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 1992)
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 1992)
(a) The owner of all houses, buildings, or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes, situated within the city abutting on any street, alley, or right-of-way in which there is now located a public water main, is hereby required at his or her own expense to make connection to such public water main unless such improvements are provided public water service by an existing rural water district.
(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 1992; Ord. 1572-06, Sec. 1)
(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 15-206.
(Code 1992)
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 1992)
(a) Each consumer who desires to obtain water service from the Kechi Municipal Water System shall pay a charge or charges set by resolution:
(b) In addition, each such consumer shall pay all costs incident to the installation of the water meter or meters and waterlines necessary to provide the desired service, which costs are not included in the above basic charges.
(c) A meter reading/turn-on charge shall be incurred by a consumer whose premises has previously been connected to the water system and has a water meter or meters installed but whose water has been turn off by the Kechi Municipal Water System for any reason except for city authorized repair and maintenance.
(d) A meter connecting charge shall be incurred by a consumer whose premises has previously been connected to the water system but does not have the necessary water meter or meters presently installed thereon.
(e) A meter setting charge shall be incurred by a consumer whose premises has the necessary line tap, meter vault, copper setter and meter when the meter vault and meter have not been set and connected. The city maintenance personnel shall set the meter vault and connect the meter. The meter setting charges applies to homes and businesses that have not previously been connected to the water system. This charge presumes that the property owner previously paid the costs of the water line tap, the costs of the vault and the Costs of the meter, Once the meter is set, it becomes the property and the responsibility of the city.
(f) A hook-on charge within the city shall be incurred by a consumer whose premises is located within the corporate limits of the city and has not previously been connected to the municipal water system, except as provided hereinabove. The hook-on charge includes the line-tap, the vault, a copper setter and a regular sized meter,
(g) A hook-on charge outside the city shall be incurred by a consumer whose premises is located outside the corporate limits of the city and has not previously been connected to the municipal water system.
(h) An oversize meter charge shall be incurred by a consumer, in addition to any other applicable charge levied herein, who desires the installation of water meter or meters on his or her premises of any size larger than commonly in use within the water system for residential purposes.
(i) Each charge levied under authority of this section shall be levied on a per meter basis.
(j) Additional water service to premises with water service shall be subject to the same charge or charges and installation and maintenance costs, even though such charges and costs had previously been paid for the existing service. All meters and water lines shall remain the property of the municipal water system.
(Ord. 276, Sec. 1)
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 1992)
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 1992)
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.
(Code 2009)
(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 1992)
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 $1 0 plus an amount equal to the actual cost associated with testing said meter will be made to the customer.
(Code 1992)
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 1992)
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 appeal to the city from water bill or meter reading which he or she may consider excessive.
(Code 1992)
At the time of making application for water service, the property owner or customer shall make a cash deposit in the amount and manner specified in section 15-105 to secure payment of accrued bills or bills due on discontinuance of service.
(Code 1992)
The city reserves the right to interrupt water service for the purpose of making repairs or extensions to water lines or equipment.
(Code 1992)
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 1992)
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 1992)
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 1992)
Every person whose premises are connected or may hereafter be connected to the city water system shall pay to the city an amount to be established by resolution of the city governing body for the purchase and use of the water.
(Code 1992)
(a) The city clerk shall be authorized to estimate water usage for a water customer when weather prevents the reading of the meter, when the meter reader is unavailable, when the meter is not functioning properly, when there is a water leak on the city side of the meter, when the meter reading is zero usage, when it is apparent that the water has been used and when other problems prevent accurate meter readings. The customers’ estimated water bill in such circumstance shall be estimated based on a seasonal average usage for the same residence or business and other similar residences or businesses in the city.
(b) When the meter reading shows zero usage, the meter shall be checked for accuracy and re-read if appropriate. The meters shall be replaced or repaired when aged or damaged.
(c) If a meter is found to be working properly after a period of time when estimating of water bills were necessitated, then the customer shall receive a credit for any difference between the actual usage and the overestimated water bill as soon as practicable. In the event that water usage has been underestimated, the customer shall be billed the difference between actual usage and the underestimated as soon as practicable. The customer in such circumstances shall not be required to pay a late charge.
(Ord. 241, Sec. 1)
When a water line leak is located on the city side of the meter, the city shall be responsible for the costs of repairs and the loss of water. When the water leak is from a line on the customer side of the meter, the customer shall be responsible for repairs and for the water loss that occurred.
(Ord. 241, Sec. 1)
All water bills shall be considered received by the customer when posted and mailed by the city. It is the customer’s responsibility to discover that they have not received a water bill and to report same to the city. Late charges will apply to lost water bills.
(Ord. 241, Sec. 1)
Water service shall be terminated for nonpayment of service fees or charges as provided in sections 15-102:104.
(Code 1992)
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 1992)
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. 168, Sec. 1; Code 1992)
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. 168, Sec. 1; Code 1992)
It shall be the responsibility of building and premises owners to maintain all backflow or backsiphonage prevention devices within the building or on the premises in good working order and to make no piping or other arrangements for the purpose of bypassing or removing such devices. All devices installed to protect against backflow or backsiphonage shall be tested annually and each such device shall be rebuilt every five years. Documentation of testing and rebuilds shall be submitted to the city by May 31 of each year. Testing and rebuilds shall be conducted by a certified technician that meets the requirements of the city maintenance superintendent and who is licensed by the city. The city maintenance superintendent or other designee of the governing body 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. 168, Sec. 1; Code 1992; Ord. 1812-23)
Pursuant to the city’s constitutional home rule authority and K.S.A. 65-1 63a, the city by its maintenance 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 maintenance superintendent may terminate water service to any property where the cross connections or backsiphonage condition creates, in the judgment of the superintendent, an emergency danger of contamination to the public water supply.
(Ord. 168, Sec. 1; Code 1992)
Violation of the provisions of this article or failure to comply with any of its requirements shall constitute a misdemeanor. Any person who violates this article or fails to comply with any of its requirements shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $500, and in addition, shall pay all costs and expenses involved in the case. Each day such violation continues, shall be considered a separate offense. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the City of Kechi or other appropriate authority from taking such other lawful action as is necessary to prevent or remedy any violation.
(Ord. 1812-23)