The City is hereby empowered to provide and otherwise regulate
water and sewer facilities in accordance with the provisions of this
chapter and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Water
and Sewer Department adopted from time to time as hereinafter provided.
There is hereby created a division of the Department of Public
Works to be known as the "Water and Sewer Department." Said Department
shall have jurisdiction over all aspects of the water distribution
and sewer systems, including, but not limited to, meters, the pumping
and distribution of water, water mains, and all lateral sewer and
drains, in accordance with Division 139 of the Illinois Municipal
Code (65 ILCS 5/11-139-1 et seq.).
The Water and Sewer Department shall be under the direction
of the Director of Public Works and such other officers and employees
as may be from time to time appointed. They shall be responsible for
the supervision, management and control, subject to the Mayor and
City Council, of the maintenance, enlargement and operation of the
waterworks system owned and controlled by said City, the procuring
and selling of water, and all matters and things connected with the
operation, maintenance, and extension or improvement of the waterworks
and sewerage system and preserving the property belonging thereto.
The Director of Public Works shall have supervision over all
buildings and equipment used in the furnishing of water in the City
and shall see that the object and purposes of the Water and Sewer
Department are carried out, and that the waterworks and sewerage system
is conducted on an economical, businesslike basis, and for this purpose
it shall be the duty of the Director of Public Works, hereinafter
referred to as "Director," and all of the officers, employees and
servants of said Department to enforce all the provisions of this
chapter and to observe and obey and carry out the orders and directions
of the Mayor and Council. Where the streets are required to be opened
for repairs or extensions, the Director shall protect the public against
accidents during such repairs and extensions. He shall prepare and
keep in his office a complete atlas of the waterworks, with all valves,
hydrants, water service, sewerage connections and other appurtenances
distinctly recorded therein.
The Director of Public Works and other officers and employees
of the Department shall receive as compensation for their service
amounts to be fixed by the City Council from time to time.
The Director shall provide such reports as the City Council
shall from time to time direct.
The City Clerk is hereby appointed and designated as the collector
for the Water and Sewer Department. He shall have active charge and
control of the billing and collecting of all water bills rendered
by the City. He shall include in his reports to the Council his reports
of collections for the Water and Sewer Department, and shall make
further reports and take such steps toward the collection of water
and sewer bills as are herein prescribed.
The Clerk, or such officer or employees of the Department as
he shall direct, shall read water meters.
(A)
Any person or corporation desiring to make any connection with said
water and sewer system or plant, or to use water therefrom, shall
first make application to the Director upon a blank form, or forms,
to be furnished by the Department. Said application shall contain
an agreement on the part of the applicant that all the rules and regulations,
conditions and provisions of any ordinance relating to the water and
sewer system will be complied with; that he notify the City Clerk
when the premises are sold or there is a change in the use or occupant;
that an escrow of $30 shall be made and that any escrow deposit shall
remain with the City to guarantee the payment of the water and sewer
rates until such charges are paid and a new escrow deposit is made;
that all water and sewer rates, assessments and rents, and all fines
and penalties assessed, charged or imposed against said applicant
or the property described in said application will be paid. When an
applicant hereunder has complied with all the provisions of the ordinances
of the City, a permit shall then be issued by the Director authorizing
the connection to be made, specifying the size thereof. All plumbing
and plumbing work, as well as all excavating, filling and replacement
of pavement, shall be done by a plumber authorized by the ordinances
of the City to do such plumbing; provided, however, that all such
replacement of pavement shall be done by the City, in accordance with
the provisions of this Code or other applicable ordinances. The permit
shall authorize any such plumber to do such plumbing and plumbing
work as is described in the permit. A street opening charge of $125
shall be deposited with the City before a permit is issued, which
is refundable, less any expenses incurred by the City to replace the
pavement surface whenever a street is cut open for the purpose of
connecting to the water or sewer system. If the expense is more than
$125, the permit holder shall pay such overage.[1]
(B)
No service pipe shall be laid or used to supply water to two or more
distinct premises or buildings unless separate stopcocks for each
of the premises or buildings shall be placed outside of such premises
in the parkway, as hereinafter provided, and a permit fee shall be
obtained for each service.
(C)
Each separately owned parcel of land shall have a separate sewer
lateral to the City connecting sewer.
(A)
No person not duly authorized shall turn an any service cock, or
use water therefrom when so turned on, under penalty of a fine for
each offense, and the person so using or wasting water in such unlawful
manner shall be liable to pay therefor at the regular water rates
without discount.
(B)
No seal placed by the Department for the protection of any meter,
valve, fitting or other water connection shall be defaced or broken,
except on written authority from the Director of Public Works.
(C)
No person shall turn on any service cock if the same has been turned
off by reason of the nonpayment of water or sewerage fees.
(A)
All water consumers supplied by the City shall be supplied through
meters only, except that in cases where it is impracticable to set
a meter, the use and consumption of water shall be governed by other
applicable provisions of this Code.
(B)
All meters used in connection with said water system shall be and
remain for all time the property of the City of Hometown and shall
be purchased by the City.
(C)
After the meter is placed, only officers or employees of the Department
shall be allowed to repair, remove or in any manner interfere with
the same. A stop-cock or valve shall be placed immediately after the
meter. Adequate distance shall be provided to accommodate the water
meter and meter connector for each side of the meter.
(D)
Water meters shall be located inside the building in a heated area
to prevent freezing. Such location should be easily accessible for
reading, repairs or replacement as the City, through its Director,
shall direct. The owner or tenant of a premises may request a remote
meter reading device to be located on the outside of the premises;
however, any said device must be installed and supplied by said City,
with all expenses for purchase and installation of said device charged
to the owner or tenant making the request, and all charges must be
paid prior to the installation of the device; the owner or tenant
will be liable for any and all damages or repairs to said remote device.
However, accessibility to the meter for repairs or inspection will
be required at least once in any twelve-month period.
(E)
Any water meter to be located outside the building will have to be
approved by the Director and Water and Sewer Committee according to
City specifications for such installation.
(F)
The cost of keeping each meter in repair shall be paid by the Water
and Sewer Department. The person upon whose application any meter
is installed shall be liable for any breakage or any loss or damage
to such meter in any way, except by ordinary use and wear, and the
cost of making good such loss or damage shall be paid by the person
upon whose application such meter was installed or repaired as soon
as the bill for same is presented, and the amount therefor shall be
a lien against the premises for which said meter was installed, to
the extent and with the same effect as water rates.[1]
(G)
The Director shall in all cases determine the kind and pattern of
water meters to be adopted and no other kind shall be installed at
any time.
As a condition of water and sewer services, all duly authorized
employees of the City are hereby granted access to any premises, place
or building for the purpose of installing, reading, examining, testing
and repairing water meters or otherwise examining or testing for the
consumption, use and flow of water. The City is hereby authorized
to shut off the water supply to any person who wrongfully refuses
access under this section.
All consumers, users, or owners of properties (who shall be
jointly and severally responsible to pay the same) in the City of
Hometown shall pay the following rates:
(A)
For water service:
(1)
All residential users (single-family, two-family and apartments)
shall be charged at the rate of $14.74 per 1,000 cubic feet of usage,
with a minimum quarterly charge of $29.48 for the first 2,000 cubic
feet.
(2)
Commercial establishments shall pay a monthly water service
charge of $11.94 per 1,000 cubic feet and a minimum monthly service
charge of $3.64.
(3)
Schools; others. All schools, not-for-profit corporations, and
all users not otherwise classified above shall be billed monthly at
the same rate as commercial users.
(4)
For any percentage increase in the water rate by the City of
Chicago, there shall be an increase in the then water rate to the
City of Hometown's users at the same percentage rate, which shall
apply to all billings for water used in the month of the effective
date of the City of Chicago's rate increase. For purposes of
this section, a rate increase shall also include an increase to a
user's gross billing amount as a result of an abatement of any
discount from the City of Chicago to the City of Hometown.
[Amended 2-14-2006 by Ord. No. 2-2006]
(B)
For sewerage:
(1)
In addition, at the time of the payment of the water rates,
there shall be paid the following charge for use of the sewerage system:
[Amended 12-13-2011 by Ord. No. 8-2011]
(2)
For any percentage increase in the sewer charge by the City
of Chicago, there shall be an increase in the existing sewer rate
charged to the City's users at the same percentage rate, effective
the date of the City of Chicago's increase.
[Added 12-13-2011 by Ord.
No. 8-2011]
(3)
There shall be no charge to a municipal corporation, a public
or parochial school, or any other religious or charitable institution
duly chartered for such purpose by the State of Illinois.
No person, firm, association, corporation or partnership having
its residence or place of business within the territorial limits of
the City of Hometown shall be permitted to buy water from any other
municipal corporation or other public utility for such residence or
place of business located in the City whenever the water of said City
is adjacent to its property.
(A)
All water and sewer charges shall be due and payable on or before
the 15th day after the date when statements of such charges are rendered
and shall become delinquent if remaining unpaid thereafter.
(B)
It shall be the duty of the City Clerk to cause said statements for
water and sewer charges to be delivered on the respective dates thereof,
and at least every three months, to each consumer or user.
(C)
Upon the monthly and quarterly service charge for water supplied,
there shall be added a charge of 10% for each month the charges remain
unpaid.
(D)
Whenever any such charges shall remain unpaid for a period of more
than 30 days from the due date of the statement herein provided for,
the water may be turned off from the premises of such delinquent consumer
and the service shall not be resumed until all water and sewer bills
in arrears have been paid, including a charge of $20 for the services
of the Water and Sewer Department to visit the premises in order to
turn off the water, whether it is turned off or not, and an additional
$20 to turn on the water. When the water is shut off temporarily at
the request of any consumer, and the meter is not removed, the consumer
shall pay $20 for turn off and an additional $20 to turn it on.
(E)
Before water is shut off by the City for unpaid water or sewer charges,
the owner or tax assessee shall be entitled to a hearing before a
person designated by the Mayor to hear whether the amount of the charges
are true and correct and why or whether or not, because of said charges,
the water should be turned off.
(F)
The hearing officer shall give the owner and tax assessee notice
of his right to request a hearing to dispute any delinquency. If a
hearing is not requested in writing in the time allotted in the notice,
water service may be terminated. The delinquent party shall be given
reasonable notice before water service is terminated. If a party agrees
to pay any delinquency in installments, the City is hereby authorized
to terminate water service upon nonpayment of the installment without
notice or a hearing.
(G)
The above procedure does not apply to opening water service to a
new tenant or owner for unpaid charges for the same premises.
(H)
No person, firm, association, or corporation owing water and sewer
charges and removing to other premises where there are water connections,
or where connections shall afterward be made, shall be supplied with
water and sewer until such charges in arrears are paid in full.
(A)
The owner and tenant of a premises supplied with water will be held
jointly responsible for all water registered by the meter and for
the sewer charges, and no reduction shall be made or rebate allowed
to any consumer on account of leakage, or alleged leakage, in any
pipe, tank, or other apparatus or device.
(B)
Any person or party who or which shall vacate any premises, and any
agent or broker leasing the same, or any party who shall enter upon
and occupy any premises, shall immediately, before vacating said premises
or moving to said premises, notify the Water and Sewer Department
and secure reading of the meter. All water and sewer charges shall
be immediately paid upon reading of said meter. No water shall turn
on for a new occupant until all the unpaid water and sewer charges
have been paid.[1]
(A)
The
fees to be charged for a permit to tap or otherwise make a connection
with any water main constructed shall be as follows:
(1)
Where the meter is installed in the basement of a building,
the charges shall be $150 and said owner shall receive for said charge
the use of one meter, one round way, one valve, one corporation cock,
one buffalo box and one tap, which articles shall remain at all times
the property of the City of Hometown.
(2)
Where the meter is installed in a vault outside of the building
on the premises, the charge shall be $165 and the owner of said real
estate hereinbefore described shall receive for said charge the use
of the following items: one meter, one round way, one valve, one corporation
cock, one buffalo box, one tap, two eighteen-inch or twenty-inch tiles,
and one cast iron cover for said tile, which articles shall remain
at all times the property of the City of Hometown.
(B)
Provided that the above charges are for lots of 40 feet or less in
frontage; in case of lots over 40 feet in frontage, there shall be
an additional charge of $3 for each foot of frontage of said lot over
40 feet. On corner lots, the narrowest side of the lot shall be used
in counting feet for frontage. If the connection or tap to the water
main is over two inches in diameter, a charge in addition to the above
of $50 for every inch over two inches shall be made and no materials
or articles provided above shall be furnished.
(C)
Provided further, however, that in any case where the lateral water
main to which the connection is to be made has been constructed by
the person, firm, association or corporation desiring such connection,
or where the costs of construction of such lateral water main to which
the connection is to be made have been paid for in whole or in part
by the person, firm, association or corporation desiring such connection,
the charge for such tapping permit shall be reduced to such amount
as may have been agreed upon between such person, firm, association
or corporation and the Council of the City of Hometown at the time
of the construction and installation of such lateral water main, but
in no case shall the fee be less than $80 in the case of a meter installed
in the basement of a building, or less than $95 in the case of a meter
installed in a vault outside of the building.
(D)
All the above articles or materials shall be and remain the property
of the City.
(A)
Permit required. No connection shall be made to the sewerage system
or to any pipe or lateral which may dispose of sewage or stormwater
in the sewerage system of the City without first securing a permit
from the Director.
(B)
Fees. All connections to the sewerage system shall be at the cost
of the applicant and shall be made by a licensed plumber authorized
to do business in the City. In addition, the Director shall estimate
the cost of the Department's inspection and require the applicant
to pay said sum before any permit is issued.
(C)
A permit is required from the Director for any person or persons to repair or replace any damaged or clogged sanitary sewer line from a premises. Such repaired sewer line may not be backfilled until the repairs or replacement is inspected and approved by the Director or an officer or employee designated by him to make such inspection. Should such excavation require the removal of street pavement, a street opening charge will be required as prescribed in § 16.09(A).
(A)
Whenever any permit for a connection with the water mains of the
City of Hometown is used hereunder, the Director or an employee of
the City so designated for the work by the Director shall tap the
main of said system where such connection is to be made and shall
insert the corporation cock.
(B)
No connection with any water main of said City shall be less than
3/4 inch.
(C)
All corporation cocks and goosenecks, curb cocks and buffalo or shut-off
boxes and meter boxes installed in connection with the water system
of the City of Hometown must be purchased through the City.
(D)
No person shall, in any manner, obstruct or cause to be obstructed
the free access of any duly authorized officer or employee of the
City of Hometown to any stop cock, water meter, elevator dial, buffalo
or shut-off box or connection with any water main or service pipe
by means of any coal, lumber, brick, building material or by any other
means or device whatsoever or to use or prevent free access thereto
by such officer or employee whenever such officer or employee shall
desire access thereto.
(E)
In addition to the other charges, the fee payable by the permit holder
to the City for installing all taps under permits will be $25.
(A)
The connection from the main to the service cock shall be placed
at least five feet below the level of the ground. All service lines
from the main to the service cock and from the service cock to the
meter shall be of Type IK copper in sizes 3/4 of an inch internal
diameter to and including two inches internal diameter. Service lines
larger than two inches internal diameter shall be of cast iron. Such
service lines shall be placed in such a manner as to prevent rupture
or breakage from settling of the ground.
(B)
No person, whether as owner or occupant, in possession or control
of any building, structure or premises into which water is supplied
through the Hometown water system shall be allowed, without permission
from the Mayor and City Council of said City, to supply other persons
or families, or to supply water from such building or premises to
any building, structure or premises. In the event of violations of
any of the foregoing provisions of this section, the supply of water
to the building, structure or premises of such person shall be shut
off and stopped forthwith, and the water shall not again be turned
on to such building, structure, or premises from which it was cut
off until there shall have been paid to the City such sum of money
as the Mayor and City Council of said City shall deem properly due
to the City.
(C)
If, after the water supply shall have been turned on to any building,
structure or premises, it shall be found by any officer or employee
of the City that fraudulent representations have been made by an applicant
for such water supply or that water is being used in or upon such
building, structure or premises for purposes not set forth in the
application made for such water supply, or that there is willful and
unreasonable use or waste of water, the Director or employee of the
City of Hometown shall have the authority, and it shall be his duty,
to cut off and stop the supply of water into such building, structure
or premises forthwith, and the water shall not be turned on to such
building, structure or premises until the person or persons responsible
for such fraudulent representation or for such use of water or willful
or unreasonable waste thereof shall pay to the City such additional
sums of money for such water supply on account of such unreasonable
waste of water as the Mayor and City Council shall find properly to
be due to the City.
(D)
Every person supplied with water from the Hometown water system shall,
at his or their own cost and expense, have installed and kept in repair
all pipes leading from the buffalo or shut-off box to his or her building,
structure or premises, which are supplied with water through such
service pipe. All service pipes laid from the water main to the buffalo
or shut-off box, and from the buffalo or shut-off box to the building,
structure or premises, shall not be less than 3/4 inch internal diameter.
(E)
Each water service pipe shall be connected with said main water pipe
and shall extend horizontally at right angles with said main water
pipe to a point at least 18 feet from the center line of the street
and shall be provided with a brass stop cock of not less than 3/4
of an inch internal diameter, to be installed within a telescopic
shut-off box of the best quality of cast iron or first grade steel
pipe.
(F)
All corporation and curb cocks used in connection with the water
system shall be made of bronze which shall have the following composition:
copper 80%, tin 4% to 6%, zinc 4% to 6%, Lead, not more than 5%. All
castings shall be high grade, true to form and dimensions, smooth
and free from all sand or blow holes or other foundry defects, and
all material uses herein shall be of the best quality and subject
to the approval of the Director.
(G)
The main must be tapped at an angle of 45°, with the vertical
and the corporation cock turned so that the T handle will be on top.
In all cases where a standard water main is now installed or
hereafter may be installed in any street or alley or other public
way in the City of Hometown, all water users located on any lot or
parcel of real estate fronting or abutting on any such street or alley
or other public way shall make or cause to be made connections to
such standard water main and pay the tapping charges therefor within
six months after the installation of such standard water main if the
same is not now installed, and each user shall discontinue within
the same period of time any connection which they theretofore may
have had with any temporary water line.
All service pipes and connections shall be inspected and approved
by the Director or other persons under his direction, and no such
service pipes shall be covered until they have been inspected.
Before a permit for use of water shall be issued where meters
cannot be conveniently used, the person applying for the same shall
deposit $10 with the Collector as payment on account of water to be
used by him on or before 30 days from the date of the permit; the
person to whom such permit is issued shall file with the Department
a statement in writing, verified by his affidavit, showing fully the
purpose for which the water was used by him for that time, and the
amount and location of all work done by him during said time in connection
with which any water was used, or required. The Director shall ascertain
from said statement, and any other information, the amount due for
water so used. If the amount so found to be due, together with all
other fees and costs chargeable against such person, is less than
the sum deposited, the surplus shall be paid back to the depositor.
If the amount due for water so used is more than the sum deposited,
then the excess shall be paid at once to the Collector by such person.
If such person desires to continue to use the water after he shall
have filed his statement, he shall again deposit $10 with the Collector
and shall continue to make deposits thereafter and in the same manner
as is provided therein with respect to the first deposit, and the
method of determining the amount of water used and the charge for
the same shall be the same as the provisions respecting the first
deposit as hereinbefore provided.
No plumber shall allow his name to be used by any other person
or party directly for the purpose of obtaining permits or doing any
work under his license.
