§ 12-6-8 CONNECTIONS FOR SERVICE AND METERS; SERVICE CONNECTION FEES.
   A.   Service connection fees.
      1.   The city will provide a standard service line capable of serving the size of meter requested for a lot or parcel adjacent to an existing distribution main owned by the city upon advance payment by the customer of a service connection fee. The fees for various meter sizes are as set forth in § 12-6-10.
      2.   At its option, the city may install a second five-eighths inch meter on a one-inch service line upon advance payment by the customer of an amount specified in the resolution. The minimum size of service line between a water main and a meter shall be one inch.
      3.   In the event that a service line larger than two inches is necessary to serve the customer with an adequate supply of water, the customer shall provide the city with both plot plans and plumbing plans for a cost estimate. After the cost has been determined, the city will install the adequate service line upon application of the customer and advance payment by him or her of the total estimated cost of the larger service line.
   B.   Service availability from existing systems. Water service to any structure upon any given property shall only be rendered from city-owned mains in public rights-of-way abutting the property. The determination as to the availability of service from existing facilities shall be at the sole discretion of the city. The city shall have the right to require extensions of its water mains and other facilities for proper service or to require the permanent legal agreements which the city deems necessary in order to carry out the intent of this section.
   C.   Customer's obligations.
      1.   Customer's installation. Each customer's installation shall include that part of the service line to be extended by the customer at his or her expense to a point designated by the city, provided that the designated point is on the property line of the premises adjacent to a public street, avenue, court, lane, and the like. The customer's installation shall be extended to the city's line at one side of the lot.
      2.   Type and maintenance. The customer's water pipes, apparatus, and equipment shall be selected, installed, used, and maintained in accordance with standard practice, conformable to rules and regulations of the city, and in full compliance with all laws and governmental regulations applicable thereto. The customer expressly agrees to abstain from utilizing any appliance or device which may adversely affect the service, and the city reserves the right to withhold or to discontinue service whenever any such apparatus or device is used.
      3.   Change of customer's installation. No changes or increases in the customer's installation, which will materially affect the proper operation of the pipes, mains, or stations of the city, shall be made without the written consent of the City Manager. The customer will be liable for any damage resulting from a violation of this rule.
      4.   Inspection of customer's installation. All installations for water service or changes therein shall be inspected, upon completion, by competent inspectors to ensure that piping, equipment, and devices have been installed in accordance with accepted standard practice and in compliance with the local rules and building codes as may be in effect. Where inspection is required by governmental rules or ordinances, the city shall discontinue service if the inspecting agent notifies the city that the installation has not been approved. The city reserves the right to inspect the customer's installation prior to rendering service and from time to time thereafter, but assumes no responsibility whatsoever for any portion thereof.
      5.   Indemnity to city. The customer shall indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the city from and against any and all liability, proceedings, suits, costs, or expenses for loss, damage, or injury to persons or property, in any manner directly or indirectly connected with or growing out of the transmission and use of water by the customer at or on the customer's side of the point of delivery.
      6.   Protection of city property. The customer shall properly protect the city property on the customer's premises, and shall permit no one to have access thereto, except the inspection agents or persons authorized by law. When service lines, meters, mains, or other equipment are damaged by contractors, construction companies, governmental agencies, or others, the damage will be repaired by the city and the cost thereof charged to the party or parties causing the damage. In the event of any loss or damage to property of the city caused by or arising out of carelessness, neglect, or misuse by the customer, or by unauthorized parties with the customer's sanction, the cost of making good the loss or repairing the damage shall be paid by the customer.
      7.   Access to premises. The duly authorized agents of the city shall have access, at all reasonable hours, to the premises of the customer for the purpose of installing, maintaining, and inspecting or removing city property, reading meters, and other purposes incident to performance under or termination of the city contract with the customer, and in that performance shall not be liable for trespass.
      8.   Right-of-way. The customer shall grant or cause to be granted to the city, and without cost to the city, all rights, easements, permits, and privileges which, in its opinion, are necessary for the rendering and maintaining of service.
   D.   Location of water meters. The customer shall provide meter space for use of the city at a suitable and readily accessible location, preferably in the sidewalk adjacent to his or her property. When the city considers it advisable, adequate, and proper, space for the installation of meters and other similar devices shall be provided by the customer within the premises to be served and at no cost to the city. Whenever two or more meters are utilized to supply the customer's premises, the meters will be grouped and the customer's installation brought out by the customer to a meter location designated by the city. Customers and their agents (such as employees, contractor, and the like) are prohibited from placing any obstacles on or about meters, valves, and other equipment which in any way obstruct free access to the equipment.
   E.   Installation of meters. The city will install and properly maintain, at its own expense, all meters and metering equipment as may be necessary to measure the water delivered to the customer. Submeters inside the customer's property to measure water not entering a sewer system may be purchased and installed by the customer at his or her own expense, upon special written agreement. Title to meters and metering equipment shall be and remain in the city, except only those meters and other metering equipment sold to the customer under special written agreement.
   F.   Meter tests; standard of accuracy.
      1.   No meter will be installed which has an error of more than 2%, plus or minus. Whenever a periodic or any other test shows that a meter exceeds these limits, it will be adjusted or replaced.
      2.   In the interest of good service, the city will employ every practicable means to maintain the commercial accuracy of its meters. Further, upon written request from the customer, the city will test the customer's meter or meters. If a meter is found to be not more than 2% fast or slow, the expense of the test shall be borne by the customer. If the meter exceeds these limits, the expense of the test shall be borne by the city and billing adjustment for a period of not to exceed three months will be made. All meters are tested in the city meter shop prior to installation at the customer's premises, and periodically thereafter.
      3.   Any meter found to be defective or having ceased to register will be adjusted or changed and the city will estimate the bill for the period either by adopting and using the registration of a correct meter, or by a comparison with the amount charged during the corresponding period of a previous year, taking into account the capacity of the installation. In case of damage or any injury to the meter or service on the customer's premises, the supply of water may be discontinued by the city until the necessary repairs have been made and the cost thereof adjusted between the city and the customer.
   G.   Connections for service.
      1.   Connections to the system for any purpose whatsoever are to be made only by city employees or contractors with the full approval of the city. No connection of any description, temporary or otherwise, is permitted on the customer's installation between that portion of the customer's installation for domestic water service and that portion of the customer's installation for fire protection purposes.
      2.   The portion of the customer's installation for domestic water service shall be so arranged that all domestic water service shall pass through the meter. No temporary pipes, nipples, or spacers are permanent except for temporary testing purposes by a plumber authorized by the city, and under no circumstances are connections allowed which may permit water to bypass the meter or metering equipment.
      3.   Any and all physical connections or arrangements of pipes are prohibited between two separate piping systems on the customer's property, one of which contains potable water from the water mains and another containing a liquid from any other source such as a private well supply.
      4.   Any unauthorized connections shall render the service subject to immediate discontinuance without notice, and service will not be restored until the unauthorized connections have been removed, and unless settlement is made in full for all water service estimated by the city to have been used by reason of the unauthorized connections.
(Ord. 175, passed 1-18-1988; Ord. 187, passed 2-21-1989) Penalty, see Article 1-8