[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of DeWitt as Ch.
51 of the 1969 Code. Section 186-26 amended at time of adoption of Code; see
Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
Application for water service shall be made by the property
owner or his authorized representative, in writing, to the Town Clerk of the
Town of DeWitt for any building, structure or premises located within the
Town of DeWitt sought to be supplied with water by any water district in the
Town of DeWitt.
B.
Such application must be approved by the Water Superintendent
having jurisdiction before any connection is made with the street main.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated.
The pipe or tubing leading from the curb stop and curb box across
the applicant's property to the applicant's building, structure
or premises and connecting to the meter.
The tap or connection to the main, corporation stop, curb box, curb
stop and sufficient copper tubing or pipe to connect the corporation stop
to the curb box. The curb box and curb stop shall be located at the applicant's
property line.
All service connections will be constructed by the water district at
such charge as shall be determined by the Town Board.
A.
Owner's service pipes shall be installed entirely
by the applicant, and such installation shall be subject to the approval of
the Water District Superintendent.
B.
All owners' service pipes shall be installed at
a depth from the ground surface to top of the pipe of not less than four (4)
feet six (6)inches.
C.
No owner's service pipe shall be less than three-fourths
(3/4) inch in nominal diameter.
D.
Owners' service pipes three (3) inches in diameter
and smaller shall be of Type K copper tubing or of a material approved, in
writing, by the Town Engineers and filed with the Water Department. Owners'
service pipes larger than three (3) inches in diameter shall be of materials
approved, in writing, by the Town Engineers and on file with the Water Department.
[Amended 6-10-1974]
E.
There shall be no tap, provision for tap, or plugged
tee or other such fittings in the owner's service pipe.
F.
After the owner's service pipe has been installed,
it shall not be covered up until it has been inspected by the Water District
Superintendent, and no connection to the curb box shall be made unless the
Water District Superintendent has approved the installation.
A.
Should repairs to the owner's service pipe be necessary,
the repairs shall be made promptly by competent workmen at the expense of
the property owner.
B.
All repairs of the owner's service pipe shall be
left uncovered until the Water District Superintendent has inspected the repairs.
Water service will be shut off by the Water District Superintendent during
repairs and will not be turned on until the repairs meet with the approval
of the Water District Superintendent.
C.
In the event that a leak exists in an owner's service
pipe and, after due notice, repairs are not made by the property owner, the
repairs will be made by the water district, and the cost of same, determined
as actual cost of labor and material plus ten percent (10%), shall be charged
against the owner of the property served by such owner's service pipe
and be a lien thereon.
D.
If any owner's service pipe already installed does
not meet with the requirements of these regulations, whenever such owner's
service pipe shall require repairs, it shall be so altered as to fully conform
to these regulations.
A.
Every water service shall be supplied through a meter.
B.
All water meters that shall be used on the water system
of a water district must be procured from the water district and shall be
the property of the district. Meters up to and including one (1) inch in size
shall be procured from the water district at a set fee established by the
Town Board. Meters larger than one (1) inch shall be procured from the water
district at a fee equal to the cost of the meter.
Meters shall be set at the expense of the property owner in such location,
position and manner as to be readily accessible for reading and repair and
kept free of obstructions. A suitable valve or stopcock shall be placed in
the pipe near the inlet side of the meter.
The property owner must protect the meter from freezing and damage.
The water district will repair all meters as necessary to maintain against
normal wear of the meters in the water district. Any damage to meters caused
by other than normal wear will be repaired by the water district at the expense
of the property owner.
The water district will test meters as necessary to maintain against
normal wear. Where a meter is suspected by the property owner, it will be
tested at the property owner's request. If said meter is found correct,
the property owner shall bear the expense of the test. Meters will be considered
correct if registering within two percent (2%) of the average percent registration
of flows within normal test flow limits by the American Water Works Association.
No person shall in any way interfere or tamper with the water meter
or the valves and fittings connected therewith. When meters are sealed, the
seal may be broken only by the authorized agent of the Town Board. Should
the seal by broken in any other manner, the property owner will be held responsible,
and the Town Board reserves the right to order the meter removed for test
at the expense of the property owner.
All new applications for water service shall be for a single service.
Each property or property unit shall be served by a single service consisting
of a service connection, an owner's service pipe and a meter. In case
of large-diameter services serving industrial or commercial complexes, exceptions
regarding single services may be made by special permission of the Town Board.
A.
Where more than one (1) property or property unit is
now supplied through one (1) service connection and under the control of one
(1) curb stop, any violation of the rules of the Town Board and water district
by any of the owners so supplied shall be construed as a violation by all,
and the Town Board may take such action as could be taken against a single
owner, except that where there is no serious emergency, such action shall
not be taken until the owner who has not violated the rules and regulations
has been given a reasonable opportunity to attach his service to a separately
controlled service connection.
B.
Whenever an owner's service pipe or a service connection
supplying two (2) or more owners or property units may, for the purpose of
stopping leaks or making other repairs, require shutdown, it shall be replaced
with separate service connections. These service connections and owners'
service pipes shall all be new, unless the owners make an agreement as to
the ownership of the existing owners' service pipes. When one (1) service
connection has been used for two (2) or more properties all in one (1) ownership
and there is a division of such ownership, each property shall thereafter
have its own service pipe.
A.
All water passing through a meter will be charged for,
whether used or wasted.
B.
In cases where it is found that a meter has ceased to
register or has registered inaccurately and it cannot be determined by reasonable
test the percentage of inaccuracy, an estimated bill for the billing period
may be rendered the consumer. This estimated bill will be based upon the amount
of water consumed in the corresponding period in prior years, except where
it appears that there has been a change in the occupancy of the premises or
in the use of water, in which case an equitable adjustment will be made by
the Town Board.
C.
Charges for fire prevention sprinkling systems shall
be paid annually in advance, within thirty (30) days of the date of the bill,
and if not so paid, shall be subject to a late charge of ten percent (10%)
which shall be added to the bill. Such charges shall be made in accordance
with a schedule of sprinkler charges prepared by the Town Water Superintendent
and approved by the Town Board.
[Added 6-10-1974]
D.
If the meter reading cannot be obtained, an estimated
billing shall be rendered, based on the average of the past four (4) billing
periods, adjusted to reflect rate adjustments. Not more than one (1) estimated
billing shall be rendered a customer during any one (1) year. Any overcharge
by reason of an estimated bill shall be credited to subsequent bills until
the credit is consumed.
[Added 3-14-1977]
The property owner shall notify the water district, in writing, of any
change in ownership. No adjustment of water bills will be made between owners
by the district unless due notice has been given the district prior to the
mailing of a bill.
Water service will be discontinued by the water district upon written
notice not less than two (2) days prior to the requested date of discontinuance.
[Amended 6-10-1974; 3-14-1977]
The rentals for the use of water and all charges in connection therewith
shall be due and payable on the day stipulated in the rate schedule established
for each individual district by the Town Board. Said rate schedules shall
include a minimum charge for water service, and such minimum charge shall
be due and payable on a pro rata basis for any period regardless of lesser
use until the service is terminated by the water district. These various rate
schedules will be subject to change from time to time as determined by resolution
of the Town Board. Any charges for water rents not paid within thirty (30)
days of the date of the bill shall be subject to a late charge of ten percent
(10%), which shall be added to the bill.
[Added 3-27-1978]
When a late charge has been imposed pursuant to the preceding section,
the Town Supervisor, upon good and reasonable cause shown for the delay of
payment, is authorized to forgive and delete such late charge, provided that
said late charge does not exceed twenty dollars ($20.). Late charges in excess
of that amount may be appealed to the Town Board.
A.
The Town of DeWitt and the water district therein reserve
the right, at any time, without notice, to shut off the water in its mains
for the purpose of making repairs and extensions or for other purposes, and
in no event shall the town or its officers, representatives or employees be
liable for a deficiency in the supply of water or the pressure thereof.
B.
In the event of a break in a water main or interruption
of service for any other reason that appears to be of a nature that the interruption
will last more than thirty (30) minutes, the Water Superintendent or his deputy
shall immediately notify the Fire Department within whose district or fire
protection district the break or interruption is located, giving the extent
of the interruption and his best judgment of its duration.
[Added 1-26-1976]
[Amended 3-14-1977]
When water service has been terminated on written order of the property
owner, the restoration of service shall be made with reasonable dispatch on
written request of the property owner.
No person or persons are permitted to open any fireplug or hydrant or
draw water therefrom except the Water Superintendent or those acting with
his permission or under his direction. The Chief of the Fire Department, his
assistants and officers and members of said Department are authorized to use
the hydrants and fireplug for the purpose of obtaining water for fire-fighting
purposes only, and such water shall not be sold. In all such cases the water
shall be obtained under the direction and supervision of the Chief or assistants
appointed by him, and in no case shall an inexperienced or incompetent person
be permitted to manipulate or control in any way any hydrant, fireplug or
fixture.
Corporation stops or curb stops on water services shall be operated
only by the Water Superintendent or his authorized agent or by such other
person authorized by the Town Board.
No person shall obstruct access to any fire hydrant, gate valve, corporation
cock or curb box connection with the water mains or service connections or
any water pipe in any street or placing thereon any building materials, rubbish
or other hindrances.
No pipe or fixtures connected with the mains of the water district shall
be connected with pipes or fixtures supplied with water from any other service
nor any apparatus which may endanger the quality of the district's water
supply.
No water main shall be tapped for nor any service man extended outside
the boundaries of the water district except on special application therefor
filed with the Town Board and a special permit therefor granted and issued
by the Town Board. The Town Board shall impose such conditions upon the granting
of the permit as shall be deemed fitting and proper by it and shall impose
and collect such water rates and charges for such water service as it deems
best.
A.
No customer or other person shall willfully waste any
water supplied by the Town of DeWitt or any water district therein by the
loss of water through imperfect pipes or by any other means.
B.
The Town Board and its representatives reserve the right
to restrict or prohibit the use of water for sprinkling purposes or other
nonessential purposes at such times and for such periods as it deems necessary
or proper, and all directives by the Town Board or its duly authorized representative
relative to the curtailment or prohibition of the use of water for sprinkling
or other nonessential purposes shall be complied with.
[Amended 3-28-1988[1]]
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter or
any rule or regulation thereof shall be guilty of an offense against this
chapter and shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding two hundred fifty
dollars ($250.) or imprisonment not exceeding fifteen (15) days, or both.
