All connections to the public water system shall be in conformity with the following rules and regulations, except that the City Council may, by resolution, waive the same upon appeal by the owner, showing special conditions justifying such waiver.
A. 
Separate connection required. Every building or premises served by the public water supply system shall have a separate water service line, valve box and water meter. In the case of existing combined connections between two or more properties, when the opportunity to separate the service connections is available through City or private development, the services shall be separated at the owner's expense. In the case of a multiunit building or premises with building units under separate lease or ownership, each unit shall have a separate valve box and meter. Multiunit buildings without separate valve boxes shall have a shutoff valve accessible to the City.
B. 
Water service line and valve box location. The water service line and valve box shall be located in boulevard areas in street right-of-way or easements. A setback of 10 feet shall be maintained on either side of the water service line that extends from the water main to the valve box, from any driveway, landscaping or other private improvements. Should a ten-foot setback not be possible due to the characteristics of the lot, the City Administrator or their designee has the authority to approve placement of the water service line and valve box with less than a ten-foot setback. In situations where there is not a ten-foot setback, the owner is responsible for repair of the water service from the water main to and including the valve box. In cases where there is a driveway and/or landscaping over the water service line from the water main to the valve box and repairs are needed, the owner is responsible for repair or replacement of any driveway, landscaping, sprinkler systems or other private improvements. Any existing valve box on the premises or property that is replaced due to a new relocated valve box shall be disconnected and removed. In all cases, the valve box shall be accessible at ground level and operable.
C. 
Permit required. No owner, firm or corporation shall make any type of connection to the public water supply system without first obtaining a permit from the City. Applications shall include the legal description of the property to be served, the uses for which the connection is requested, the size of service to be used, full name and address of the owner, and when the connection will be made. All fees, including water accessibility charges (WAC) and residential equivalent connection (REC) charges, shall be paid at the time the application is filed. Failure to pay all fees voids the application.
All connections to the public water system shall be in accordance with the following requirements.
A. 
Licensed plumber required. No person, firm or corporation shall perform work on and/or connect any water service line to the public water supply system valve box unless such person, firm or corporation is a plumber duly licensed under the laws of the State of Minnesota.
B. 
Pipe requirements. All service lines shall be either copper, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or ductile iron pipes; lead-free brass fittings are required. Use of PVC requires installation of tracer wire in accordance with Minnesota Rural Water Association specifications.
C. 
Pressure and connections. All ductile iron, PVC or copper pipe must sustain a pressure of not less than 150 pounds per square inch. No person shall excavate in a public street to service a water main unless they obtain a permit from the City.
The City Engineer, Building Official, and other duly authorized employees of the City, bearing proper credentials and identification, shall be allowed to enter upon all buildings, premises, or properties for the purpose of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling and testing in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. In the event that access is denied by the owner or authorized agent, or tenant, the City may request an administrative search warrant to access the building, premises or property. Nothing in this section shall be construed as to limit the authority of the City to enter any building, premises, or property in urgent emergency situations where there is imminent danger to protect the public health, safety and welfare.
All water sold or used shall be measured by water meters, unless it is not possible or impractical to install meters as determined by the Public Services Director. Meters shall be installed in every building or premises prior to occupation and/or use of the public water system. All meters and remote readers are the property of the City of Isanti.
A. 
Applications for meters. All applications for the installation of water meters shall be made to the Community Development Department. All new meters installed shall be purchased by the owner or contractor from the City. The cost of new meters and ancillary equipment shall be established by the City Council as set forth in Chapter 160, Fees.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
B. 
Installation by licensed plumber. For all new services the water meter shall be installed by a licensed plumber. All meters, fittings, wiring and remote reading devices shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of the Building Official and Public Works Department.
C. 
Access to meters. All water meters connected to the water system shall be accessible to the City Administrator, Public Works Department or their designee between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. of any business day. Refusal by the owner, or tenant, to allow inspection of the water meter, after notification by the City that admission is required, shall constitute a violation of this chapter.
D. 
Repair and replacement of meters. In cases where a water meter needs repair the owner is responsible for such repair by a licensed plumber. Should the City make a repair, the owner shall reimburse the City for the expense of repairing or replacing any such meter. Failure to reimburse the City for water meter repair and service expenses may result in the water supply to the building or premises being shut off or collection through the use of special assessments, as best determined by the City pursuant to § 325-12 of this chapter.
E. 
Bypass of meter. It shall be unlawful for any owner or tenant to tamper with, alter, bypass or in any manner whatsoever interfere with the proper use and functioning of any water meter within the City.
F. 
Meter accuracy. If an owner questions the accuracy of the water meter and desires their meter to be tested, they shall pay a fee, established by the City Council as set forth in Chapter 160, Fees. If the meter tests within a range of minus 3% to plus 5%, the meter is deemed accurate. If the meter reads high an adjustment to the water bill will be calculated by the City, in accordance with City Code § 262-5G, Utility rate overcharge. In any case, if meter is not accurate and needs to be replaced, the owner shall pay the cost of replacement.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
G. 
Final reading. It shall be the responsibility of the owner to notify the City to request a final reading at the time of customer's building change.
H. 
Meters for fire protection systems. The owner of a building or premises protected by a private fire protection system connected to the public utility shall, if directed by the City, install a meter purchased from the City on the fire service at their expense. If water from a fire service is being wasted or used for purposes other than fire protection, the owner or occupant will be notified and a charge may be made for the estimated amount of water so used. If such improper conditions are not corrected within 30 days, the water service may be terminated until proper corrections are made.
I. 
Use of hydrants - meters. Appropriation of water from hydrants and use of meters shall be in accordance with the policy for use of City hydrants.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
J. 
Frozen meters. Owners shall be responsible for protecting water meters from freezing. If a meter freezes, the owner may be required to relocate the meter to a location approved by the City. If a meter is damaged by freezing, the replacement cost of the meter is borne by the owner.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
A. 
Taking water without authority. Taking water without authority, tampering with valve boxes, water meters, water systems, or installation of meter bypasses is strictly prohibited, and if determined by the City Administrator or their designee that probable cause exists to believe that any such violation is occurring or has occurred, shall subject the owner or tenant to immediate disconnection of service and an estimated bill will be issued for unmetered water use. Charges for disconnection and reconnection shall apply to any reinstatement of a water account under this section. Repair and replacement of damaged meter equipment shall be charged. All fees, repair and replacement costs, personnel time and the bill for unmetered water use shall be paid in full prior to reinstatement of a water account and reconnection of water service.
B. 
Operation of valve boxes. The operation of valve boxes and/or gate valves is strictly prohibited without prior approval by the City Administrator or their designee. In the case of a declared emergency, with prior approval as per this subsection, valve boxes or gate valves may be operated by a licensed plumber.
It is the responsibility of the owner to maintain and repair all plumbing distribution lines, systems and fixtures in a building or premises.
A. 
Service line repair - owner's responsibility. The cost for all repairs and replacement of the water service line from the valve box to the building or premises shall be borne entirely by the owner. In the case of failure by the owner to repair any leak after 24 hours' written notice by the City, the water may be shut off and will not be reconnected until the repairs are complete and all fees are paid. These fees include disconnection and reconnection fees. It is the City Administrator or their designee's decision to let the leak continue, throttle the valve to reduce flow, or shut off the service. When the waste of water is great, and there is a threat to property or infrastructure or when damage is likely to result from the leak, the water may be turned off if the repair is not completed immediately. The City reserves the right to make the repair if the owner fails to act after written notice by the City. If the repair or replacement of a service line and/or valve box that is the owner's responsibility is made by the City, the costs for labor, contractor and materials shall be billed to the owner. If these costs are unpaid, a lien will be made on the premises and property, pursuant to § 325-12 of this chapter.
B. 
Service line repair - City responsibility. The City is responsible for repair of service line leaks from the water main up to and including the valve box, if the service line and/or valve box were installed to City standards as per § 325-6B of this chapter. The City is not responsible for replacing any infrastructure (lighting, sprinkler systems, etc.) on private property and items such as landscaping, trees, driveway surfacing, etc., in boulevard or easement areas. Boulevard and easement areas will be brought up to grade, raked out and seeded down with grass seed. Driveway areas will be brought up to grade with Class V material and it shall be the owner's responsibility to replace any surfacing.
C. 
Service line repair - driveways. If the service line is extended and/or the valve box is located under a driveway, the owner assumes all responsibility and costs for maintenance and repair of the service line and/or valve box from the water main to the building or premises. This includes all costs of restoration, including driveway surfacing.
D. 
Thawing of waterlines. The City is not responsible for thawing the portion of service line for which the premises owner is responsible per Subsection A of this section. Policy regarding the thawing of frozen water service lines is per City resolution, as adopted by the City Council.
Unpaid accounts, charges and fees as per this chapter shall be certified to the County Auditor at least annually, and more often if deemed necessary. Prior to certification, a notice shall be sent by U.S. Mail to the account holder and state the date that payment needs to be made prior to certification. The notice shall also inform the account holder of their right to a hearing before the City Council to dispute the amount owed. If approved by the City Council, all delinquent amounts, penalties and charges, including administrative fees, shall be certified to the County Auditor for collection with property taxes.