(A)  Requests for water service shall be made at the office of the Finance Director/Recorder by or on behalf of the person, firm or corporation requesting water and/or water service.  Persons requesting water and/or water service will be bound by the terms of this subchapter and all rules and regulations as may be adopted by the City Council in implementation of this subchapter.  A non‑refundable account set‑up fee is due at the time of requesting water service. The account set‑up fee covers administrative costs including, but not limited to: setting up an account, reading the meter, verifying that water is on and other related matters.  The amount and duration of the account set‑up fee will be and is set by resolution of the City Council from time‑to‑time.

(B) If the application is for water service to premises not previously served, the following requirements shall be met:

(1) Where water mains exist adjacent to the property to be served and upon submission to the Water Department of information as to the location and nature of the premises to be served with water, the applicant will be furnished with information as to the proposed location of the meter setting.  If the customer's service line has been installed prior to the application for service, it shall be the applicant's responsibility to clearly mark the location thereof.  The Water Department shall have sole jurisdiction, however, to determine the location of the street service line, and the feasibility of a connection to the customer's service line.  It shall be the applicant's responsibility at his own expense to run his service line from the premises being served to the meter setting at or near the curb line.  Service pipes and connections from the water main to and including the meter setting shall be placed within the line of the public right‑of‑way and shall be installed at the consumer's expense by the Water Department.  The City Manager or his designee shall determine a reasonable installation charge based on the actual average cost.  All installation charges are payable in advance.

(2) Where water mains adjacent to the consumer's property have been installed under a construction reimbursement agreement as provided herein, the customer shall pay the construction charge established per front foot of property abutting the line in addition to all other charges prescribed.

(3) Where water mains adjacent to the consumer's property have been installed by the Water Department without assessment of the costs to the benefiting property, the consumer shall pay a construction charge to the city for exclusive credit to the utility fund as prescribed by resolution of the City Council.  The charges shall be in addition to all other charges.

(4) The applicant shall be responsible for the maintenance, repair and any leakage in the piping from the meter to place of use.  Installation of the consumer's service lines shall be done by the consumer personally or by a licensed plumber in accordance with city design and specifications and in accordance with the building and plumbing codes of the city.  Installation shall avoid cross connections.  Upon notification of the Water Department that a cross connection exists, service shall be refused until the same is eliminated to the satisfaction of the Water Department and/or the City Plumbing Inspector.

(5) The Water Department shall determine the size of the meter to be installed, based upon information furnished by the applicant.  Any change in meter size requested by a consumer after the initial meter installation shall be granted insofar as is reasonable, but the entire cost shall be borne by the consumer.  In cases of dispute as to meter size, the Water Department shall have sole jurisdiction.

(6) The size of the street service line shall be determined by the Water Department based upon information furnished by the applicant.  However, in no case shall the street service line be the same size or any greater size than the water main to which it is connected.  Any change in size or location of the street service line after the original installation shall be done at the consumer's expense.  Installation charges cover all cost of excavation, installation, connecting and resurfacing from the water main to the point where the meter is installed, including the meter box and the meter.  Where service lines must be run a distance greater than 40 feet, the customer shall pay all costs incident to the excess footage.

(a)   Installation and maintenance.  The installation and maintenance of service connections shall be performed only by the duly authorized employees of the Water Department.

(b)   Meters.  Meters shall be installed at the customer's end of the service connection and shall be owned by the Water Department and installed at the applicant's expense.

(c)   Care of meter.  It shall be the duty of the property owner or his agent to keep the meter box free of debris and to take all reasonable precautions to protect the meter from freezing.  If the property owner or his agent shall neglect or refuse to protect the meter from freezing, he shall be charged with the cost of repairing any damage which may result from neglect or refusal.
(Ord. 429, passed 6-14-61; Am. Ord. 1653, passed 3‑14-88; Am. Ord. 1736, passed 6-24-91; Am. Ord. 1913, passed 11-25-96; Am. Ord. 2160, passed 8‑10‑09)