[Adopted 7-3-1968 as Ch. 45, Art. I, of the 1968 Code]
[Amended by Ord. No. 76-16, eff. 6-2-1976; Ord. No. 82-11, eff. 4-7-1982]
The following rules shall be considered a part
of the contract with any person who takes water supplied by the City
and every such person taking the water shall be considered as having
expressed his consent to be bound thereby. Whenever any one of the
said rules is violated, the right is reserved to cut off the water
without notice, and the person whose water is thus cut off shall forfeit
all payments made and the water shall not be turned on again until
all unpaid rents and charges are paid, together with a charge of $10
for turning the same on again. In case the violation of any rule is
discovered previous to turning on the water, then the water shall
not be turned on said premises until the rules are fully complied
with.
A.
All persons desiring a water supply from the City
must first make a written application on the books of the Department
of Public Works kept for that purpose at its office, stating fully
the several and various uses for which the water is wanted and the
name of the licensed plumber selected to do the work of introducing
the water. Such application must be signed by the owner of the premises
or his duly authorized agent, whereupon a permit to perform the said
work and no other will be issued to said plumber specifying the particular
use thus applied for.
B.
All persons desiring a water supply from the City
shall employ a regular licensed plumber to do the work. When the work
is completed to the satisfaction of the Superintendent of Public Works
and in compliance with all the rules and regulations, on payment of
the charges due the City at the Comptroller's Office, the water will
be turned on the premises.
C.
Any person wishing a water supply from the City shall
make application through the City Engineering Department for a water
tap permit. Work will be performed by Department of Public Works personnel.
Before this permit is granted a fee, which is to be adjusted administratively
annually, based on the inflation rate is charged as listed below:
[Added 5-3-1989 by Ord. No. 89-12; amended 8-7-2002 by Ord. No.
4-2002]
[Amended 3-2-1983 by Ord. No. 83-7]
A.
The plumber employed and designated by the owner of
the premises will be considered as the agent of said owner while employed
in the prosecution of the work of introducing water into the said
premises, and will not be recognized in any sense the agent of the
Department of Public Works or the City. Neither will the Department
of Public Works nor the City hold itself responsible for the acts
of the said plumber.
B.
The Department of Public Works will determine the
size of the taps to be inserted in any water main and the form and
size of curb box to be used under any application and permit, and
will furnish such taps and curb boxes at the expense of the applicant,
to be paid for upon making the application.
C.
The work of inserting taps, tees or braces and connections
in any water main shall be done only by persons employed by the Department
of Public Works or by a competent plumber having a permit in writing
from the Superintendent to make such connections.
D.
Owners desiring to introduce a water service pipe
into their premises will be required to extend said service at right
angles with the main pipe to the inside of the curbline of the street,
at which point a metallic curb cock and curb box shall be placed,
of such form and construction as shall be approved by the Department
of Public Works. The top of said curb box shall be placed on the grade
of the sidewalk of the street, and shall be kept at all times in perfect
order and repair.
E.
In cases where the curb boxes and street washers are
set in flagging or pavement of the sidewalk, the stones are to be
neatly and accurately cut, and top of the boxes set even with the
surface of the pavement or flagging; and in all other cases flush
with the surface of the sidewalk.
F.
Owners desiring to introduce water into any premises
along or in front of which water mains have not been laid must make
application therefor to the Department of Public Works.
G.
The owner receiving a permit for the introduction
of a water service into his premises and the plumber doing the work
will be required to cause said service to be placed not less than
four feet below the surface of the earth at any point between the
water main in the street and the inside of the foundation wall of
the building into which the water service is introduced.
H.
No water pipe which is to operate as a water main
shall be laid in the same trench with a sewer, either public or private,
and no water service pipe shall be laid in the same trench with a
lateral sewer under any circumstances.
I.
The owner of the property, into which water is introduced
by a service pipe, will be required to maintain in perfect order and
repair, at his own expense, the said service pipe and its fixtures
and appurtenances, including all fixtures therein provided for delivering
or supplying water for any purpose and, in case said service and fixtures
are not so kept in perfect repair, the Department of Public Works
may cut off the supply of water therefrom without notice and collect
the expenses incurred against the premises, to be collected with the
first bill of supply for water that shall become due against said
premises.
J.
Specifications of service pipe.
(1)
All service pipes from the water main to the curb
box, up to and including one inch bore, shall be of copper pipe of
suitable quality and strength or lead or tin lined lead pipe. Said
lead pipe is to be of the quality, strength and weight known as AAA
and shall meet the following minimum specifications:
|
1/2 inch, 3 lbs. per foot, 1 inch exterior diameter
| |
|
5/8 inch, 3 1/2 lbs. per foot, 1.10 inch
exterior diameter
| |
|
3/4 inch, 4 7/8 lbs. per foot, 1.33 inch
exterior diameter
| |
|
1 inch, 6 lbs. per foot, 1.60 inch exterior
diameter
|
(2)
The said lead or copper service pipe shall have an
excess of length of not less than six inches above the length required
to connect the tap in the main and the curb cock, so as to produce
a slack, the greater part of which shall occur near the tap.
K.
Just inside the basement wall of a building, into
which the service pipe extends, a stop and waste cock shall be conveniently
located and arranged so that the water may be drawn back and all the
pipes within the building emptied through said stop and waste by opening
the faucets at the highest point therein and allowing the air to enter
said pipes.
L.
Water will be turned on to premises only after the
plumber has completed the work, as required by the rules. The curb
cock controlling any service shall not be left open by the plumber
or any other person, after connecting said service with street main,
or after making any new extension in unoccupied premises, so that
the water may be supplied to said premises, by said service, without
a written permit from the Superintendent. But in cases where the work
is simple extension or additional attachment in premises where the
water is then in use, and when a permit has been duly obtained for
same, then the plumber may leave the water on the premises and the
owner will be charged for the additional use from the date of the
application.
M.
In all cases where range or steam boilers are supplied
with water, it is understood and agreed that the Department of Public
Works and the City will not be liable for any damage which may result
to any person or premises from shutting off the water from any water
main or service for any purpose whatever, even in cases where no notice
is given; but it is the intention of the department when practicable
to give suitable notice of such shutting off to the consumer, and
no deduction from water bills will be made in consequence thereof.
N.
Permission will not be granted to supply two or more
buildings fronting on the same street from a single tap, unless the
service shall be divided at the curb and a separate service extended
therefrom, controlled by a separate curb cock for each service. In
case only one of several buildings occupies the frontage of a single
lot and others are located in the rear of the said front building,
then permission may be granted to supply all of the said buildings
from one service, where the owner shall pay for all the water used.
O.
In case a double house or other building fronting
on any street is to be supplied with water, a separate service to
each from the curb, and controlled by a separate curb cock, will be
required. But said double house or building may be supplied by a single
service where the owner shall pay for the water used.
P.
When water shall be supplied to more than one party
through a single tap, the bill for the water supply will be made to
the owner of the premises, and in case of nonpayment, the water may
be shut off, notwithstanding one or more of the parties may have paid
their proportion to such owner or to any other party.
Q.
Whenever two or more parties are supplied with the
same service pipe, the failure of any one of the number to pay the
water rates when due or comply with any rule, shall authorize the
Department of Public Works to turn the water off from said pipe until
rates, terms and conditions are complied with.
R.
It is understood and agreed that the Department of
Public Works, their agents and assistants, may enter the premises
of any water-taker, at any reasonable time, to examine the pipes and
fixtures, the quantity of water used and the manner of its use, and
in case of fraudulent representation on the part of any water-taker,
or unnecessary waste of water, the payment will be forfeited and the
supply cut off.
S.
In case of making repairs or constructing new work,
the City and the Department of Public Works reserve the right to shut
off the water from any consumer without notice and keep it shut off
as long as may be necessary.
T.
The City and the Department of Public Works reserve
the right to limit the amount of water furnished to any consumer,
should circumstances seem to warrant such action, although no limit
may be stated in the application or permit for such use; or the Department
of Public Works may entirely cut off the use for any manufacturing
purposes, or any use for supplying power at any time, by giving reasonable
notice to the consumer of such intended action.
U.
Unless
said property has a fire suppression system wholly dependent upon
the public water source, the Director of Public works shall order
water service disconnected to any property ordered vacated and unfit
for human habitation by the Geneva Municipal Court or other court
of competent jurisdiction; said service not to be restored until the
order is lifted by the same court and upon payment of a reconnection
fee of $25, as well as any outstanding water rates, sewer rents, and
other applicable fees.
[Added 3-7-2012 by Ord. No. 2-2012]
[Amended by Ord. No. 76-16, eff. 6-2-1976]
A.
Any consumer wishing to discontinue the use of water
supplied from the water works must give notice thereof at the office
of the Department of Public Works, and he will be charged for the
use until such notice is given.
B.
Whenever water has been turned off by the Department
of Public Works for nonpayment of rents, or for purpose of repair
or construction, or for any other necessary or proper reason, no person
will be permitted to turn it on again who is not duly authorized to
do so by the Department of Public Works. And when water is turned
off for nonpayment of rents or for violation of any one rule or regulation
contained herein or of the Department of Public Works, it shall not
be turned on again until the party in default shall pay all water
rents or other charges due and the amount of $150 as a penalty for
the discontinuance and restoration of service.
[Amended 8-7-2002 by Ord. No. 4-2002; 1-9-2013 by Ord. No. 1-2013]
C.
Prior to discontinuance of water service for nonpayment
of rents, the Director of Public Works shall order the property to
be posted with notice that said discontinuance is scheduled to occur.
Any account for which such posting is required shall be assessed a
charge of $50 which shall be paid, in addition to other charges due,
prior to restoration of service.
[Added 1-9-2013 by Ord. No. 1-2013]
Masons and contractors shall not take water
without a builder's permit for every separate job, and any party suffering
others to get water from his premises, without first exhibiting a
permit, will be held strictly liable. When any person desires to use
the City water at any premises for building purposes of any description,
the owner of such premises, or his agent having such premises in charge,
must, before using City water for such purposes, make a regular application
at the office of the Department of Public Works for permission therefor,
and agree to pay such rates established therefor.
No person shall use the City water for flushing
sewers, settling earth in ditches, or purposes of a like nature, without
permission from the Department of Public Works and paying for the
same in advance.
A.
No person shall open any fire plug or hydrant, or
draw water therefrom, except under the direction of the Superintendent
of Public Works or as hereinafter provided.
B.
The Fire Chief, his assistants and officers, and members
of the Fire Department are authorized to use the hydrants and plugs
for the purpose of extinguishing fire or cleaning engines, hose or
department materials, or making trials of engines or hose of the department.
But all such uses shall be under the direction and supervision of
the Fire Chief or his assistants, and in no event will an inexperienced
or incompetent person be permitted to manipulate or control in any
way any hydrant, plug or other fixture.
C.
Illegal use of a fire hydrant is subject to a fine
of $150.
[Added 8-7-2002 by Ord. No. 4-2002]
No person except the Superintendent of Public
Works or those acting under his direction shall open or close any
valve or gate in the street mains or molest or interfere with same
in any manner.
Permits may be granted in certain cases, on
special application to the Department of Public Works, for supplying
water from the water mains to elevators and for other purposes under
the following conditions:
A.
Tapping of the main is to be done by the employees
of the Water Department.
B.
A gate or valve must be put in which shall be accessible
only to the Water Department.
C.
The service supplying the motor must have attached
thereto an approved meter, or other appliance which shall correctly
register the quantity of water which passes through said service.
D.
The expense and cost of said connections and service
and of maintaining the same in good condition shall be paid by the
applicant.
E.
The charges for water shall be at meter rates, payable
in time and manner as such prescribed.
F.
In case of any failure on the part of the owner of
the premises at any time promptly to cause repairs to be made to said
service, measuring apparatus, or any fixture connected with said service,
the Department of Public Works may shut off the water.
G.
In case the Department of Public Works shall so direct,
the owner of any water elevator or hydraulic motor shall be required
to connect therewith air chambers of such form and design as shall
be directed.
Standpipes or other pipes for automatic suppression
of fires in buildings, which fixtures are only intended for use in
suppression of fires, will be permitted to be attached to the water
supply and no charge shall be made for the use of water for that purpose.
But all such pipes must be provided with a suitable valve outside
of the building under the exclusive control of the Department of Public
Works. Also, in the case of standpipes, a valve must be placed at
each hose opening, which valve shall be sealed by the Department of
Public Works, for which the owner or tenant shall pay for sealing.
In case such seals shall be broken for the extinguishment of any fire,
the party breaking the seal shall immediately thereafter give notice
at the office of the Department of Public Works and the valve shall
be again resealed at the owner's expense. No standpipe or other fixture
for fire protection will be allowed in premises when the water is
not taken for other than fire purposes, and the Department of Public
Works reserves the right to refuse any and all applications for purely
fire protection uses in their discretion.
A.
The Department of Public Works reserves the right
to attach a meter to any service pipe whenever it is deemed expedient
to do so and thereafter to charge meter rates for the water used.
After a meter is attached, any damage which such meter may sustain,
resulting from the carelessness of the owner, agent or tenant, or
from the neglect of either of them properly to secure and protect
the same, as well as any damage that may result from allowing the
meter to become frozen, or to be injured by hot water or steam setting
back from a boiler, shall be paid to the Department of Public Works
on demand and, in case such payment is not so made, the water may
be shut off from the premises without notice and will not be turned
on again until all charges are paid.
B.
The following regulations concerning the use of meters
shall apply:
(1)
If a meter gets out of order and fails to register,
the consumer will be charged at the average daily consumption as shown
by the meter when in order.
(2)
All water passing though a meter will be charged for
whether used or wasted.
(3)
No meter shall be removed or disturbed without permission
from the Superintendent of Public Works.
(4)
The owner and tenant shall provide ready and convenient
access to the meter so that it may be frequently read and examined
by agents of the Department of Public Works.
(5)
Meters will be removed and tested upon request. If any meter so tested shall be found to be registering correctly or to be running slowly or not to exceed 2% fast, the expense of removing and testing such meter shall be $25 and charged to the property owner. All bills for testing meters will be treated as water bills under Subsection C of § 341-15 of these regulations.
[Amended by Ord. No. 82-12, eff. 4-7-1982; 8-7-2002 by Ord. No. 4-2002]
(6)
Meters that are larger than two inches in diameter
and owned by the customer shall be maintained in operable condition
at all times. Meters shall be tested based on the schedule listed
below. Meters shall be within +/- 2% of design accuracy limits. When
said meter becomes inoperable and notice is given to the property
owner of said condition, the owner shall, within 30 days, cause said
repairs to be made. Failure on the part of the owner to effectuate
the necessary repairs to the water meter shall result in a surcharge
of 10% on the total water and sewer bill and a final notice given
the customer as to termination of service.
[Added by Ord. No. 75-18, eff. 11-5-1975; amended 8-7-2002 by Ord. No. 4-2002]
|
Meter Test Greater Than 2”
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|---|---|---|
|
Size of Meter
(inches)
|
Test Schedule
| |
|
3
|
Every 3 years
| |
|
4
|
Every 2 years
| |
|
6 or larger
|
Annually
| |
(7)
When a property owner requests a meter to be removed
and then replaced at a later date, a charge of $25 will be imposed.
[Added by Ord. No. 82-12, eff. 4-7-1982]
A.
No person shall make any attachment to or connection
with the pipes of the City water system, nor make any addition to
or alteration of any tap, pipe, cock or other fixture connected with
the pipes supplying water to consumers from said water system unless
licensed as a plumber by the City and authorized to perform the work
as herein provided.
B.
Any plumber before undertaking any work involving
the City water system or connections thereto shall execute and deliver
to the City of Geneva a bond in the penal sum of $2,000, with two
sufficient sureties or a surety company authorized to do business
in this state as surety, conditioned that he will indemnify and save
harmless the City of Geneva from all damage and loss that may result
from his work being done carelessly or imperfectly or in such a way
as to cause injury or loss to person or property, or from his failing
to comply with any provision of the rules and regulations of the Department
of Public Works or of the Charter or ordinances of the City now existing
or that may be enacted hereafter.
C.
No plumber shall be allowed to make any attachment
or alteration of any pipe or fixture by which water is or may be supplied
to consumers, without first obtaining a written permit for the same
from the Superintendent of Public Works and said permit must be returned
as soon as work is completed.
D.
The provisions contained in § 341-3 of these regulations, entitled "General restrictions and conditions," are hereby made binding upon the plumber also, as far as they may be applicable.
E.
No plumber shall allow his name to be used by any
other person or party, either for the purpose of obtaining permits
or doing any work under his license.
F.
Plumbers will be held responsible for the violation
of any of the rules of the department by journeyman plumbers or others
while in their employ.
G.
After a permit shall have been issued to a plumber
in pursuance of any application of an owner or premises, the following
order shall be observed by the plumber in making the insertion of
taps: After receiving a permit for the opening of any water service
trench, which requires the insertion of a tap in the main with which
to connect said service, the plumber shall file a written notice with
the Superintendent of Public Works between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
on the day in which he desires the tapping done, and such notice shall
designate the name of the street and the house or lot number where
the tap is to be inserted and the name of the owner or applicant,
and the hour when the main pipe will be exposed ready for tapping.
H.
Printed forms of the notices required by the foregoing
rules will be furnished to the plumbers on application to the Superintendent
of Public Works.
A.
All meter rates will be based on three months' consumption
and, whenever water is supplied through a meter, the minimum rate
for a period of three months will be charged. If, for any reason,
a meter is not read quarterly, the charge will be based on average
consumption for the prior year.
B.
Meters will be read monthly without extra charge,
if receipts from the water supplied through the meter amount to $15
or more monthly and the maximum rate will be charged for the first
month in each quarter only. If, however, the receipts from any month
should amount to less than $15, an extra charge of $5 will be made
for reading the meter.
[Amended by Ord. No. 82-13, eff. 4-7-1982]
C.
In all other cases a charge of $10 will be made for
extra reading of a meter.
[Amended by Ord. No. 82-13, eff. 4-7-1982]
D.
For all meters six inches and larger connected to fire-suppression systems, the minimum charge referenced in Subsection A of this section shall be reflective of the meter size deemed appropriate for traditional consumption of the facility, irrespective of the fire-suppression system, as deemed appropriate by the Director of Public Works.
[Added 7-7-2010 by Ord. No. 2-2010[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also provided that it apply
to consumption beginning in the third quarter of 2010.
A.
No abatement from any water bill shall be made where the owner or consumer has not complied with the requirements of these rules or regulations in making application at the water office for the discontinuance of the use of water, in making application to have any fixture disconnected, in making application to have the water turned off from service or in giving notice under § 341-4 of these regulations.
B.
No abatement from any water bill will be made in cases
where the charge for water results from a failure on the part of the
owner or consumer to repair promptly any broken or defective fixture
or service.
C.
No abatement from any water bill will be made in cases
where any fixture is left open for waste of water, or continuous flow
of same, by any tenant or occupant of any premises supplied with City
water.
D.
No abatement in any case made shall establish a precedent
for an abatement in any following or ensuing bill, nor for an abatement
in any other case, but each case shall be determined upon its merits.
E.
No abatement from any water bill or remittance of
any penalty provided by these rules shall be made except by the Director
of Public Works in writing.
All sums charged for water supplied or for expenses
for the repair of services, meters, fixtures and all other appliances
connected with the water service, or for damages to the same, or for
penalties imposed for violation of any rule or regulation shall be
regarded as due from the owner of the premises and a lien upon the
property until paid. If said sums for any reason cannot be collected
from said owner or occupant of the premises and the water shall be
turned off on account of nonpayment, no application for water service
for such premises shall be granted by the Department of Public Works,
notwithstanding that the said premises shall have changed ownership
in any way, until such sums shall have been paid in full to the City
Comptroller.
A.
A book shall be kept in the office of the Department
of Public Works, which shall be called the delinquent register, which
shall contain the street, number and location of premises from which
the water has been turned off for nonpayment of dues and the sum remaining
unpaid, which book shall be for the information and protection of
persons intending to purchase City property, and such persons may
ascertain at the office whether any charges for such unpaid dues appear
upon said register.
B.
If no such charges appear, any person may upon the
payment of 50 cents receive a certificate from the Superintendent
of Public Works to that effect, but, unless such certificate is issued,
the Department of Public Works may collect any sums which may be subsequently
discovered to have been due against said premises, but which are not
discovered or has been omitted from the register at the time of search.
C.
All water rates shall be due and payable at the office
of the City Comptroller quarterly on the first days of January, April,
July and October.
(1)
On all bills not paid on or before the first day of
the month following the date of issue – 5% penalty on cumulative
total balance. All other terms and conditions of service remain applicable.
[Amended 2-2-2022 by L.L. No. 2-2022]
(2)
Bills will be sent out to consumers at the address
of the premises where the water is consumed unless otherwise notified
by the owner.
(3)
All charges for material furnished or work done by
employees of the Department of Public Works in connection with a private
water service will be treated as water rates.
The following acts are prohibited:
A.
To use the City water or permit its use for any purpose
other than that for which the property owner pays water rates.
B.
To take water from any fire hydrant for filling sprinkling
wagons, or for any other purpose, without written permission from
the Superintendent of Public Works. This prohibition does not apply
to the Fire Department.
C.
To open, close, turn or interfere with any stop valve
or stop cock belonging to the Department of Public Works.
D.
To throw any substance into a reservoir or to throw
any deleterious matter into the lake within 2,000 feet of the inlet
pipes at the pumping station.
E.
Anyone found guilty of theft of services shall be
subject to a fine of $150.
[Added 8-7-2002 by Ord. No. 4-2002]
