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A. Required: Except as otherwise expressly permitted by this chapter, all structures, dwelling units, establishments and persons using water from the city water system must have such number of water meters connected to their water system as are necessary in the judgment of the water superintendent to adequately measure use and determine water charges to the respective users.
B. Furnished By City: Meters will be furnished by the city upon application for a connection, and upon payment of such connection fees and other costs as may be established by the governing body from time to time by resolution.
C. Meters Property Of City; Disputes: Meters shall be deemed to be and remain the property of the city. Whenever a dispute between water superintendent and the property owner arises as to the appropriate number of meters to be installed on any premises, the matter shall be heard and determined by the governing body after due notice in writing to the parties involved. (1989 Code § 14-136)
D. Readings: The water superintendent shall cause meter readings to be taken regularly and shall advise the utilities billing department thereof for the purpose of recording the necessary billings for water service. (1989 Code § 14-136; amd. 2007 Code)
E. Inspections; Adjustments: Meters may be checked, inspected or adjusted at the discretion of the city, and they shall not be adjusted or tampered with by the customer. Meter boxes shall not be opened for the purpose of turning on or off the water except by an authorized representative of the city, unless special permission is given by the city through its representatives to the customer to do so.
F. Testing: If a customer submits a written request to the water superintendent to test his water meter, the city may, if under the circumstances it deems it advisable and in its discretion, order a test of the meter measuring the water delivered to such customer. If such request is made within twelve (12) months after the date of the last previous test, the customer may be required to pay the cost of such test. If the meter is found in such test to record from ninety seven percent (97%) to one hundred three percent (103%) of accuracy under methods of testing satisfactory to the governing body, the meter shall be deemed to accurately measure the use of water. In the event a meter is found to be recording less than ninety seven percent (97%) or more than one hundred three percent (103%) of accuracy, the city shall make such adjustments in the customer's previous bills as are just and fair under the circumstances.
G. Meter Failure: If the city's meters fail to register at any time, the water delivered during the period of failure shall be estimated on the basis of previous consumption during a period which is not questioned.
H. Damages: All damages or injury to the lines, meters or other materials of the city on or near the customer's premises caused by any act or neglect of the customer shall, in the discretion of the city, be repaired by and at the expense of the customer, and the customer shall pay all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney fees, which may arise or accrue to the city through its efforts to repair the damage to the lines, meters or to other equipment of the department, or collect such costs from the customer. (1989 Code § 14-136)
Water for fire hydrants for the purpose of fighting fires will be furnished free of charge by the city. Installation and repairs on such hydrants shall be at the expense of the city and shall be made under the direction of the city. All customers shall grant the city, upon demand, a right of way or easement to install and maintain such hydrants on their premises if the city concludes that hydrants shall be so installed for the protection of the residents of the city. Only authorized city employees shall open or operate any fire hydrant, or attempt to draw water therefrom, without written permission from the city. All water drawn from fire hydrants for any purpose other than firefighting shall be metered with a hydrant meter supplied by the city. (1989 Code § 14-142; amd. 2007 Code)
A. Permits For Installation: It shall be unlawful for any person to lay, repair, alter or connect any water line to the city culinary water system without first having received a construction permit from the public works director. (1989 Code § 14-137; amd. 2007 Code)
B. Applications For Installation Permit:
1. Applications for permits to make water connections or other alteration, or for laying or repairing lines connected directly or indirectly to the city water system, must be made in writing by a licensed plumber, his authorized agent, or by the owner of the premises, who shall describe the nature of the work to be done for which the application is made.
2. The application shall be granted if the superintendent determines that:
a. The connection, repair, alteration or installation will cause no damage to the street in which the water main is laid, or that it will not be prejudicial to the interests of persons whose property has been or may thereafter be connected to the water main.
b. The connection conforms to the ordinances, regulations, specifications and standards of materials required by the city.
3. All connections, alterations or installations shall be to the line and grade designated by the water superintendent.
4. Fees for permits or for inspection service shall be of such amounts as the governing body shall from time to time determine by resolution. (1989 Code § 14-138)
A. Petition: Any person or persons, including any subdivider, who desires to have the water mains extended within the city, and is willing to advance the whole expense of such extension and receive the return of an agreed portion thereof, as hereinafter provided, may make application to the governing body by petition. The petition shall contain a description of such proposed extension, together with an offer to advance the whole expense thereof, which cost shall be verified by the utilities superintendent. The governing body may grant or deny the petition as in its discretion deems best for the welfare of existing water users in the city. (1989 Code § 14-143; amd. 2007 Code)
B. Cost Of Extensions Determined: Upon the receipt of such petition and map, and before the petition is granted, the governing body shall obtain from the utilities superintendent a certified statement showing the whole cost and expense of making such extension. (1989 Code § 14-144; amd. 2007 Code)
C. Amount Deposited: If the governing body grants the petition, the amount of the cost of making the extension, as certified by the utilities superintendent, shall be deposited with the city recorder before any work shall be done on such extension. The deposit shall be made within thirty (30) days, or such other time as the governing body shall indicate, after the granting thereof. (1989 Code § 14-145; amd. 2007 Code)
D. Return Of Any Money; Forfeiture:
1. At the time the governing body decides whether or not to grant petition for an extension, it shall also decide whether or not any portion of the costs is to be refunded and the manner and circumstances under which such refund shall be made or credited to the applicant, his successors or representatives. Such determination shall be duly recorded in writing and a copy thereof furnished to the applicant.
2. In the event any deposit remains unclaimed for a period of five (5) years after the depositor has discontinued water service, the deposit may be forfeited and then transferred to the water utility fund. (1989 Code § 14-146)
E. Ownership Of Extension: Any such extension shall be deemed the property of the city. (1989 Code § 14-147)
Any customer desiring to discontinue service shall notify the city in writing of such fact at least ten (10) days before the date when such service shall be discontinued. On giving such written notice, the customer shall not be responsible for water bills incurred after the date specified in the notice. Any credit balance in favor of the customer as a result of an advance payment of bills or a deposit made will be refunded upon discontinuance of service. (1989 Code § 14-141)
The city shall not be liable for any damage to a water service user by reason of stoppage or interruption of his or her water supply service caused by fires, scarcity of water, accidents to the water system or its mains, or which occurs as the result of maintenance and extension operations, or from any other unavoidable cause. This section shall not be construed to extend the liability of the city beyond that provided in the governmental immunity act. (1989 Code § 14-131)
A. Authorized: The city may furnish water service from its water system to persons outside the city in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. (1989 Code § 14-151)
B. Petition For Service: Any person located outside the city limits who desires to be supplied with water service from the city water system and is willing to pay in advance the whole expense of extending the water system to his property, including the cost of extending any water main beyond its present location, may make application to the governing body by petition containing:
1. A description of the proposed extension.
2. A map showing the location thereof.
3. An offer to pay the whole expense incurred by the city in providing such extension and to advance such expense as shall be verified by the public works department. The governing body and the person or persons seeking such extension may enter into an agreement providing in detail the terms under which the extension may be utilized by others in the future and the terms under which all or any portion of the cost of installing such extension may be refunded.
4. An acknowledgment that the city, in granting the petition, need supply only such water to the petitioner which from time to time the governing body deems beyond the requirements of water users within the city limits, and that such extension shall be the property of and subject to the control of the city. (1989 Code § 14-152; amd. 2007 Code)
C. Extensions May Be Master Metered: When an extension supplying more than one house or user outside the city limits is connected to city water mains, the public works department may require a master meter to be installed near the point where the connection is to be made to the city main. This installation will be at the expense of the persons served by such extension according to the regular rates for meter installation. Responsible parties must agree to pay all bills for water served through the meter at the applicable water rates. (1989 Code § 14-153; amd. 2007 Code)
D. Cost Of Extensions To Be Determined By Public Works Department: Upon receipt of such petition and map, and before the petition is granted, the governing body shall determine what portion, if any, of the extension of the city water mains to the city limits the city shall construct, and shall obtain from the public works department a verified statement showing the whole cost and expense of making such extension. Such costs and expenses shall include administrative and supervisory expenditures of the public works department, which shall in no event be deemed to be less than ten percent (10%) of the cost of materials and labor. (1989 Code § 14-154; amd. 2007 Code)
A. Prohibited Hours: Sprinkler irrigation of all lawns and landscapes is prohibited between the hours of ten o'clock (10:00) A.M. and eight o'clock (8:00) P.M. from the first Sunday of April of each year to the last Sunday of October of each year (daylight saving time).
B. Applicability; Exceptions: The provisions of this section shall apply to all landscapes within the city. This section does not apply in the following situations:
1. New lawns that require frequent irrigation for establishment purposes within ninety (90) days of planting;
2. Short cycles required for testing, inspecting and maintaining irrigation systems;
3. Landscape water is allowed on any day if using a handheld hose, a soaker hose, a five (5) gallon or less capacity bucket, a watering can, bubbler or drip irrigation system;
4. Private wells, wastewater effluent, aerobic septic systems, nursery plant stock and the watering of golf course greens that do not require the use of potable water are exempt from these restrictions.
C. Penalty: Any person, firm or corporation or other entity found in violation of any provision of this section shall be punished as follows:
1. The first offense will generate the issuance of a warning only;
2. The second offense will require an appearance before the Washington City justice court for a judgment not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00);
3. The third offense will be a mandatory one hundred dollar ($100.00) fine; and
4. The fourth offense, and each offense thereafter, will be a fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00). (Ord. 2004-23, 6-23-2004)
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