[Adopted as Title 9, Ch. 1, Art. B, of the 1997 Code]
Rates for the Fox Lake Water Utility shall be those rates that
are specified in the Utility's Rate File, as approved by the State
Public Service Commission. Current rate schedules are on file at the
office of the City Clerk.
All persons now receiving a water supply from the City of Fox
Lake Water Utility, or who may hereafter make application therefor,
shall be considered as having agreed to be bound by the rules and
regulations as filed with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
A.
Application for water service shall be made in writing on a form
furnished by the Water Utility. The application will contain the legal
description of the property to be served, name of the owner, the exact
use to be made of the service, and the size of the supply pipe and
meter desired. (Note particularly any special refrigeration, fire
protection and/or air-conditioning water-consuming appliances.)
B.
Service will be furnished only if:
(1)
The premises has a frontage on a properly platted street or public
strip in which a cast-iron or other long-life water main has been
laid, or where the property owner has agreed to and complied with
the provisions of the Utility's filed main extension rule;
(2)
The property owner has installed or agrees to install a service pipe
from the right-of-way line to the point of use, and laid not less
than six feet below the surface of an established or proposed grade,
and according to the Utility's specification; and
(3)
The premises has adequate piping beyond metering point.
C.
The owner of a multi-unit dwelling has the option of being served
by individual metered water service to each unit. The owner, by selecting
this option, is required to provide interior plumbing and meter settings
to enable individual metered service to each unit and individual disconnection
without affecting service to the other units. Each meter and meter
connection will be a separate Water Utility customer for the purpose
of the filed rules and regulations.
D.
No division of the water service of any lot or parcel of land shall
be made for the extension and independent meterage of the supply to
an adjoining lot or parcel of land. No division of a water supply
service shall be made at the curb for separate supplies therefrom
for two or more separate premises having frontage on any street or
public service strip whether owned by the same or different parties.
E.
The Utility is hereby empowered to withhold approval of any application
wherein full information of the purpose of such supply is not clearly
indicated and set forth by the applicant property owner.
A.
The minimum service contract period shall be one year unless otherwise
specified by special contract or in the applicable rate schedule.
Where the Utility service has been disconnected at the customer's
request prior to expiration of his minimum contract period, a reconnection
charge shall be made, payable in advance, when the customer requests
reconnection of service. (See Schedule R-1 for applicable rate.)[1] The minimum contract period is renewed with each reconnection.
[1]
Editor's Note: Current rate schedules are on file at the office
of the City Clerk.
B.
A reconnection charge shall also be required from consumers whose
services are disconnected (shut off at curb stop) because of nonpayment
of bills when due (not including disconnection for failure to comply
with deposit or guarantee rules). (See Schedule R-1 for applicable
rate.)
C.
A consumer shall be considered as the same consumer provided the
reconnection is requested for the same location by any member of the
same family or, if a place of business, by any partner or employee
of the same business.
An applicant for temporary water supply on a metered basis shall
make and maintain a monetary deposit for each meter installed as security
for payment for use of water and for such other charges which may
arise from the use of the supply. A charge shall be made for setting
the valve and furnishing and setting the meter. See Schedule D-1 for
applicable rate.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Current rate schedules are on file at the office
of the City Clerk.
A.
When water is requested for construction purposes, or for filling
tanks or other such uses, an application therefor shall be made to
the Utility, in writing, upon application provided for that purpose
in the Utility's office, giving a statement of the amount of construction
work to be done, or the size of the tank to be filled, etc. Payment
for the water for construction shall be made in advance at the scheduled
rates. The service pipe must be installed inside the building from
where the water must be drawn. No connection with the service pipe
at the curb shall be made without special permission from the Utility.
B.
In no case will any employee of the Utility turn on water for construction
work unless the contractor first presents a permit. Upon completion
of the construction work, the contractor must return the original
permit to the Utility, together with a statement of the actual amount
of construction work performed.
A.
In cases where no other supply is available, permission may be granted
by the Utility to use a hydrant. No hydrant shall be used until it
is equipped with a sprinkling valve. In no case shall any valve be
installed or moved except by a member of the Utility.
B.
Before a valve is set, payment must be made for its setting and for
the water to be used at the scheduled rates. See Schedule H-1 for
applicable deposits and charges.[1] Upon completing use of the hydrant, the customer must
notify the Utility to that effect.
[1]
Editor's Note: Current rate schedules are on file at the office
of the City Clerk.
C.
In the use of a hydrant supply, the hydrant valve will be set at
the proper opening by the Utility when the sprinkling valve is set,
and the flow of water must be regulated by means of the sprinkling
valve. If the water is to be used through iron pipe connections, all
such pipe installations shall have the swing joint to facilitate quick
disconnection from the fire hydrant.
Any person who shall, without authority of the Utility, allow
contractors, masons, or other unauthorized persons to take water from
his premises, operate any valve connected with the street or supply
mains, or open any fire hydrant connected with the distribution system,
except for the purpose of extinguishing fire, or who shall wantonly
damage or impair the same shall be subject to a fine as provided by
municipal ordinances. Permits for the use of hydrants apply only to
such hydrants as are designated for the specific use.
All moneys deposited as security for payment of charges arising
from the use of temporary water supply on a metered basis or for the
return of a sprinkling valve wheel or reducer, if the water is used
on an unmetered basis, will be refunded to the depositor on the termination
of the use of water, the payment of all charges levied against the
depositor, and the return of the wheel and reducer.
A.
No water service shall be laid through any trench having cinders,
rubbish, rock or gravel fill, or any other material which may cause
injury to or disintegration of the service pipe, unless adequate means
of protection are provided by sand filling or such other insulation
as may be approved by the Utility. Service pipes passing through curb
or retaining walls shall be adequately safeguarded by provision of
a channel space or pipe casing not less than twice the diameter of
the service connection. The space between the service pipe and channel
or pipe casing shall be filled and lightly caulked with an oakum,
mastic cement, or other resilient material and made impervious to
moisture.
B.
In backfilling the pipe trench, the service pipe must be protected
against injury by carefully hand tamping the ground filling, free
from hard lumps, rocks, stones, or other injurious material, around
and at least six inches over the pipe.
C.
All water supplies shall be of undiminished size from the street
main in to the point of meter placement. Beyond the meter outlet valve
the piping shall be sized and proportioned to provide, on all floors,
at all times, an equitable distribution of water supply for the greatest
probable number of fixtures or appliances operating simultaneously.
A.
Where the original service piping is installed for a new metered
customer, where existing service piping is changed for the customer's
convenience, or where a new meter is installed for an existing unmetered
customer, the owner of the premises at his expense shall provide a
suitable location and the proper connections for the meter. The Water
Utility should be consulted as to the type and size of meter setting.
Where it is possible to set meters in the basement, or other suitable
place within the building, an IPS code-type gate valve or ball valve
must be installed followed by the meter horn or meter couplings, a
six-inch brass nipple (for meter horns) followed by an IPS code gate
or ball valve. The nipple attached to the union and coupling shall
be cut to a standard length provided by the plans of the Utility (the
Utility may require a horizontal run of 18 inches in such pipeline)
which may later be removed for the insertion of the meter into the
supply line.[1]
B.
No permit will be given to change from metered to flat rate service.
The water cannot be turned on for a consumer except by a duly
authorized employee of the Utility. When a plumber has completed a
job, he must leave the water turned off. This does not prevent the
plumber from testing the work.
A.
Where the Utility is unable to read a meter after two successive
attempts, the fact will be plainly indicated on the bill, and either
an estimated bill will be computed or the minimum charge applied.
The difference shall be adjusted when the meter is again read, that
is, the bill for the succeeding quarter will be computed with the
gallons or cubic feet in each block of the rate schedule doubled and
credit will be given on that bill for the amount of the minimum bill
paid the preceding month. Only in unusual cases or where approval
is obtained from the customer shall more than three consecutive estimated
bills be rendered where bills are rendered monthly, and there shall
be not more than two consecutive estimated bills where the billing
period is two months or more.
B.
If the meter is damaged (see § 470-31, Surreptitious use of water) or fails to operate, the bill will be based on the average use during the past year unless there is some reason why the use is not normal. If the average use cannot be properly employed, the bill will be estimated by some equitable method.
See Ch. PSC 185, Wis. Adm. Code.
See Ch. PSC 185, Wis. Adm. Code.
The customer shall protect the curb stop box in the terrace
and shall keep the same free from dirt and other obstructions. The
Utility shall not be liable for failure to locate the curb stop box
and shut off the water in case of a leak on the owner's premises.
Meters will be furnished and placed by the Utility and are not
to be disconnected or tampered with by the consumer. All meters shall
be so located that they shall be protected from obstructions and permit
ready access thereto for reading, inspection, and servicing, such
location to be designated or approved by the Utility. All piping within
the building must be supplied by the consumer. Where additional meters
are desired by the consumer, he shall pay for all piping and an additional
amount sufficient to cover the cost of maintenance and depreciation.
See Schedule Am-1 for applicable rate.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Current rate schedules are on file at the office
of the City Clerk.
B.
Repair of any damage to a meter resulting from the carelessness of
the owner of the premises, his agent, or tenant, or from the negligence
of any one of them to properly secure and protect the same, including
any damage that may result from allowing a water meter to become frozen
or to be injured from the presence of hot water or steam in the meter,
shall be paid for by the consumer or the owner of the premises.
A.
Where the property owner requests that a larger service lateral be
installed to replace an existing smaller diameter pipe, an allowance
of $15 will be made as a deduction in the cost, provided that the
new service is to be installed in the same ditch as the existing service
pipe.
B.
The service pipe from the main to and through the curb stop will
be maintained and kept in repair and, when worn out, replaced at the
expense of the Utility. The property owner shall maintain the service
pipe from the curb stop to the point of use.
C.
If an owner fails to repair a leaking or broken service pipe from
curb to point of metering or use within such time as may appear reasonable
to the Utility after notification has been served on the consumer
by the Utility, the water will be shut off and will not be turned
on again until the repairs have been completed.
See Ch. PSC 185, Wis. Adm. Code.
During reasonable hours any officer or authorized employee of
the Utility shall have the right of access to the premises supplied
with service for the purpose of inspection or for the enforcement
of the Utility's rules and regulations. Whenever appropriate, the
Utility will make a systematic inspection of all unmetered water taps
for the purpose of checking waste and unnecessary use of water.
See Ch. PSC 185, Wis. Adm. Code.
See Ch. PSC 185, Wis. Adm. Code.
See Ch. PSC 185, Wis. Adm. Code.
See Ch. PSC 185, Wis. Adm. Code.
A.
Disconnection and refusal of service. See Ch. PSC 185, Wis. Adm.
Code.
An amount owed by the customer may be levied as a tax as provided
in § 66.0809, Wis. Stats.
A.
When the Utility has reasonable evidence that a consumer is obtaining
his supply of water, in whole or in part, by means of devices or methods
used to stop or interfere with the proper metering of the Utility
service being delivered to his equipment, the Utility reserves the
right to estimate and present immediately a bill for service unmetered
as a result of such interference, and such bill shall be payable subject
to a twenty-four-hour disconnection of service. When the Utility shall
have disconnected the consumer for any such reason, the Utility will
reconnect the consumer upon the following conditions:
(1)
The consumer will be required to deposit with the Utility an amount
sufficient to guarantee the payment of the consumer's bills for utility
service to the Utility.
(2)
The consumer will be required to pay the Utility for any and all
damages to its equipment on the consumer's premises due to such stoppage
or interference with its metering.
(3)
The consumer must further agree to comply with reasonable requirements
to protect the Utility against further losses.
B.
Sections 98.26 and 943.20, Wis. Stats., as relating to water service,
are hereby adopted and made a part of these rules.
When premises are to be vacated, the Utility shall be notified
in writing at once so that it may remove the meter and shut off the
supply at the curb cock. The owner of the premises shall be liable
to prosecution for any damage to the property of the Water Utility
by reason of failure to notify the Utility of vacancy.
The Utility reserves the right to shut off the water in the
mains temporarily to make repairs, alterations or additions to the
plant or system. When the circumstances will permit of sufficient
delay, the company will give notification, by newspaper publication
or otherwise, of the discontinuance of the supply. No rebate will
be allowed to consumers for such temporary suspension of supply.
It shall be the duty of the Utility to see that all open ditches
for water mains, hydrants, and service pipes are properly guarded
to prevent accident to any person or vehicle, and at night there shall
be displayed amber signal light in such manner as will, so far as
possible, ensure the safety of the public.
Contractors must ascertain for themselves the existence and
location of all water mains and service pipes. When removed, cut or
damaged during trench construction, contractors must, at their own
expense, cause them to be replaced or repaired at once. Contractors
must not shut off the water service pipes to any consumer for a period
exceeding six hours.
A.
Protective devices in general. The owner or occupant of every premises
receiving water supply shall apply and maintain suitable means of
protection of the premises supply, and all appliances thereof, against
damage arising in any manner from the use of the water supply, variation
of water pressure, or any interruption of water supply. Particularly,
such owner or occupant must protect water-cooled compressors for refrigeration
systems by means of high-pressure safety cutout devices. There shall
likewise be provided means for the prevention of the transmission
of water ram or noise of operation of any valve or appliance through
the piping of its own or adjacent premises.
B.
Relief valves. On all closed systems (i.e., systems having a check
valve, pressure regulator, or reducing valve, water filter or softener),
an effective pressure-relief valve shall be installed either in the
top tapping or the upper side tapping of the hot water tank or on
the hot water distributing pipe connection at the tank. No stop valve
shall be placed between the hot water tank and the relief valve or
on the drainpipe. (See applicable City plumbing codes.)
C.
Air chambers. An air chamber or approved shock absorber shall be
installed at the terminus of each riser, fixture branch, or hydraulic
elevator main for the prevention of undue water hammer. The air chamber
shall have a diameter not less than that of the pipe it serves and
a length not less than 15 diameters of said supply pipe. Where possible,
the air chamber should be provided at its base with a valve and rain
cock for water drainage and replenishment of air.
A.
Definition. A cross-connection shall be defined as any physical connection
or arrangement between two otherwise separate systems, one of which
contains potable water from the City water system and the other water
from a private source, water of unknown or questionable safety, or
steam, gases, or chemicals, whereby there may be a flow from one system
to the other, the direction of flow depending on the pressure differential
between the two systems.
B.
Cross-connections prohibited. No person, firm or corporation shall
establish or permit to be established or maintain or permit to be
maintained any cross-connection. No interconnection shall be established
whereby potable water from a private, auxiliary or emergency water
supply other than the regular public water supply of the City may
enter the supply or distribution system of said municipality, unless
such private, auxiliary or emergency water supply and the method of
connection and use of such supply shall have been approved by the
Utility and by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in accordance
with § NR 811.07, Wis. Adm. Code.
C.
Inspections. It shall be the duty of the Water Utility to cause inspections
to be made of all properties served by the public water system where
cross-connection with the public water system is deemed possible.
The frequency of inspections and reinspections based on potential
health hazards involved shall be as established by the Water Utility
and as approved by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
D.
Right to inspect. Upon presentation of credentials, the representative
of the Water Utility shall have the right to request entry at any
reasonable time to examine any property served by a connection to
the public water system of the City for cross-connections. If entry
is refused, such representative shall obtain a special inspection
warrant under § 66.0119, Wis. Stats. On request the owner,
lessee or occupant of any property so served shall furnish to the
inspection agency any pertinent information regarding the piping system
or systems on such property.
E.
Discontinuation of service. The Water Utility is hereby authorized and directed to discontinue water service to any property wherein any connection in violation of this section exists and to take such other precautionary measures deemed necessary to eliminate any danger of contamination of the public water system. Water service shall be discontinued only after reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing under Chapter 7, Administrative Review, of this Code, except as provided in Subsection F. Water service to such property shall not be restored until the cross-connection(s) has been eliminated in compliance with the provisions of this section.[1]
F.
Immediate discontinuation. If it is determined by the Water Utility that a cross-connection or an emergency endangers public health, safety or welfare and requires immediate action, and a written finding to that effect is filed with the City Clerk and delivered to the customer's premises, service may be immediately discontinued. The customer shall have an opportunity for hearing under Chapter 7, Administrative Review, of this Code, within 10 days of such emergency discontinuance.[2]
G.
State code adopted. The City adopts by reference the State Plumbing
Code of Wisconsin being Ch. SPS 382, Wis. Adm. Code.
H.
Section not to supersede other ordinances. This section does not
supersede the State Plumbing Code and any City plumbing ordinances
but is supplementary to them.
A.
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to prevent contamination
of groundwater and to protect public health, safety and welfare by
assuring that unused, unsafe or noncomplying wells, or wells which
may serve as conduits for contamination, or wells which may be illegally
cross-connected to the municipal water system, are properly abandoned.
B.
Applicability. This section applies to all wells located on premises
served by the City of Fox Lake municipal water system.
C.
MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM
NONCOMPLYING
PUMP INSTALLATION
UNSAFE
UNUSED
WELL
WELL ABANDONMENT
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
A system for the provision to the public of piped water for
human consumption, when such system has at least 15 service connections
or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents, owned or operated
by a city, village, county, town, town sanitary district, utility
district or public institution or a privately owned water utility
serving any of the above.[1]
A well or pump installation which does not comply with the
provisions of Ch. NR 812, Wis. Adm. Code, in effect at the time the
well was constructed, a contamination source was installed, the pump
was installed, or work was done on either the well or pump installation.
The pump and related equipment used for withdrawing water
from a well, including the discharge piping, the underground connections,
pitless adapters, pressure tanks, pits, sampling faucets and well
seals or caps.
A well or pump installation which produces water which is
bacteriologically contaminated or contaminated with substances in
exceedance of the standards of Ch. NR 809 or NR 140, Wis. Adm. Code,
or for which a health advisory has been issued by the Department of
Natural Resources.
A well or pump installation which is not in use or does not
have a functional pumping system.
An excavation or opening into the ground made by digging,
boring, drilling, driving, or other methods for the purpose of obtaining
groundwater for consumption or other use.
The filling and sealing of a well according to the provisions
of Ch. NR 812, Wis. Adm. Code.
D.
Abandonment required. All wells located on premises served by the
municipal water system shall be abandoned in accordance with the terms
of this section and Ch. NR 812, Wis. Adm. Code, by no later than one
year from the date of connection to the municipal water system unless
a well operation permit has been obtained by the well owner from the
City of Fox Lake Water Utility.[2]
E.
Well operation permit. The City of Fox Lake Water Utility may grant
a permit to a private well owner to operate a well for a period not
to exceed five years provided that the conditions of this section
are met. An owner may request renewal of a well operation permit by
submitting information verifying that the conditions of this section
are met. The City or its agent may conduct inspections or have water
quality tests conducted at the applicant's expense to obtain or verify
information necessary for consideration of a permit application or
renewal. Permit applications and renewals shall be made on forms provided
by the City of Fox Lake Water Utility. The following conditions must
be met for issuance or renewal of a well operation permit:
(1)
The well and pump installation meet or are upgraded to meet the requirements
of Ch. NR 812, Wis. Adm. Code.
(2)
The well construction and pump installation have a history of producing
bacteriologically safe water as evidenced by at least two samplings
taken a minimum of two weeks apart. No exception to this condition
may be made for unsafe wells, unless the Department of Natural Resources
approves, in writing, the continued use of the well.
(3)
There are no cross-connections between the well and pump installation
and the municipal water system.
(4)
The proposed use of the well and pump installation can be justified
as being necessary in addition to water provided by the municipal
water system.
F.
Abandonment procedures.
(1)
All wells abandoned under the jurisdiction of this section or rule
shall be abandoned according to the procedures and method of Ch. NR
812, Wis. Adm. Code. All debris, pump, piping, unsealed liners and
any other obstructions which may interfere with sealing operations
shall be removed prior to abandonment.
(2)
The owner of the well, or the owner's agent, shall notify the City
of Fox Lake Water Utility at least 48 hours prior to commencement
of any well abandonment activities. The abandonment of the well shall
be observed by a representative of the City of Fox Lake Water Utility.
(3)
An abandonment report form, supplied by the Department of Natural
Resources, shall be submitted by the well owner to the City of Fox
Lake Water Utility and the Department of Natural Resources within
10 days of the completion of the well abandonment.
G.
Penalties. Any well owner violating any provision of this section
shall, upon conviction, be punished by forfeiture of not less than
$25 nor more than $500 and the cost of prosecution. Each day of violation
is a separate offense. If any person fails to comply with this section
for more than 10 days after receiving written notice of the violation,
the municipality may impose a penalty and cause the well abandonment
to be performed and the expense to be assessed as a special tax against
the property.
