasonably be collected, after taking into consideration the age of the account, the ownership of the premises served, the condition of the property, whether the property is occupied or vacant, whether the property is improved or unimproved, the expense of collection when compared to the amount due, any billing errors on the part of the City, the adequacy of City records substantiating the account and any other factors relevant to such determination.

      The Director shall maintain adequate records on each account which is charged off, indicating the reason that each such account is deleted from the account receivables.

      The procedures established by this subsection shall not be utilized as a method of resolving disputed accounts in lieu of the procedures set forth in Section 941.13, but shall be for internal bookkeeping purposes only and in order to remove uncollectible accounts from the City's files. The categories wherein the Director is authorized to charge-off delinquent accounts are as follows:

            (1)    Water service accounts serving properties where the structures thereon have been demolished and the accounts have not been removed from the City's files.

            (2)    Water service accounts serving properties where the water meter has been removed and billing records have not been adjusted accordingly.

           (3)    Flat rate sewer charges being billed after removal of the structures on the property.

            (4)    Accounts older than six years and barred by the applicable statute of limitations.

         (Ord. 16-079. Passed 5-5-16.)

941.08 WATER CHARGES.

   (a)    Water Rates Within the City. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these regulations, the following water rates shall be placed in effect, as set forth below:

(Rate volumes in cubic feet per monthly billing period.)

Net Rate Per 100 Cubic Feet

 

	Effective	Effective	Effective	Effective	Effective	Effective
	1/1/2021	1/1/2022	1/1/2023	1/1/2024	1/1/2025	1/1/2026
First 400 cubic feet	$2.78	$2.86	$2.95	$3.04	$3.13	$3.22
Next 4,600 cubic feet	$3.14	$3.61	$4.15	$4.57	$4.71	$4.85
Next 95,000 cubic feet	$3.42	$3.93	$4.52	$4.97	$5.12	$5.27
Balance	$3.00	$3.45	$3.97	$4.37	$4.50	$4.64

[Note: When a customer’s water meter has been replaced with a meter that reads in gallons, the above rate schedule shall not be applicable and the gallons usage chart shall be the sole method of calculating and billing for water usage. When all the City’s water customer’s meter have been replaced with a meter that reads in gallons, the above chart shall become null and void.]   

(Rate volumes in gallons per monthly billing period.)

Net Rate Per One (1) Gallon

 

	Effective	Effective	Effective	Effective	Effective	Effective
	1/1/2021	1/1/2022	1/1/2023	1/1/2024	1/1/2025	1/1/2026
First 3,000 gallons	$0.003717	$0.003829	$0.003944	$0.004062	$0.004184	$0.004310
Next 34,500 gallons	$0.004191	$0.004820	$0.005543	$0.006097	$0.006280	$0.006468
Next 711,000 gallons	$0.004573	$0.005259	$0.006048	$0.006653	$0.006853	$0.007059
Balance	$0.004014	$0.004616	$0.005308	$0.005839	$0.006014	$0.006194

   Each year after 2026, on the first of the year, the total rates shall increase by 3% from the previous year rounded to the nearest cent if usage charges are in CCF units and rounded to the nearest ten thousandth of a cent if usage charges are in gallon units.

   The water rates shall be reviewed at least biennially and shall be revised periodically, as required, to reflect actual water works costs. The Public Works Director, or a delegate, shall be responsible for reviewing, retaining of documentation and making recommendations to Council for revising the rates set forth in this chapter.

   (b)   Meter Service Charges Per Month.

	Effective	Effective	Effective	Effective	Effective	Effective
Meter Size (inches)	1/1/2021	1/1/2022	1/1/2023	1/1/2024	1/1/2025	1/1/2026
1 or less	$3.30	$3.80	$4.37	$4.81	$4.95	$5.10
1-1/4	$6.60	$7.59	$8.73	$9.60	$9.89	$10.19
1-1/2	$6.60	$7.59	$8.73	$9.60	$9.89	$10.19
2	$13.20	$15.18	$17.46	$19.21	$19.79	$20.38
2 ½	$13.20	$15.18	$17.46	$19.21	$19.79	$20.38
3	$27.50	$31.63	$36.37	$40.01	$41.21	$42.45
4	$55.00	$63.25	$72.74	$80.01	$82.41	$84.88
6	$110.00	$126.50	$145.48	$160.03	$164.83	$169.77
8	$165.00	$189.75	$218.21	$240.03	$247.23	$254.65
10	$220.00	$253.00	$290.95	$320.05	$329.65	$339.54

   Each year after 2026, on the first of the year, the meter service charge shall increase by 3% from the previous year, rounded to the nearest cent.

   (c)   Readiness to Serve Charges Per Month.

	Effective	Effective	Effective	Effective	Effective	Effective
Meter Size (inches)	1/1/2021	1/1/2022	1/1/2023	1/1/2024	1/1/2025	1/1/2026
1 or less			$10.93	$12.03	$12.38	$12.75
1-1/4			$21.83	$24.00	$24.73	$25.48
1-1/2			$21.83	$24.00	$24.73	$25.48
2			$43.65	$48.03	$49.48	$50.95
2 ½			$43.65	$48.03	$49.48	$50.95
3			$90.93	$100.03	$103.03	$106.13
4			$181.85	$200.03	$206.03	$212.20
6			$363.70	$400.08	$412.08	$424.43
8			$545.53	$600.08	$618.08	$636.63
10			$727.38	$800.13	$824.13	$848.85

   Each year after 2026, on the first of the year, the readiness to serve charge shall increase by 3% from the previous year, rounded to the nearest cent.

   (d) Old Meter Manual Billing Charge. Each customer account utilizing a water meter reading in cubic feet and installed prior to May 1, 2020 shall, beginning November 1, 2023, be assessed monthly an old meter manual billing charge of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) which shall be subject to delinquent fees. The assessment of such charge shall cease upon the installation of a water meter reading in gallons.

   (e)    Tap Charges.

      Diameter of Tap (inches)   Cost Per Tap

   3/4   $ 600.00

   1   913.00

   1-1/2   1,390.00

   2   2,423.00

   4   4,620.00

   6   7,480.00

   8   11,000.00

   10   14,850.00

   12   18,480.00

   The tap charges as listed include the cost of the meter, the removal and replacement of pavement, the removal and replacement of sidewalk, the cost of the shut-off valve, and the installation of a water service line from the watermain to the shut-off valve up to ten (10) feet. When feasible, the shut-off valve will be installed within the public right of way near the property line, otherwise the shut-off valve will be installed in the most appropriate location. In all respects, the shut-off valve shall be accessible to City employees.

   (f)   Tap Charges for Fire Line Application.

   Diameter of Tap (Inches)   Cost Per Tap

   4      $ 4,070.00

   6      6,820.00

   8      10,010.00

   10      13,200.00

   12      16,280.00

   The tap charges as listed include the removal and replacement of pavement, the removal and replacement of sidewalk, the cost of the shut-off valve, and the installation of a fire service line from the watermain to the shut-off valve. When feasible, the shut-off valve will be installed within the public right-of-way near the property line, otherwise the shut-off valve will be installed in the most appropriate location. In all respects, the shut off valve shall be accessible to City employees.

   (g)   The standard charge for turning on or shutting off of a water service shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for either action.

   (h)   Customers will be supplied with one meter for each tap charge pursuant to subsection (d). Customers who need additional meters on a single tap for sewer deduct purposes will be charged one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) per additional meter.

   (i)   A flat rate of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) shall be charged for the water used during structure construction through the issuance of a building permit. This charge shall be payable at the time a tapping permit is issued. Depending on the scope of structure construction, the Public Works Director may require a meter to be installed and the use of construction water shall be charged pursuant to the water rates listed in subsection (a). If a meter is required, the flat rate listed in this section shall be waived. It is the responsibility of the consumer to provide and install an approved meter and to protect the meter from freezing.

   (j)   For persons desiring cisterns, swimming pools, storage tanks or tank trucks filled from a fire hydrant or other unmetered connection, a charge shall be levied of five dollars ($5.00) per one thousand gallons, but in no case less than the minimum of twenty-five dollars ($25.00). Should it be necessary to disconnect and reconnect meter service for filling a pool, there will be an additional charge of forty dollars ($40.00).

   (k)   All consumers located outside of the City’s corporation limits shall have applied a one hundred percent (100%) surcharge to any and all rates listed in subsection (a).

   (l)   Notwithstanding subsection (k) hereof, the Public Works Director may enter into contracts, or renew or extend existing contracts, establishing rates other than set forth in subsection (a), as may be specifically authorized by Council.

   (m)   All work performed by the Division of Water at the request of a customer or any other person shall be charged at the Division’s actual cost unless specific charges are listed elsewhere in this chapter.

   (n)   When a meter is removed for repairs and/or the meter is not functioning as intended and/or miscalculating usage, the service shall be calculated and charged at the average daily usage which occurred for up to the previous twelve months.

   (o)   A meter service charge in accordance with subsection (b) and a readiness to serve charge in accordance with subsection (c) hereof will continue to be billed to the water service account even after termination of water service until the meter is removed.

(Ord. 23-107. Passed 9-5-23.)

941.09 CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL.

   (a)    The Director of Public Service through the Division of Water shall provide an effective means for protecting the City water system from contaminants through any water service connection into the City water system.

   (b)    If in the judgment of the Director, an approved backflow prevention device is necessary for the safety of the public water system, the Director shall give notice to the water consumer to install such an approved device immediately. The water consumer shall, at his own expense, install such an approved device at a location and in a manner approved by the Director and shall have inspections and tests made of such approved devices as required by the Director.

   (c)    No person, firm or corporation shall establish or permit to be established or maintain or permit to be maintained any connection whereby a private, auxiliary or emergency water supply other than the regular public water supply of the City of Mansfield may enter the supply or distributing system of such Municipality, unless such private, auxiliary or emergency water supply and the method of connection and use of such supply shall have been approved by the Director and by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

   (d)   No person shall install or maintain a water service connection where a booster pump has been installed, without written prior approval by the Director of Public Service, which includes an approve method is in place and is operational to maintain a minimum suction pressure as required in the Ohio Administrative Code §3745-95-07.

   (e)    The Director shall cause surveys and investigations to be made of industrial and other properties served by the public water supply where actual or potential hazards to the public water supply may exist. Such surveys and investigations shall be made a matter of public record and shall be repeated as often as the Director shall deem necessary.

   (f)    The Director or his duly authorized representative shall have the right to enter at any reasonable time any property served by a connection to the public water supply or distribution system of the City of Mansfield for the purpose of inspecting the piping system or systems thereof. On demand the owner, lessees or occupants of any property so served shall furnish to the Director any information which he may request regarding the piping system or systems or water use on such property. The refusal of such information, when demanded, shall, within the discretion of the Director, be deemed evidence of the presence of improper connections as provided in this section.

   (g)    The Director is hereby authorized and directed to discontinue, after reasonable notice to the occupant thereof, the water service to any property wherein any connection in violation of the provisions of this section is known to exist, and to take such other precautionary measures as he may deem necessary to eliminate any danger of contamination of the public water supply distribution mains. Water service to such property shall not be restored until such conditions shall have been eliminated or corrected in compliance with the provisions of this section.

(Ord. 18-193. Passed 10-2-18.)