Chapter 13.10
WATER METERS
Sections:
13.10.020 Installation regulations.
13.10.040 Water meter testing – Responsibility for charges determination – Amounts.
13.10.050 Meter reading – Fees due and payable – Nonpayment.
13.10.060 Injured or broken meters – Responsibility for repair charges.
13.10.080 Free and unrestricted access to premises.
13.10.090 Right to refuse or terminate delivery of water service.
13.10.010 Required.
All domestic water delivered from the town of Twisp’s water supply system shall be furnished through and measured by a water meter. (Ord. 412 § 1, 1994)
13.10.020 Installation regulations.
(1) Any property owner who applies for water service from the town’s domestic water supply system shall pay to the town as the fee for installation of the hookup or connection to said water supply system an amount equal to the actual cost to the town for the labor and materials required to install and connect, plus a sum equal to 33-1/3 percent of such actual cost of such labor and materials.
(2) All connections will require a meter installed by the town personnel. The meter pit location may be in the town’s right-of-way and/or easement, or with the consent of the owner, on the premises of a private property owner. No installations shall occur in a driveway or parking area.
(3) All service lines of sizes three-quarter-inch to three-inch will be rolled copper tube sized 200 psi poly or C900 pipe and shall be buried at a minimum depth of five feet. The service line shall be surrounded on all sides by six inches of approved bedding sand. Any bending of service lines will be made with the proper bending tool and all plain ends will be rounded with a proper sized copper rounding tool.
(4) All service lines of sizes one-and-one-quarter-inch, one-and-one-half-inch, two-inch, two-and-one-half-inch, three-inch, and three-and-one-half-inch pipe size shall be galvanized iron pipe with threaded connections and shall be buried at a minimum depth of five feet. The service line shall be surrounded on all sides by six inches of approved bedding sand.
(5) Any service line sizes of four inches and greater shall be of ductile iron pipe, Class 50 or C900 pipe, using ductile iron mechanical joint fittings and shall be buried at a minimum depth of five feet. The service line shall be surrounded on all sides by six inches of approved bedding sand.
(6) All connections shall be inspected by town personnel authorized to make such inspections, prior to any backfilling and a map showing the location, depth and size of connection will be filled out by the town water line inspector and a copy of which shall be kept on file at the superintendent’s office.
(7) There shall be no modifications or changes made to an existing service line without the approval of the town of Twisp and its designated inspector. Any modifications and/or changes shall be recorded on the existing map and filed at Town Hall.
(8) Backflow prevention devices will be installed and maintained by the property owner when required by the superintendent. Said device shall be approved by the Washington State Department of Health and will be tested on an annual basis by a state of Washington Department of Health certified tester. A copy of said test will be filed with the town of Twisp. (Ord. 750 § 1(A), 2019; Ord. 628 § 1(AA), 2011; Ord. 412 § 2, 1994)
13.10.030 Deposit.
At the time when application for water service is made, the applicant shall pay to the town a deposit upon the estimated actual cost; the amount of such deposit shall be determined by the town superintendent. Upon completion of the installation of the connection, the town shall render a statement for the full charge for such installation which shall be paid by the applicant to the town within 10 days from the date of such statement less the deposit paid with the application for water service. Any such charge not so paid within 10 days of the date of the statement of charges shall bear interest at the rate of 12 percent per annum from date of the statement and in addition thereto the town shall have the right to discontinue and shut off water service until the amount unpaid, plus interest, shall be paid in full. (Ord. 628 § 1(BB), 2011; Ord. 412 § 3, 1994)
13.10.040 Water meter testing – Responsibility for charges determination – Amounts.
Where the accuracy of record of a water meter is questioned it shall be tested by the town, and a report thereon duly made. If the test discloses an excess error against the meter of more than three percent on the meter’s registry, the excess of the consumption on the three previous readings shall be credited to the consumer’s meter account. No meter shall be removed or in any way disturbed nor the seal broken except in the presence or under the direction of the superintendent. (Ord. 628 § 1(L), 2011; Ord. 59 § 23, 1939. Formerly 13.05.230)
13.10.050 Meter reading – Fees due and payable – Nonpayment.
(1) For the collection of meter water rates, the town of Twisp may be divided into districts corresponding to daily routes for meter reading.
(2) All fees for the use of water for domestic use shall be due and payable in advance within 30 days after the date of billing, and shall be paid at the office of the town clerk/treasurer, except that fees and excess water shall be due and payable with the minimum advance fees for the following month.
(3) All fees for the use of water for commercial use shall be due and payable in advance within 30 days after the date of billing in each district for each calendar month and shall be paid at the office of the town clerk/treasurer, except that fees for excess water shall be due and payable with the minimum advance fees for the following month.
(4) In case of nonpayment of fees and charges for water within 30 days after they are due, the water may be shut off, without further notice, and a charge of the current disconnection/reconnection fee shall be added to cover the expense of turning the water off and on and in no case shall water be turned on again until the amount has been paid in full.
(5) Failure to receive mail will not be recognized as valid excuse for failure to pay rates when due. Change of ownership of property and change in address must be on file in writing at the office of the town clerk/treasurer and the town clerk/treasurer may require payment in advance or satisfactory security for all water to be furnished by meter. If such payment be not made or security furnished within the time fixed by the town clerk/treasurer, no water shall be furnished. (Ord. 628 § 1(P), 2011; Ord. 59 § 34, 1939. Formerly 13.05.330)
13.10.060 Injured or broken meters – Responsibility for repair charges.
In all cases where meters are injured or broken by the carelessness or negligence of the owner or occupants of premises, they shall be repaired or replaced by the town and a charge for such repair or replacement shall be made against the owner of the premises for the actual cost of labor and material used in making such repairs or replacements. (Ord. 628 § 1(V), 2011; Ord. 59 § 44, 1939. Formerly 13.05.430)
13.10.070 Meter readings.
The meters of large commercial users will be read monthly throughout the year. Small commercial and domestic meters updated with radio capability will be read monthly throughout the year. Small commercial and domestic meters unable to be read remotely will be read approximately the twenty-fifth of the month from April to November (weather permitting), inclusive, of each year. Any excess water used by domestic services during the nonmeter-reading months will be due and payable the month following the first read of the spring. Whenever it is possible and practicable, all meters shall be installed in the parking strip of the property served and no branch pipe shall be taken off of the service between the meter and the street. (Ord. 764 § 1(B), 2020; Ord. 628 § 1(W), 2011; Ord. 59 § 45, 1939. Formerly 13.05.440)
13.10.080 Free and unrestricted access to premises.
Authorized employees or agents of the town shall have free and unrestricted access to any premises furnished with water service by the town for the purpose of inspecting water pipelines and meter installations, reading, installing and removing meters and meter pits, or repairing meters or any property of the town. (Ord. 750 § 1(B), 2019)
13.10.090 Right to refuse or terminate delivery of water service.
If the owner or occupant of any premises supplied with town water shall violate any provision of TMC 13.10.080, or an owner refuses to give consent to locate a meter pit upon the private property of the owner, the town may refuse or terminate such water service, and all disconnection/reconnection fees for shutting off and turning on such water must be paid before the same can be again turned on. (Ord. 750 § 1(C), 2019)