Chapter 15.60
WATER SERVICE CONNECTIONS
Sections:
15.60.010 Water service required.
15.60.020 Application – Filing – Contents.
15.60.040 Relocation of connection – Cost.
15.60.050 Connection procedure – Cross-connections prohibited.
15.60.060 Maintenance of water pipes on premises.
15.60.010 Water service required.
(1) Where there is a water main adjacent to any premises the owner of such premises supplied by city water shall have a service connection with the city main.
(2) Number of Services.
(a) Each single-family dwelling shall have a separate water service or services.
(b) Multiple-family dwellings of two, three, or four units may have a single water service or separate water services at the discretion of the property owner.
(c) Multiple-family dwellings with more than four units shall have a single water service.
(d) Commercial and industrial properties shall have a separate water service or services.
Except: Where situations and/or special conditions exist that make an individual service for each unit impossible or unfeasible. The director shall determine when such situations or conditions prohibit individual services.
(3) All water services shall be metered. All meters, meter boxes, valves, and service lines from the main to and including the meter shall be and remain the property of the city.
(4) Water service lines from the meter to the house, including backflow devices if installed, shall be the property of the property owner.
(5) Water shall not be supplied to any other premises, except temporarily as approved by the director by written permit. If two or more residential premises are supplied by one metered service, base water service charges for each premises supplied with water shall be assessed for each separate building or premises so supplied. Multi-services existing as of the date of codification of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be separated at such time as the owner or occupant thereof shall obtain a building permit for the remodeling or structural alteration of such premises.
(6) When two or more residential premises are being serviced by one water service connection, as otherwise set forth in this section, the city shall have the right to require the installation of additional water service connections from the water main to the premises. When additional water service connections are provided for any premises, all water service shall be metered and installed in an approved manner. No premises shall be permitted to furnish water to any other premises, except during an emergency which shall not exceed a period of 30 calendar days. An application to cover the emergency connection shall be filed with the city within 48 hours of the occurrence causing the emergency. When the intended use of the water service is changed or the structure served is altered, a new service shall be installed at the customer’s expense unless the existing service complies with the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 3533 § 1, 2024).
15.60.020 Application – Filing – Contents.
(1) Any person desiring to have premises connected with the water supply system of the city shall present at the office of the director a permit for utility service. As part of the permit customers shall provide:
(a) Name of the owner.
(b) Billing address.
(c) Email address.
(d) Telephone number.
(e) Description of the project.
(f) Site address.
(g) Type of facility.
(h) The size of service required.
(i) Sketch of the site.
(j) It shall be signed by the occupant of the premises to be served or their duly authorized agent.
(k) At the time of filing of the permit, the applicant shall pay to the city the fees for installation of water service as provided by this article or resolution of the city.
(2) The application provided for in subsection (1) of this section shall constitute a contract on the part of the person making the same with the city to pay for the water applied for at the rate and in the manner specified by the ordinances or resolutions of the city governing the same and to comply with all other provisions of the ordinances or resolutions of the city pertaining thereto.
(3) All contracts shall take effect from the day they are signed, and rates shall be charged from the dates the premises are connected with the city water supply and the meter installed. Meter rates shall be in effect as long as the meter remains on the service. (Ord. 3533 § 1, 2024).
15.60.030 Installation.
Once the permit for utility service and the connection fees are paid, the customer may connect to the city’s water main with a service connection/line. City staff will inspect the water main tap and connection. The service line shall extend at approximately right angles from the main to the property line. On all installations a stop and waste valve of approved design, protected from frost, shall be placed within five feet of the meter so that the consumer’s pipes may be drained. (Ord. 3533 § 1, 2024).
15.60.040 Relocation of connection – Cost.
(1) Whenever it has been ascertained that a retaining wall, ornamental wall, or any other form of permanent wall is to be or has been erected on any portion of a city street or public place in which a water service connection has been installed, the director may require the relocation or adjustment of the water connection service by the property owner.
(2) The cost of the relocation or adjustment shall be borne by the property owner.
(3) In no case shall the city be required to maintain or repair any portion of the service connection at any greater distance from the water main than the meter. (Ord. 3533 § 1, 2024).
15.60.050 Connection procedure – Cross-connections prohibited.
(1) The director may limit the size and number of service connections which may be requested for any separate premises.
(2) In no case shall any cross-connection be laid between two or more city service connections nor between any city service connection and pipes supplying water from any other source. (Ord. 3533 § 1, 2024).
15.60.060 Maintenance of water pipes on premises.
(1) All persons connecting to city water meter with their service line shall be required to use only industry standard pipes and lines up to and including two inches in size.
(2) All service lines shall be laid not less than one and one-half feet below the surface of the ground, except as hereinafter provided.
(3) The ownership of all main extensions, service pipes and appurtenant equipment maintained by the city shall be vested in the city, and in no case shall the owner of any premises have the right to claim or reclaim any part thereof unless herein otherwise provided.
(4) Whenever pipes connected with a city service connection are to be used as part of a lawn and shrubbery sprinkling system exclusively, such pipes may at the option of the property owner be laid less than one and one-half feet below the surface of the ground. (Ord. 3533 § 1, 2024).
15.60.070 Connection fees.
(1) Service lines shall be one inch in size or greater.
(2) The fees for the installation of water service as hereinabove provided shall be in such amounts as shall be fixed by resolution of the city council from time to time upon recommendation of the director.
(3) Water capital recovery fees are fees in perpetuity and will run with the property. (Ord. 3533 § 1, 2024).