(A) Mandatory connection with water main.
(1) General rule. The owner of a building constructed for human occupancy abutting on or adjacent to any street or other right-of-way in which a water main is located shall be required, at the owner's expense, to immediately install a suitable service connection to such water main in accordance with the provisions of this chapter once the water main becomes operational. Upon connection to the municipal system, the property owner shall abandon and seal all wells pursuant to applicable rules.
(2) Annexed lands. In the case where such a building has been annexed into the city, then the owner shall be required to make such a service connection within 1 year after the date of annexation or within 90 days of the date the water main becomes operational, whichever is later. However, if such owner’s private water supply requires repairs or other maintenance to meet state codes and standards which exceeds $1500, then such owner shall immediately connect with the city water system. Furthermore, a building constructed after the date of annexation shall not be subject to the above time limitations and the owner shall be required to immediately connect to such water main.
(3) Unsafe private water system. If a building, annexed or otherwise, is serviced by a private water supply which, upon inspection, reveals that the water is unsafe for human consumption, then the owner of such building shall immediately connect with the city water system.
(B) Failure to connect. If water service connections are not made pursuant to this section, an official 30 day notice shall be served upon the property owner instructing that such connections are to be made in accordance with this chapter. If the owner fails to make such connection, following the expiration of such 30 days, then the city may provide for the connection to such water system and may charge such cost against the property as a special assessment. If the property owner fails to grant access to such building for the purpose of making such connection, the city may seek an appropriate court order compelling that such connection be made. The actual expenses incurred by the city in obtaining such court order, including legal fees, shall be added to the cost to be charged against the property as a special assessment.
(C) Private water systems. All private water supply systems shall be designed, constructed, maintained and updated so as to be in full accordance with all applicable federal, state, county or city standards and regulations during all times when the water from such systems is used for human consumption. The owners of such private water systems shall provide for access to the same for purposes of inspection. If a private water system is found not to be in accordance with such regulations or standards, then water from such system shall not be utilized for human consumption.
(D) If a water service under repair is lead or galvanized material or copper under a three- fourths’ inch in diameter, the entire service from the water main to the building shall be replaced with currently acceptable materials as found in the Minnesota State Plumbing Code, at the expense of the property owner.
(E) If during a capital improvement project, it is discovered that a private water service is a lead or galvanized material or copper under a three-fourths’ inch in diameter, the entire service from the water main to the building shall be replaced at the expense of the property owner. The replacement of the private water service may be included in the capital improvement assessment of the property.
(F) For the purposes of divisions (D) and (E) above, the service line is the pipe that connects the water main to the building shut-off valve inside the building. Any replacement of service line required under divisions (D) and (E) above shall, at a minimum, replace the line to this point.
(Am. Ord. 88, passed 5-18-1987; Am. Ord. 48, 4th Series, passed 1-22-2013; Am. Ord. 166, 4th series, passed 2-5-2024)