Chapter 13.05
WATER SERVICE

Sections:

13.05.010    Administration.

13.05.020    Compensation.

13.05.030    Authority of the superintendent.

13.05.040    Billing procedures and rates.

13.05.050    New connections.

13.05.060    Lawn irrigation and other systems connected to the water supply.

13.05.070    Other charges.

13.05.080    Prohibited acts.

13.05.090    Liability.

13.05.100    Statutes adopted.

13.05.110    Penalties.

13.05.010 Administration.

(1) The water superintendent shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the town council. The superintendent shall be charged with the operation and administration of the water department. A list of specific duties to be performed shall be attached to the contract between the town and the superintendent.

(2) The town clerk shall serve as clerk of the water department and shall be charged with the preparation and maintenance of water-usage records, billings, and payments.

(3) The meter reader shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the town council and shall be charged with recording the readings from all meters within the town on a bimonthly basis or other cycle as deemed appropriate by the town council and specified in the contract between the town and the meter reader. [Ord. 376 § 1, 2010]

13.05.020 Compensation.

(1) The town council shall establish a fixed fee to be paid to the superintendent. In the event the superintendent performs services beyond the scope of his usual duties and if such services would be the subject of a contract with a third party, the town council may pay additional compensation to the superintendent at an hourly rate. Both the fixed fee and the hourly rate shall be specified in the contract between the town and the superintendent.

(2) The town council shall establish compensation to be paid to the clerk.

(3) The town council shall establish a fixed fee to be paid to the meter reader. The fixed fee shall be specified in the contract between the town and the meter reader. [Ord. 376 § 2, 2010]

13.05.030 Authority of the superintendent.

The superintendent shall have the authority to incur obligations for services and supplies up to a sum as fixed by the town council and as specified in the contract between the town and the superintendent. [Ord. 376 § 3, 2010]

13.05.040 Billing procedures and rates.

(1) The town council shall establish rates and charges for water usage, new connections, reconnections, disconnections, and various other services performed for water service users by the town or its superintendent. Such rates and charges shall be set forth in a fee resolution.

(2) Billings for volume-related water charges shall be determined by the use of water meters or by such other method as the town council may deem appropriate. Statements detailing the amount due shall be mailed to each water service user in the town on or before the first business day of each billing month and shall be due and payable on the twenty-fifth day of the billing month. If payment is not received or postmarked by the twenty-fifth of the month, the unpaid balance shall be considered late and will be assessed a late fee as set forth in the fee resolution.

(3) Accounts in Arrears.

(a) If an account balance remains unpaid after three billing cycles, the clerk shall send a certified letter with a notice of pending disconnection to the responsible party. The notice shall state that full payment of the outstanding balance must be received within 10 days of receipt of the letter or the water will be turned off. In lieu of a certified letter, the clerk may send an email to the resident provided the clerk documents the customer’s receipt of the email notification by email read receipt or by email reply.

(b) The clerk shall also place a hang tag on the front door of the service address with a copy of the notice warning the occupant(s) of the pending disconnection. In lieu of this method, the clerk may hand deliver a copy of the notice to the residence.

(c) If water service is turned off for nonpayment, a reconnection fee shall be added to the outstanding balance owed. Water service shall be restored when the balance due, including the reconnection fee, is paid in full. The reconnection fee shall be set forth in the fee resolution.

(d) The town shall have the option of imposing a lien against a property for unpaid services and charges incurred upon that property, whether such unpaid services and charges are incurred by the property owner or by some other occupant of the property.

(4) The superintendent shall discontinue water service to vacated premises when so requested by the property owner or authorized agent. While disconnected, the clerk shall continue to bill the property owner for the base charge for water service, but no volume-related charges shall accrue. [Ord. 376 § 4, 2010]

13.05.050 New connections.

(1) Application for a new connection to the water system shall be made to the town clerk. Upon approval of the application, the superintendent shall install all necessary equipment, piping, meters, and fittings needed to supply water to a point adjacent to the property line. The applicant shall reimburse the town for this installation as set forth in the fee resolution.

(2) Maintenance of water-supply lines beyond the meter shall be the responsibility of the property owner but must be installed in accordance with the current version of the Uniform Plumbing Code. The property owner shall install a valve between the meter and any service fixture to avoid using the meter valve as a shut-off for owner maintenance. [Amended during 2011 codification; Ord. 376 § 5, 2010]

13.05.060 Lawn irrigation and other systems connected to the water supply.

The property owner shall install a back-flow prevention device in all lawn irrigation, fire sprinkler, and other systems (e.g., hot tubs) that are connected to the town’s water system to avoid contamination of the town’s water supply. The town shall inspect for the device when the system is first installed, and the property owner shall pay a fee for this inspection. The back-flow prevention device shall be tested annually either by the town or by an outside certified tester at the property owner’s expense. [Ord. 376 § 6, 2010]

13.05.070 Other charges.

The town council shall have the authority to impose additional charges and fees beyond those specified herein for other services performed by the water department. [Ord. 376 § 7, 2010]

13.05.080 Prohibited acts.

Except on the authority of the town council or the water superintendent, the following shall be unlawful:

(1) The obstruction of or damage to any meter owned and operated by the water department.

(2) Use of fire hydrants by anyone other than authorized fire department personnel.

(3) Opening, closing, or otherwise tampering with valves owned and operated by the water department.

(4) Cutting into, connecting to, moving, altering, exposing, or otherwise tampering with any part of the water-distribution system.

(5) Shutting off or turning on water connections.

(6) Paving over, covering over, or otherwise concealing any manhole cover, valve marker, meter box, hydrant, or any other part of the water-distribution system.

(7) Substantially altering the grade surrounding a meter box. [Ord. 376 § 8, 2010]

13.05.090 Liability.

The town shall not be liable for any damage to persons or property that may result from the discontinuation or resumption of the water supply and shall not be liable for any damage due to variations of pressure in the water-supply system. It shall be the property owner’s responsibility to install a pressure-reducing valve if protection from excess pressure is desired. The town council shall have the authority to regulate the usage of water. [Ord. 376 § 9, 2010]

13.05.100 Statutes adopted.

The rules and regulations of the Washington State Board of Health regarding public water supplies, WAC 248-54-025 through 248-54-500, are hereby adopted. A copy of these regulations shall be kept on file with the town clerk and shall be available to the public for inspection. [Ord. 376 § 10, 2010]

13.05.110 Penalties.

Violations of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine of up to $300.00 and/or imprisonment for up to 90 days. [Ord. 376 § 11, 2010]