As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
COMBINED SYSTEM
Use of an access to both the water and sewer facilities of the City of Mendota.
COMMITTEE
The Committee on Public Works of the City of Mendota.
[Amended by Ord. No. 04-06-15A]
CONSUMER
Any person who, himself or by his employees or customers, uses the City water furnished by the City to the premises used and occupied by him, in whole or in part, for business purposes; or any person who, himself or by any member of his family or by his guests, uses the City water furnished by the City to the premises used and occupied by himself and family, or by himself, if living alone, in whole or in part, for dwelling purposes.
OWNER
The owner of the premises supplied with water by the City of Mendota.
PREMISES
A. 
In reference to premises used for business purposes, the one building owned or occupied by the consumer, separated from others, and shall not be construed to include the premises of a consumer using and occupying more than one building for the conduct of one and the same business; and
B. 
In reference to dwelling houses, the one place of residence and the outbuildings belonging thereto.[1]
SUPERINTENDENT
The Superintendent of Waterworks and Sewers of the City of Mendota.
[1]
Editor's Note: The definition of "quarter," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed by Ord. No. 04-06-15A.
There is hereby established an executive department of the municipal government of the City of Mendota which shall be known as the "Waterworks and Sewer Department," which shall be under the charge and supervision of the Committee and the Superintendent of Waterworks and Sewers.
A. 
Office established. The office of Superintendent of Waterworks and Sewers is hereby established.
B. 
Appointment; term of office. The Superintendent shall be appointed by Mayor, by and with the advice, consent, and approval of the City Council, on the first Monday in May of each year, and shall hold office for one year and until his successor is appointed and qualified.
C. 
Duties. The Superintendent shall perform all the duties that are imposed upon him by law or ordinance. It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to have the water meters read and, under the direction and supervision of the Committee, to employ necessary help to read such meters, and after reading all water meters, as directed to be done by ordinance, to file with the City Clerk the results of such readings, with the amount shown to be due from each consumer by such readings.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
D. 
Waterworks. The Superintendent shall take and have full charge, care and control of the waterworks of the City, together with the pumping house and all machinery therein or connected therewith, all water meters, and shall have full charge of the extension of the water mains when ordered to be extended by the Council.
E. 
Waterworks maintenance fee. Commencing May 1, 2007, the Water Department of the City of Mendota shall pay $2,140 per month to the City of Mendota for maintenance of and for the Water Department.
[Added by Ord. No. 04-16-07[2]]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
F. 
Sewers. The Superintendent shall also have charge and control of all sewers in the City, and he shall take care and see that such sewers and all connections therewith are kept in good sanitary and serviceable condition and that all ordinances of the City or orders of the Council in relation thereto are enforced and carried out.
A. 
Cost.
(1) 
Application for permits to connect service pipes with any main must be made to the City Clerk, and the following sums shall be paid for the insertion of service cocks or valves:
(a) 
For three-fourths-inch service pipe, including thirty-five-foot average length copper tubing Type K, one corporation cock, one curb stop, one buffalo box and tap of water main complete, the fee shall be based on time and materials.
(b) 
For one-inch service including thirty-five-foot cooper tubing Type K, one corporation cock, one curb stop, one buffalo box, and tap of water main complete, the fee shall be based on time and materials.
(c) 
All services larger than one inch shall be established at the time and according to prevailing prices of materials and wages scale.
(2) 
A water service connection charge shall be paid before any water connection is made for new residential construction, or before any water connection is made to established residential property where connection to the City water system did not exist prior. Said water service line tap charge for all connections shall be set from time to time by the City Council.
[Amended by Ord. No. 11-06-00C[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
Meter cost.[2]
(1) 
The cost of all meters sold by the City to water consumers shall be established from time to time through the authority of the Committee, according to prevailing prices on materials from suppliers.
(2) 
Prices for meters sold by the City of Mendota Water Department to water consumers shall be set from time to time by the City Council. Meter sizes above one inch shall be provided at the City cost plus freight, as established through the authority of the City Council Committee on Public Works.
(3) 
All new residential construction shall have meters installed with approved remote registers. The cost of the remote register shall be borne by the owner. The price to be charged for the remote register shall be established at the time of purchase, according to prevailing prices of materials through the authority of the City Council Committee on Public Works. The cost replacement of an old meter will be based on the meter size less trade-in value.
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
C. 
Use of public water and sewer required where available. Every building with an installed plumbing system and intended for human habitation or occupancy and located adjacent to or abutting property where there is a public water supply and sewer service shall have a connection to that public water supply and sewer system. Every building outside the corporate limits, but within 300 feet of the corporate water supply, shall have a connection to the City of Mendota water system. Therefore, no private water well supply will be allowed within the corporate City Limits, nor within 300 feet of the corporate City limits, for any reason.
D. 
Permit.
(1) 
No water connection shall be made by any person not authorized by the City of Mendota, and then only after a permit has been issued to some licensed plumber and paid for in advance. The price is to include water tap, water meter, and remote register.
(2) 
Notice of intent to have service installed must be given at least two days before excavation is to be made.
It shall be the duty of the City Clerk to keep a record of all taps made on the water mains of the City, in a book to be provided for that purpose, showing the location of the tap, the description of the premises, and the date of making said tap. It shall be the duty of the property owner to provide the City Clerk with the necessary information for keeping such aforementioned records.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
All tap and connections shall be put in under the direction and supervision of the Superintendent, who shall see that the work is properly done and that all the material is of a quality suitable for the purposes for which same is used.
A. 
Every consumer shall have and maintain a separate and independent tap for connection with the City water main for each building or premises for which water is furnished, and no person shall connect his service pipe with the service pipe of any other consumer. No such tap or connection heretofore made shall be repaired or extended, but whenever the same becomes in need of repair or an extension shall be made, such service pipe shall be connected directly with the City water main in accordance with the provisions of this article.
B. 
The Superintendent may permit a qualified, licensed plumber to perform water taps within the City of Mendota, under the supervision of said Superintendent. There shall be a fee as set from time to time by the City Council, payable to the City of Mendota Water Department, for inspection service provided by the Superintendent.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
A. 
Location. All meters placed in connection with the City waterworks system shall be set under the direction of the Superintendent in some convenient place to be approved by the Superintendent. If outside of the building, such meter shall be set in brick or concrete pits, having walls eight inches thick, not less than three feet wide by 3 1/2 feet long by 4 1/2 deep brought to grade, and provided with an iron or concrete cover not less than 18 inches in size. Suitable steps or a ladder shall be put in place for convenience of inspection and reading of meters where required. The location of meter pits outside of buildings shall, as far as practicable, be between the sidewalk and curblines. When not practicable to so place the meter pit, its location shall be designated by the Superintendent. Provision shall be made to keep the meter pit free from water.
B. 
Stop-box. In tapping City water mains, a stop-box or cut-off shall be set on the service pipe, the top of which shall be flush with the surface of the ground, and at the outer edge of the street sidewalk of the premises being served.
C. 
Responsibility for installation. All meters shall be installed by the owner, under the direction and supervision of the Superintendent, at the expense of the owner.
D. 
Testing. All meters, before being set or reset, must be tested and approved by the Superintendent.
E. 
Removal and replacement. No meter shall be removed for any purpose from any supply pipe by any person, without obtaining a written permit from the Superintendent to do so. When any meter is removed with the consent of the Superintendent, it must be replaced within 10 days, and before being replaced it must be tested and approved by the Superintendent at the expense of the owner.
F. 
Any resident desiring to have a special water meter for purposes such as watering lawns, filling swimming pools and other extensive water use not running through the Mendota sewer system may obtain a separate water meter from the City of Mendota. The individual requesting said meter shall make a security deposit with the City in an amount set from time to time by the City Council and shall be given a meter to be installed by the resident. Upon return of the meter and payment of the water and sewer bill in full, the City will refund the sewer portion of the billing attributed to said meter. If the meter is undamaged, the security deposit shall be refunded upon return of the meter.[1]
[Added by Ord. No. 07-03-00]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 8.09 of the 1998 Code, Meters; testing, which immediately followed this section, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
A. 
No water from the municipal water supply shall be turned on for service into any premises by any person but the Superintendent, or some person authorized by him to perform this service.
B. 
Applications to have water turned on shall be made in writing to the City Clerk and shall contain an agreement by the applicant to abide by and accept all of the provisions of this chapter as conditions governing the use of the municipal water supply by the applicant A deposit in an amount set from time to time by the City Council shall be made with each such application by an occupant who is non-owner of said property, this sum to be retained by the municipality to insure the payment of all bills. When service to the applicant at said location is discontinued permanently, this deposit, less any amount still due the municipality for water/sewer/garbage service, shall be returned. When the owner of the premises is to be served, no such sum shall be required.
[Amended by Ord. No. 05-03-04C[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[Amended by Ord. No. 05-17-99B; Ord. No. 1-21-02; Ord. No. 12-15-03; Ord. No. 07-19-10; Ord. No. 06-18-12A; Ord. No. 07-21-14[1]]
All persons connecting or connected with the water or wastewater system of the City or taking and using water from the City waterworks system shall pay for such water or wastewater at rates set from time to time by the City Council, as measured by the water meter, unless a separate sewer meter has been installed on the premises.
A. 
Within the corporate limits: residential, commercial, industrial and municipal.
(1) 
Water service. There shall be and there are hereby established water service charges for the use of and for the service supplied by the water facilities of the City of Mendota, to be paid by each user.
(2) 
Wastewater service.
[Amended by Ord. No. 03-07-22]
(a) 
Monthly customer charge shall be $14 per customer per month. The rate per 100 cubic feet shall be $5.80.
(3) 
The sale of bulk water shall have the following regulations:
(a) 
Semi-tractor trailers will use the designated hydrant on Bowne Drive - Mendota Business Park. Straight trucks may use the Mendota Water Department.
(b) 
All tankers must have a four-inch minimum air gap or an approved RPZ with current testing papers. No exceptions. This is a State of Illinois statute.
(c) 
All tankers filling at Mendota Business Park will be supervised by Mendota Water Department personnel at a rate set from time to time by the City Council, with a one-hour minimum charge.
(d) 
All tankers will supply their own hydrant gate valve and hoses. The hydrant will be opened to the normal open position with the gate not to open more than halfway. This may be reduced to a one-fourth open position by the decision of the Superintendent of Water.
(e) 
Only one tanker may fill at a time.
(f) 
The hours for tanker filling are between 6:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments must be made for each and every tank filling within the designated times. Appointments must be made 24 hours in advance by calling the City of Mendota Water Department at 815-539-6307.
(g) 
Compensation for any damage to a hydrant or any surrounding area will be the driver's/company's responsibility. The cost of a new hydrant and installation is approximately $4,500 and is subject to change.
(h) 
There will be no exceptions made to any of the above regulations.
(i) 
Changes to these regulations are made at the discretion of the City of Mendota. Users may request to be notified by the Mendota Water Department Superintendent when changes are made. A copy of the current regulations is available at the Mendota City Clerk's office.
B. 
Outside the corporate limits. Each user of the water service located outside the corporate limits shall have 100% added to the bill. Each user of the sewer service located outside the corporate limits shall have 50% added to the bill.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[Amended by Ord. No. 05-17-99B; Ord. No. 1-21-02; Ord. No. 06-07-10A]
A. 
For the purpose of billing for metered water, sewer and garbage services, the City of Mendota shall send bills for said services once every month on the first day of such month via standard mail to all persons using the services. All water, sewer and garbage service charges made for all services shall become due and payable on or before the 15th day of the month in which billed. No discount will be allowed.
B. 
If not paid by the 15th day of the month in which billed, a penalty of 10% of the total amount billed shall be added to the bill and collected by the City Clerk. If any water, sewer or garbage service bill is unpaid for more than 14 days after the due date, then service to such delinquent costumer shall be shut off and the services shall not be reinstated to any one of the following: the premises for which the services have been rendered and occupied by said delinquent consumer or any subsequent occupant of the premises or any other premises occupied by said delinquent consumer. Such arrearages must be paid, together with a sum during City work hours (between 7:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.) and during non-work hours (between 2:30 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.) as set from time to time by the City Council. Notice of shut off of services shall be mailed or delivered by personal notice. If mailed, eight days after mailing the services will be discontinued.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
C. 
The City of Mendota shall assign one or more of its personnel wherein it transacts business with the public the duty of hearing, in person, any dispute by an applicant, customer or user. Such personnel shall consider the complainant's allegations and shall explain the complainant's account and the City of Mendota's contention in connection therewith. Such personnel shall be authorized to act on behalf of the City of Mendota in resolving the complaint and shall be available during all business hours for the duty hereinbefore described.
A. 
Write-offs. On the first day of April each year, the City Clerk shall prepare and submit to the City Council a list of all water and sewer service bills which are more than six months past due. The City Council will then determine which of these bills are deemed to be uncollectible and authorize the City Clerk to write them off as bad debts.
B. 
Service disconnection fee (voluntary). There shall be a shut-off fee and a turn-on fee as set from time to time by the City Council for customers requesting this service due to being away from their home for an extended period of time.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
C. 
Customer callouts. There shall be a charge as set from time to time by the City Council for customer calls for service after working hours.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
D. 
In all cases, water and sewer bills shall be made out in the name of the owner of the premises where the water is consumed unless otherwise requested by the owner of the premises, in which case said bill may be made out in the name of the occupant, but both the owner and occupant or occupants of such premises shall in all cases be jointly and severally liable for the payment of the water and sewer charges. In addition to the right of the City of Mendota to pursue the collection of any unpaid water and sewer bills through suit, the City shall also have the right to file a lien on the premises whereon the unpaid water and sewer charges have attached, pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/11-139-8.
E. 
Liens; notice of delinquency.
(1) 
Whenever a bill for water and/or sewer service remains unpaid for 90 days after it has been rendered, the City Clerk shall file with the County Recorder of Deeds a statement of lien claim.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
(2) 
The statement shall contain the legal description of the premises served, the amount of the unpaid bill, and a notice that the City claims a lien for this amount as well as for all charges subsequent to the period covered by the bill.
(3) 
If the consumer whose bill is unpaid is not the owner of the premises and the City Clerk has notice of this, notice shall be mailed to the owner of the premises if his address is known to the City Clerk, whenever such a bill remains unpaid for the period of 90 days after it has been rendered.[4]
[4]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
(4) 
The failure of the City Clerk to record such lien or to mail such notice shall not affect the right to foreclose the lien for unpaid bills as mentioned in the foregoing subsection.
(5) 
Foreclosure of lien. Property subject to a lien for unpaid charges shall be sold for nonpayment of the same, and the proceeds of the sale shall be applied to pay the charges, after deducting cost, as is the case in the foreclosure of statutory liens. Such foreclosure shall be by bill in equity in the name of the City. The City Attorney is hereby authorized and directed to institute such proceedings in the name of the City in any court having jurisdiction over such matters against any property for which the bill has remained unpaid for 110 days.
If a meter at any time fails to register the quantity of water consumed, or does not register correctly, the quantity shall be determined and the charge made as the Superintendent shall determine or the Committee shall direct. No deductions shall be made from any bill on account of leakage.
Whenever builders, brick masons, plasterers or contractors use the water of the City in or about their work, the same shall be metered and charged for at the regular rate.
No person shall make any alteration, tamper with or change in any manner any meter, or any service pipe, cock or any attachment or fixture pertaining thereto, without the written permission of the Superintendent or a member of the Committee. No person shall open or in any manner tamper or interfere with any City hydrant without the permission of the Superintendent or some officer of the Fire Department.
In case of fire, or an alarm of fire, or while making repairs or constructing new work, the City reserves the right to shut off the City water for as long a time as may be necessary.
A. 
Hydrants, plugs, stop boxes, service pipe, stop cocks and all attachments and fixtures pertaining thereto shall be kept in good repair and condition by the owner or occupant of the premises upon which they are situated, at his own expense. No claim shall be made or account of the breaking of such water apparatus, or on account of the stoppage of the supply of water by reason of accident to the pumping machinery or mains, or for the necessary alteration or repair of the same. The Superintendent or the Committee, or their agents, shall have free access at all reasonable hours upon the premises of the consumer for the purpose of reading the meter; or he or they may remove a meter at any time for repair or for testing its accuracy, and when any meter shall be found incorrect in measurement and unfit for further use, such meter shall be replaced at once by one that is approved by the Superintendent, at the expense of the owner thereof.
B. 
Abandoned water and sewer lines within the corporate limits.
[Added by Ord. No. 08-07-06A]
(1) 
If any water service lines are abandoned for any reason, it shall be the responsibility of the owner of the premises which the line is/was serving to disconnect the service from the City of Mendota distribution system. The disconnection must be made at a corporately owned cock or main by means of a water main clamp or end caps, whichever is determined by the City of Mendota Water Department Superintendent. Said disconnection shall be inspected by the Superintendent, and all expense will be borne by the owner of the premises.
(2) 
If any sanitary sewer line is abandoned for any reason, it shall be the responsibility of the owner of the premises which the line is/was serving to disconnect said service within the sanitary sewer easement area of the sewer collection system so as to prevent infiltration of groundwater into the sanitary sewer system. This disconnection shall be inspected by the City of Mendota Water Department Superintendent and shall be at the expense of the owner of the premises.
All meters in use and connected with the City waterworks system are hereby declared to be fixtures, and shall be set and kept in good repair at the expense of the owner, and any meter found in need of repair shall be removed by the Superintendent and repaired by him at the expense of the owner for the actual cost of repairs and labor. Whenever it may become necessary to repair the service pipe between the City main and any meter on account of leakage or for other cause, such repair shall be made under the supervision of the Superintendent, who shall be notified of the same, and at the expense of the owner for the actual cost of repairs and labor. All water main pipe shall be made of ductile cast iron, Class 52 materials, or of a material that is acceptable through the State of Illinois Plumbing Code, meeting the approval of the City Engineer. All joints shall be of the mechanical joint type unless otherwise approved by the City Engineer.
No person shall use water from any hydrant, stop cock or other fixture without first having obtained a permit from the City Clerk. No person, having discontinued or been shut off from the use of the water from the City waterworks system, shall again commence the use of such water without first having obtained a permit for so doing from the City Clerk. No person shall turn on the supply of City water without the permission of the Superintendent or Committee and no person shall use water from the City waterworks system without the knowledge or consent of the proper authorities.
All employees connected with the City waterworks, the Superintendent, or any person authorized by him, and the Committee, or any member thereof, shall have free access at all reasonable hours to premises where water is furnished by the City, to make necessary examinations and inspections.