All persons now receiving a water supply from
the Balsam Lake Water Utility or who may hereafter make application
therefor shall be considered as having agreed to be bound by the rules
and regulations as filed with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
A.
Application for water service shall be made in writing
on a form furnished by the Water Utility. The application will contain
the legal description of the property to be served, the name of the
owner, the exact use to be made of the service and the size of the
supply pipe and meter desired. (Note particularly any special refrigeration
and/or air-conditioning water-consuming appliances.)
B.
Service will be furnished only if:
(1)
The premises have a frontage on a properly platted
street or public strip in which a cast iron or other long-life water
main has been laid or where the property owner has agreed to and complied
with the provisions of the Utility's filed main extension rule.
(2)
The property owner has installed or agrees to install
a service pipe from the curbline to the point of use and laid not
less than six feet below the surface of an established or proposed
grade and according to the Utility's specification.
(3)
The premises have adequate piping beyond the metering
point.
C.
The owner of a multiunit dwelling has the option of
being served by individual metered water service to each unit. The
owner, by selecting this option, is required to provide interior plumbing
and meter settings to enable individual metered service to each unit
and individual disconnection without affecting service to other units.
Each meter and meter connection will be a separate Water Utility customer
for the purpose of the filed rules and regulations.
D.
No division of the water service of any lot or parcel
of land shall be made for the extension and independent meterage of
the supply to an adjoining lot or parcel of land. No division of a
water supply service shall be made at the curb for separate supplies
therefrom for two or more separate premises having frontage on any
street or public service strip whether owned by the same or different
parties.
A.
The minimum service contract period shall be one year
unless otherwise specified by special contract or in the applicable
rate schedule.[1] Where a customer at his request has been disconnected
(meter removed) prior to expiration of his minimum contract period
and his account is not delinquent and where thereafter he requests
reconnection of service in the same or other location, a reconnection
charge payable in advance shall be collected. The minimum contract
period is renewed with each reconnection.
[1]
Editor's Note: Current rate schedules are
on file at the office of the Village Clerk-Treasurer.
B.
A reconnection charge shall also be required from
consumers whose services are disconnected (shut off at the curb stop)
because of nonpayment of bills when due (not including disconnection
for failure to comply with deposit or guarantee rules).
C.
A consumer shall be considered as the same consumer
provided the reconnection is requested for the same location by any
member of the same family or, if a place of business, by any partner
or employee of the same business.
An applicant for temporary water supply on a
metered basis shall make and maintain a monetary deposit of not less
than $75 for each meter installed as security for payment for use
of water and for such other charges which may arise from the use of
the supply. The charge for setting the valve and furnishing and setting
the meter will be $45, so that of the $75 deposited, $30 will be available
to pay for the water used at the scheduled rates.
A.
When water is requested for construction purposes
or for filling tanks or other such uses, an application therefor shall
be made to the Director of Public Works in writing upon the application
provided for that purpose in the Water Utility[1] office, giving a statement of the amount of construction
work to be done or the size of the tank to be filled, etc. Payment
for the water for construction shall be made in advance at the scheduled
rates. The service pipe must be installed inside the building from
where the water must be drawn. No connection with the service pipe
at the curb shall be made without special permission from the Director
of Public Works.
B.
In no case will any employee of the Water Utility
turn on water for construction work unless the contractor first presents
a permit. Upon completion of the construction work, the contractor
must return the original permit to the Water Utility, together with
a statement of the actual amount of construction work performed.
C.
Consumers shall not allow contractors, masons or other
persons to take water from their premises without first showing a
permit from the Water Utility. Any consumer failing to comply with
this provision will have water service discontinued.
A.
In cases where no other supply is available, permission
may be granted by the Director of Public Works to use a hydrant. No
hydrant shall be used until it is equipped with a sprinkling valve.
A charge of $75 will be made for setting a valve or for moving it
from one hydrant to another. In no case shall any valve be moved except
by a member of the Water Utility.[1]
B.
Before a valve is set, payment must be made for its
setting and for the water to be used at the scheduled rates. The applicant
must make a deposit of $5 for the hydrant wheel and $10 for the reducer,
if necessary. When the contractor has finished using the hydrant he
must notify the Water Utility to that effect. The minimum charge for
the use of water from a hydrant will be $10, exclusive of deposit
but including the charge for setting the valve.[2]
C.
In the use of a hydrant supply, the hydrant valve
will be set at the proper opening by the Water Utility when the sprinkling
valve is set, and the flow of water must be regulated by means of
the sprinkling valve. If the water is to be used through iron pipe
connections, all such pipe installations shall have a swing joint
to facilitate quick disconnection from the fire hydrant.
Any person who shall, without authority of the Director of Public Works, allow contractors, masons or other unauthorized persons to take water from his premises, operate any valve connected with the street or supply mains or open any fire hydrant connected with the distribution system, except for the purpose of extinguishing a fire, or who shall wantonly damage or impair the same, shall be subject to a forfeiture as provided in Chapter 1, § 1-4, of this Code. Permits for the use of hydrants apply only to such hydrants as are designated for the specific use.
All moneys deposited as security for payment
of charges arising from the use of a temporary water supply on a metered
basis or for the return of a sprinkling valve wheel or reducer, if
the water is used on an unmetered basis, will be refunded to the depositor
upon the termination of the use of water, the payment of all charges
levied against the depositor and the return of the wheel and reducer.
A.
No water service shall be laid through any trench
having cinders, rubbish, rock or gravel fill or any other material
which may cause injury to or disintegration of the service pipe, unless
adequate means of protection are provided by sand filling or such
other insulation as may be approved by the Director of Public Works.
Service pipes passing through curb or retaining walls shall be adequately
safeguarded by provision of a channel space or pipe casing not less
than twice the diameter of the service connection. The space between
the service pipe and channel or pipe casing shall be filled and lightly
caulked with an oakum, mastic cement or other resilient material and
made impervious to moisture.
B.
In backfilling the pipe trench, the service pipe must
be protected against injury by carefully hand tamping the ground filling,
free from hard lumps, rocks, stones or other injurious material, around
and at least six inches over the pipe.
C.
All water supplies shall be of undiminished size from
the street main into the point of meter placement. Beyond the meter
outlet valve the piping shall be sized and proportioned to provide
on all floors at all times an equitable distribution of water supply
for the greatest probable number of fixtures or appliances operating
simultaneously.
A.
Where the property owner requests that a larger service
lateral be installed to replace an existing smaller-diameter pipe,
an allowance of $15 will be made as a deduction in the cost, providing
the new service is to be installed in the same ditch as the existing
service pipe.
B.
The service pipe from the main to and through the
curb stop will be maintained and kept in repair and when worn out
replaced at the expense of the Utility. The property owner shall maintain
the service pipe from the curb stop to the point of use.
C.
If a consumer fails to repair a leaking or broken
service pipe from curb to point of metering or use within such time
as may appear reasonable to the Director of Public Works after notification
has been served on the consumer by the Director of Public Works, the
water will be shut off and will not be turned on again until the repairs
have been completed.
See § PSC 185.35(6), Wis. Adm. Code.
See § PSC 185.89, Wis. Adm. Code.
The consumer shall protect the stop box in the
terrace and shall keep the same free from dirt and other obstructions.
The Utility shall not be liable for failure to locate the stop box
and shut off the water in case of a leak on the consumer's premises.
Meters will be furnished and placed by the Utility
and are not to be disconnected or tampered with by the consumer. All
meters shall be so located that they shall be protected from obstructions
and permit ready access thereto for reading, inspection and servicing,
such location to be designated or approved by the Director of Public
Works. All piping within the building must be supplied by the consumer.
Where additional meters are desired by the consumer, he shall pay
for all piping and an additional amount sufficient to cover the cost
of maintenance and depreciation, but not less than $0.25 per month.
A.
Meters will be repaired by the Water Utility, and
the cost of such repairs caused by ordinary wear and tear will be
borne by the Utility.
B.
Repair of any damage to a meter resulting from the
carelessness of the owner of the premises, his agent or tenant or
from the negligence of any one of them properly to secure and protect
the same, including any damage that may result from allowing a water
meter to become frozen or to be injured from the presence of hot water
or steam in the meter, shall be paid for by the consumer or the owner
of the premises.
In cases where a new customer whose service
is to be metered installs the original service piping or where an
existing metered customer changes his service piping for his own convenience
or where an existing flat-rate customer requests to be metered, the
customer shall, at his expense, provide a suitable location and the
proper connections for the meter. The Director of Public Works should
be consulted as to the type and size of meter setting. Where it is
possible to set meters in the basement or other suitable place within
the building, a short nipple shall be inserted after the stop- and
waste cock, then a union and then another nipple and coupling of the
proper length. The nipple attached to the union and coupling shall
be cut to a standard length provided by the plans of the Director
of Public Works (he may require a horizontal run of 18 inches in such
pipeline), which may later be removed for the insertion of the meter
into the supply line. No permit will be given to change from metered
to flat-rate service.
The water cannot be turned on for a consumer
except by an authorized employee of the Utility. When a plumber has
completed a job, he must leave the water turned off. This does not
prevent him from testing his work.
A.
Where the Utility is unable to read a meter after
two successive attempts, the fact will be plainly indicated on the
bill and either an estimated bill will be computed or the minimum
charge applied. The difference shall be adjusted when the meter is
again read, that is, the bill for the succeeding quarter will be computed
with the gallons or cubic feet in each block of the rate schedule
doubled, and credit will be given on that bill for the amount of the
minimum bill paid the preceding month. Only in unusual cases or where
approval is obtained from the customer shall more than two consecutive
estimated bills be rendered.
If a customer requests, the Utility shall promptly
make an accuracy test in addition to the periodic or installation
test if 24 months or more has elapsed since the last complaint test
of the same meter in the same location. If less than 24 months has
expired, there will be a charge of $45 per inch of nominal size or
fraction thereof, payable in advance. If the meter is found fast in
excess of 2%, any payment that was made for the test will be refunded,
and there will be an adjustment for past billings. See §§ PSC
185.61 through 185.78, Wis. Adm. Code.
During reasonable hours, any officer or authorized
employee of the Utility shall have the right of access to the premises
supplied with service for the purpose of inspection or for the enforcement
of the Utility's rules and regulations. At least once every 12 months
the Utility will make a systematic inspection of all unmetered water
taps for the purpose of checking waste and unnecessary use of water.
A.
New residential service. The Utility[1] may require a cash deposit or other guarantee as a condition
of new residential service if, and only if, the customer has an outstanding
account balance with the Utility which accrued within the last six
years and which at the time of the request for new service remains
outstanding and not in dispute.
B.
Existing residential service. The Utility may require
a cash deposit or other guarantee as a condition of continued service
if, and only if, either or both of the following circumstances apply:
(1)
Service has been shut off or discontinued within the
last 12 months for violation of these rules and regulations or for
nonpayment of a delinquent bill for service which is not in dispute.
(2)
Credit information obtained by the Utility subsequent
to the initial application indicates that the initial application
for service was falsified or incomplete to the extent that a deposit
would be required under these rules and regulations.
C.
Commercial and industrial service. If the credit for
an applicant for commercial or industrial service has not been established
to the satisfaction of the Utility, he may be required to make a deposit
or otherwise guarantee to the Utility payment of bills for service.
D.
Conditions of deposit. See § PSC 185.36(4),
Wis. Adm. Code.
E.
Refund of deposits. The Utility shall review the payment
record of each residential customer with a deposit on file at not
less than twelve-month intervals and shall not require or continue
to require a deposit unless a deposit would be required under the
conditions stated above. In the case of a commercial or industrial
customer, the Utility shall refund the deposit after 24 consecutive
months of prompt payment if the customer's credit standing is satisfactory
to the Utility. Payment shall be considered prompt if it is made prior
to notice of disconnection for nonpayment of a bill not in dispute.
Any deposit or portion thereof refunded to a customer shall be refunded
by check unless both the customer and the Utility agree to credit
the regular bill or unless service is terminated, in which case the
deposit with accrued interest shall be applied to the final bill and
any balance returned to the customer promptly.
F.
Other conditions. A new or additional deposit may
be required upon reasonable written notice of the need therefor if
such new or additional deposit could have been required under the
circumstances when the initial deposit was made. Service may be refused
or disconnected for failure to pay a deposit request as provided in
the rules. When service has been disconnected for failure to make
a deposit, to pay a delinquent bill or to comply with the terms of
a deferred payment agreement and satisfactory arrangements have been
made to have service restored, a reconnection charge as specified
elsewhere in these rules shall be paid by the customer as a condition
to restoration of service.
G.
Guarantee contracts.
(1)
The Utility may accept, in lieu of a cash deposit,
a contract signed by a guarantor satisfactory to the Utility, whereby
payment of a specified sum not exceeding the cash deposit requirement
is guaranteed. The term of a guarantee contract shall be two years
but shall automatically terminate after the customer has closed his
account or at the guarantor's request upon 30 days' written notice
to the Utility.
(2)
Upon termination of a guarantee contract or whenever
the Utility deems the same insufficient as to amount or surety, a
cash deposit or a new or additional guarantee may be required upon
reasonable written notice to the customer. Service to any customer
who fails to comply with these requirements may be refused or, upon
eight days' written notice, disconnected.
(3)
The Utility shall mail the guarantor copies of all
disconnect notices sent to the customer whose account he has guaranteed
unless the guarantor waives such notice in writing.
(4)
In lieu of a cash deposit or guarantee, an applicant
for new service who has an outstanding account accrued within the
last six years with the Utility shall have the right to receive service
from the Utility under a deferred payment agreement as provided in
these rules and regulations for the outstanding account balance.
A.
Reasons for disconnection. Service may be disconnected
or refused for any of the following reasons:
(1)
Failure to pay a delinquent account or failure to
comply with the terms of a deferred payment agreement.
(2)
Violation of the Utility's rules and regulations pertaining
to the use of service in a manner which interferes with the service
of others or to the operation of nonstandard equipment if the customer
has first been notified and provided with reasonable opportunity to
remedy the situation.
(3)
Failure to comply with deposit or guarantee arrangements
as provided for in these rules and regulations.
(4)
Diversion of service around the meter.
B.
Disconnection for delinquent accounts. A bill for
service is delinquent if unpaid after the due date shown on the bill.
The Utility may disconnect service for a delinquent bill by giving
the customer at least 10 calendar days prior to disconnection a written
disconnect notice which may be included with the bill for service.
For purposes of this rule, the due date shall not be less than 20
days after issuance.[1]
C.
Disconnection due to dangerous condition. The Utility
may disconnect without notice where a dangerous condition exists for
as long as the condition exists. Service may be denied to any customer
for failure to comply with the applicable requirements of the rules
and regulations of the Public Service Commission or of these rules
and regulations or if a dangerous or unsafe condition exists on the
customer's premises.
D.
Notification of county. The Utility shall notify the
Polk County Health Department at least five calendar days prior to
any scheduled disconnection of residential service if the customer
or responsible person has made a written request for this procedure.
The Utility shall apprise customers of this right upon application
for service. If service to a residential customer which has been disconnected
has not been restored within 24 hours after disconnection, the Utility
shall notify the Polk County Sheriff's Department of the billing name
and service address and that a threat to health and life might exist
to persons occupying the premises.[2]
A.
The Utility shall offer deferred payment agreements
to residential customers. The deferred payment agreement shall provide
that service will not be discontinued for the outstanding bill if
the customer pays a stated reasonable amount of the outstanding bill
and agrees to pay a stated reasonable portion of the remaining outstanding
balance in installments until the bill is paid. In determining what
amounts are reasonable, the parties shall consider:
B.
In the deferred payment agreement it shall state immediately
preceding the space provided for the customer's signature and in bold-faced
print at least two sizes larger than any other used thereon the following:
"If you are not satisfied with this agreement, do not sign. If you
do sign this agreement, you give up your right to dispute the amount
due under the agreement, except for the Utility's failure or refusal
to follow the terms of this agreement."
C.
A deferred payment agreement shall not include a finance
charge.
D.
If an applicant for service has not fulfilled the
terms of a deferred payment agreement, the Utility shall have the
right to disconnect service or refuse service in accordance with these
rules, and under such circumstances it shall not be required to offer
subsequent negotiation of a deferred payment agreement prior to disconnection.
E.
Any payments made by the customer in compliance with
a deferred payment agreement or otherwise shall be first considered
made in payment of the previous account balance, with any remainder
credited to the current bill.
A.
Whenever the customer advises the Utility's designated
office prior to the disconnection of service that all or part of any
billing as rendered is in dispute or that any matter related to the
disconnection is in dispute, the Utility shall investigate the dispute
promptly and completely, advise the customer of the results of the
investigation, attempt to resolve the dispute and provide the opportunity
for the customer to enter into a deferred payment agreement when applicable
in order to settle the dispute.
B.
After the customer has pursued the available remedies
with the Utility, he may request that the Public Service Commission's
staff informally review the disputed issue and recommend terms of
settlement.
C.
Any party to the dispute, after informal review, may
make a written request for a formal review by the Commission. If the
Commission decides to conduct a formal hearing on the dispute, the
customer must pay 50% of the bill in dispute or post a bond for that
amount on or before the hearing date. Failure to pay the amount or
post the bond will constitute a waiver of the right to a hearing.
Service shall not be disconnected because of any disputed matter while
the disputed matter is being pursued under the dispute procedure.
In no way does this relieve the customer from the obligation of paying
charges which are not disputed.
D.
The form of disconnection notice to be used shall
be as follows:[1]
|
Disconnection Notice
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Dear Customer:
| ||
|
The bill enclosed with this notice includes
your current charge for utility service and your previous unpaid balance.
| ||
|
You have 10 days to pay the utility service
arrears or your service is subject to disconnection.
| ||
|
If you fail to pay the service arrears or fail
to contact us within the 10 days allowed to make reasonable time payment
arrangements, we will proceed with disconnection action.
| ||
|
To avoid the inconvenience of service interruption
and an additional charge of (amount) for reconnection, we urge you
to pay the full arrears immediately at one of our offices.
| ||
|
If you have entered into a deferred payment
agreement with us and have failed to make the time payment you agreed
to, your service will be subject to disconnection unless you pay the
amount due within 10 days.
| ||
|
If you have a reason for delaying the payment,
call us and explain the situation.
| ||
|
Please call this telephone number (appropriate
telephone number) immediately if:
| ||
|
1.
|
You have a question about your utility service
arrears.
| |
|
2.
|
You are unable to pay the full amount of the
bill and are willing to enter into a time payment agreement with us.
| |
|
3.
|
There are any circumstances you think should
be taken into consideration before service is discontinued.
| |
|
4.
|
Any resident is seriously ill.
| |
|
Illness Provision
| ||
|
If there is an existing medical emergency in
your home and you furnish the Utility with a statement signed by either
a licensed Wisconsin physician or a public health official, we will
delay disconnection of service up to 21 days. The statement must identify
the medical emergency and specify the period of time during which
disconnection will aggravate the existing emergency.
| ||
|
Deferred Payment Agreements
| ||
|
If, for some reason, you are unable to pay the
full amount of the utility service arrears on your bill, you may contact
the Utility to discuss arrangements to pay the arrears over an extended
period of time.
| ||
|
This time payment agreement will require:
| ||
|
1.
|
Payment of a reasonable amount at the time the
agreement is made.
| |
|
2.
|
Payment of the remainder of the outstanding
balance in monthly installments over a reasonable length of time.
| |
|
3.
|
Payment of all future utility service bills
in full by the due date.
| |
|
In any situation where you are unable to resolve
billing disputes or disputes about the grounds for proposed disconnection
through contacts with our Utility, you may make an appeal to the Wisconsin
Public Service Commission, Madison, Wisconsin.
| ||
|
(Utility Name)
| ||
E.
If the Utility is not able to collect any bill for
water service even though deposit and guarantee rules are on file,
the bill may be put upon the tax roll as provided in § 66.0809,
Wis. Stats.
A.
When the Utility has reasonable evidence that a consumer
is obtaining his supply of water, in whole or in part, by means of
devices or methods used to stop or interfere with the proper metering
of the utility service being delivered to his equipment, the Utility
reserves the right to estimate and present immediately a bill for
service unmetered as a result of such interference, and such bill
shall be payable subject to a twenty-four-hour disconnection of service.
When the Utility shall have disconnected the consumer for any such
reason, the Utility will reconnect the consumer upon the following
conditions:
(1)
The consumer will be required to deposit with the
Utility an amount sufficient to guarantee the payment of the consumer's
bills for utility service to the Utility.
(2)
The consumer will be required to pay the Utility for
any and all damages to its equipment on the consumer's premises due
to such stoppage or interference with its metering.
(3)
The consumer must further agree to comply with reasonable
requirements to protect the Utility against further losses.
B.
Sections 98.26 and 943.20, Wis. Stats., relating to
water service are hereby adopted and made a part of these rules.
When premises are to be vacated, the Utility
shall be notified in writing at once, so that it may remove the meter
and shut off the supply at the curb cock. The owner of the premises
shall be liable to prosecution for any damage to the property of the
Water Utility by reason of failure to notify the Utility of vacancy.
The Utility reserves the right to shut off the
water in the mains temporarily to make repairs, alterations or additions
to the plant or system. When the circumstances will permit of sufficient
delay, the Utility will give notification, by newspaper publication
or otherwise, of the discontinuance of the supply. No rebate will
be allowed to consumers for such temporary suspension of supply.
The Director of Public Works shall see that
all open ditches for water mains, hydrants and service pipes are properly
guarded to prevent accident to any person or vehicle, and at night
there shall be displayed an amber signal light in such manner as will,
so far as possible, ensure the safety of the public.
Where excavating machines are used in digging
sewers, all water mains shall be maintained at the expense of the
contractor. Contractors must ascertain for themselves the existence
and location of all service pipes. Where they are removed, cut or
damaged in the construction of a sewer, the contractor must at his
own expense cause them to be replaced or repaired at once. He must
not shut off the water service pipes from any consumer for a period
exceeding six hours.
Trenches in unpaved streets shall be refilled
with moist, damp earth or by means of water tamping. When water tamping
is used, the water shall be turned into the trench after the first
12 inches of backfill has been placed, and then the trench shall be
kept flooded until the remainder of the backfill has been put in.
A.
In general. The owner or occupant of every premises
receiving water supply shall apply and maintain suitable means of
protection of the premises supply and all appliances thereof against
damage arising in any manner from the use of the water supply, variation
of water pressure or any interruption of water supply. Particularly,
such owner or occupant must protect water-cooled compressors for refrigeration
systems by means of high-pressure safety cutout devices. There shall
likewise be provided means for the prevention of the transmission
of water ram or noise of operation of any valve or appliance through
the piping of his own or adjacent premises.
B.
Relief valves. On all closed systems (i.e., systems
having a check valve, pressure regulator or reducing valve, water
filter or softener), an effective pressure relief valve shall be installed
either in the top tapping or the upper side tapping of the hot water
tank or on the hot water distributing pipe connection at the tank.
A one-half-inch drainpipe shall be connected to the relief valve for
discharge on the floor or into a sink or open drain through an air
gap. No stop valve shall be placed between the hot water tank and
the relief valve or on the drainpipe.
C.
Air chambers. An air chamber or approved shock absorber
shall be installed at the terminus of each riser, fixture branch or
hydraulic elevator main for the prevention of undue water hammer.
The air chamber shall have a diameter not less than that of the pipe
it serves and a length not less than 15 diameters of such supply pipe.
Where possible, the air chamber should be provided at its base with
a valve and drain cock for water drainage and replenishment of air.
Every person owning or occupying a premises
receiving Village water supply shall maintain such Village water supply
free from any connection, either of a direct or of an indirect nature,
with a water supply from a foreign source or of any manner of connection
with any fixture or appliance whereby water from a foreign supply
or the waste from any fixture, appliance, waste or soil pipe may flow,
be siphoned or pumped into the piping of the Village water system.
Water mains will be extended for new customers
on the following basis:
A.
Where the cost of the extension is to immediately
be collected through assessment by the Village against the abutting
property, the procedure set forth under § 66.0703, Wis.
Stats., will apply, and no additional customer contribution to the
Utility will be required.
B.
Where the Village is unwilling or unable to make a
special assessment, the extension will be made on a customer-financed
basis as follows:
(1)
The applicant will advance as a contribution in aid of construction the total amount equivalent to that which would have been assessed for all property under Subsection A above.
(2)
Part of the contribution required in Subsection B(1) will be refundable. When additional customers are connected to the extended main within 20 years of the date of completion, contributions in aid of construction will be collected equal to the amount which would have been assessed under Subsection A for the abutting property being served. This amount will be refunded to the original contributor. In no case will the contributions received from additional customers exceed the proportionate amount which would have been required under Subsection A, nor will it exceed the total assessable cost of the original extension.
C.
When a new customer is connected to an existing main
not financed by customer contributions, it shall not be considered
as a main extension, and no contribution may be collected from the
customer. This provision applies to mains installed after the effective
date of this rule.
[1]
Editor's Note: Ordinance Number 2008-08, adopted
12-1-2008, provided that the Village of Balsam Lake is not required
to furnish municipal water service, and that it shall not have an
express or implied obligation to provide services to any property
outside the Village limits unless a specific contract is approved
by the Village Board. Existing policies and regulations for extending
municipal water services inside the corporate limits of the Village
shall not be affected. This ordinance shall not affect or alter the
terms of contracts for such services entered into prior to December
4, 2008.
A.
Application for installation of water mains in regularly
platted real estate development subdivisions shall be filed with the
Village Clerk-Treasurer and shall set forth the following information:
(1)
Name of the subdivision.
(2)
Legal description.
(3)
Map showing streets, lots and sizes of proposed mains
and hydrants and street laterals.
(4)
Date of approval of the subdivision plan by the State
Department of Administration.
[Amended 4-3-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-02]
(5)
Date of approval of proposed mains by the State Department
of Natural Resources.
(6)
Number of houses presently under construction.
B.
Upon receipt of the application, the Water Utility
will prepare detailed estimates of the cost of extending water mains
and hydrants of the size deemed necessary in the subdivision and submit
the same to the Village Board for approval of the extension as it
pertains to public fire protection service requirements.
C.
The applicant for water service to be supplied to
a subdivision shall be required to advance to the Utility, prior to
the beginning of the construction, the total estimated cost of the
extension. If the final costs exceed estimated costs, an additional
billing will be made for the balance of the cost due. This balance
is to be paid within 30 days. If final costs are less than estimated,
a refund of overpayment will be made by the Water Utility.
D.
If the developer or a contractor employed by the developer
is to install the water mains (with approval of the Utility), the
developer shall be responsible for the total cost of construction.
A.
Definition of cross-connection. A cross-connection is defined as
any physical connection or arrangement between two otherwise separate
systems, one of which contains potable water from the Village of Balsam
Lake's public water system, and the other of which contains water
from a private source, water of unknown or questionable safety, or
steam, gases, or chemicals, whereby there may be a flow from one system
to the other, with the directions of flow depending on the pressure
differential between the two systems.
B.
Unprotected cross-connections prohibited. No person, firm, or corporation
may establish or maintain, or permit to be established or maintained,
any unprotected cross-connection. Cross-connections shall be protected
as required in Ch. SPS 382, Wis. Adm. Code.
C.
Inspection. The water utility may inspect, or arrange for an inspection of property served by the public water system for cross-connections. [Optional: As an alternative, the water utility may require a person, firm, or corporation who owns, leases, or occupies property to have its plumbing inspected, at its own expense by a State of Wisconsin Certified Cross-Connection Inspector/Surveyor.] The frequency of inspections shall be established by the water utility in accordance with Wisconsin Administrative Code. Any unprotected cross-connections identified by the inspection shall be promptly corrected. Failure to promptly correct an unprotected cross-connection shall be sufficient cause for the water utility to discontinue water service to the property, as provided under Subsection F of this chapter.
D.
Right of entry. Upon presentation of credentials, a representative of the water utility shall have the right to request entry, at any reasonable time, to a property served by a connection to the public water system for the purpose of inspecting the property for cross-connections. Refusing entry to such utility representative shall be sufficient cause for the water utility to discontinue water service to the property, as provided under Subsection F of this chapter. If entry is refused, a special inspection warrant under § 66.0119, Wis. Stats. may be obtained.
E.
Provision of requested information. The water utility may request an owner, lessee, or occupant of property served by a connection to the public water system to furnish the water utility with pertinent information regarding the piping systems on the property. Refusing to provide requested information shall be sufficient cause for the water utility to discontinue water service to the property, as provided under Subsection F of this chapter.
F.
Discontinuation of water for violation. The water utility may discontinue water service to any property wherein any unprotected connection in violation of this chapter exists, and take other precautionary measures deemed necessary to eliminate any danger of contamination of the public water system. Water service may be discontinued, however, only after reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing under Ch. 68, Wis. Stats., except as provided in Subsection G of this chapter. Water service to such property shall not be restored until the unprotected cross-connection has been eliminated.
G.
Emergency discontinuance. If it is determined by the water utility
that an unprotected cross-connection or emergency endangers public
health, safety, or welfare, and requires immediate action, and if
a written finding to that effect is filed with the Village Clerk and
delivered to the customer's premises, water service may be immediately
discontinued. The customer shall have an opportunity for hearing under
Ch. 68, Wis. Stats., within 10 days of such emergency discontinuance.
Water service to such property shall not be restored until the unprotected
cross-connection has been eliminated.
[1]
Editor’s Note: This ordinance provided an effective
date of 2-8-2013.
A.
Frozen services shall be thawed out by and at the
expense of the Utility, except where the freezing was caused by contributory
fault or negligence on the part of the consumer, such as reduction
of the grade or undue exposure of the piping in the building or on
a consumer's property or failure to comply with Water Utility specifications
and requirements as to depth of service, lack of sufficient backfill,
etc.
[Amended 4-3-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-02]
B.
Following the freezing of a service, the Utility shall
take such steps and issue such instructions as may be necessary to
prevent the refreezing of the same service. No charge will be made
for rethawing if the instructions are followed. If it is necessary
to allow the water to flow to prevent refreezing, the customer shall
make provision for proper disposal of the wastewater.
C.
For the period in which the water is allowed to run,
the consumer will be billed according to his meter reading, but in
no event to exceed the average amount paid in the corresponding billing
periods of the previous two years. A new consumer will be charged
the average bill for other consumers of the same class receiving service
under comparable conditions.
