Water service rates, fees and charges are as established in the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility (herein "AWWU" or "Utility") water tariff which has been duly adopted and approved by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, unless another rate, fee or charge is provided for in a special contract filed with and approved by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.
(AO No. 89-51(S-3); AO No. 91-142(S-1); AO No. 2004-99, § 1, 6-22-2004)
A. 
Customers accepting water service must agree to abide by the rules and regulations established in the duly approved AWWU water tariff and by those set forth in this Code, including those alterations or amendments which may be made from time to time.
B. 
The utility reserves the right to establish more stringent standards or requirements in its water use permits to protect water quality and prevent damage to the municipal water system.
C. 
All customers receiving water service are obligated to pay for such service in accordance with the applicable rate schedule in the approved AWWU water tariff.
D. 
Failure to receive a water billing for any given period of time does not relieve the customer of the responsibility for full payment of service provided.
(AO No. 2004-99, § 1, 6-22-2004)
A. 
The municipality may refuse to permit any person to connect to a water main or to be served directly or indirectly by water from the utility, and may refuse to accept a water main for operation and maintenance purposes unless the main was constructed and installed pursuant to a written agreement with the municipality or the municipality can otherwise assure itself that the main was constructed and installed in compliance with the applicable requirements and specifications of the utility.
B. 
The utility will maintain and repair all mains and all service connections that have been accepted for maintenance and operation by the utility, but will not be responsible for maintaining and repairing the water service extension or for damage to the service connection caused by freezing.
C. 
Customers are responsible for thawing all frozen water service connections and service extensions from the main to the premises, unless the freezing of the service connection or service extension was caused by an act of the utility not in conformity with the AWWU water tariff.
D. 
The customer shall keep the key box lid and thaw wire exposed and their location marked, if necessary, and shall maintain access to the key box at all times.
E. 
A properly identified employee of the utility shall have access to the premises of a customer at all reasonable times for the purpose of turning the water service on or off, reading meters, testing or inspecting the customer's facilities or equipment, or installing or repairing, removing or exchanging facilities or equipment of the utility.
(AO No. 2004-99, § 1, 6-22-2004)
It shall be unlawful for any person:
A. 
Other than an authorized employee of the utility, to turn on or turn off any water service or water main.
B. 
Other than an authorized employee of the utility or a member of a fire department in connection with official duties, to connect to, turn on or turn off any fire hydrant located on the municipal water system without first obtaining a permit from the utility, agreeing to comply with AWWU's hydrant use rules, and paying those charges established by tariff or established on the permit. Validation of a hydrant use permit is contingent on the permittee's vehicle and water use apparatus passing an inspection by an AWWU representative.
C. 
To connect to, interfere with or alter the meters, valves, bypasses or other facilities of the utility used in connection with rendering water service; or to permit connection to, interference with or alteration by any other person except an authorized agent or employee of the utility.
D. 
To allow the premises of a facility which is served by the utility to be connected to another water system, including a private well or other on-property facility, or to have the service from another system readily available to the premises or facility in such a manner that the integrity of the utility water service may be jeopardized. Notwithstanding the prohibitions of this section, standby service may be permitted by the utility to customers, such as hospitals, medical clinics and government facilities, who receive water service through two-inch or larger service connections, if it is determined that the failure of the water supply would be detrimental to the public health, welfare or security, provided that such a customer must provide and install at its own expense a backflow preventer of the reduced pressure principle type prior to commencement of service.
E. 
To allow a cross connection to be constructed between any portion of the utility water system or any portion of any customer water facilities and any possible source of contaminated water. This prohibition shall apply to, but not be limited to, fire sprinkler systems.
F. 
To sell any of the water furnished by the utility unless the person holds a valid certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska for retail sale of water, or is exempt from certification under AS 42.05.
G. 
To furnish or provide water with or without charge to other premises located in an area where a service connection or turn-on could be supplied by the utility upon application.
(AO No. 2004-99, § 1, 6-22-2004)
A. 
The manager of the utility is authorized and directed to continue supplementing the fluoride content of the water supply, to maintain a level of not more than 1.3 parts per million.
B. 
All techniques used to apply fluoride, including testing the water before and after the addition of fluoride, determining the fluoride content, and testing for purity of the fluoride chemicals, shall, in all respects, comply with the rules and standards set by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations.
C. 
The personnel who will make the necessary analyses and apply the fluoride will be state-certified water treatment operators.
(AO No. 90-12; AO No. 2004-99, § 1, 6-22-2004)
Except where a special order of the utility has been issued, a user or interested party shall have the right to administrative procedures provided in the AWWU water tariff or in Chapters 3.60, 14.30 and 14.40, to challenge a grant or denial given under this chapter. After exhausting administrative remedies, a user or interested party may appeal to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska or superior court, whichever body has jurisdiction over the matter.
(AO No. 2004-99, § 1, 6-22-2004)
A. 
In addition to any other remedy or penalty provided by law, a person who violates a provision of this chapter, or a rule, regulation, permit, variance or order issued pursuant to this chapter, shall be subject to
1. 
A civil penalty as set forth in section 14.60.030; or
2. 
If no penalty is set out in section 14.60.030, a civil penalty as set out in section 1.45.010B for each offense;
3. 
Injunctive relief; or
4. 
Criminal penalties as provided in title 8 or section 1.45.040A.
Upon application for injunctive relief and a finding that a person is violating a provision of this chapter, or a rule, regulation, permit, variance or order issued pursuant to this chapter, the superior court shall grant injunctive relief to restrain the violation. Assessment of civil penalties under this chapter does not preclude criminal charges, prosecution or penalties under other provisions of this code or under state law.
B. 
The utility may discontinue or disconnect a user's water service, in accordance with the AWWU water tariff if a person violates a provision of this chapter, or a rule, regulation or permit issued pursuant to this chapter.
C. 
In addition to B. above, the utility may suspend or revoke, in accordance with the AWWU water tariff, any special water use permit or authorization issued to a person who violates a provision of this chapter or a rule, regulation, or permit issued pursuant to this chapter.
D. 
Each day of violation of a provision of this chapter, or a rule, regulation, permit, variance or order issued pursuant to this chapter, shall constitute a separate offense.
(AO No. 2004-99, § 1, 6-22-2004; AO No. 2014-42, § 51, 6-21-2014)
A person violating a provision of this chapter, or who damages, causes damage to, or impairs the municipality's water system, shall be liable to the utility for all expenses, losses, or damages caused by such action or violation. The utility shall bill the user for the costs incurred by the utility for all cleaning, repair or replacement work caused by the user's action or violation. Refusal to pay the assessed costs shall constitute a violation of this chapter and may result in discontinuance or disconnection of service in accordance with the AWWU water tariff.
(AO No. 2004-99, § 1, 6-22-2004)
The utility may enter agreements for water and water rights for use by or within the municipality, subject to approval by the assembly.
(AO No. 2024-28, § 5, 3-27-2024)