(a) Tampering; unauthorized use. No person, except at a fire or other emergency or as authorized herein, shall remove the cover or cap from, or turn on or off, any fire hydrant, public or private water valve or stopcock used for fire protection in the city.
(b) Authorized use; individual and blanket permits; fees. No person shall make a connection from any fire hydrant in the city to take water therefrom for private use, unless such person has first applied for and obtained from the Fire Chief a fire hydrant permit, the fee for which shall be $25. A blanket fire hydrant permit may be issued authorizing the use of all fire hydrants, regardless of number, the termini of which shall be fixed by the Fire Chief and specified in the permit. The fee for such a permit shall be $50. In addition to the permit fees, the applicant shall pay the City of Cleveland for all water used from any hydrant.
(c) Permits; deposits for damages; return of deposit. A deposit of $250 for a single fire hydrant permit, and a deposit of $300 for a blanket fire hydrant permit, shall accompany each application, which respective deposits shall be applied toward the payment of any damage suffered by the city or payment of any claims made against the city, by anyone, due to the use of any fire hydrant by the applicant or his or her representatives, agents or servants. In the absence of any damages or claims, $35 shall be retained by the city for the permit and the remaining deposit shall be returned to the applicant who submitted it.
(d) Water receipt and duration statement required. Upon the issuance of a fire hydrant permit or blanket fire hydrant permit, it shall be the duty of the permittee to immediately, and before making any connection to or using any hydrant in any way, present the permit to the Division of Water of the City of Cleveland and obtain a receipt showing payment for the water estimated to be used by virtue of his or her permit. The receipt shall then be presented to the Fire Chief, together with a written statement by the permittee as to the period of time during which the hydrants set forth in the permit shall be used. All the foregoing provisions shall be complied with prior to making any connection to or using any hydrant.
(e) Effective period of permits. All fire hydrant permits issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall expire upon completion of the work contemplated and in connection with which such permit was obtained, but in no event shall any permit remain in force and effect for a period of more than 60 days.
(f) Conditions of issuance. All fire hydrant permits shall be issued subject to the express condition that the permittee shall indemnify and save the city harmless from all loss or damage that may be occasioned by the lack of care, skill or attention of the permittee, or anyone in his or her employ, in the making of a connection or in the use of the fire hydrant. The permittee shall, if any damage is caused to any fire hydrant or water main of the city in the use thereof, promptly and fully reimburse the city for the full cost and expense of the repairs necessary beyond the amount of his or her deposit, if such is inadequate.
(g) Use of reducing couplings, valves and hydrant keys. All hydrants used for any purpose shall have reducing couplings attached to the nozzles of the fire hydrants with an independent valve for regulating the supply. The main valve of the hydrant shall be opened full at the beginning of work each day and remain open until the stoppage of work at night. The hydrant shall be operated only by a proper hydrant key.
(h) Completion of use; inspection and report. Upon completion of the use of a fire hydrant, the permittee shall notify the Fire Chief, who shall promptly inspect each fire hydrant used and make a report to the Director of Safety of the condition and repairs he or she shall find necessary. No further fire hydrant permits shall be issued to any permittee when any repairs are necessary, until the city shall have been reimbursed for the full costs involved.
(i) Penalty. Whoever violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree and shall be fined not more than $750 or imprisoned not more than 90 days, or both, for each offense.
(Ord. 1988-192, passed 10-3-1988)