[Code 1979, § 2.21]
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
WATER CONNECTION
That part of the water distribution system connecting the
water main with the premises served.
WATER MAIN
That part of the water distribution system located within
the easement lines of streets designed to supply more than one water
connection.
[Code 1979, § 2.22]
(a) Application for water connections shall be made to
the department on forms prescribed and furnished by it. The department
may refuse to authorize a larger service pipe than reasonably required
by the premises served. Water connections and water meters shall be
installed in accordance with rules and regulations of the department
and upon payment of the required connection fee and meter installation
fee. All meters and water connections shall be the property of the
City. Connection fees and meter installation charges shall not be
less than the cost of materials, installation and overhead attributable
to such installations.
(b) Until otherwise provided by the City Council, the connection
fee and meter installation fee for standard size meters shall be $300.
Nonstandard size meter installation shall be charged at the actual
cost.
[Code 1979, § 2.23]
No person, other than an authorized employee of the department,
shall turn on or off any water service, except that a licensed plumber
may turn on water service for testing his work (when it must be immediately
turned off) or upon receiving a written order from the department.
Upon written permit from the department, water may be turned on for
construction purposes only, prior to the granting of a certificate
of occupancy for the premises, and upon payment of the applicable
charges.
[Code 1979, § 2.24]
All premises using water shall be metered, except as otherwise
provided in this Code. No person except a department employee shall
break or injure the seal or change the location of, alter or interfere
in any way with any water meter.
[Code 1979, § 2.25]
The department shall have the right to shut off the supply of
water to any premises where the department is not able to obtain access
to the meter. Any qualified employee of the department shall at all
reasonable hours have the right to enter the premises where such meters
are installed for the purpose of reading, testing, removing or inspecting
them and no person shall hinder, obstruct or interfere with such employee
in the lawful discharge of his duties in relation to the care and
maintenance of water meters.
[Code 1979, § 2.26]
Any damage which a meter may sustain resulting from carelessness
of the owner, agent or tenant or from neglect of either of them to
properly secure and protect the meter, as well as any damage which
may be wrought by frost, hot water or steam backing from a boiler,
shall be paid by the owner of the property to the City on presentation
of a bill therefor; and in cases where the bill is not paid, the water
shall be shut off and shall not be turned on until all charges have
been paid to the City.
[Code 1979, § 2.27]
If any meter shall fail to register properly, the department
shall estimate the consumption on the basis of former consumption
and bill accordingly.
[Code 1979, § 2.28]
A consumer may require that the water meter be tested. If the
meter is found accurate, a charge of $3 will be made. If the meter
is found defective, it shall be repaired or an accurate meter installed
and no charge shall be made.
[Code 1979, § 2.29]
A water meter shall be considered accurate if when tested it
registers not to exceed 2% more or 2% less than the actual quantity
of water passing through it. If a meter registers in excess of 2%
more than the actual quantity of water passing through it, it shall
be considered fast to that extent. If a meter registers in excess
of 2% less than the actual quantity of water passing through it, it
shall be considered slow to that extent.
[Code 1979, § 2.30]
If a meter has been tested at the request of a consumer and
shall have been determined to register fast the City shall credit
the consumer with a sum equal to the percent fast multiplied by the
amount of all bills incurred by the consumer, within the three months
prior to the test, and if a meter so tested is determined to register
slow, the department may collect from the consumer a sum equal to
the percent slow multiplied by the amount of all the bills incurred
by the consumer for the prior three months. When the department on
its own initiative makes a test of a water meter, it shall be done
without cost to the consumer, other than his paying the amount due
the City for water used by him as above provided, if the meter is
found to be slow.
[Code 1979, § 2.31]
No person, except an employee of the City in the performance
of his duties, shall open or use any fire hydrant except in case of
emergency, without first securing a written permit from the department
and paying such charges as may be prescribed.
[Code 1979, § 2.32]
The superintendent may regulate, limit or prohibit the use of water for any purpose. Such regulations shall restrict less essential water uses to the extent deemed necessary to assure an adequate supply for essential domestic and commercial needs and for firefighting. No such regulation, limitation or prohibition shall be effective until 24 hours after the publication thereof in a newspaper of general circulation in the City. Any person violating any such rule or regulation shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished as prescribed in §
1-14.
[Code 1979, § 2.33]
The superintendent may make and issue additional rules and regulations
concerning the water distribution system, connection thereto, meter
installation and maintenance, connection and meter installation fees,
hydrants and water mains and the appurtenances thereto, not inconsistent
with this article. Such rules and regulations shall be effective upon
approval by the City Council. The rules and regulations now in effect
shall continue until changed in accordance with this section.
[Code 1979, § 2.34]
No person, except an employee of the City in the performance
of his duties, shall willfully or carelessly break, damage, destroy,
uncover, deface or tamper with any structure, appurtenance or equipment
which is a part of the City water distribution system.
[Code 1979, § 2.35]
The addition of fluoride to water supplied to the public by
the City, to which water fluoride is not presently added and which
may be consumed by humans, is hereby rejected.
[Code 1979, § 2.36; amended 2-8-2016 by Ord. No. 16-01]
A cross connection with the public water supply system is a
connection or arrangement of piping or appurtenances through which
water of questionable quality, wastes or other contaminants can enter
the public water supply system.
(1) The City adopts by reference the Water Supply Cross Connection
Rules of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, being R325.11401
to R325.11407 of the Michigan Administrative Code.
(2) It shall be the duty of the City water department to cause
inspections to be made of all properties served by the public water
supply where cross connections with the public water supply is deemed
possible. The frequency of inspections and reinspections based on
potential health hazards involved shall be as established by the City
water department and as approved by the Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality.
(3) The representative of the City water department shall
have the right to enter at any reasonable time any property served
by a connection to the public water supply system of the City for
the purpose of inspecting the piping system for cross connections.
On request the owner, lessees or occupants of any property so served
shall furnish to the inspection agency any pertinent information regarding
the piping system on such property. The refusal of such information
or refusal of access, when requested, shall be deemed evidence of
the presence of cross connections.
(4) The City water department is hereby authorized and directed
to discontinue water service after reasonable notice to any property
wherein any connection in violation of this section exists, and to
take such other precautionary measures deemed necessary to eliminate
any possibility of contamination of the public water supply system.
Water service to such property shall not be restored until the cross
connection has been eliminated in compliance with the provisions of
this section.
(5) That all testable backflow prevention assemblies shall
be tested at the time of installation or relocation and after any
repair. Subsequent testing of devices shall be conducted on an annual
basis and in accordance with Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality requirements. Only individuals who have successfully passed
an approved backflow testing class shall perform such testing. Each
tester shall also be approved by the (name of the local agency). Individual(s)
performing assembly testing shall certify the results of his/her testing.
(6) The potable water supply made available on the properties
served by the public water supply shall be protected from possible
contamination as specified by this section and by the state and City
plumbing code. Any water outlet which could be used for potable or
domestic purposes and which is not supplied by the potable system
must be labeled in a conspicuous manner as:
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WATER UNSAFE
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FOR DRINKING
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(7) This section does not supersede the state plumbing code or City Ordinance Chapter
14, but is supplementary to them.
(8) Any person or customer found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this section, or any written order of the City water department in pursuance of this section, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished as provided in Section
1-14.