A person desiring the installation of a water service line to a building or property shall make application therefor with the public works development department and at the time of submitting his application pay a fee according to the schedule of fees in RMC § 18.24.050. Application and fee must be submitted at least 30 days before the applicant's requested completion date.
The installation of any water service line is dependent on the available water distribution facilities and the department is not required to install a water service line in areas not served by the existing water distribution system or where the system is inadequate to handle the increased demand that would result from the applicant's proposed use.
(Ord. 80; Ord. 12-94; Ord. 06-04; amended during 2011 recodification; Ord. 2022-11 § 1)
The service line from the water main up to and including a curb stop at the point of delivery shall be installed by the developer/contractor. In areas where the water main is installed by the customer, the service line shall be installed to the department's specifications and the department will maintain the service line from the main up to and including a curb stop at the point of delivery.
For other situations, upon approval of the application by the department and payment of the appropriate installation fees, the department will install and maintain the connection on the water main in a right-of-way or easement, and the service line from this connection up to and including the point of delivery.
(Ord. 80; Ord. 38-74; Ord. 25-78; Ord. 06-04; Ord. 07-05; Ord. 2022-11 § 1)
The service line from the point of delivery to the customer's building shall be installed and maintained by the customer, shall be placed at least 30 inches below the surface of the ground, and shall be provided with a valve in the building with which the customer may shut off the water supply to perform repair or alteration work.
(Ord. 80; Ord. 12-94; Ord. 06-04; Ord. 07-05; Ord. 2022-11 § 1)
Where on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title one service line services two or more residential properties, the common service line shall be maintained by the city, and each property owner shall maintain the line serving only his own property; provided, however, that city maintenance responsibility shall not extend beyond the limits of public easements. The department at its discretion may require the rearranging of the piping system to provide for separate services. In such cases the rearranging of piping shall be done by the customer, and a fee for meter installation shall be paid by the customer.
(Ord. 80 § 3.05; Ord. 12-94; Ord. 07-05; Ord. 2022-11 § 1)
The occupant, lessee or owner of any property desiring the city to provide water to such property shall make application for utility services before water is provided at such property. The person signing the application shall be responsible for payment for water supplied to the property and water bills will be forwarded to this person.
(Ord. 80; Ord. 27-81; Ord. 17-03; Ord. 06-04; Ord. 2022-11 § 1)
Any persons making application for temporary construction water from a fire hydrant shall pay a deposit of $1,500 for a hydrant meter; said deposit is to guarantee the return of the meter in good condition to the city.
When any person no longer needs temporary water service from a fire hydrant meter, notice shall be given to the water division to have the meter recovered and a final reading taken.
For service durations less than 30 days, the service charge, consumption charge, and any repair costs will be charged against the deposit. If charges exceed the deposit, the city will issue an invoice to the user. If charges are less than the deposit, the balance remaining will be refunded to the user.
For service durations in excess of 30 days, each month the city will read the meter to determine consumption, after which the city will issue an invoice capturing the service charge, consumption charge, and repair charges. Users who fail to promptly pay the invoiced amount are subject to discontinuance of service. When service is discontinued, either by notice from the user or discontinuance by the city, charges consisting of outstanding balances owed, current service charges, consumption charges, and repair charges may be charged against the deposit. After the account is reconciled, any remaining deposit will be refunded. Any remaining balance will be billed to the user.
(Ord. 29-98; Ord. 06-04; Ord. 07-05; Ord. 43-14 § 1.01; Ord. 2022-11 § 1; Ord. 2022-25 § 1)
If any person wants a fire hydrant meter moved to a different location, notice shall be given to the water division not less than two business days in advance. Moving or otherwise tampering with the meter is prohibited unless specific written authorization is provided by the water division to the user as provided in RMC § 18.12.085. Violations of this section may result in charges for repair of damaged equipment, an administrative fine of up to $250.00, or the discontinuance of temporary water service.
(Ord. 29-98; Ord. 06-04; Ord. 07-05; Ord. 2022-11 § 1)
Any contractor or person seeking construction water for single-family residential construction may obtain metered water service on the property. Application for service and payment of a one-time $50.00 fee for water usage shall be made at the time of taking out a building permit. Upon payment of the building permit and related fees, a water meter will be scheduled to be installed in the location identified by the contractor on the building permit plat drawing. The contractor may connect a water tap/stand pipe to this service stub for dust control or construction water needs. The contractor is responsible for protecting the meter as indicated in RMC § 18.12.120 and notifying the city if damages occur.
(Ord. 29-98; Ord. 06-08; Ord. 2022-11 § 1)
At the sole discretion of the city, as determined by the public works director or designee, the city may authorize a company or contractor representative to retain and relocate a fire hydrant meter from hydrant to hydrant within the city of Richland water system. Fees associated with this arrangement of temporary water supply are the same as stated in RMC § 18.12.081. A user so authorized under this section shall report the meter readings to the water division within the first five days of each month. Failure to do so may result in discontinuance of mobility privileges extended to the company or contractor. Once a year, the city will test and inspect the hydrant meter condition and validate the meter read. The authorization granted under this section may be revoked by the city at its sole discretion and without recourse to the user.
(Ord. 29-98; Ord. 07-05; Ord. 06-08; Ord. 2022-11 § 1)
Commercial properties may apply for a separate meter to measure water used for landscape irrigation and/or any use that will not result in discharge to the sanitary sewer. The department shall determine the location of the requested irrigation meter. If the irrigation meter is connected directly to the city's public water main via a service line the applicant shall pay fees associated with a new service connection, including a water facility fee, meter fee, and service line fees. If the irrigation meter is connected downstream of the customer's meter, the applicant shall pay fees associated with the new meter only.
(Ord. 06-08; Ord. 2022-11 § 1)
Persons caught taking water from fire hydrants, curb stops or other water valves without proper authorization or metering are subject to an administrative fine from the city of $500.00. Payment shall be made before the city will provide authorized water service under any circumstances.
(Ord. 29-98; Ord. 2022-11 § 1)
The department may at any time require the installation of a water meter on an unmetered service line. The fee for such installation, amounting to actual labor and material costs, shall be paid by the customer.
Where water is now supplied to more than one building through a single service line, the department at its discretion may require the rearranging of the piping system to provide for separate metering. In such cases, the rearrangement of piping shall be done by the customer, and a fee for meter installation shall be paid by the customer.
(Ord. 80 § 3.10; Ord. 12-94; Ord. 07-05; Ord. 2022-11 § 1)
It shall be the responsibility of each customer to protect the water meter, service line, and shutoff device inside customer's property or building from damage due to frost. All such equipment, either inside or outside, must also be protected by the customer from damage from backed up hot water or steam. The repair costs for any damage due to negligence of the customer shall be charged to the customer.
(Ord. 80; Ord. 06-04; Ord. 06-08; Ord. 2022-11 § 1)
The duly authorized and properly identified employees of the department shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, to inspect the water supply, piping and plumbing at any customer's premises before or after water service is turned on; service may be refused or discontinued where such piping or plumbing is not in conformance with the applicable city ordinances. Such inspection, or failure to inspect, or failure to refuse or discontinue service shall not render the city liable or responsible for any loss, damage, or injury resulting from defects in the piping or plumbing.
(Ord. 80 § 3.14; Ord. 2022-11 § 1)
The duly authorized and properly identified employees of the department shall have access to the customer's premises at all reasonable times for the purposes of: inspecting water supply, piping and plumbing; inspecting, testing or repairing water department equipment; and for reading water meters.
(Ord. 80 § 3.15; Ord. 2022-11 § 1)