| 90.01 Definitions | 90.11 Installation of Water Service Pipe |
| 90.02 Superintendent’s Duties | 90.12 Responsibility for Water Service Pipe |
| 90.03 Mandatory Connections | 90.13 Failure to Maintain |
| 90.04 Abandoned Connections | 90.14 Curb Valve |
| 90.05 Permit | 90.15 Interior Valve |
| 90.06 Fee for Permit | 90.16 Inspection and Approval |
| 90.07 Compliance with Plumbing Code | 90.17 Completion by the City |
| 90.08 Plumber Required | 90.18 Shutting off Water Supply |
| 90.09 Excavations | 90.19 Operation of Curb Valve and Hydrants |
| 90.10 Tapping Mains |
90.01 DEFINITIONS. The following terms are defined for use in the chapters in this Code of Ordinances pertaining to the Water Service System:
90.02 SUPERINTENDENT’S DUTIES. The Superintendent shall supervise the installation of water service pipes and their connection to the water main and enforce all regulations pertaining to water services in the City in accordance with this chapter. This chapter shall apply to all replacements of existing water service pipes as well as to new ones. The Superintendent shall make such rules, not in conflict with the provisions of this chapter, as may be needed for the detailed operation of the water system, subject to the approval of the Council. In the event of an emergency the Superintendent may make temporary rules for the protection of the system until due consideration by the Council may be had.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 372.13[4])
90.03 MANDATORY CONNECTIONS. All residences and business establishments within the City limits intended or used for human habitation, occupancy or use shall be connected to the public water system, if it is reasonably available and if the building is not furnished with pure and wholesome water from some other source.
90.04 ABANDONED CONNECTIONS. When an existing water service is abandoned or a service is renewed with a new tap in the main, all abandoned connections with the mains shall be turned off at the corporation stop and made absolutely watertight.
90.05 PERMIT. Before any person makes a connection with the public water system, a written permit must be obtained from the City. The application for the permit shall include a legal description of the property, the name of the property owner, the name and address of the person who will do the work, and the general uses of the water. If the proposed work meets all the requirements of this chapter and if all fees required under this chapter have been paid, the permit shall be issued. Work under any permit must be completed within sixty (60) days after the permit is issued, except that when such time period is inequitable or unfair due to conditions beyond the control of the person making the application, an extension of time within which to complete the work may be granted. The permit may be revoked at any time for any violation of these chapters.
90.06 FEE FOR PERMIT. Before any permit is issued the person who makes the application shall pay one hundred ($100.00) to the Clerk to cover the cost of issuing the permit and supervising, regulating, and inspecting the work.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 384.84)
90.07 COMPLIANCE WITH PLUMBING CODE. The installation of any water service pipe and any connection with the water system shall comply with all pertinent and applicable provisions, whether regulatory, procedural or enforcement provisions, of Division 4, Plumbing Rules and Regulations, of the State Building Code.
90.08 PLUMBER REQUIRED. All installations of water service pipes and connections to the water system shall be made by a plumber approved by the City. The Superintendent shall have the power to suspend the approval of any plumber for violation of any of the provisions of this chapter. A suspension, unless revoked, shall continue until the next regular meeting of the City Council. The Superintendent shall notify the plumber immediately by personal written notice of the suspension, the reasons for the suspension and the time and place of the Council meeting at which the plumber will be granted a hearing. At this Council meeting the Superintendent shall make a written report to the Council stating the reasons for the suspension, and the Council, after fair hearing, shall affirm or revoke the suspension or take any further action that is necessary and proper. The plumber shall provide a surety bond in the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) secured by a responsible surety bonding company authorized to operate within the State, conditioned to indemnify and save the City harmless against all losses or damages that may arise from or be occasioned by the making of connections to the water system or excavations therefor or by carelessness, negligence or unskillfulness in making the same. Such bond shall remain in force and must be executed for a period of one year except that on such expiration it shall remain in force as to all penalties, claims and demands that may have accrued thereunder prior to such expiration. In lieu of a surety bond, a cash deposit of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) may be filed with the City.
90.09 EXCAVATIONS. All trench work, excavation and backfilling required in making a connection shall be performed in accordance with applicable excavation provisions as provided for installation of building sewers and/or the provisions of Chapter 135.
90.10 TAPPING MAINS. All taps into water mains shall be made by or under the direct supervision of the Superintendent and in accord with the following:
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 372.13[4])
90.11 INSTALLATION OF WATER SERVICE PIPE. Water service pipes from the main to the meter setting shall be Type K copper. The use of any other pipe material for the service line shall first be approved by the Superintendent. Pipe must be laid sufficiently waving, and to such depth, as to prevent rupture from settlement or freezing.
90.12 RESPONSIBILITY FOR WATER SERVICE PIPE. All costs and expenses incident to the installation, connection and maintenance of the water service pipe from the curb valve to the building served shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the City from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation or maintenance of said water service pipe.
90.13 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN. When any portion of the water service pipe which is the responsibility of the property owner becomes defective or creates a nuisance and the owner fails to correct such nuisance the City may do so and assess the costs thereof to the property.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.12[3a & h])
90.14 CURB VALVE. There shall be installed within the public right-of-way a main shut-off valve on the water service pipe of a pattern approved by the Superintendent. The shut-off valve shall be constructed to be visible and even with the pavement or ground.
90.15 INTERIOR VALVE. There shall be installed a shut-off valve on every service pipe inside the building as close to the entrance of the pipe within the building as possible and so located that the water can be shut off conveniently. Where one service pipe supplies more than one customer within the building, there shall be separate valves for each such customer so that service may be shut off for one without interfering with service to the others.
90.16 INSPECTION AND APPROVAL. All water service pipes and their connections to the water system must be inspected and approved in writing by the Superintendent before they are covered, and the Superintendent shall keep a record of such approvals. If the Superintendent refuses to approve the work, the plumber or property owner must proceed immediately to correct the work. Every person who uses or intends to use the municipal water system shall permit the Superintendent to enter the premises to inspect or make necessary alterations or repairs at all reasonable hours and on proof of authority.
90.17 COMPLETION BY THE CITY. Should any excavation be left open or only partly refilled for twenty-four (24) hours after the water service pipe is installed and connected with the water system, or should the work be improperly done, the City shall have the right to finish or correct the work, and the Council shall assess the costs to the property owner or the plumber. If the plumber is assessed, the plumber must pay the costs before receiving another permit, and the plumber's bond or cash deposit shall be security for the assessment. If the property owner is assessed, such assessment may be collected with and in the same manner as general property taxes.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.12[3a & h])
90.18 SHUTTING OFF WATER SUPPLY. The Superintendent may shut off the supply of water to any customer because of any violation of the regulations contained in these Water Service System chapters that is not being contested in good faith. The supply shall not be turned on again until all violations have been corrected and the Superintendent has ordered the water to be turned on.
90.19 OPERATION OF CURB VALVE AND HYDRANTS. It is unlawful for any person except the Superintendent to turn water on at the curb valve, and no person, unless specifically authorized by the City, shall open or attempt to draw water from any fire hydrant for any purpose whatsoever.
| 91.01 Purpose | 91.05 Meter Setting |
| 91.02 Water Use Metered | 91.06 Meter Costs |
| 91.03 Fire Sprinkler Systems- Exception | 91.07 Meter Repairs |
| 91.04 Location of Meters | 91.08 Right of Entry |
91.01 PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to encourage the conservation of water and facilitate the equitable distribution of charges for water service among customers.
91.02 WATER USE METERED. All water furnished customers shall be measured through meters furnished by the City and installed by the City.
91.03 FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS - EXCEPTION. Fire sprinkler systems may be connected to water mains by direct connection without meters under the direct supervision of the Superintendent. No open connection can be incorporated in the system, and there shall be no valves except a main control valve at the entrance to the building which must be sealed open.
91.04 LOCATION OF METERS. All meters shall be so located that they are easily accessible to meter readers and repairmen and protected from freezing.
91.05 METER SETTING. The property owner shall provide all necessary piping and fittings for proper setting of the meter including a valve on the discharge side of the meter. Meter pits may be used only upon approval of the Superintendent and shall be of a design and construction approved by the Superintendent.
91.06 METER COSTS. The full cost of any meter larger than that required for a single-family residence shall be paid to the City by the property owner or customer prior to the installation of any such meter by the City, or, at the sole option of the City, the property owner or customer may be required to purchase and install such meter in accordance with requirements established by the City.
91.07 METER REPAIRS. Whenever a water meter owned by the City is found to be out of order the Superintendent shall have it repaired. If it is found that damage to the meter has occurred due to the carelessness or negligence of the customer or property owner, or the meter is not owned by the City, then the property owner shall be liable for the cost of repairs.
91.08 RIGHT OF ENTRY. The Superintendent shall be permitted to enter the premises of any customer at any reasonable time to read, remove, or change a meter.
| 92.01 Service Charges | 92.06 Lien for Nonpayment |
| 92.02 Rates For Service | 92.07 Lien Exemption |
| 92.03 Rates Outside the City | 92.08 Lien Notice |
| 92.04 Billing for Water Service | 92.09 Customer Deposits |
| 92.05 Service Discontinued | 92.10 Temporary Vacancy |
92.01 SERVICE CHARGES. Each customer shall pay for water service provided by the City based upon use of water as determined by meters provided for in Chapter 91. Each location, building, premises or connection shall be considered a separate and distinct customer whether owned or controlled by the same person or not.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 384.84)
92.02 RATES FOR SERVICE. Water service shall be furnished at the following monthly rates within the City:
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 384.84)
|
Gallons Used Per Month |
Rate |
|
First 1,000 |
$10.60 (minimum bill) |
|
All over 1,000 |
$4.50 per 1,000 gallons |
92.03 RATES OUTSIDE THE CITY.
Water service shall be provided to any customer located outside the corporate limits of the City which the City has agreed to serve at the same rates provided in Section 92.02. No such customer, however, will be served unless the customer shall have signed a service contract agreeing to be bound by the ordinances, rules and regulations applying to water service established by the Council.(Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.4 & 384.84)
92.04 BILLING FOR WATER SERVICE. Water service shall be billed as part of a combined service account, payable in accordance with the following:
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 384.84)
(Ord. 314 – Aug. 06 Supp.)
92.05 SERVICE DISCONTINUED.
Water service to delinquent customers, non-meter reads are also considered delinquent, shall be discontinued in accordance with the following:(Code of Iowa, Sec. 384.84)
(Ord. 314 – Aug. 06 Supp.)
92.06 LIEN FOR NONPAYMENT.
The owner of the premises served and any lessee or tenant thereof shall be jointly and severally liable for water service charges to the premises. Water service charges remaining unpaid and delinquent shall constitute a lien upon the premises served and shall be certified by the Clerk to the County Treasurer for collection in the same manner as property taxes.(Code of Iowa, Sec. 384.84)
92.07 LIEN EXEMPTION. The lien for nonpayment shall not apply to a residential rental property where water service is separately metered and the rates or charges for the water service are paid directly to the City by the tenant, if the landlord gives written notice to the City that the property is residential rental property and that the tenant is liable for the rates or charges. The City may require a deposit not exceeding the usual cost of ninety (90) days of water service be paid to the City. The landlord’s written notice shall contain the name of the tenant responsible for charges, the address of the rental property and the date of occupancy. A change in tenant shall require a new written notice to be given to the City within ten (10) business days of the change in tenant. When the tenant moves from the rental property, the City shall refund the deposit if the water service charges are paid in full. A change in the ownership of the residential rental property shall require written notice of such change to be given to the City within ten (10) business days of the completion of the change of ownership. The lien exemption does not apply to delinquent charges for repairs to a water service.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 384.84)
92.08 LIEN NOTICE. A lien for delinquent water service charges shall not be certified to the County Treasurer unless prior written notice of intent to certify a lien is given to the customer. If the customer is a tenant and if the owner or landlord of the property has made a written request for notice, the notice shall also be given to the owner or landlord. The notice shall be sent to the appropriate persons by ordinary mail not less than thirty (30) days prior to certification of the lien to the County Treasurer.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 384.84)
92.09 CUSTOMER DEPOSITS. There shall be required from every customer a one hundred dollar ($100.00) deposit intended to guarantee the payment of bills for service.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 384.84)
92.10 TEMPORARY VACANCY. A property owner may request water service be temporarily discontinued and shut off at the curb valve when the property is expected to be vacant for an extended period of time. There shall be a fifteen dollar ($15.00) fee collected for shutting the water off at the curb valve and a fifteen dollar ($15.00) fee for restoring service. During a period when service is temporarily discontinued as provided herein there shall be no minimum service charge. The City will not drain pipes or pull meters for temporary vacancies.