Chapter 13.08
WATER – SERVICE REGULATIONS*
Sections:
13.08.010 Use of municipal water system required.
13.08.020 Connection to municipal sewer system required.
13.08.030 Water service equipment installation and connection – Application – Fees.
13.08.040 Change in service – Applicant liable for cost.
13.08.050 Stop or valve required – Installation.
13.08.060 Owner responsible for leakage.
13.08.070 Persons debarred from doing plumbing work when.
13.08.080 Tampering with curb stop prohibited – Penalty.
13.08.090 Water department employees – Right of entry for inspection.
13.08.095 Interference with meter or meter reading prohibited.
13.08.100 Water shutoff permitted when.
13.08.110 Water use restricted when – Notice.
13.08.120 Violation of council order – Penalty.
13.08.130 Improper connection – Denial of water service – Penalty fee.
*For statutory provisions authorizing cities to cut off utility service to force payment of delinquent bills, see RCW 35.21.300; for provisions authorizing cities to regulate water systems, see RCW 35.21.210.
13.08.010 Use of municipal water system required.
From and after April 30, 1953, it is unlawful to use, or to provide for use, water for domestic purposes within the corporate limits of the city by any means other than the municipal water system of the city. (Ord. A-401 § 1, 1953).
13.08.020 Connection to municipal sewer system required.
From and after May 22, 1958, no water for domestic purposes shall be provided within the corporate limits of the city by the municipal water system of the city to any lands, buildings or premises which have not been connected to the municipal sewer system as required by the applicable ordinances of the city. (Ord. A-488 § 1, 1958).
13.08.030 Water service equipment installation and connection – Application – Fees.
A. All applications for service installation and for water service shall be made at the office of the water department on printed forms, containing the name of the owner, a description of the lot, block, and addition, the name of the street and official street number assigned to the premises as shown by the records in the office of the city clerk-treasurer, and the signature of the applicant agreeing to conform to the rules and regulations, and any modifications thereof which may be established from time to time as a condition for the use of the water.
B. All applications for service installation shall be made by the owner of the property to be served, or by his duly authorized agent, and shall state the size of the service connection required. The applicant shall at the time of making application pay to the city clerk-treasurer the amount of the fees or deposit required for the installation of the service connection as hereinafter provided. When service connections have been installed application for water service may be made, either by the owner or his duly authorized agent, or by the tenants or occupants of the premises, but no water shall be furnished to any premises unless and until the street number, set forth in the application, shall be placed upon the property. The applicant shall, at the time of making application for water service, pay the city clerk-treasurer the amount of deposit required to secure the payment of charges for water service as hereinafter provided. (Ord. A-95 § 1, 1930).
13.08.040 Change in service – Applicant liable for cost.
Any change made in a service installation at the request of the property owner or water user after such installation has once been made, whether such a change shall involve a change in the size of the pipe or meter, or both, or a change in the location thereof, shall be made solely at the expense of the applicant who shall pay the entire cost thereof. (Ord. A-95 § 6, 1930).
13.08.050 Stop or valve required – Installation.
On each service connection installed after June 27, 1930, a special stop or valve shall be placed on the pipe leading from the meter to the property to be served. No branch pipe, bib or fixture of any kind shall be connected between this stop or valve and the city main. This stop or valve shall be provided with a suitable box and key and shall be for the use of the property owner in making extensions or repairs of the plumbing upon the property. In case it is necessary for the property owner to have water shut off from any service heretofore installed, and not provided with such a special stop or valve, he shall make arrangements to install such stop or valve, and then make application at the office of the water department to have the water shut off and the water shall not be turned on again until such stop or valve has been installed. (Ord. 88-15 § 5, 1988; Ord. A-95 § 7, 1930).
13.08.060 Owner responsible for leakage.
Owners of service are responsible for all leaks or damages on account of leaks from the service pipes leading from the city’s meter to the premises served. (Ord. A-95 § 8, 1930).
13.08.070 Persons debarred from doing plumbing work when.
Plumbers or other persons failing to perform their work according to established rules and regulations or executing it unskillfully or to the damage of the water department may be debarred temporarily or permanently from making connections or doing any work on fixtures or pipes leading from the city’s mains. (Ord. A-95 § 9, 1930).
13.08.080 Tampering with curb stop prohibited – Penalty.
Each curb stop placed on the curb side of the meter may be turned off and on only under authority of the city and should it be desired to have the water turned off or turned on again a written order by the owner or his authorized agent must be given to the water department. Should any unauthorized person turn on water, or allow or cause it to be turned on after it has been shut off by the public works director or designee, the pipes will be disconnected from the water system and a charge equal to the expense of removing and replacing the connection shall be assessed. The charge to be paid shall be established by resolution of the city council, as amended from time to time. (Ord. 2017-01 § 1, 2017; Ord. A-95 § 10, 1930).
13.08.090 Water department employees – Right of entry for inspection.
Employees of the water department, properly identified, shall have free access at proper hours of the day to all parts of buildings to which water may be delivered from the city mains, for the purpose of inspecting the condition of the pipes and fixtures and the manner in which the water is used. (Ord. A-95 § 12, 1930).
13.08.095 Interference with meter or meter reading prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person to interfere with a water meter, or the reading thereof by city personnel, in any manner. (Ord. 88-15 § 6, 1988).
13.08.100 Water shutoff permitted when.
The water may at any time be shut off from the water main, without notice, for repairs, extensions or any necessary work, nonpayment of water utility charges or any other purpose, and the city shall not be responsible for any damages, including but not limited to bursting of boilers supplied by direct pressure or the breaking of any pipe or fixture, stoppage or interruption of water supply to any hydraulically operated or other appliance or cooling device resulting from the shutting off of the water. (Ord. B-32 § 1(a), 1974; Ord. A-95 § 11, 1930).
13.08.110 Water use restricted when – Notice.
The city council may by resolution cause a public notice to be published once in the legal newspaper of the city, with an order forbidding or limiting the use of water for irrigation, sprinkling or sluicing, upon such times, limits or conditions as the council may see fit and appropriate. (Ord. B-32 § 1(b), 1974; Ord. A-95 § 11, 1930).
13.08.120 Violation of council order – Penalty.
Any person violating the order of the council from and after publication of the order once in the legal newspaper of the city shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punishable as set forth in Chapter 1.24 TMC. (Ord. B-32 § 1(c), 1974; Ord. A-95 § 11, 1930).
13.08.130 Improper connection – Denial of water service – Penalty fee.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall make any connection either directly or indirectly to the water system of the city other than in the manner provided by TMC 13.04.040 through 13.04.080, 13.08.030 through 13.08.120, and Chapters 13.12 and 13.16 TMC, shall be subject to immediate denial of water service until such improper connection shall have been discontinued and said connection shall have been made in the manner provided by the applicable ordinances of the city and a fee established by resolution of the city council, as amended from time to time, in addition to any other charges for water service or water hookup, shall have been paid. (Ord. 2017-01 § 1, 2017; Ord. A-385 § 1, 1952).
13.08.140 Irrigation during fire prohibited.
Repealed by Ord. 2017-01. (Ord. A-95 § 13, 1930).