Dorris Municipal Code Ch. 13.04 Water Service System

Sections:

• 13.04.010
• Department of water works
• created.
• 13.04.020
• Application for water
• service.
• 13.04.030
• Notification of intention to
• make connections.
• 13.04.040
• Cost of tapping and
• installing.
• 13.04.050
• Water main extensions.
• 13.04.060
• Water meters.
• 13.04.080
• Payment due date—
• Delinquency—Shutoff.
• 13.04.090
• Responsibility for payment.
• 13.04.100
• Discontinuance of service.
• 13.04.110
• Emergency turnoff.
• 13.04.120
• Irrigation during fire
• alarms prohibited.
• 13.04.130
• Regulations and rates
• subject to change.
• 13.04.135
• Other water regulations.
• 13.04.140
• Violations.

created. The water works department of the city shall consist of the city council. It shall be the duty of the water works department to fix the rules, regulations and rates for the use of water and to have general supervision over the city water system. All rules, regulations and rates shall be published at least once in the Butte Valley Star, a weekly newspaper published in the city. (Prior code § 7400)

Any person desiring water service from the city water system, or desiring to change the per- son or organization billed for an existing water service, shall make an application to the city clerk. The city clerk shall adopt such applica- tion forms and procedures as the clerk deems necessary for efficient record keeping and bill- ing. The clerk shall collect a nonrefundable ser- vice fee of seven dollars fifty cents ($7.50) prior to accepting an application for water ser- vice. The service fee shall be in addition to the connection fee referred to in Section 13.04.040. The city clerk shall also collect a nonrefund- able service fee of seven dollars fifty cents ($7.50) prior to accepting any application to change the person or organization who is billed for water service. (Ord. 169 § 1, 1981: prior code § 7402)

make connections. No person shall be permitted to tap any of the water pipes of the main line distributing system, or to insert tees, stop-cocks or ferules therein except under the personal direction and supervision of the superintendent of the water works department, and notice of any such work must be given the superintendent at least twenty-four (24) hours before the commence- ment of such work. (Prior code § 7404)

All expenses attending the tapping of water mains and installing of meters shall be paid by the applicant. For making connec-

tions to mains, the water works department shall charge as follows: For three~quarter inch connections $30.00 each For one-inch connections 35.00 each For one and one-half inch connections For two-inch connections (Prior code § 7405) 40.00 each 50.00 each

When an application is made for water service where no water mains exist, and no immediate provisions have been made by the city for the extension of the present water mains to such applicant's property, the water superintendent shall cause a map to be pre- pared showing the area that will be serviced by such extension and the estimated cost thereof. The applicant shall then deposit a sum of money equal to the estimated cost of such extension with the city clerk. The esti- mate shall be based upon a six-inch water main. The application, together with the map and estimated cost, shall then be submitted to the city council for approval. Upon approval of such water main extension, the water su- perintendent shall cause the extension to be constructed, and if the cost of such extension is less than the estimate, the difference shall be returned to the applicant, but if the cost is greater, the applicant shall pay the difference to the city clerk as soon as the construction is completed and the actual cost determined. The extension shall be based upon present and future requirements of the area to be pro- vided, and the size of the water main exten- sion shall be approved by the water superin- 148 tendent. The cost of installation of any water mains less than six inches in diameter shall be borne entirely by the applicant, and there shall be no refund benefits for such an exten- sion. The extension of all water mains as pro- vided in this section shall be not less than six inches in diameter and in the event that a lar- ger diameter of pipe is installed, the differ- ence in cost between a six-inch water main and the larger main actually installed, shall be borne by the city. All extensions shall origi- nate at the nearest adequate water main and shall extend the full length of the property of the applicant. All applicants for subsequent connections to the extension shall be charged that portion of the total cost of such exten- sion as the square footage of applicant's property bears to the entire square footage of the area serviced by such water main exten- sion. The connection charges shall be in addi- tion to the water connection charge as pro- vided in Section 13.04.040. All money paid to the city clerk for such subsequent connec- tion charges shall be kept in a water main extension fund, which fund shall be main- tained for a period of ten (I 0) years, follow- ing the date if completion of the extension. The water main construction charges received by the city for such subsequent service con- nections to the water main extension within the ten-year period shall be refunded to the person who paid for such extension or to his or her successors or assigns, Refunds shall be made on July 1 51 of each year out of the water main extension fund. After the expiration of the ten (10) year period, any amount left in the fund, or any water main construction charges subsequently received, shall be the sole property of the city. Two or more per- sons may join in making application for water

149 (Revised 11-19) main extensions. (Ord. 139, 1960: prior code § 7405(a))

The water works department assumes the right to place water meters on any or all taps and to change meter rates whenever necessary. All meters thus set shall be, and will remain, the property of the city and may be removed at any time by the water works department. All per- sons taking water must keep the meters and ser- vice pipes in good order and free from leakage and will be held liable for all damages and repairs thereto. (Prior code § 7406)

Delinquency—Shutoff. Bills for water service shall be paid to the city clerk on or before the tenth day of each month for water used during that month. If any part of the monthly water service bill becomes one month delinquent, the next monthly billing statement shall contain a notice to the effect that, if all amounts owing are not paid by the tenth of the month, the water service shall be

150 (Revised 8-11) shut off. The clerk shall grant a fifteen (15) day extension of time for payment, if prior to shut- off, the water user appears in person at City Hall, and makes written application for an extension. The clerk shall not grant more than one extension without approval of the city council. If payment is not received by the tenth of the month or, in those cases where an exten- sion has been granted, by the twenty-fifth of the month, the water service shall be shut off. Thereafter, the services shall only be turned back on after payment in full of all sums due and owing, plus payment of a nonrefundable reconnection fee. (Ord. 212 (part), 2008: Ord. 169 § 4, 1981: prior code § 7408)

The owner of any property upon which city water is used, shall be responsible for the pay- ment of water rates for such water. All rules, rates and regulations provided for the govern- ment of the water service shall apply to the owner of the premises, as well as to the water user. In cases of default in payment of water rates, all arrearages, fines and penalties, shall attach to premises where the water was used as a lien. If the water service is shut off, pursuant to Section 13.04.080, due to nonpayment of water fees by a tenant, the water service shall remain shut off until all fees and charges are paid in full. (Ord. 169 § 2, 1981: prior code § 7409)

For any violation of the provisions of this chapter, the water may be shut off and shall not be turned on again without satisfactory assur- ance of an intention on the part of the delin- quent to comply with the regulations and the payment of the sum of one dollar ($1.00) for closing and opening the street cock. (Prior code § 7410)

The water works department shall have the right in an emergency to turn on or off the water from the pipes of the system without notice. The water works department will make all pos- sible efforts to notify its consumers in advance when it is necessary to turn the water off. (Prior code § 7411)

prohibited. Immediately upon an alarm of fire, all per- sons using water for irrigation purposes must close their faucets and keep them closed during the continuance of the water use by the fire department. (Ord. 169 § 3, 1981: prior code § 7412)

to change. These rules, regulations and rates are subject to amendment and alteration at any time with- out special notice to the consumers, in such matters as may be deemed expedient by the city council. (Prior code § 7413)

A. No person except city personnel shall tap, open, connect or reconnect any water ser- vice. B. In the event of unauthorized connection or reconnection, the city shall turn off or dis- connect the water service, lock or remove the water meter, and charge and collect ten dollars ($10.00), in addition to all other charges and penalties, before water service is restored. C. For any water supplied by the city which is wasted by a customer a fee shall be charged

151 (Revised 8-11) to the customer and added to the customer’s account. For the first violation, a written warn- ing will be given to the customer. For the sec- ond violation, a fee of thirty dollars ($30.00) shall be charged. For the third violation, a fee of sixty dollars ($60.00) shall be charged. For the fourth and subsequent violations, a fee of ninety dollars ($90.00) shall be charged. Addi- tionally, any unmetered customer shall have a meter installed after the fourth violation at the customer’s expense. The cost of the meter installation shall be added to the customer’s account and paid over a maximum six-month period. For any customer who incurs within a two-year period four or more water waste vio- lations or does not comply with the water effi- cient landscape requirements, the city may implement any or all of the following mea- sures: 1. Require a customer to get a landscape evaluation, lawn water audit, and water bud- get, as appropriate, in order to learn efficient water use. This work would be completed at customer expense; 2. Require a customer to repair any defects in the watering system of such customer within fourteen (14) days’ notice by the city to repair; 3. Require installation by the city of flow restrictors or termination of water service for exterior use; 4. Termination of all water service to a customer. D. Water service shall be turned off and discontinued to any premises on or from which water supplied by the city is being disposed or used in violation of any law of the city other than wasting or noncompliance with water effi- cient landscape requirements. Water service shall not be restored to any premises until the owner and the occupant thereof terminate any violation or waste and agree not to continue to repeat such violation or waste. Such agreement shall be guaranteed by a cash bond in such sum as the director of finance shall fix, not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00). E. All services and all water meters installed by the city or at the city request shall be the property of the city. The expense of the maintenance, repair, and removal of such meters, due to the wear of normal service, shall be borne by the city; provided, however, any expense occasioned by any act, careless or oth- erwise, on the part of the consumer, or any member of his family, or any person in his employ, shall be charged to such consumer. F. The city shall not maintain or repair any water pipe from the meter to the premises served, and the city shall in no case be liable for damages occasioned by water running free from open or faulty fixtures or from broken or damaged pipes. G. No person shall allow a connection to be made or exist between the city’s water system and another source of water supply or water system unless such connection is fitted with a suitable backflow prevention device approved by the city preventing water from such other source of supply entering the city’s water sys- tem. H. No person receiving city water shall fur- nish such water to any premises other than that to which the city bills or meters such water, and no person shall furnish city water to any pre- mises for which the water rates prescribed by the city are not being paid. I. Any bypass or connection around the meter between the service and the main shall be prohibited unless specifically authorized by the director of public works for a limited period of time because of emergency work. All water used on any premises shall pass through the water meter. J. No person shall climb on or upon any water tower or water tank to enter on or upon

152 (Revised 8-11) any pump house or pit without a permit from the public utilities department. 1. Inspections. The city clerk, the director of public works, or any other authorized officer of the city shall be admitted during normal working hours to all parts of any premises receiving city water for the purpose of inspec- tion to ensure that the laws and regulations of the city pertaining to water and water services are being complied with. 2. No person shall cover or permit to be covered meter boxes or impede the reading of meter boxes. 3. No person shall tamper with or remove any water meter which is attached to any ser- vice or break any meter seal. No person shall make any water connection or connect to any pipe or meter box, except for a single house connection. 4. Wastage of Water. No person shall will- fully or negligently waste water nor unreason- ably flood any premises. Wasting water shall include noncompliance with any water conser- vation program which the city enacts for the public safety or welfare. (Ord. 209, 2007)

Only city personnel are allowed to discon- nect service from the city’s water lines. Any person found tampering with city water facili- ties, disconnecting service or interfering with or damaging any of the city’s water meters, shutoff valves, taps or faucets shall be guilty of a violation under the general penalty provision in Chapter 1.16. (Ord. 202, 2004: prior code § 7414)

152-1 (Revised 8-11)