§ 51.35 PRIVATE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE.

   (A)   The entire private fire protection service on a customer's premises shall be subject to inspection and tests by the Utility at such times, as it deems necessary.

   (B)   Before any modifications are made to any private fire service protection system or before service is furnished to any new private fire protection system connected to or proposed to be connected to and supplied with water from the Utility's distribution mains, final plans of that fire protection system shall be filed with and approved by the Utility Engineering Department. The following shall be shown on the final plans:

      (1)   The number of sprinkler heads to be served;

      (2)   The sizes and location of the system piping;

      (3)   The sizes and locations of all connections to the Utility's distribution mains;

      (4)   The sizes and locations of all valves;

      (5)   The sizes and locations of all hose connections, reels or cabinets;

      (6)   The sizes and locations of storage tanks connected to the fire system; and

      (7)   The outlet sizes and locations of all fire hydrants.

   (C)   All fire protection lines within buildings shall be installed so that all pipes shall be easily accessible for inspection at any time. Underground pipes outside of buildings shall be placed and maintained at a minimum depth of four and one-half feet. All private fire protection lines, hydrants and metering facilities shall be maintained by and at the expense of the customer.

   (D)   No connection with a fire protection system shall be permitted to supply water for general purposes unless the connection has been approved by the customer's fire underwriter and unless the general-purpose water is metered. If such a connection is approved, it shall be made outside the building to be served. Both the fire protection line and the general purpose line shall be separately valved in accordance with the Utility's specifications to permit either to be turned on or off without affecting the other.

   (E)   A private fire protection system without a tank shall be equipped with an alarm valve and a check valve. A system with a tank shall have one alarm valve and two check valves.

   (F)   An un-metered private fire service is furnished for the sole purpose of supplying water for the extinguishments of accidental fires and the use of water from such a service connection for any other purpose shall be deemed an ordinance violation.

   (G)   Hydrants and other fixtures connected to a private fire service connection may be sealed by the Utility. That seal shall be broken only in case of fire or as specially permitted by the Utility. The customer shall immediately notify the Utility when any such seal is broken.

   (H)   Where a service tap on a Utility distribution main provides water for both fire and general purposes to a customer or customers, separate charges will be made for each purpose to each customer by the Utility in accordance with the established rules and schedule of rates.

   (I)   A private fire service, at the option of the customer and after the approval of his or her fire underwriter, may be connected to his or her metered water service. The minimum monthly charge for those combined fire and general-purpose uses shall be as set out in this chapter.

   (J)   Any additional investment cost incurred by the Utility in that metering shall be paid by the customer. Maintenance of the general water service meter will be at the expense of the Utility.

   (K)   If a private fire system is to be tested under the regulations of the fire service underwriters, the customer shall notify the Utility of that proposed test, stating the day and the hour when it is to be made, so the Utility may have a representative present for the test.

(1985 Code, § 36-9-2-14(w)) (Ord. 4-1980, passed 3-18-1980; Am. Ord. 32-2006, passed 9-19-2006)

§ 51.36 INTERRUPTION OF SERVICE.

   The Utility shall not be responsible in damages for any failure to supply water service or for interruption of the supply of water, or for defective piping on the customer's premises, or for damages resulting to a customer or to third persons through the use of water or the presence of the Utility's devices on the customer's premises, unless due to fault, negligence or culpability on the part of the Utility. Neither party shall be liable to the other for any failure or delay in case that failure or delay caused by strikes, the acts of nature, unavoidable accidents or contingencies beyond its control and not due to fault, neglect or culpability on its part.

(1985 Code, § 36-9-2-14(x)) (Ord. 4-1980, passed 3-18-1980; Am. Ord. 32-2006, passed 9-19-2006)

§ 51.37 WATER MAIN EXTENSION POLICY.

   (A)   If any person desiring service from the Utility requests a water main extension, that person shall pay for the cost of the extension. The purpose of this requirement is to place the cost of the installation of local water mains upon the owners of the properties benefitted. Water transmission mains, feeder mains and over-sizing of local water mains will be paid for by the Utility providing funds are available. The term LOCAL WATER MAIN means a main, which from its size and character, is designed and intended to supply water needs, with adequate volumes and pressures only for properties abutting the street, alley, easement or other public land in which the main is laid but which is not designed and intended to feed collateral mains necessary to supply non-abutting properties.

   (B)   This extension requirement shall be subject to the specific provisions of the following division:

      (1)   Free extensions. The Utility shall, upon written request for service from a prospective customer or a group of prospective customers located in the same neighborhood, make free of charge an extension necessary to give service to the petitioning prospective customers when the total estimated revenue for a period of six years, from the prospective customer or customers is approximately equal to the cost of the extension, if, in the judgment of the Utility, the patronage or demand for water service shall be of a permanent nature warranting the expenditure involved.

      (2)   Extension above free limit. If the extension required in order to furnish service at any point within the city limits, or for any suburb adjacent or contiguous to those limits, is greater than the free extension specified in this division, that extension should be made if:

         (a)   Petition for service. Upon the presentation of a written petition for water service by an interested person or persons, the Utility shall enter into an agreement with those petitioners covering the necessary main extension, describing the installation, the method of apportioning costs among the petitioners, the total estimated cost if possible and other relevant facts and undertakings. This agreement shall contain a statement by the petitioners that they are willing to pay their proportionate share of the main extension if the project is constructed. Detailed engineering design shall not proceed if the petitioners do not agree to pay the necessary cost of the extension over and above the free limit as described in this division. The petition shall be valid for one year. An extension of time may be granted by the Utility. Preliminary engineering investigations shall be conducted at the Utility's expense for the benefit of petitioners. If those investigations require an excessive amount of time and cost in the judgment of the Utility Manager, a charge shall be applied to cover the cost prior to that initiating work.

         (b)   Engineering and detailed cost estimate. When the petitioners agree in writing to pay their proportionate share of the main extension, the Utility shall conduct the necessary field survey work and engineering design resulting in a detailed engineers' estimate of the cost of the project. Based upon the engineers' estimate, the project cost shall be allotted proportionately between the petitioners.

         (c)   Contract for service. Upon completion of the engineers' estimate, the Utility shall enter into a water main extension contract with said petitioners, which shall include a description of the installation, the estimated cost, the method of apportioning costs among the petitioners, and an arrangement for payment and other relevant facts and undertakings.

         (d)   Initial deposit. Prior to advertising for bids or starting construction as the case may be, the petitioners shall be required to deposit their share of the cost of the main extension with the Utility. The total initial deposit may be either in a cash payment or by an irrevocable letter of credit acceptable to the Utility and issued by a national banking association or a bank chartered under state law or secured in any other manner which is mutually acceptable to the parties and which guarantees payment of the deposit immediately upon completion of construction of the extension. When the total initial deposit has been made, the Utility shall advertise for bids on the project, award the bid and begin construction. Upon receipt of firm bid prices, the estimated project cost shall be adjusted to actual and the cost to the petitioners adjusted accordingly.

         (e)   Cost basis. The amount to be paid by petitioners for a main extension shall be the total costs of contractual labor and expense, utility labor and expense, material including handling charges and hauling costs, inspection, testing, disinfecting, overhead and engineering. Where feasible, petitioners may, by agreement with the Utility, furnish all or part of the foregoing cost elements, except inspection and testing. All those cost elements furnished shall conform to the standards of the Utility and the Utility shall be given certified statements of the actual costs of those elements paid for by the petitioner.

         (f)   Engineering and over-sizing. Main extension design and specifications shall either be prepared by the Utility Engineering Department or be approved by the Utility Engineer before installation by others. No pipe size smaller than that required to give that party an adequate supply of water including water for fire protection, nor less than eight inches in diameter shall be used, unless in the Utility's opinion, that installation shall not materially improve the flow characteristics of the system. If the design for future use or other engineering considerations indicate the need for a water main larger than eight inches, then the Utility shall assume the cost for over-sizing if funds are available. The computation of cost, either actual or estimated, shall be based on an eight inch main, unless a larger or smaller main as determined by the Utility, is reasonably necessary to serve the proposed customer or customers, including fire protection service. In this event the cost, estimated or actual, shall be based on the size of main required.

         (g)   Ownership of mains. After completion and acceptance by the Utility, the water main extension shall become the property of and shall be maintained by the Utility. The Utility may connect additional water mains to an extension without incurring any financial obligations to persons sharing the cost of the first extension.

         (h)   Refund provision. The contact between the Utility and the original petitioners shall provide that any person who did not share the original cost of the extension and who wishes to use the extension within 15 years from the date of the acceptance of that extension shall be required to pay a fair and proportionate share of the original cost of the extension. The amount of the share collected from such new customer shall be based on a fixed connection charge as follows:

TAP SIZE	CONNECTION FEE
3/4 inch connection	$800
1 inch connection	$1000
1-1/2 inch connection	$1200
2 inch connection	$1400
2-1/2 inch connection	$1600
3 inch connection	$2000
4 inch connection	$3000
6 inch connection	$4000
8 inch connection	$6000
10 inch connection	$8000
12 inch connection	$10,000

 

This additional share shall be refunded equitably to the original depositors annually or more frequently at the discretion of the Utility. The total amount refunded shall not exceed the amount of the original cost of the extension.

         (i)   Exclusion of new subdivisions.

            1.   New subdivisions shall be excluded from eligibility for refund agreements. The developer shall pay the entire cost of the necessary water main construction and recover the cost in the lot price.

            2.   Water main extensions from the terminus of existing water mains to the subdivision, which would be subject to future connections, are eligible for refund agreements.

         (j)   Recording extension contracts. To insure collection of share and connection charges for those providing funds for local water main installations, the Utility shall file the original water main extension contracts with the County Recorder.

         (k)   Waiver of protest to annexation. Petitioners for water main extensions and water service outside the city limits shall be required to execute a written agreement that the owner and his or her successors in title and assigns waive any rights to remonstrate against or otherwise object to, interfere with or oppose any pending or future annexation by the city as a condition of receiving that water main extension and water service for that property.

         (l)   Lateral extensions. The Utility may connect additional water mains to an extension without incurring any financial obligation to person sharing the cost of the first extension. However, the Utility shall not permit a prospective customer whose property is contiguous to the first extension to obtain service from an additional extension installed laterally from that first extension unless the customer pays a proportionate share of the cost of the first extension. The Utility shall collect in advance from the owner of that property a fixed connection charge as follows:

 

TAP SIZE	CONNECTION FEE
3/4 inch connection	$800
1 inch connection	$1000
1-1/2 inch connection	$1200

 

TAP SIZE	CONNECTION FEE
2 inch connection	$1400
2-1/2 inch connection	$1600
3 inch connection	$2000
4 inch connection	$3000
6 inch connection	$4000
8 inch connection	$6000
10 inch connection	$8000
12 inch connection	$10,000

 

This additional lateral connection fee shall be refunded to the original depositors annually or more frequently at the discretion of the Utility. The total amount refunded shall not exceed the original cost of the extension.

(1985 Code, § 36-9-2-14(y)) (Ord. 4-1980, passed 3-18-1980; Am. Ord. 32-2006, passed 9-19-2006)

§ 51.38 CONNECTION FEE.

   If an applicant request water service and that service is to be connected to a water main which has not been financed by a refund agreement or by the abutting property owners or any other individual or group of individuals, that applicant shall pay to the Utility a connection charge of $156.

(1985 Code, § 36-9-2-14(z)) (Ord. 4-1980, passed 3-18-1980; Am. Ord. 31-1993, passed 12-21-1993; Am. Ord. 32-2006, passed 9-19-2006)

§ 51.39 ABANDONED SERVICE LINES.

   All abandoned service lines shall be physically cut-off and secured at the water main in order to eliminate the possibility of leakage due to deterioration. That work shall be performed in accordance with the requirements of the Utility engineering department at the expense of the customer, the property owner, or both.

(1985 Code, § 36-9-2-14(bb)) (Ord. 4-1980, passed 3-18-1980; Am. Ord. 32-2006, passed 9-19-2006)

§ 51.40 DELINQUENT SEWER BILLS.

   (A)   If the property having a delinquent sewage bill is served by the Water Utility, the Utility may, after mailing a written notice at least ten days in advance to the water consumer and to the property owner, shut off water service to the property. The water service shall not be turned back on until the delinquent service charges and the costs of turning water service off and on have been paid.

   (B)   When water service has already been discontinued for any reason, the Utility shall deny water service to the property until the delinquent sewer bill has been paid.

(Ord. 32-2006, passed 9-19-2006)

§ 51.41 TEMPORARY WATER SERVICE.

   Contractors and others using water for construction or any other temporary use shall obtain a permit for each separate job or location and whenever possible, install a water meter to determine the amount of water used. If it is not possible or practical to meter the water used, the Utility shall establish a charge based on estimated water use.

(1985 Code, § 36-9-2-14(ee)) (Ord. 4-1980, passed 3-18-1980; Am. Ord. 32-2006, passed 9-19-2006)

§ 51.42 OTHER BASIS FOR EXTENSIONS.

   No provision of this chapter shall prevent the Utility Service Board from extending water and sewer lines under a different policy so long as the public interest is thereby served.

(1985 Code, § 36-9-2-14(ff)) (Ord. 4-1980, passed 3-18-1980; Am. Ord. 32-2006, passed 9-19-2006)