[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Amery 10-6-2004 as Title 9, Ch. 1, Art. B, of the 2004 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
All persons now receiving a water supply from the City of Amery 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 or water-consuming appliances.)
B. 
Service will be furnished only if:
(1) 
Premises have 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) 
Premises have adequate piping beyond metering point.
C. 
The owner of a multiunit 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. Duplexes may be served by one lateral, provided:
(1) 
Individual metered service and disconnection is provided; and
(2) 
It is permitted by local ordinance.
E. 
Buildings used in the same business, located on the same parcel, and served by a single lateral may have the customer's water supply piping installed to a central point so that volume can be metered in one place.
F. 
The Water Utility may withhold approval of any application where 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/her 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 in the office of the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer.
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. (See Schedule R-1 for applicable rate.)
C. 
If reconnection is requested for the same location by any member of the same household, or if a place of business, by any partner or employee of the same business, it shall be considered as the same customer.
An applicant for temporary water service 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 Bw-1 for applicable rate.[1])
[1]
Editor's Note: Current rate schedules are on file in the office of the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer.
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 lateral 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 has obtained permission from the Water Utility.
C. 
Consumers shall not allow contractors, masons or other persons to take unmetered water from their premises without permission from the Water Utility. Any consumer failing to comply with this provision will have water service discontinued and will be responsible for the cost of the estimated volume of water used.
A. 
In cases where no other supply is available, permission may be granted by the Water 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 an employee of the Water 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. Where applicable, see Schedule Bw-1 for 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 in the office of the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer.
Any person who shall, without authority of the Water Utility, allow contractors, masons, or other unauthorized persons to take water from their 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 money 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 lateral 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 laterals 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 lateral 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 lateral 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 service laterals 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. 
The service lateral 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 Water Utility. The property owner shall maintain the service lateral from the curb stop to the point of use.
B. 
If an owner fails to repair a leaking or broken service lateral from the curb to the point of metering or use within such time as may appear reasonable to the Water Utility after notification has been served on the owner by the Water Utility, the water will be shut off and will not be turned on again until the repairs have been completed.
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/her expense shall provide a suitable location and the proper connections for the meter. The meter setting and associated plumbing shall comply with the Water Utility's standard. The Water Utility should be consulted as to the type and size of meter setting.
The water cannot be turned on for a consumer except by an authorized employee of the Utility. Plumbers may turn the water on to test their work, but upon completion must leave the water turned off.
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 § 411-27, 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 § PSC 185.77, 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 Water Utility or a Water Utility-approved contractor 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 Water Utility. All piping within the building must be supplied by the owner. Where additional meters are desired by the owner, he/she shall pay for all piping.
A. 
Meters will be repaired by the Water Utility, and the cost of such repairs caused by ordinary wear and tear will be borne by the Water Utility.
B. 
Repair of any damage to a meter resulting from the carelessness of the owner of the premises, his/her agent, or tenant, or from the negligence of any one of them to properly secure and protect 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 customer or the owner of the premises.
See Ch. PSC 185, Wis. Adm. Code.
During reasonable hours, any officer or authorized employee of the Water 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 § 196.171, Wis. Stats.
See § PSC 185.36, Wis. Adm. Code.
See § PSC 185.361, Wis. Adm. Code.
See § PSC 185.38, Wis. Adm. Code.
See § PSC 185.39, Wis. Adm. Code.
A. 
Disconnection and refusal of service. See Ch. PSC 185, Wis. Adm. Code.
B. 
Form. The form of disconnection notice to be used shall be prescribed by the Water Utility.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
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 person is obtaining water, in whole or in part, by means of devices or methods used to stop or interfere with the proper metering of the Water Utility service being delivered, the Water Utility reserves the right to estimate and present immediately a bill for unmetered service as a result of such interference, and such bill shall be payable subject to a twenty-four-hour disconnection of service. If the Water Utility shall have disconnected the consumer for any such reason, the Utility will reconnect the consumer upon the following conditions:
(1) 
The customer 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 customer 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 customer must further agree to comply with reasonable requirements to protect the Water 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 Water Utility shall be notified, in writing, at once, so that it may remove the meter and shut off the supply at the curb stop. The owner of the premises shall be liable to prosecution for any damage to the Water Utility's property.
The Water 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, the Water Utility will give notification, by newspaper publication or otherwise, of the discontinuance of the water supply. No credit will be allowed to consumers for such temporary suspension of the water supply. See § PSC 185.89, Wis. Adm. Code.
It shall be the duty of the Water Utility to see that all open ditches for water mains, hydrants, and service laterals are properly guarded to prevent accident to any person or vehicle, and at night there shall be displayed amber signal lighting to ensure the safety of the public.
Contractors must ascertain for themselves the existence and location of all water mains and service laterals. Where 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 laterals to any customer 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 their 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 drain pipe. (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.
[Amended 2-1-2012 by Ord. No. 4-2012]
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 Amery's public 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 or which owns, leases, or occupies property to have their plumbing inspected, at their 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 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 cross-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 Ch. 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 Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer and delivered to the customer's premises, water service may be immediately discontinued. The customer shall have an opportunity for hearing under Ch. 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.
Water mains will be extended for new customers on the following basis:
A. 
Where the cost of the extension is to be immediately collected through assessment by the City against the abutting property, the procedure set forth under § 66.0703, Wis. Stats., will apply, and no additional customer contribution to the Utility will be required.
B. 
Where the municipality is unwilling or unable to make a special assessment, the extension will be made on a customer-financed basis as follows:
(1) 
The applicant(s) will advance, as a contribution in aid of construction, the total amount equivalent to that which would have been assessed for all property under Subsection A.
(2) 
Part of the contribution required in Subsection B(1) will be refundable. When additional customers are connected to the extended main within 20 years of the date of completion, contributions in aid of construction will be collected equal to the amount which would have been assessed under Subsection A for the abutting property being served. This amount will be refunded to the original contributor(s). In no case will the contribution received from additional customers exceed the proportionate amount which would have been required under Subsection A nor will it exceed the total assessable cost of the original extension.
C. 
When a customer connects to a transmission main or connecting loop installed at Utility expense within 20 years of the date of completion, there will be a contribution required of an amount equivalent to that which would have been assessed under Subsection A.
A. 
Application for installation of water mains in regularly platted real estate development subdivisions shall be filed with the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer.
B. 
Upon receipt of the application, the Water Utility will prepare detailed estimates of the cost of extending water mains and hydrants of the size deemed necessary in the subdivision and submit same to the municipal governing body for approval of the extension as it pertains to public fire-protection service requirements.
C. 
If the developer, or a contractor employed by the developer, is to install the water mains (with approval of the Utility), the developer shall be responsible for the total cost of construction.
D. 
If the Utility or its contractor is to install the water mains, the developer shall be required to advance to the Utility, prior to the beginning of the construction, the total estimated cost of the extension. If the final costs exceed estimated costs, an additional billing will be made for the balance of the cost due. This balance is to be paid within 30 days. If final costs are less than estimated, a refund of the overpayment will be made by the Water Utility.
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 Amery municipal water system.
C. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM
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.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
NONCOMPLYING
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.
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
A well or pump installation which produces water which is bacteriologically contaminated or contaminated with substances in exceedance of the standards of Ch. NR 109 or NR 140, Wis. Adm. Code, or for which a health advisory has been issued by the Department of Natural Resources.
UNUSED
A well or pump installation which is not in use or does not have a functional pumping system.
WELL
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.
WELL ABANDONMENT
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 Council.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
E. 
Well operation permit. The City Council may grant a permit to a private well owner to operate a well for a period not to exceed five years providing 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 Council 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 Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer. 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 Amery 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 Amery 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 Amery 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 pursuant to § 1-5 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.
[Added 4-7-2021 by Ord. No. 05-2021]
A. 
The City of Amery, Polk County, Wisconsin plans to make several improvements to Keller Avenue and other related facilities also identified Safe Drinking Water Project #5582-02 ("the project").
B. 
The City intends to adopt a resolution authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds to pay for the project, and has determined that such improvements benefit the City Tax Incremental District No. 6.
C. 
A tax incremental district water charges are hereby imposed upon the City of Amery for 100% of the total costs of the project (including debt service coverage ratio requirements imposed by a bond resolution) which are applicable to improvements undertaken in connection with the City's Tax Incremental District No. 6 ("the district"), whether located within or outside the district. The charge against the Tax Incremental District No. 6 for the above-referenced project shall be no less than the amortized amount of 50% of the total project cost or 100% of the project SDWL loan principal and interest payments for the life of the Tax Incremental District No. 6, whichever is less.
D. 
An additional tax incremental district charge is hereby imposed under the following condition: If the life of the loan exceeds the legal repayment period of TID No. 6, the City reserves the right to charge the TID No. 6 during the repayment period of the TID No. 6 for payments which will come due and payable after the TID No. 6 payment period has expired for remaining principal payments allocable to the aforementioned improvements.
E. 
A tax incremental district payment shall be issued semi-annually directly to the water utility checking accounts prior to the debt service date(s). This obligation shall only apply to the debt incurred due for the costs of the project. Upon final debt service payment by the sewer utilities for the project then this section shall be automatically repealed.