[R.O. 2008 § 700.430; R.O. 2007 § 700.430; Ord. No. 1810 Art. V § 2, 4-17-1990; Ord. No. 6995, 2-9-2023]
A. 
This Section pertains to fire protection sprinkler systems, irrigation sprinkler systems and similar systems which are subject to regular and ordinary water use regulations as identified in this Chapter. Both fire protection and irrigation sprinkler systems shall be subject to all backflow prevention requirements set forth by the City and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Those systems not complying with said requirements shall be subject to disconnection, with no liability incurred by any other entity or person, all liability is assumed by the customer and/or user.
B. 
All water mains laid on or within private property for the sole purpose of providing fire protection through fire hydrants or sprinkler systems, are subject to installation of a detector check valve with bypass compound meter, sized as approved by the City. The detector check valve and meter, if required, shall be housed in an underground vault, with size and design to be approved by the City. All costs for furnishing and installing the detector check valve and bypass meter, complete with approved detector check valve will be checked periodically by the City and the meter will be read at the same time other meters are read. Water use registered through the meter shall be added to other usage for billing to the customer as per Article VI of this Chapter.
C. 
The customer and/or water user shall promptly report to the City any fires that occur requiring water usage through the fire protection line, and the City will reset the detector check valve at no cost to the customer. In the event routine checks of the detector check valve show that the valve is open and no fire has been reported, the customer shall be subject to a fee placed on their water bill of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for each occurrence and a potential additional fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each offense if there is evidence of substantial unmetered water usage. With repeated violations, the City may require that further water service through the fire protection line shall be provided only through totally metered lines, with all costs of metering to be borne by the water user.
D. 
All fire protection sprinkler systems are subject to approval by the Fire Protection District which have authority in the area the premises are located. The customer or user shall follow all requirements set forth by the Fire Protection District as they pertain to fire protection regulations.
E. 
Buildings requiring a fire protection line may have the fire protection line connected to the City's public water main with the water meter box/vault for the domestic service placed near the building provided that City access to the meter vault is not restricted. The domestic water line and water meter may be split off from the fire line in this meter box/vault. The detector check meter on fire protection lines shall be placed outside in a box or vault and be located prior to any private fire hydrant.
F. 
The Director of Public Works or the Director's designee may adopt, and from time to time revise as technological or service demands warrant, standard technical details and requirements for service connections between the City's water supply system and various sprinkler systems. In adopting and revising such standards, the Director shall consider the integrity and safety of the water supply system, the reasonable operational requirements and typical equipment used for various types of sprinkler systems, and the ability of the City to provide safe and adequate service for all for water system users. Once adopted, all sprinkler connections to the City's water supply system shall, at a minimum, conform to the standards so adopted.
G. 
Fire protection lines and irrigation sprinkler lines are to be privately maintained by the customer from the point where it connects to the City's public water main all the way into the building.
H. 
Control valves are required on fire protection lines and irrigation sprinkler lines at the point where it connects to the City's public water main and also an additional control valve is required near the property line or prior to the domestic service's tee or any private fire hydrant.
I. 
Regardless of the size of the connection, a connection fee of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) shall be assessed for a new fire protection line connected to the City's water system. This fee will be added to the connection fees for the domestic and irrigation system connections to obtain the total connection fee for a service line that includes a fire protection line. Connections shall be permitted through the City's Building Department and a representative of the City's Water Department must be present when the connection/tap is made to the City's public water system.
J. 
All private fire hydrants shall be painted red.
K. 
All private fire protection lines and irrigation sprinkler lines shall be pressure tested and pass bacteriological testing in the same manner as a public line prior to being placed in service.
L. 
In accordance with Section 700.250 of this Code of Ordinances, private contractors when working with private fire protection lines and irrigation lines are not allowed to operate any valves on the City's public water system without the City Water Department's expressed written permission to do so.
M. 
All meters, including detector check meters, shall be provided by the City with the costs for the meters being paid for by the customer as part of the building permit costs.