Chapter 13.04
WATER REGULATIONS
Sections:
13.04.030 Water service application.
13.04.040 Water service disconnection application.
13.04.050 Design and installation requirements.
13.04.060 Meters – Installation, location and testing.
13.04.070 Shut off for repairs.
13.04.080 Inspection authority.
13.04.090 Account responsibility.
13.04.110 Violation and enforcement.
13.04.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the regulation and use of town supplied water. (Ord. 1080 § 1, 1998)
13.04.020 Definitions.
For the purposes of Chapters 13.04 through 13.16 FHMC the terms set out in this section shall have the meanings indicated.
A. “Backflow” means the flow, other than the intended direction of flow, of any foreign liquids, gases, or substances into the distribution system of the public drinking water system.
B. “Cross connection” means any physical arrangement whereby a public water supply is connected, directly or indirectly, with a source of water not approved for the system, or any nonpotable supply, which may be capable of contaminating the public drinking system as a result of backflow.
C. “Person” means and includes persons of either sex, associations, partnerships, and corporations whether acting by themselves or through authorized representatives; the singular number shall include the plural and the masculine shall include the feminine.
D. “Town water system” means the water resources, storage tanks, distribution lines, fire hydrants, meters, pumps and all other appurtenances necessary for the supply of domestic water. (Ord. 1080 § 2, 1998)
13.04.030 Water service application.
A. It is unlawful for any person to connect to the town water system without first obtaining approval of a water service application.
B. No person shall alter their connection to or use of the town water system without obtaining approval of a new water service application.
C. Each separate parcel of land that receives water service from the town water system shall be required to have a separate water connection, except as follows:
1. A single connection may supply water to more than one parcel if the parcels are under one ownership and share a common boundary. In the event common ownership is terminated because title to any one or more of the parcels is transferred to a new owner, water service shall be terminated unless, prior to or within 30 days of the transfer of title, new water service applications shall have been approved for all of the newly created parcels; or
2. A single connection may supply water to more than one parcel if:
a. All of the benefited parcels are within an approved planned residential development which is located in a multifamily residential district of the town; and
b. The owners of all such parcels will be members of a homeowner association incorporated under the laws of the state of Washington; and
c. The incorporated homeowner association obtains approval for a water connection to serve all such parcels; and
d. The incorporated association also takes all necessary steps to become solely responsible for payment of all bills for town water and all other town utility services delivered or available to such parcels, or any of them, including, but not limited to, sewer, refuse and storm water.
D. The water service application shall be filed with the town administrator, stating the name and address of the owner of the property to be connected, the address of the property and the purpose for which the water is to be used. The application shall include a statement that all facts are true and correct, and that the applicant agrees to conform to the rules and regulations of water use.
E. The permit application shall be signed by the owner or his/her authorized agent.
F. The connection charges called for in FHMC 13.05.020 as amended shall be collected by the town prior to approval of a water service application. (Ord. 1307 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1080 § 3, 1998)
13.04.040 Water service disconnection application.
A. Any person wishing to disconnect from the town water system shall first obtain approval of a water service disconnection application. Applications for disconnection shall be submitted to the town administrator and, pending approval, all applicable water charges shall continue to be assessed and payable.
B. Except as provided in subsection C of this section, once disconnected, a property will not be served by the town’s water system until a new water service application has been approved and a new water connection charge has been paid.
C. In the event that the structures on any property connected to the town water system are so damaged by fire or other casualty that the property is no longer habitable, or if the structures are abandoned and/or neglected to such an extent that they are taken down or removed in response to a notice from the town building office that the structures are deemed unsafe pursuant to the provisions of Section 115 of the International Building Code, the owner of the property may, upon disconnecting from the town water system by requesting removal of the water meter, request the issuance of a reconnection certificate. The certificate shall authorize the owner or any subsequent owner of the property to reconnect to the town water system at any time within 10 years from the date of its issuance by paying a reconnection fee in an amount that is the difference between the price charged as a water connection fee on the date of disconnecting, which shall be set forth on the face of the certificate, and the price charged as a water connection fee on the date of reconnecting.
Failure of the owner to reconnect to the town water system within said period of time shall preclude a reconnection until the owner has complied with subsection B of this section. (Ord. 1440 § 1, 2010; Ord. 1080 § 4, 1998)
13.04.050 Design and installation requirements.
All water lines shall be designed and installed in accordance with town water main extension requirements as adopted in Chapter 13.08 FHMC. (Ord. 1080 § 5, 1998)
13.04.060 Meters – Installation, location and testing.
A. All meter installations shall be accomplished by the town, and shall be completed as soon as practical after all the required charges and fees have been paid and the requirements of all applicable ordinances have been met.
B. All water meters shall be installed at a location which is immediately adjacent to the edge of the public right-of-way within which the town’s water main is located.
C. Customers who are supplied with meters shall keep their premises adjacent to the meter free from all rubbish, or materials of any kind, and parked vehicles which would prevent the town from having access to the meter.
D. When a meter cannot be protected at the curb or in the street, the town may enter upon the customer’s premises for the purpose of installing and maintaining a meter.
E. Upon request from a customer, based upon complaint that their water bill for any period has been excessive when no apparent leak has been detected, the water department shall have the meter re-read.
F. Should the customer then request that the meter be tested for accuracy, he or she shall make a deposit in the amount prescribed by the town administrator with the town. The customer may be present when such test is made. If the test discloses an error of more than three percent in favor of the town, said deposit shall be refunded to the customer, a correct registering meter shall be installed, and the customer’s account shall be credited with the excess consumption over the three previous readings. When the test discloses no such error, the amount deposited with the town shall be retained by the water department to cover the cost of such test.
G. No meter shall be removed or in any way disturbed, nor the seal broken, except in the presence of town staff.
H. In the event that the procedures listed above do not answer and/or settle the complaint, the customer shall have the right to make an appeal to dispute the charges in accordance with the procedures set forth in FHMC 13.05.045. (Ord. 1648 § 1, 2018; Ord. 1483 § 2, 2012; Ord. 1080 § 6, 1998)
13.04.070 Shut off for repairs.
The water supply may be shut off at any time, without notice, for repair, extension or other necessary purposes. The town shall not be responsible for any damage incurred on the premises of the water customer by this action. (Ord. 1080 § 7, 1998)
13.04.080 Inspection authority.
Upon request of the town a designated employee shall be allowed access during reasonable hours to all parts of buildings with water service from the town water system for the purpose of inspecting the condition of the pipes and fixtures and the manner in which the water is used. (Ord. 1080 § 8, 1998)
13.04.090 Account responsibility.
A. Except as otherwise provided herein, all accounts for water service charges shall be kept in the name and address of the legal property owner and not in the name of a tenant, and the owner shall be responsible for all water service charges. For those condominiums and planned residential developments which are served by only one water meter, responsibility for the water account shall be in the name and address of the owner’s association that represents all of the owners of the condominium units or the parcels in the planned residential development.
B. At the owner’s request, duplicates of the monthly water service bill shall be mailed to the occupant or other parties as shown on the application for service. An administrative fee in the amount of $2.00 will be assessed against the account for each duplicate billing requested. This administrative fee shall be in addition to the service charges assessed in accordance with Chapter 13.05 FHMC. (Ord. 1584 § 2, 2015; Ord. 1317 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1080 § 9, 1998)
13.04.100 Prohibited acts.
The following acts are prohibited:
A. To allow water to run when not in use for the purpose intended;
B. To allow the existence of defective or leaking faucets, toilets or other fixtures;
C. To wash any motor vehicle, boat, travel trailer, airplane, sidewalk, walkway, driveway, parking lot or other impervious surfaced area using a hose if such hose is not equipped with a shutoff or spring-type pistol grip nozzle;
D. To install or maintain any actual or potential cross connection;
E. To open, close, turn or interfere with, to attach to, or connect with, any water meter, fire hydrant, stop valve, or stopcock that is part of the town water system;
F. To reconnect pipes that have been disconnected, or to turn water on without written permission from the town when the water has been turned off for failure to pay the monthly utility bill;
G. To introduce any substance or deleterious matter into Trout Lake or its watershed;
H. To use water supplied from the town water system for any purpose other than that stated in the application, and/or for which the person pays water rates; and
I. To refuse to allow access to a building, as required under FHMC 13.04.080, for inspection. (Ord. 1080 § 10, 1998)
13.04.110 Violation and enforcement.
A. Water service to a premises receiving water from the town water system is conditioned upon compliance with pertinent rules and regulations of the Washington State Department of Health as well as those of this title relating to water and sanitary sewer. Water service may be suspended, terminated or cancelled in the event of a person’s noncompliance.
B. In addition to the town’s ability to suspend, terminate or cancel water service described above, a violation of this chapter is a Class 1 civil infraction subject to the process and provisions of Chapter 1.18 FHMC excepting violation of FHMC 13.04.100(A), (B) or (C), which shall be a Class 3 civil infraction. Each day that a violation of this chapter exists may be treated as a separate violation. (Ord. 1532 § 8, 2014; Ord. 1080 § 11, 1998)