Chapter 15 · Utilities

Article 2. Water

Sections 15-201 to 15-230 · 30 sections

15-201 Superintendent of water and sewage.

The general management, care, control and supervision of the city water system shall be in the superintendent of water and sewage, who shall be appointed by the mayor with the consent of the governing body.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-202 Regulations.

The furnishing of water to customers by the city through its waterworks system shall be governed by the regulations set out in this article.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-203 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.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-204 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 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 clerk by the owner of the premises, or his or her authorized representative, for a permit to make such connection.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-205 Application for service.

(a)Any person, firm or corporation desiring a connection with the municipal water system shall apply in writing to the city clerk, 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 specified in section 15-207.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-206 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.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-207 Connection fees.

The fees for connection to the city waterworks system shall be as follows:

(a)For connecting water main with three-fourths inch tap, three-fourths inch service line and installing three-fourths inch meter - $400 plus tax;

(b)Any extension of an existing water main or installation of a new water main shall be provided by the city. The homeowner will be responsible for 70% of the cost and the city will be responsible for 30% of the cost of the extension or installation.

(c)Any person connecting to water main will be required to hookup to sewer.

(Ord. 2101; Code 2013)

15-208 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.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-209 Check valves.

Check valves are required on all connections to steam boilers or on any other connection deemed necessary by the water superintendent. 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.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-210 Unauthorized service.

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation, other than duly authorized city officials or employees to turn water on or off at the water meter or curb cock shut off, with a key or in any other manner, without first obtaining written permission from the mayor or the governing body.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-211 Cross connections prohibited.

No person shall make or permit to be made a cross connection whereby a private, auxiliary, or emergency water supply other than the regular public water supply of the city may enter the supply or distribution system of the municipality, unless such private, auxiliary or emergency water supply and the method of connection and use of such supply shall have been approved by the water superintendent and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-212 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 main is in the street, and on private property within three feet of the alley line when the main is in the alley. In the business district the meters may be installed in the basement at a location specified by the city.

(c)The city’s responsibility stops at the property line.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-213 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 a charge of $10 will be made to the customer.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-214 Tampering with meter.

It shall be unlawful for any person to break the seal of any meter, to alter the register or mechanism of any meter, or to make any outlet or connection in any manner so that water supplied by the city may be used or wasted without being metered. It shall be unlawful for any person except an authorized employee of the water department to turn any curb cock on or off.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-215 Leaks prohibited; penalty.

No allowances shall be made for water used or lost through leaks, carelessness, and neglect or otherwise after the same has passed through the meter. However, every customer shall have the right to appeal to the city from water bill or meter reading which he or she may consider excessive.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-216 Disconnection, reconnection charge.

The governing body shall establish, by ordinance, a water service disconnection and reconnection charge. Any service disconnected for nonpayment of delinquent bill shall be reconnected only upon payment of the delinquent bill, interest penalty thereon, and a reconnection charge of $35.

(Ord. 2101; Code 2013)

15-217 Interrupt service.

The city reserves the right to interrupt water service for the purpose of making repairs or extensions to water lines or equipment.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-218 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;

(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 governing body;

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

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-219 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.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-220 Water rationing.

The city reserves the right to restrict or prohibit the use of water and to specify the purposes for which it may be used whenever the governing body determines the public exigency so requires.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-221 Same; procedure.

Whenever the governing body determines that water use must be restricted or prohibited, it shall forthwith issue a proclamation of emergency through the news media and use other appropriate methods of making public the proclamation.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-222 Same; priority use.

In the event a proclamation of emergency is issued, water usage will be restricted or prohibited first for uses in the following priority:

(a)Water lawns, gardens, trees, shrubs, plants and water outside dwellings for such purposes as car, boat, or trailer washing or washing exterior of dwellings;

(b)Industrial uses of water, including but not limited to car wash operations and packing plant operations;

(c)Business use, other than industrial;

(d)Home uses other than those set forth in subsection (a).

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-223 Right of access.

Authorized employees of the city may enter upon any premises at reasonable hours for the purpose of reading the meter or servicing or inspecting meters or water lines.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-224 Rates.

The rates per month for the use of water in the city shall be as follows:

Minimum charge of $30.50 per month for water usage for the first 2,000 gallons or any part thereof per month.

For water usage from 2,001 to 7,000 gallons, inclusive, $1.85 per thousand gallons used; and,

For water usage from 7,001 gallons and above, inclusive, $1.20 per thousand gallons used.

(Ord. 2233; Code 2013; Ord. 2421)

15-225 Payment of bills.

All water bills for the previous month’s water service shall be paid on or before the 10th day of the month following the service. For any billing not paid when due, a late charge of 10 percent of the total bill will be calculated and added to the following month’s bill. When the 10th day falls on a weekend or city-designated holiday, the bill will not be considered late if paid by the end of the business day following the weekend or city-designated holiday.

(Code 1999; Code 2013, Ord. 2277)

15-226 Delinquent accounts; notice; hearing; finding; liability.

Water service shall be terminated for nonpayment of service fees or charges as provided in sections 15-102:104

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-227 Same; returned checks.

(a)First returned check. A notice of the insufficient funds check will be mailed to the customer allowing five (5) days in which to pay the insufficient funds check and a thirty dollar ($30) insufficient funds fee. Only cash, cashier’s check or money order will be accepted.

(b)Second returned check. Upon receipt of a second returned check, the utility account will be subject to immediate disconnection without notice. If the second returned check and the insufficient funds check charge are subsequently paid by cash, cashier’s check or money order, the utility account will be placed upon a “cash only” basis for 12 months. Any checks received during this time will be returned without being processed. The account will be deemed “unpaid” until cash, cashier’s check or money order is received and such account will be subject to the disconnection procedure for nonpayment, as provided in Article I of Chapter XV.

(c)Returned checks on service connections fees. Returned checks written for utility service connection fees will cause immediate disconnection of services without notice. A reconnection fee must be paid in addition to all amounts owned prior to the account and service being reactivated.

(d)By requesting utility service, the customer consents to the city contacting customer’s financial institution to verify that funds are available before accepting any checks.

(Ord. 2175; Code 2013)

15-228 Use during fire.

No person owning or occupying premises connected to the municipal water system shall use or allow to be used during a fire any water from the water system except for the purpose of extinguishing the fire. Upon the sounding of a fire alarm it shall be the duty of every such person to see that all water services are tightly closed and that no water is used except in extraordinary cases of emergency during the fire.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)

15-229 Connection fee (turn-on service fee).

There is hereby established a connection turn fee of $50 to turn-on service and/or establish new account for all water service.

(Ord. 2129; Code 2013; Ord. 2425)

15-230 Service outside city limits; prohibited.

No water service shall be provided to any property located outside the city limits which is not receiving water service on the effective date of this code.

(Code 1988; Code 2013)