[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Jefferson 8-6-2002 by Ord. No. 7-02 as §§ 13.11 to 13.13 of the 2002 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 120.
Housing standards — See Ch. 154.
Plumbing — See Ch. 213.
Sanitary sewers — See Ch. 230.
Subdivision of land — See Ch. 294.
A. 
All persons now receiving a water supply from the Utility or who may hereafter make application therefor shall be considered as having agreed to be bound by all rules and regulations as filed with the State Public Service Commission.
B. 
The following provisions of Ch. PSC 185, Wis. Adm. Code, are adopted by reference and made a part of these rules as if set forth in full. A violation of any of such rules shall constitute a violation of this section and shall be punishable as provided in Chapter 1, Article I of this Code.
185.11
Authorization for and application of rules
185.12
Definitions
185.13
General requirement
185.15
Free or discriminatory service prohibited
185.16
Protection of water utility facilities
185.17
Interference with public service structures
185.18
Location of records
185.19
Retention of records
185.21
Schedules to be filed with the commission
185.22
Information available to customers
185.31
Metered service
185.32
Meter readings and billing periods
185.33
Billing
185.35
Adjustment of bills
185.36
Deposits for residential service
185.37
Disconnection and refusal of service
185.38
Deferred payment agreement
185.39
Dispute procedures
185.41
Employees authorized to enter a customer's premises
185.42
Customer complaints
185.43
Construction records
185.44
Records and reports of service interruptions
185.45
Pumpage records
185.46
Metering equipment records
185.47
Other records
185.51
Requirement for good engineering practice
185.52
General construction requirements
185.61
Meters
185.65
Accuracy requirements for meters
185.71
Meter testing facilities and equipment
185.72
Calibration of meter testing equipment
185.73
Testing of customer meters
185.74
Test flows
185.75
Required tests of customer meters
185.76
Periodic tests
185.77
Complaint tests
185.78
Referee tests
185.79
Remote outside meter (ROM) and automatic meter reading (AMR) system tests
185.81
Quality of water
185.815
Adequacy of water supply
185.82
Pressure standards
185.83
Station meters
185.84
Emergency operation
185.85
System losses
185.86
Flushing mains
185.87
Interruptions of service
185.88
Frozen laterals
[Amended 9-16-2014 by Ord. No. 10-14]
A. 
Definition of cross-connection. A cross-connection is defined as any physical connection or arrangement between two otherwise separate systems, one of which contains potable water from the City of Jefferson municipal water system, and the other of which contains 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, with the direction of flow depending on the pressure differential between the two systems.
B. 
Unprotected cross-connections prohibited. No person, firm, or corporation may establish or maintain, or permit to be established or maintained, any unprotected cross-connection. Cross-connections shall be protected as required in Ch. SPS 382, Wis. Adm. Code.
C. 
Inspection. The water utility may inspect, or arrange for an inspection of, property served by the public water system for cross-connections. As an alternative, the water utility may require a person, firm, or corporation who owns, leases, or occupies property to have his or her plumbing inspected, at his or her own expense, by a State of Wisconsin certified cross-connection inspector/surveyor. The frequency of inspections shall be established by the water utility in accordance with Wisconsin Administrative Code. Any unprotected cross-connections identified by the inspection shall be promptly corrected. Failure to promptly correct an unprotected cross-connection shall be sufficient cause for the water utility to discontinue water service to the property, as provided under Subsection F of this section.
D. 
Right of entry. Upon presentation of credentials, a representative of the water utility shall have the right to request entry, at any reasonable time, to a property served by a connection to the public water system for the purpose of inspecting the property for cross-connections. Refusing entry to such utility representative shall be sufficient cause for the water utility to discontinue water service to the property, as provided under Subsection F of this section. If entry is refused, a special inspection warrant under § 66.0119, Wis. Stats., may be obtained.
E. 
Provision of requested information. The water utility may request an owner, lessee, or occupant of property served by a connection to the public water system to furnish the water utility with pertinent information regarding the piping systems on the property. Refusing to provide requested information shall be sufficient cause for the water utility to discontinue water service to the property, as provided under Subsection F of this section.
F. 
Discontinuation of water for violation. The water utility may discontinue water service to any property wherein any unprotected connection in violation of this section exists, and take other precautionary measures deemed necessary to eliminate any danger of contamination of the public water system. Water service may be discontinued, however, only after reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing under Chapter 68, Wis. Stats., except as provided in Subsection G of this section. Water service to such property shall not be restored until the unprotected cross-connection has been eliminated.
G. 
Emergency discontinuance. If it is determined by the water utility that an unprotected cross-connection or emergency endangers public health, safety, or welfare, and requires immediate action, and if a written finding to that effect is filed with the City Clerk and delivered to the customer's premises, water service may be immediately discontinued. The customer shall have an opportunity for hearing under Chapter 68, Wis. Stats., within 10 days of such emergency discontinuance. Water service to such property shall not be restored until the unprotected cross-connection has been eliminated.
[Amended 9-16-2014 by Ord. No. 11-14]
A. 
Purpose: to protect public health, safety and welfare and to prevent contamination of groundwater by assuring that unused, unsafe or noncomplying wells or wells which may act as conduits for contamination of groundwater or wells which may be illegally cross-connected to the municipal water system are properly maintained or abandoned.
B. 
Applicability. This section applies to all wells located on premises served by the City of Jefferson municipal water system. Utility customers outside the jurisdiction of the municipal system may be required under contract agreement or utility rule to adopt and enforce equivalent ordinances within their jurisdictions for purposes stated in Subsection A above.
C. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEMS
A community water system owned by a city, village, county, town, town sanitary district, utility district, public inland lake and rehabilitation district, municipal water district or a federal-, state-, county-, or municipal-owned institution for congregate care or correction, or a privately owned water utility serving the foregoing.
NONCOMPLYING
A well or pump installation which does not comply with Ch. NR 812.42, Wis. Adm. Code, Standards for Existing Installations, and which has not been granted a variance pursuant to Ch. NR 812.43, Wis. Adm. Code.
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.
UNSAFE WELL OR PUMP INSTALLATION
One which produces water which is bacteriologically contaminated or contaminated with substances which exceed the drinking water standards of Chs. NR 140 or 809, Wis. Adm. Code, or for which a health advisory has been issued by the Department of Natural Resources.
UNUSED WELL OR PUMP INSTALLATION
One which is not used or does not have a functional pumping system.
WELL
A drill hole or other excavation or opening deeper than it is wide that extends more than 10 feet below the ground surface constructed for the purpose of obtaining groundwater.
WELL ABANDONMENT
The proper filling and sealing of a well according to the provisions of Ch. NR 812.26, Wis. Adm. Code.
D. 
Abandonment required. All wells on premises served by the municipal water system shall be properly abandoned in accordance with Subsection F of this section no later than 90 days from the date of connection to the municipal water system, unless a valid well operation permit has been issued to the well owner by City of Jefferson Utilities under terms of Subsection E of this section.
E. 
Well operation permit. Owners of wells on premises served by the municipal water system wishing to retain their wells for any use shall make application for a well operation permit for each well no later than 90 days after connection to the municipal water system. The water utility shall grant a permit to a well owner to operate a well for a period not to exceed five years, providing all conditions of this section are met. A well operations permit may be renewed by submitting an application verifying that the conditions of this section are met. The water utility, or its agent, may conduct inspections and water quality tests, or require inspections and water quality tests to be 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 water utility. All initial and renewal applications must be accompanied by a fee of $25. The following conditions must be met for issuance or renewal of a well operation permit:
(1) 
The well and pump installation shall meet the standards for existing installations described in Ch. NR 812.42, Wis. Adm. Code.
(2) 
The well and pump shall have a history of producing safe water evidenced by at least one coliform bacteria sample. In areas where the Department of Natural Resources has determined that groundwater aquifers are contaminated with substances other than bacteria, additional chemical sampling may be required to document the safety of the water.
(3) 
There shall be no cross-connections between the well's pump installation or distribution piping and the municipal water system.
(4) 
The water from the private well shall not discharge into a drain leading directly to a public sewer utility unless properly metered and authorized by the sewer utility.
(5) 
The private well shall have a functional pumping system.
(6) 
The proposed use of the private well shall be justified as reasonable in addition to water provided by the municipal water system.
F. 
Abandonment procedures.
(1) 
All wells abandoned under the jurisdiction of this section shall be done according to the procedures and methods of Ch. NR 812.26, Wis. Adm. Code. All debris, pumps, piping, unsealed liners and any other obstructions which may interfere with sealing operations shall be removed prior to abandonment. As of June 1, 2008, only licensed well drillers and pump installers may perform abandonment (filling and sealing) of wells.
(2) 
The owner of the well, or the owner's agent, shall notify the Utility at least 48 hours in advance of any well abandonment activities. The abandonment of the well may be observed or verified by personnel of the municipal system.
(3) 
An abandonment report form, supplied by the Department of Natural Resources, shall be submitted by the well owner to the Utility and the Department of Natural Resources within 30 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 $10 nor more than $100 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 30 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.
[Added 4-18-2017 by Ord. No. 7-17]
A. 
Lead water service lateral replacement requirement.
(1) 
Every water service lateral connected to the Jefferson Utility Water System (Utility) should be made of suitable material as determined by the Jefferson Utility Commission.
(2) 
Intent and purpose. The Common Council of the City of Jefferson finds that it is in the public interest to establish a comprehensive voluntary program for the removal and replacement of lead water laterals in use within both the public Utility and in private systems and to that end declares the purposes of this section to be as follows:
(a) 
To ensure the water quality at every tap of Utility customers meets the water quality standards specified under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act;[1] and
[1]
Editor's Note: See 42 U.S.C. § 300f et seq.
(b) 
To reduce the lead in City drinking water to meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards and ideally to reduce lead contaminant level to zero in City drinking water for the health of City residents; and
(c) 
To eliminate the constriction of water flow caused by mineral rich groundwater flowing through lead water service pipes and the consequent buildup of mineral deposits inside lead pipes; and
(d) 
To meet the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) requirements for local compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule.
(3) 
Owner to voluntarily replace lead service. Existing lead water service laterals connected to the Utility may be replaced with water service laterals made of suitable materials and at the owner's expense. Replacement may be completed either before or in conjunction with the next water main project servicing the lateral to the affected property.
(a) 
Affected property owners may contract with a licensed contractor to complete the replacement. If the property owner selects this option, the lead water service lateral should be replaced before the Utility replaces the main or during construction; or
(b) 
If available, affected property owners may have the Utility contractors complete the replacement.
[1] 
The Utility may, as part of any water main project, add an alternative to the Utility's contract requesting unit bid prices for the calculation of the cost for private lead water service lateral replacement. This will include removing the entire lateral from the main to the water meter inside of the dwelling or building and replacing lead piping with suitable material.
[2] 
If available and should the property owner select this option, the property owner will be charged the entire cost of the removal and replacement. In addition, all restoration on the private property will be the responsibility of the property owner (for example, top soil, concrete, steps, asphalt, bushes, and porches).
(c) 
Qualified owners may be able to seek reimbursement through the Jefferson Utility contingent upon funds being available from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lead Service Line Replacement Funding Program, or other similar program, that can provide funds for private utility improvements. The amount of any grant shall be at the discretion of Jefferson Utility, but shall not exceed the reasonable cost of the improvements.
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Ord. No. 1-18]
(4) 
Water system reconstruction. Property owners in an area where public water system reconstruction is taking place will be notified, in writing, of capital improvement projects involving public water mains. The notification should be at least 60 days prior to the commencement of the water main construction, and shall be issued by the Jefferson Utilities.
(5) 
Inspection required. The Jefferson Utilities Manager, or his/her designee, shall inspect all private connections to the public water mains for presence of lead or lead causing pipes prior to, if possible, or at the time that the Utility water main is to be reconstructed. If it is unable to gain access for inspection, Jefferson Utilities may pursue an inspection warrant. In the event the lateral is found to contain lead the Utility Manager, or his/her designee, shall notify the owner, in writing, by United States Mail within 10 working days, of the fact, along with information about the City's Lead Water Service Replacement Program. The affected property owner may provide proof of arrangements for replacement of the private lead water service lateral within 90 days of the date of the notification letter.