Chapter 13.05 WATER

Any person desiring to have premises connected with the water system of the town of Cathlamet shall make application therefor to the water department on forms to be provided by said department for that purpose, which shall contain the name of the owner, the location of the premises, lot, block and street, shall specify the size of the service pipe required, shall state the purposes for which water is to be used, shall be signed by the owners of the premises or his duly authorized agent, and shall be accompanied by required deposit and any other fees as may be provided by this chapter for the institution of such service. (Ord. 198(b) § 1, 1945)

13.05.020 Deposit.

(1) New Customers. Every application for water service from the municipal water system made after the passage of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be accompanied by a deposit of $80.00 in the case of water to a solely residential occupancy, and in all other cases not less than two months minimum rate, or two months maximum service, whichever is the larger, conditioned upon full payment and discharge of any and all obligations incident to such service as is provided by ordinance.

(2) Existing Customers. The town may require an existing customer to provide a security deposit, or an increased security deposit, as a condition for further water and/or sewer service if the customer payment record is unsatisfactory or if the town learns that the customer has misrepresented his or her identity to avoid payment of an outstanding bill. The town may also require payment of the outstanding bill, along with penalties and interest, if any, pursuant to its policies.

(3) Returning Customers. The town may require any returning customers who left an outstanding balance on their accounts to pay their previous balance, plus penalties and interest pursuant to its policies, and to provide an increased security deposit, as a condition for providing water and/or sewer service.

(4) The deposit shall be refunded to the depositor when such service shall have been disconnected and all obligations incident thereto have been discharged, less any charges against such service as is by ordinance allowed; provided, that the council may waive this deposit requirement for real property owners, or persons with an established credit rating for at least five years with the municipal water system. (Ord. 445 §§ 1, 2, 2003; Ord. 415 § 3, 2000; Ord. 399 § 3, 1999; Ord. 198(b) § 2, 1945)

13.05.030 Contract.

The application provided for in this chapter shall contain a contract on the part of the person making the same to pay for the water applied for at the rate and in the manner specified therein, and shall reserve to the town of Cathlamet the right to charge and collect the rates and enforce the penalties provided for in this chapter, in the manner herein provided to change the rates at any time by ordinance, to temporarily discontinue the service at any time without notice to the consumer, and shall specify that said contract is subject to all the provisions of this chapter and of any ordinance of the town of Cathlamet relating to the subject hereafter passed, and shall provide that the town of Cathlamet shall not be held responsible for any damage by water or other cause resulting from defective plumbing or appliances on the premises supplied with water, installed by the owner or occupant of said premises and shall provide that in case the supply of water shall be interrupted or fail by reason of accident or

any other cause whatsoever, the town shall not be liable for damages for such interruption or failure nor shall such failure or interruptions for any reasonable period of time be held to constitute a breach of contract on the part of the town or in any way relieve the consumer from performing the obligations of his contract. (Ord. 198(b) § 3, 1945)

13.05.040 Contract in effect.

All contracts shall take effect from the day they are signed and rates shall be charged from the day the premises are connected with the municipal water system and until the premises are disconnected pursuant to notice or as in this chapter provided. Meter rates shall be in effect as long as the meter remains in service. (Ord. 198(b) § 4, 1945)

13.05.050 Connection.

After the applicant has complied with all the prescribed requirements relating to the application for service connection, has executed the contract pertaining thereto and has paid the deposit required and any other charges due, the water department shall cause the property described to be connected with the municipal water system. In no case shall any cross connections be allowed between two or more town service connections, or between any town service connection and pipes supplying water from any other source. (Ord. 198(b) § 6, 1945)

13.05.060 Connections on streets with mains.

Where property is located on a street in which a water main of not less than two inches in diameter is laid said property shall be connected to the water system by a service pipe extending at right angles from the main to the curb lines. The town’s connection, which shall include a union placed at the end of the pipe and a stop-cock placed within the curb lines, shall be maintained by and kept within the exclusive control of the town. Where meters are installed they shall be within two feet of the curb-cock serving the property. The water department shall have the right to install a single service pipe of sufficient size from the main to the curb to supply additional premises not capable of having service connections made as herein provided. In no case shall the town be required to repair or maintain any portion of the service connection between the union and the property line. Owners shall maintain their private lines from the end of the town service to and into their property. (Ord. 198(b) § 7, 1945)

13.05.070 Connections to residences on streets without mains.

Where property is located on a street in which there is at the time no water main, the town will lay a service connection from a main at the nearest suitable point fixed by the water department, and the curb-cock, and a meter if one is installed shall, if possible, be placed at its proper location in front of the property or at such other suitable location as may be determined by the water department. (Ord. 198(b) § 8, 1945)

13.05.080 Individual services.

Every premises to be supplied shall install a separate service connection with the town main, and no premises supplied shall be permitted to furnish water to any other premises; provided, that where there is a house on an inside lot of not more than 3,000 square feet the service may be divided at the curb and a separate stop cock installed for each place. The premises supplied by the main service shall be held responsible for any delinquent and unpaid charges against one or all the separate owners or users, and no change of ownership or occupancy shall affect the application of this section. It shall be unlawful for any person whose premises are supplied with water from the town mains to furnish water to additional premises. (Ord. 198(b) § 10, 1945)

13.05.090 Kind of service connections.

All service connections to all premises shall be either copper or cast iron. (Ord. 198(b) § 11, 1945)

13.05.100 Unlawful connection.

When additional premises are connected to an existing service, or when any premises shall be connected directly to the town mains, without any application therefor made as in this chapter provided and the service connection made by the water department pursuant thereto, such premises shall be charged at double the rate applicable to such premises for the time they are in use, and the service may be shut off by the water department and a charge made for shutting off such service and for turning on the same again. In case the water service shall be turned off, the same shall not be turned on again until all rates and charges against the said premises shall have been paid in full, and application made for such service as in this chapter provided together with the payment of deposit and other charges provided. (Ord. 198(b) § 12, 1945)

13.05.110 Disconnections.

Whenever the owner or occupant of any premises shall desire to discontinue the use of water from the municipal water system, he shall make written application therefor, whereupon the water department shall disconnect such service and any deposit made in connection therewith shall be repaid as in this chapter provided. (Ord. 198(b) § 13, 1945)

13.05.120 Check valves.

The water department shall have the right to order the installation of check valves on any service where it shall determine it to be necessary to protect the water system against hot water or contaminated or stagnated water backing up into the town mains. The number, location and type of check valves to be used shall be fixed and approved by the water department. The water department shall have the power to discontinue any service if the installation of check valve or valves has not been made within 10 days after written notice has been served. (Ord. 198(b) § 14, 1945)

13.05.130 Reconnections.

When premises have been disconnected upon application of the owner or occupant, or for non-payment of water charges, or for any other cause, it shall be unlawful for any person to connect such premises with the municipal water system until application for such service has been made in the manner and form in this chapter provided and the making of the deposit provided and any and all arrearages or other charges in connection with the service of such premises have been paid, and any other cause or causes for disconnection, or incident to reconnection shall have been performed to the satisfaction of the water department. (Ord. 198(b) § 15, 1945)

13.05.140 Owner responsible for leaks.

The owner or occupant of premises served from the municipal water system shall be responsible for all leaks or damages on account of leaks from the service pipe from the town’s stop-cock or meter to the premises served. (Ord. 198(b) § 16, 1945)

13.05.150 Lien for water charges.

All water rates shall be charged against the premises for which the service was installed. All charges for water, when the same becomes delinquent and unpaid, together with costs of lien filing and release, shall be a lien against the premises to which the water has been furnished. In case any charges for water shall become a lien against any premises the water shall be cut off until such charges are paid. (Ord. 425, 2001; Ord. 198(b) § 17, 1945)

13.05.160 Interruption of service.

The town reserves the right, at any time, without notice, to shut off the water supply for repairs, extensions, nonpayment or rates, or any other reason, and the town will not be responsible for any damage, such as bursting of boilers supplied by direct pressure; the breaking of any pipes or fixtures, stoppage or interruption of water supply, or any other damage resulting from the shutting off of water. (Ord. 198(b) § 18, 1945)

13.05.170 Waste.

It shall be unlawful for any person, whether on a flat rate or meter, to waste water or to allow water to be wasted by imperfect or leaking stops, valves, pipes, closets, faucets or other fixtures, or to use water closets without self-closing valves or to use the water for purposes other than those named in the application upon which rates for water are based, or to use it in violation of any ordinance regulating said use of water. (Ord. 198(b) § 19, 1945)

13.05.180 Failure to repair.

The service pipes, connection and other apparatus within any private premises must be kept in good order and repair and protected from freezing at the expense of the owner or lessee, who will be responsible for all damages resulting from leaks and breaks. In case of failure or neglect to promptly repair any service or fixture, or to make any change or alteration required by this chapter, the water department shall have authority, when deemed necessary, to shut off such water service until such changes, alterations or repairs are made. The

repairs of any meter damaged by hot water shall be charged to the owner of the property for which such meter was installed. The deformation or warping of a metered disc or a register figure disc of any meter shall be held to be prima facie evidence of such damage having been caused by the action of heat. (Ord. 198(b) § 20, 1945)

13.05.190 Right of access.

The duly authorized representatives of the water department shall have free access at all reasonable times to all parts of buildings or premises supplied by water from the town’s mains, for the purpose of ascertaining the number of rooms, families and fixtures in the building, of inspecting the condition of pipes and fixtures and the manner in which water is used, and for shutting off or turning on water through the service connection. (Ord. 198(b) § 21, 1945)

13.05.200 Fire service.

Services for fire protection must be metered and fitted with such fixtures only as are needed for fire protection and entirely disconnected from those used for other purposes. Persons having such services will be charged not less than the minimum rate charged for metered services where such services are used for other than fire purposes. No charge shall be made for water used in extinguishing fires if the owner or occupant of premises where such fire occurs gives written notice to the water department within 30 days from the time of such fire. The entire cost of such fire service connection from the town’s main to the connection with the premises served shall be at the expense of the applicant, who shall deposit the estimated cost thereof at the time of making application therefor. Such service connection after installed shall be the property of the town. In no case shall any tap be made upon any pipe used for fire service purposes, or any tank connected therewith, nor shall the use of any water be permitted through any pipes, tank or other fixtures therewith connected except the extinguishing of fire on the premises. (Ord. 198(b) § 22, 1945)

13.05.210 Penalty for turning on without authority.

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person, except when duly authorized by the water department, to turn the water on into any premises after it has been turned off at the town’s stop-cock. In addition to the penalty provided by this chapter, the water department may turn such service off at the main and it will not be turned on again until a flat charge of $150.00 has first been paid.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, it shall be lawful for an owner, or owner’s agent, to turn off water and turn on water to their own premises for the purpose of repairs to the premises’ plumbing and for no other purpose; provided, the owner of the premises shall indemnify and hold harmless the town of Cathlamet for all damages to their premises or any other part of the town’s water system resulting from the turning on or turning off of the water. (Ord. 492 § 1, 2007; Ord. 415 § 3, 2000; Ord. 399 § 4, 1999; Ord. 198(b) § 23, 1945)

13.05.220 Hours for irrigating or sprinkling.

The water department shall have the right to fix certain rules and regulations with reference to the use of water supplied for the purposes of irrigating or sprinklering. (Ord. 198(b) § 24, 1945)

13.05.230 Rates.

Water service may be charged for on a flat or meter basis. Any applicant or user of water may make application for a meter rate, and the council may by resolution provide for the metering of any class of commercial users or of all domestic users at any time, and may order the metering of any user using an excessive amount of water or wasting water. All applications for use of water outside the town limits hereafter shall be metered, and all present users shall be metered as fast as practicable so to do. (Ord. 198(b) § 25, 1945)

13.05.240 Use of meters.

The water department is authorized to install a meter on any service where application therefor is made by the owner or his authorized agent, and on any other service or services when directed by the council as herein provided. The meter shall be cut into the main line of the service pipe and not into a by-pass except where otherwise provided herein. (Ord. 198(b) § 26, 1945)

13.05.250 Individual water meter requirements.

(1) It is the policy of the town of Cathlamet that each residential occupancy shall have an individual water meter and shall incur a separate hookup fee for each occupancy.

(2) Multifamily dwellings (including duplexes), shall have a number of meters equal to the number of residential occupancies in the multifamily dwelling.

(3) Trailer parks, mobile home parks, manufactured home parks or other high density residential areas shall have a separate meter for each trailer, mobile home, manufactured home or other residential occupancy. (Ord. 371 § 1, 1995; Ord. 198(b) § 26(a), 1945)

13.05.260 No combined flat rate and metered service.

In no case shall flat rate and metered service be furnished to the same premises. (Ord. 198(b) § 27, 1945)

13.05.270 Meters and installation.

All meters shall be provided and installed by the town public works department at the expense of the applicant or owner. On each new installation or replacement, a valve shall be installed on the landowner’s side of the meter for the owner’s use and a backflow preventative device shall also be installed, all at the expense of the applicant or owner. (Ord. 492 § 2, 2007; Ord. 489 § 1, 2006; Ord. 471 § 1, 2005; Ord. 198(b) § 28, 1945)

13.05.280 Ownership of meters.

All meters supplied by the water department shall be and remain the property of the town. (Ord. 471 § 2, 2005; Ord. 198(b) § 29, 1945)

13.05.290 Repair of meters.

The water department shall maintain and repair all meters rendered unserviceable through ordinary wear and tear, and shall renew them if necessary; provided, however, that where replacement, repair or adjustment or any meter is rendered necessary by the act, neglect or carelessness of the owner or occupant of any premises, or due to hot water, any expense caused to the water department thereby shall be charged against and collected from the owner of the premises. (Ord. 198(b) § 30, 1945)

13.05.300 Testing of meters.

(1) When any consumer whose water service is metered shall make complaint that the bill for any past time has been excessive, the water department will, upon written request, have such meter re-read and the service inspected for leaks. Should such consumer then desire that the meter be tested said consumer shall then make a deposit with the town treasurer at the time of making such request as follows:

(a) For testing up to 3/4-inch meters: $2.50;

(b) For testing 1 to 3-inch meters: $5.00;

(d) For testing over 6-inch meters: $25.00.

(2) The consumer shall have the privilege if he or she so desires to be present when the test is made. In case a test should show an error of over five percent of water consumed in favor of the water department, the deposit will be refunded to the consumer, a correct registering meter will be installed, and the bill will be adjusted accordingly. No meter shall be removed or in any way disturbed except by the water department. (Ord. 198(b) § 31, 1945)

13.05.310 Use of hydrants.

(1) No person other than an employee of the water department or member of the fire department shall open or interfere with any of the hydrants, standpipes or hose connections of the town-owned water system without having the proper authority.

(2) Municipal employees engaged in sprinkling the public streets shall have the privilege of taking water from the hydrants, standpipes or hose connections for sprinkling purposes.

(3) Members of the fire department shall have the right to take water from the hydrants, standpipes or hose connections for the purposes of training, exhibitions and fire suppression activities.

(4) Any other person desiring service from a hydrant, standpipe or hose connection shall make written application therefor to the town public works department, and may only withdraw water from hydrants designated by the town public works department, and only in such quantities and at such times as are approved in advance. There shall be no fee for application. A deposit of $350.00 shall be required for rental of a two-and-one-half-inch metered backflow prevention appliance at remote sites with $300.00 refundable and $25.00 minimum water charge.

(5) Water withdrawal fees are charged at the rate of $1.00 per 100 cubic feet. The minimum charge for withdrawal of water shall be $10.00 paid in advance.

(6) No application for withdrawal of water shall be granted unless the town public works director determines there is sufficient water supply to grant the withdrawal without jeopardizing the town water supply. (Ord. 457 § 1, 2004; Ord. 198(b) § 32, 1945)

13.05.320 Change in service connection.

The cost of removal or relocation of any water service connection, or of the maintenance of any such connection in any driveway or crossing used for vehicular traffic, shall be charged against the property wherein such removal or relocation is requested or against the property on which such driveway or crossing is maintained. (Ord. 198(b) § 33, 1945)

13.05.330 Records and reports.

It shall be the duty of the water department to keep records of all accounts with all consumers of water and enter therein all charges and penalties. It shall keep such records and make such reports as shall be required by the Division of Municipal Corporations of the state of Washington as required by law, and as shall be directed and required by order of the council. It shall submit monthly reports of all consumers of water as are delinquent over 60 days, and shall forthwith cause the service of such consumers to be discontinued. (Ord. 198(b) § 34, 1945)

13.05.340 Emergency regulations.

In case of emergency, whenever the public safety, health or the equitable distribution of water so demands, the council may direct the water department to change, reduce or limit the time or discontinue the use of water. (Ord. 198(b) § 35, 1945)

13.05.350 Interference.

It shall be unlawful for any person, except an employee of the water department, to disturb, interfere with or damage any water main, water pipe, machinery, tool, meter or any other appliances, buildings, improvements, lawns, grass plots, flowers, vines, bushes or trees belonging to, connected with, or under the control of the water department of the town of Cathlamet. (Ord. 198(b) § 36, 1945)

13.05.360 Contamination.

It shall be unlawful for any person to bathe in, fish in or throw any substance into any reservoir, or to place any foreign substance upon any grounds or in any buildings belonging to, connected with or under the control of the water department of the town of Cathlamet. (Ord. 198(b) § 37, 1945)

13.05.370 Connecting without permission.

It shall be unlawful for any person to make any connections with any fixtures, or to connect any pipe with any watermain or water pipe of the municipal water system of the town of Cathlamet, without having first obtained permission in writing of the water department so to do. (Ord. 198(b) § 38, 1945)

13.05.380 Violation – Penalty.

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine, not exceeding $500.00, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. 415 § 3, 2000; Ord. 399 § 5, 1999; Ord. 198(b) § 39, 1945)

13.05.390 Basis for rate charges.

All water supplied to consumers from the municipal water system of the town of Cathlamet shall be charged for either at a flat rate or by a meter; provided, however, that when all services of a like type are metered no individual service of that type shall be served at any other than by meter. Services furnished to homes or single apartments, occupied by one family, shall be known as domestic services; those furnished to homes or apartments occupied by more than one family or to any building used in connection with any commercial enterprise shall be known as commercial services; and those furnished to premises occupied both for domestic and commercial purposes shall be known as combination services. (Ord. 198(b) § 40, 1945)

13.05.400 Special rates.

The council shall have the right to fix special rates by contract for industrial irrigation or distribution purposes; provided, however, that in no case shall the charge for such service be less than the cost of production, and in no event less than 50 percent of the regular meter rates herein provided for. (Ord. 198(b) § 41, 1945)