Chapter 13.04 WATER SERVICE SYSTEM

A water department of the city is established. The officers and other employees of the department shall consist of the public works director and such other personnel as from time to time be deemed necessary for an efficient administration of the department. (Ord. 1257 §1A, 2011: Ord. 366 §1, 1946)

13.04.020 Public works director--Appointment.

The public works director shall be appointed by the mayor and shall hold such appointment during the pleasure of the mayor. (Ord. 1257 §1B, 2011: Ord. 366 §2, 1946)

13.04.030 Public works director--Duties.

The duties of the public works director shall be to oversee and superintend the operation and maintenance of the water systems, the making of repairs of all kinds, the construction of all extensions and additions and all construction work of whatever nature whatsoever in connection with the present water system and any new system that may be established. The public works director may designate another employee in the public works department to also be responsible for these duties when necessary or desired. (Ord. 1257 §1C, 2011: Ord. 366 §3, 1946)

13.04.040 Service application.

A. All applications for service installations and for water service shall be made at city hall on printed forms furnished by the city and shall contain the name of the owner of the property, the name of the occupant, an account number, the Yakima County tax assessor’s parcel number assigned to the property, the name of the street upon which the property fronts and the official street number assigned to the premises as shown by the record of the office of the city clerk/treasurer, and the signature of the applicant agreeing to conform to the rules and regulations of the water department and this title as established by the city for the use of 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 service connection required, and the applicant shall at the time of making application pay to the city the amount of the fee required for making the installation of the service connection and the amount of the deposit required to secure the payment of charges for water services as provided in this chapter.

C. Where service connections are already installed, application for water service may be made either by the owner or his duly authorized agent. The applicant shall at the time of making the application pay to the city the amount of the deposit required to secure the payment of charges for water service as provided in this chapter. (Ord. 1257 §1D, 2011: Ord. 366 §4, 1946)

13.04.050 Account keeping.

Repealed by Ord. 1192. (Ord. 366 §5, 1946)

13.04.060 Charges--Payment.

Repealed by Ord. 1192. (Ord. 1144 §1, 2006: Ord. 1098, 2002; Ord. 931(part), 1992; Ord. 366 §6, 1946)

13.04.070 Meter rate computation.

Repealed by Ord. 1192. (Ord. 366 §7, 1946)

13.04.080 Service connection--Responsibility.

The installation of service pipes extending from the main to the meter and the meter together with materials and labor for such construction shall be made by the public works department. (Ord. 1257 §1E, 2011: Ord. 366 §8, 1946)

13.04.090 Service connection--Requirements.

Each property capable of title transfer and each residence located on any one property and not joined with other property thereon inseparable or under the same roof shall be considered as an individual consumer, and each individual consumer shall be supplied through a separate service connection and meter; provided, however, that in the case of duplex or apartments not being capable of separate title transfer, that the owner thereof may, nevertheless, by arrangement with the water department, provide for the property multiple service connections and meters to serve each of the various apartments located thereon. All buildings, although joined by party wall or similar attachment, if capable of separate title transfer, shall have, for each divisible part thereof, separate service connections and meters. Where water is furnished to two or more residences or buildings occupied by different families or occupancies or acreage property capable of subdivision and transfer by proper title in fee simple, the plumbing thereon shall be arranged so that each divisible part thereof shall have its own separate service connection and water meter. (Ord. 366 §9, 1946)

13.04.100 Service connection--Charges.

Before a service connection is installed, the property owner shall pay to the city clerk/treasurer an installation charge as follows:

A. For a three-fourths-inch service (residential or industrial) and a five-eighths- or three-fourths-inch meter, the minimum charge shall be set by fee resolution.

B. The minimum charge shall cover all costs where the meter is not more than forty feet from the point where the main is tapped. When it is necessary to place a meter more than forty feet from the point where the main is tapped, an additional charge will be made to cover actual costs of extra material and construction deemed required by the city.

C. For service and installation larger than the residential sized meter, charge shall be determined by the public works director at the time of application for such service. The charge shall be fixed by the cost of the meter, pipe, fittings and other material necessary to make the installation, including labor. Such charges shall be determined by the public works director and paid by the applicant before such installation is made. (Ord. 1258 §1, 2011: Ord. 1257 §1F, 2011: Ord. 1014 §1, 1996; Ord. 931(part), 1992; Ord. 817, 1983: Ord. 366 §10, 1946)

13.04.110 Service connection--Change.

Any change made in a service installation at the request of the property owner or water user, or made necessary due to any act of theirs, after the original installation has been made, whether such change shall involve a change in size of pipe or meter, or both, or a change in location or elevation thereof, shall be made solely at the expense of the applicant who shall pay the entire cost thereof in the same manner as provided in Sections 13.04.080, 13.04.090 and 13.04.100. (Ord. 1257 §1G, 2011: Ord. 366 §11, 1946)

13.04.120 Service connection--Relocation.

When it is necessary for the convenience of the public works department, or because of the installation of new water mains, or for other reasons, to change an existing service or meter location, such new service and meter location will be made at the expense of the public works department and the property owner or water user shall reinstall his service pipes to connect with the meter at his own expense. (Ord. 1257 §1H, 2011: Ord. 366 §12, 1946)

13.04.130 Service connection--Outside corporate limit.

Installations for water service to premises outside of the incorporated limits of the city shall be made at the same rates and under the same regulations as provided in this chapter for city properties. (Ord. 1257 §1I, 2011: Ord. 366 §13, 1946)

13.04.135 Water connections for real property located outside Wapato city limits.

A. Water service connections and facilities may be provided and furnished for property outside the city limits at the discretion of the mayor and subject to the formation of a local improvement district or utility local improvement district for such connections and facilities unless the water service connections are furnished pursuant to Washington State statute, RCW 35.67.310 or any other agreement connecting sewer systems to real property outside of the Wapato city limits.

B. The city shall be under no duty or obligation to make such connections or to lay any such water lines from the trunk water mains of the city to any property lines, it being the expressed intention of said city to reserve the right to determine whether or not any such water lines shall be laid or any such connections made, solely within the judgment and discretion of the city. Should the public works director determine any application for such a water line to be unfeasible or should the city for any other reason elect not to lay such a water line or make such a connection, any deposit made by the applicant for the same shall be returned to the applicant.

C. Before any work shall be started on the installation of such connection, the applicant for such connection shall deposit with the city clerk/treasurer, in cash or by certified check, such amount as may be set by resolution of the city council in approving the connection. The city clerk/treasurer shall deposit all such sums of money in the water betterment reserve fund, established for that purpose. The applicant shall also sign an outside utility agreement with the city which shall be approved by city council and recorded with Yakima County prior to construction.

D. After such sum is so deposited and the agreement signed and recorded, the public works director and public works staff shall, at the expense of the city, lay a water line from a connection with the trunk water main to the property line of the applicant at such point on the applicant’s property line as the public works director shall deem to be most practical.

E. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting the city from assessing the property of any and all such applicants for the cost of any local improvement which shall thereafter provide available lateral water service to such property or properties; provided, however, that any person connected with a water main in accordance with this chapter shall have the right to elect whether or not to connect to such lateral water pipe when available; provided further, that any election by any applicant not to connect with any such available lateral water pipe shall not prevent the property of the applicant from being included within any local improvement district created for the purpose of providing a lateral water pipe capable of serving the applicant’s property, or prevent such property from being assessed for the proportionate share of any local improvement district created for the purpose of installing such a lateral water pipe. (Ord. 1257 §1J, 2011: Ord. 1197 §2, 2008)

13.04.140 Service pipe installation.

A. All new service pipes shall be placed not less than four feet below the established grade of the street, and at an equal depth below the surface of the ground upon all private property for ten feet past the meter. The public works department may increase this depth where deemed necessary.

B. Any person, firm or corporation desiring to be connected with the domestic water supply of the city shall, before such connection may be made, first comply with all plumbing regulations of the city and all ordinances amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto. (Ord. 1257 §1K, 2011: Ord. 366 §14, 1946)

13.04.150 Contamination protection--Cross connections.

Repealed by Ord. 1206. (Ord. 366 §15, 1946)

13.04.160 Compliance with plumbing regulations.

Repealed by Ord. 1257. (Ord. 366 §16, 1946)

13.04.170 Disconnection for violation.

No person, firm or corporation whose premises are now receiving water service from the domestic water supply of the city shall alter, repair or add to any plumbing at the premises, unless such additional alterations or repairs shall be performed in compliance with the plumbing regulations of the city. In case of the violation of this section by any person, firm or corporation, it shall be the duty of the public works department to immediately discontinue water service to the premises at which this section shall have been violated, until such violation shall have been removed. (Ord. 1257 §1L, 2011: Ord. 366 §17, 1946)

13.04.180 Leak and damage repair.

Owners of services are responsible for all leaks or damages on account of leaks from privately owned services and privately owned mains leading from the city’s mains or meters to premises served. (Ord. 366 §18, 1946)

13.04.190 Protection against freezing.

All service installations shall be placed at the depth required in Section 13.04.140 in order to avoid all probability of freezing, and the public works department shall be responsible for all frozen meters and all frozen services owned by the city, and the owners of the property served shall be responsible for all frozen services leading to and located on the premises served, and shall pay the cost of thawing such privately owned pipes whenever necessary. (Ord. 1257 §1M, 2011: Ord. 366 §19, 1946)

13.04.200 Access to facilities for inspection.

Employees of the public works department properly identified shall have access to all parts of any residential, commercial or industrial property to which water may be delivered from the city mains, for the purpose of inspecting the conditions of the pipes and fixtures and the manner in which water is used if there is reason to believe that problems in the water system are being caused by such pipes and/or fixtures in or on the premises, or any other place on the premises. If access to the interior or exterior of the property is refused, the public works director or his designee may determine it is necessary to shut off water to the premises. The city shall not be responsible for any damages of any kind in the event access is denied and service is discontinued to the premises. (Ord. 1257 §1N, 2011: Ord. 366 §20, 1946)

13.04.210 Meters--Ownership, removal and replacement.

All water meters and services to same installed by the public works department shall be and remain the property of the city and may be removed or replaced, or changed as to size and type, by the public works department whenever deemed necessary by the department. (Ord. 1257 §1O, 2011: Ord. 366 §21, 1946)

13.04.220 Meters--Maintenance and repair.

The public works department shall maintain and repair all meters when rendered unserviceable by fair wear and tear; provided, however, that where replacement, repairs or adjustments of any meter is rendered necessary by the intentional or negligent act, neglect or carelessness of the owner or occupant of any premises, any expense caused the public works department thereby shall be charged against and collected from the owner of such premises, and water service may be discontinued until the cause is corrected and amount charged is collected in full. (Ord. 1257 §1P, 2011: Ord. 366 §22, 1946)

13.04.230 Rate--Schedule.

Repealed by Ord. 1192. (Ord. 1151, 2006; Ord. 1115 §1(part), 2004; Ord. 1082 §1, 2000; Ord. 1069 §1, 1999; Ord. 1045 §§1, 2, 1997; Ord. 1032 §§1, 2, 1997; Ord. 1001 §1, 1995; Ord. 982 §1, 1995; Ord. 931(part), 1992; Ord. 864 §1, 1988: Ord. 828 §1, 1985: Ord. 798(part), 1981: Ord. 689, 1972; Ord. 493 §1, 1955; Ord. 424, 1950; Ord. 418(part), 1949: Ord. 366 §23, 1946)

13.04.240 Rate--Multiple consumers.

Repealed by Ord. 1192. (Ord. 864 §2, 1988: Ord. 798(part), 1981: Ord. 418(part), 1949: Ord. 366 §24, 1946)

13.04.250 Rate--Deposits.

Repealed by Ord. 1192. (Ord. 1123 §1, 2004; Ord. 1099, 2002; Ord. 931(part), 1992: Ord. 866 §1, 1988: Ord. 496, 1956: Ord. 366 §25, 1946)

13.04.255 Additional charges.

Repealed by Ord. 1192. (Ord. 1144 §2, 2006; Ord. 1035 §1, 1997)

13.04.260 Fire service connection--Installation.

All fire service connections between water mains and property line shall be installed and maintained by the water department at the expense of the owner or occupant of the premises served, and shall be the property of the city. Fire service connections shall not be used for domestic or commercial purposes where separate service connections can be installed. In no case shall any tap be made upon or any connection be made to any fire service unless a meter shall be installed thereon. The use of water through a fire service connection for any purpose other than the extinguishment of fire is prohibited unless a meter is installed to measure the water used. (Ord. 1257 §1Q, 2011: Ord. 366 §26, 1946)

13.04.270 City water facilities--Operation.

No person other than an employee of the public works department shall interfere in any way with the city water system without first obtaining authority so to do from the public works director. (Ord. 1257 §1R, 2011: Ord. 366 §27, 1946)

13.04.280 City water facilities--Contractor use.

Contractors and others who temporarily desire to use city water may do so at the regular meter rates by first making application to the public works department in the regular manner for the installation of a meter and by making a deposit to the city with the city clerk/treasurer to cover costs of installation and deposit as provided for by fee resolution. On removal of the service the user will be given credit for the cost of the meter and all other materials salvaged and on payment of all charges for water the credit together with the deposit to secure payment for water will be refunded. (Ord. 1257 §1S, 2011: Ord. 366 §28, 1946)

13.04.290 City water facilities--Tampering prohibited.

It is unlawful for any person to tamper with or break, deface or damage any pipeline, valve, water meter or other water works appliance or fixture, or to interfere in any manner with the proper operation of any part of the water system of the city. (Ord. 1257 §1T, 2011: Ord. 366 §29, 1946)

13.04.300 Violation--Penalty.

Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof be punished by a fine of not exceeding one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding ninety days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. 1257 §1U, 2011: Ord. 366 §30, 1946)