A. 
All ordinances and water regulations shall be effective in the city and the water service area.
B. 
All water connections shall be metered.
C. 
Where more than one water connection supplies a single property, the consumption of water measured by each meter shall be computed and billed separately.
D. 
Unless otherwise stated in this chapter, each and every occupancy or use shall be served by a separate connection and shall be billed separately.
E. 
No new application for water connection will be honored until a septic tank permit or a sewer connection permit has been procured from the Pierce County health department or the city.
F. 
New water connections will be charged the minimum water availability charge beginning on the date of installation. All connections will be billed continuously for the availability charge during periods of nonuse, including periods during which the water service has been terminated due to delinquency or when a structure is unoccupied.
G. 
All water connections and all charges connected therewith are the responsibility of the owner of the property served.
H. 
Every water customer within the city limits shall establish and keep current an account for garbage service as per Chapter 8.04 BLMC and its amendments. Sewer, stormwater, and water charges will be billed together. Any delinquency in stormwater or sewer bills shall be deemed a delinquency as to water service.
I. 
All water taken or appropriated for use within the city shall be taken or appropriated from the municipal water supply of the city, pursuant to appropriate connections thereto in conformity with the ordinances of the city.
J. 
All buildings or structures within the city, designed, intended or actually used for human occupancy, shall contain such plumbing as may be required by the appropriate provisions of the building code of the city, and shall be connected to the aforesaid municipal water utility of the city.
K. 
At such time as a property owner connects to city water service, through either development, new construction or when a property owner with a well chooses to connect to public water, the well must either be abandoned or deeded to the city.
L. 
Any property used or occupied in violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be brought into conformity with the provisions hereof within 90 days of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter.
(Ord. 588 § 3, 1987; Ord. 892 § 1, 2001; Ord. 1230 § 20, 2007; Ord. 1356 § 3, 2010; Ord. 1465 § 6, 2013; Ord. 1477 § 2, 2014)
A. 
All meters provided and installed on water service connections shall be and remain the property of the city and shall be removed only by the city.
B. 
The city will maintain and repair all domestic and commercial services to and including the meter when rendered unserviceable by ordinary use and will replace meters periodically when necessary.
C. 
Where replacements, repairs or adjustments to any meter are made necessary by improvements to the premises or by the willful act, neglect or carelessness of the owner or occupant of the premises served, all expenses of such replacement, repairs or adjustments incurred by the city shall be borne by the water customer.
D. 
All meters must be kept free of obstructions, including but not limited to trees and other vegetation, earth, rock, parked vehicles, yard art, landscaping materials, garbage cans, fences, or other stationary objects. Rockery walls and retaining walls must be constructed in such a manner as to maintain free access to the meter. Failure to keep a meter free of obstructions shall constitute damage to the public right-of-way and is addressed under the provisions of Chapter 12.22 BLMC; provided, however, that the property owner may be directed to remove an obstruction immediately. Repeat violations of this subsection, and refusals to move a stationary obstruction (such as a garbage can) at the request of an authorized city employee, shall constitute a misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum of a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail.
E. 
The following types of dwelling units shall have a one-inch water meter and one-and-one-half-inch water service line from the meter to the living unit installed:
1. 
All new single-family houses.
2. 
All new accessory dwelling units.
3. 
All existing accessory dwelling units that are platted or otherwise segregated from the property under Chapter 58.17 RCW and BLMC Title 17.
4. 
All new or existing dwelling units that are converted to a condominium.
5. 
Each primary dwelling unit in a new duplex or townhouse.
F. 
A remodel or addition to any existing dwelling unit shall only be required to upsize the water meter and water service line when required by BLMC Title 15.
(Ord. 588 § 10, 1987; Ord. 1346 § 1, 2010; Ord. 1356 § 4, 2010; Ord. 1686 § 4, 2023; Ord. No. 1737 § 6, 6/10/2025)
A. 
Contractors, land developers and similar users shall be charged for water use at commercial rates as provided in BLMC § 13.04.100.
B. 
Users desiring to install additional fire protection systems, auxiliary hydrants, etc., within their property will be subject to such additional expense as may be required by the city in the case of such installations. The cost of these installations, including a detector-check meter will be borne by the user desiring this type of protection.
(Ord. 588 § 12, 1987)
A. 
If a developer or other person desires to extend the water system he may do so under contract with the city and at his own expense; provided, he can comply with all the standards and conditions and other requirements of the city.
B. 
All developers shall furnish the city complete plans, cost estimates and specifications for the proposed extension of water service. Inspection of the construction will be by the city public works director or his designee, the cost of which shall be paid by the developer. The developer may consult the city public works director, prior to designing a water system in order to expedite such design. The public works director may determine that the city will contract directly with a consultant for a review of the developer's extension or installation plans and may bill the cost of such consultant to the developer. The public works director shall advise the applicant of the estimated costs of the inspection and review prior to the incurring of those costs; the applicant shall post bond, or otherwise ensure payment of such costs.
C. 
The city reserves the right to approve or reject any developer's extension or installation. All materials shall be new and bills of materials and evidence of payment of all bills and other necessary data will be required prior to the acceptance of the new water system extensions. Prior to acceptance by the city the developer must convey the extension to the city together with all necessary easements before actual connection.
D. 
All persons or local improvement districts desiring to extend water mains in the water service area must do so under the supervision of, and as directed by the public works director. All such extensions must be carried across the full width of the property being served except in those cases, where, in the opinion of the public works director, the utility involved can never, under any circumstances, be extended beyond the property being served.
E. 
Where a water main is extended along a street at the expense of the property owner or owners on the portion of the street only, or where such a line is extended through property not to be currently served and not contributing to the cost of the line, the person or persons paying said costs may be reimbursed by the noncontributing property owners at the time these owners connect to the water main, as per the provisions of RCW 35.91.020.
F. 
Service to properties that are not on a water main and can only be serviced by a long extended service line is not allowed.
(Ord. 588 § 13, 1987; Ord. 588A § 1, 1994)
A. 
It is unlawful for any person other than properly authorized employees of the city or Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 22 to operate fire hydrants and hose outlets unless arrangements have been made with the city for payment for such water and written permission has been granted by the fire chief of Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 22.
B. 
When it is deemed necessary, the city will furnish an inspector to operate a fire hydrant or hose connection to avoid damage and to obtain the necessary information for computing the volume of water consumed. Water supplied, together with the expense for the services of the inspector and equipment furnished, will be charged at the city's cost.
(Ord. 588 § 14, 1987; Ord. 851 § 12, 2000)