Chapter XV · Utilities

Article 2. Water

Sections 15-201 to 15-223 · 23 sections

15-201 Regulations; administration of utility.

In addition to the regulations set out in this article, the city manager shall adopt, in accordance with this chapter, such administrative and operational policies as necessary to allow for the efficient and effective metering, billing and colleting of payments from customers of the electric utility.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-202 Service not guaranteed.

The city does not guarantee the delivery of water through any of its mains and connecting services at any time except only when its mains, pumping machinery, power service connection are in good working order, and the supply of water is sufficient for the usual demand of its consumers.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-203 Service connections required.

(a)The owner of all houses, buildings, or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purpose, situated within the city abutting on any street, alley, or right-of-way in which there is now located or may in the future be located near public water mains, is hereby required at his or her own expense to make connection to such public water main.

(b)Before any connection is made to the city’s water system an application must be made in writing to the city by the owner of the premises, or his or her authorized representative, for a permit to make such connection.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-204 Application for service.

(a)Any person, firm or corporation desiring a connection with the municipal water system shall apply in writing to the city, on a form furnished by the city for that purpose, for a permit to make the connection.

(b)The application shall:

(1)Contain an exact description including street address of the property to be served;

(2)State the size of tap required;

(3)State the size and kind of service pipe to be used;

(4)State the full name of the owner of the premises to be served;

(5)State the purpose for which the water is to be used;

(6)State any other pertinent information required by the city clerk;

(7)Be signed by the owner or occupant of the premises to be served, or his or her authorized agent.

(c)Each application for a connection permit shall be accompanied by payment of fees and/or costs as specified in the city’s fee resolution as adopted by the governing body.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-205 City to make connections.

All taps shall be given, street excavations made, corporation cocks inserted, pipes installed from main to curb, and the curb cock installed in a meter box to which the service pipe is to be connected by city employees only.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-206 Connection fees.

The fees for connection to the city waterworks system shall be established by the fee resolution of the governing body.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-207 Curb cocks.

There shall be a curb cock in every service line attached to the city main, the same to be placed within the meter box. Curb cocks shall be supplied with strong and suitable “T” handles.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-208 Check valves.

Check valves are required on all connections to steam boilers or on any other connection deemed necessary by the water utility. Safety and relief valves shall be placed on all boilers or other steam apparatus connected with the water system where the steam pressure may be raised in excess of 40 pounds per square inch.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-209 Reserved for future use.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-210 Meters.

(a)All water furnished to customers shall be metered.

(b)Meters shall be located between the sidewalk or property line and curbing when the service main is located in the street, and on private property within three feet of the alley line when the service main is located in the alley. In the business district the meters may be installed in the basement at a location specified by the city.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-211 Same; testing.

Meters shall be tested before being set and at any other time thereafter when they appear to be measuring incorrectly. If a test is requested by the customer and the meter is found to be accurate within two percent, the meter will be deemed correct and the cost of the test will be assessed to the customer.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-212 Leaks prohibited; penalty.

No allowances shall be made for water used or lost through leaks, carelessness, neglect or otherwise after the same has pass through the meter. However, every customer shall have the right to apply to the city for any water bill or meter reading that they consider excessive, and the City Clerk is permitted to adjust the water bill in accordance with the city’s water leak adjustment policy.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018; Ord. 3843)

15-213 Reserved for future use.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-214 Prohibited acts.

It shall be a violation of this article for any unauthorized person to:

(a)Perform any work upon the pipes or appurtenances of the city’s waterworks system beyond a private property line unless such person is employed by the city or authorized or permitted by the City to do such work;

(b)Make any connections with any extension of the supply pipes of any consumer without written permission to do so having been first obtained from the city manager or his or her designee;

(c)Remove, handle or otherwise molest or disturb any meter, meter lid, cutoff, or any other appurtenances to the water system of the city.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-215 Wasting water.

Water users shall prevent unnecessary waste of water and shall keep sprinklers, hydrants, faucets and all apparatus, including the service line leading from the property to the meter in good condition at their expense.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-216 Reserved for future use.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-217 Rates.

The rates per month for the use of water in the city shall be set by the governing body in its fee resolution.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-218 Reserved for future use.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-219 Reserved for future use.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-220 Cross-connections prohibited.

No person shall establish or permit to be established or maintain or permit to be maintained, any cross connection whereby a private, auxiliary, or emergency water supply other than the regular public water supply of the city may enter the supply and distributing system of the city unless specifically approved by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the governing body.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-221 Same; protective backflow devices required.

Approved devices to protect against backflow or backsiphonage shall be installed at all fixtures and equipment where backflow and/or backsiphonage may occur and where there is a hazard to the potable water supply in that polluted water or other contaminating materials may enter into the public water supply. Any situation in which a heavy withdrawal of water, such as a sudden break in the main or water being used from a fire hydrant, may cause a negative pressure to develop which could lead to backsiphonage of polluted water into the system shall be improper and must be protected by approved backflow preventive valves and systems as determined by the superintendent.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-222 Same; inspection.

The city building inspector or other designee of the city manager shall have the right of entry into any building or premises in the city as frequently as necessary in his or her judgment in order to ensure that plumbing has been installed in accordance with the laws of the city so as to prevent the possibility of pollution of the water supply of the city.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)

15-223 Same; protection from contaminants.

Pursuant to the city’s constitutional home rule authority and K.S.A. 65-163a, the city by its utility superintendent may refuse to deliver water through pipes and mains to any premises where a condition exists which might lead to the contamination of the public water supply system and it may continue to refuse the delivery of water to the premises until that condition is remedied. In addition, the city utility superintendent may terminate water service to any property where the cross connections or backsiphonage condition creates, in the judgment of the superintendent, an eminent danger of contamination to the public water supply.

(Ord. 3744; Code 2018)