(A) Deposits required. All users of potable water shall be required to pay a deposit to the city. Deposit amounts shall be determined by resolution of the City Council from time to time.
(B) Rates of deposits.
(1) Residential. Individually metered residential and small commercial units receiving reclaimed water service shall pay a deposit. The amount of this deposit is determined by and may be changed by the City Council from time to time.
(2) Commercial uses. Commercial users of potable water shall pay a deposit equaling the average consumption and charges of a similar use for a two-month period, the average being calculated from an annual period of time. If a similar use is nonexistent, then a projected consumption rate and charge for a period of two months will be determined by the city at its discretion. If, after a period of time, the projection is less than the actual consumption of potable water, then the deposit will be increased and the user will be required to pay the difference within 15 days of notification.
(C) Refund of deposit after termination. When service to any applicant is discontinued permanently, any remaining deposit, less any amounts due the city for services rendered, shall be refunded without interest.
(D) Application. The deposit rates charged herein shall apply to any new user after the effective date of this chapter. However, if a user has previously had service terminated for nonpayment or had a history of delinquency in payments, the city may, at its option, require that user to conform with the deposit rates established herein when reconnecting, transferring service, or applying for new service.
(E) Requirement to connect to city systems; potable water.
(1) Any owner, tenant, or occupant of each lot or parcel of land within the city not presently using city potable water shall be required to connect to the potable water system if the system is within 200 feet of the property line. If the person(s) fail(s) to do so within 365 days after being officially notified by the City Manager or designee, then the person(s) will be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree as defined and as punishable by the Florida Statutes.
(2) Existing users not presently connected to the city’s potable water system, unless and until later are required to connect to the city’s potable water system, shall be required to have a meter installed on their wells, the installation of the meter being for the purpose of assuring that appropriate sewer fees are charged.
(3) This section shall only apply to owners, occupants, or tenants who utilize wells to supply their abodes, business stores, or other structures with potable water.
(4) No person, firm, or corporation shall connect any private well to any abode, building, or structure.
(5) The property owner shall be notified when water and/or sewer service is available to their property. Sewer and/or water service shall be considered available to an existing or new residential, commercial, or industrial building when the property line is within 200 feet of an existing or future water and/or sewer line.
(6) Sewer and/or potable water service charges shall be in effect within 365 days of notification of the availability of sewer and/or water service or if connection is made before the expiration of 365 days upon actual connection.
(7) The city shall notify the property owner of any on-site private water system of the availability of the central water system. No less than one year prior to the date the central water system will become available, the city shall notify the affected owner of the on-site private water system of the anticipated availability of the central water system and shall also notify the owner that the owner shall be required to connect to the central water system within one year of the actual availability.
(8) The owner shall have the option of prepaying the amortized value of the required connection and/or capacity fee charges in equal monthly installments over a period not to exceed two years from the date of initial notification of anticipated availability.
(9) No owner, tenant, or occupant of any such lot shall fail or refuse to connect with the water and/or sewerage system within a 365-day period of time upon receiving notice by the appropriate city official to connect.
(F) Unauthorized connection. No person shall connect to or turn on any potable water service; cut-in, interconnect, tap, or make any alteration to any main, distribution, or collection pipe of the city’s potable water system; permit any connection or tapping to be made to the city’s potable water system on his or her premises or the premises occupied by him or her; or knowingly use the city’s potable water service from connections in violation of any provision of this chapter or any rules or regulations adopted by the City Council with respect thereto.
(Ord. 1386-19, passed 10-28-19)