Chapter 13.05
MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM
Sections:
13.05.010 Definitions.
13.05.020 Applications for water use.
13.05.030 Contract for water use.
13.05.040 Effective date of contracts.
13.05.050 Connection to water main.
13.05.060 Service installation by town – Service charges to property owner.
13.05.070 Service pipes – Protection from freezing.
13.05.080 Pipe maintenance responsibility.
13.05.090 Compliance with connection rules required.
13.05.100 Furnishing water to additional premises prohibited – Exception.
13.05.110 Penalty for connecting additional premises.
13.05.120 Cutting out, removing or transferring service connections – Connection with new mains.
13.05.130 Application required to discontinue water use.
13.05.140 Discontinued service – Reinstallation requirements.
13.05.150 Violation of TMC 13.05.140 – Penalty.
13.05.160 Irrigation or sprinkling prohibited during progress of fire.
13.05.170 Right of town to shut off water.
13.05.180 Maintenance responsibility for service pipes, connections and other apparatus.
13.05.190 Water waste unlawful.
13.05.195 Water leakage – Billing adjustment – Discontinuance of service.
13.05.200 Free access for purposes of inspection required.
13.05.210 Violation of TMC 13.05.200.
13.05.220 Water turnoff due to nonpayment of violation charges.
13.05.230 Water meter testing – Responsibility for charges determination – Amounts.
13.05.240 Consumer accounts – Delinquency – Discontinuance of service.
13.05.250 Violation reports by employees – Fire reports by fire chief.
13.05.260 Interference with fire hydrants, stop valves or stopcocks prohibited – Exception.
13.05.270 Interference with any and all municipal water supply system-controlled items prohibited.
13.05.280 Interference with reservoirs or areas under control of municipal water supply system prohibited.
13.05.290 Fire hydrant access – Obstruction prohibited.
13.05.300 Unauthorized connections to municipal water supply system prohibited.
13.05.310 Superintendent – Final authority.
13.05.320 Domestic and irrigation minimum rates.
13.05.330 Meter reading – Fees due and payable – Nonpayment – Security payments.
13.05.340 Work done by the water department for the town – Payment.
13.05.350 Domestic use – Commercial use.
13.05.360 Unauthorized water turnon – Penalty.
13.05.370 Separate connections required – Exceptions.
13.05.380 Change in water use purpose – New application required.
13.05.390 Requirement to charge base rate.
13.05.400 Pipes for fire protection purposes.
13.05.410 Public fire hydrants – Right of town to make water shortage provisions.
13.05.420 Plumbers employed by water department – Record keeping.
13.05.430 Injured or broken meters – Responsibility for repair charges.
13.05.440 Meter readings.
13.05.450 Additional unlawful acts and offenses.
13.05.460 Irrigation or sprinkling – Prohibited hours.
13.05.470 Fire standby charge.
13.05.480 Unavailability of meters – Estimated charges.
13.05.490 Violation – Penalty.
13.05.010 Definitions.
The word “superintendent,” wherever used in this chapter, shall be held and construed to mean the water superintendent of the town of Twisp and any act in this chapter required or authorized to be done by the superintendent may be done on behalf of the superintendent by an authorized officer or employee of the water department. The word “person” wherever used in this chapter shall be held to mean and include natural persons of either sex, associations, co-partnerships and corporations whether acting by themselves or by a servant, agent or employee; the singular number shall be held and construed to include the plural and the masculine pronoun to include the female. (Ord. 59 § 1, 1939)
13.05.020 Applications for water use.
All applications for the use of water must be made on printed forms at the office of the water superintendent. Every such applicant must state fully and truly all the purposes for which the water may be required, and must agree to conform with the rules and regulations established from time to time, must give the location of the property where water is to be used, all of which shall be embodied in writing in the application as a condition for the use of water. (Ord. 59 § 2, 1939)
13.05.030 Contract for water use.
The application provided for in TMC 13.05.020 shall contain a contract on the part of the persons making the same to pay for the water applied for at the rate and in the manner specified in this chapter, and shall reserve to the town of Twisp 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 Twisp relating to the subject, hereafter passed, and shall provide that the town of Twisp shall not be held responsible for any damage by water or other causes resulting from defective plumbing of appliances on the premises supplied with water, installed by the owner or occupant of said premises, and that the fact that the agents of the said town have inspected the plumbing and appliances shall not be pleaded as a basis of recovery in case of damage to premises from defective plumbing or appliances installed by the owner or occupant of such 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 failures 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. 59 § 3, 1939)
13.05.040 Effective date of contracts.
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 town's water supply. (Ord. 59 § 4, 1939)
13.05.050 Connection to water main.
Upon the presentation at the office of the superintendent of the treasurer's receipt for the installation fees and the execution of the contract hereinbefore provided for, the superintendent shall cause the premises described in the application, if same abut upon a street upon which there is a city water main to be connected with the city's water main by a service pipe extending at right angles from the main to the property line and including a stopcock placed within the lines of the street curb, which connection shall thereafter be maintained by and kept within the exclusive control of the city. In case of application for water service on premises not abutting upon a street upon which upon which there is a city water main, the city will lay its connection from the main toward the premises for a distance equal to the distance from the main to the curb line, said distance in no case to exceed 40 feet and permit connection therewith by means of a union and pipes laid at the expense and maintained by the owner of the service, or may in the discretion of the superintendent upon the payment of the actual cost thereof, extend the service to the premises of the applicant along and beneath any public street or avenue of the town of Twisp but not otherwise; provided further, where two or more commercial buildings are supplied by one metered service, not less than the minimum rate for premises supplied by meters, hereinafter provided for, shall be assessed for each separate building or premises so supplied. (Ord. 59 § 5, 1939)
13.05.060 Service installation by town – Service charges to property owner.
(1) All service shall be installed by the town of Twisp water department at an expense to the property owner of the amount as stated in subsection (3) of this section for service charge.
(2) Said service charge shall include payment for the following service and materials if installed: corporation cock, lead pipe, pipe and fittings, curb cock, curb box meter, meter box, and all other fittings used in making connection between the town's water main and the property reserved; provided, however, that in any service more than 40 feet in length, the consumer shall pay the cost of labor and material in excess of 40 feet in length in addition to the service charge.
(3) Any property owner in applying for service shall pay as follows: $35.00 for each one-half or three-quarter-inch connection; $45.00 for each one-inch connection; $60.00 for each one and one-quarter-inch connection; $75.00 for each one and one-half-inch connection; $135.00 for each two-inch connection. In those cases wherein water is already connected but no meter has been installed, there shall be a charge of $15.00 for meter installation. Service charge for service larger than the two-inch connection shall be based on the estimated cost of each connection. All service material will remain the property of the town of Twisp; provided, that in the event the tap is changed to one of larger size, the cost and expense of such change must be paid before the larger size tap is installed. (Ord. 70 § 1, 1947; Ord. 59 § 6, 1939)
13.05.070 Service pipes – Protection from freezing.
The service pipes must be so arranged that the supply shall be controlled by a stop and waste cock with extension handle properly protected from frost and so placed within the premises that the service pipes may be thoroughly drained during freezing weather. No remission of rentals will be allowed on account of frozen pipes within the private premises, and the city will not be responsible for any damages on account of such freezing. (Ord. 59 § 7, 1939)
13.05.080 Pipe maintenance responsibility.
The service pipes, connections and other apparatus within the premises must be kept in good repair and protected from freezing at the expense of the owner or lessee, who will be responsible for all damages resulting from leaks or breaks; but no person except under the direction of the superintendent shall be allowed to dig into any street or sidewalk for the purposes of laying, moving or repairing any service. (Ord. 59 § 8, 1939)
13.05.090 Compliance with connection rules required.
The superintendent shall specify how connections shall be made with the water system, but shall not allow any connections to be made until all rules herein contained for the same have been complied with. All pipes on premises must be connected to the city pipes within the curb line with a union. No hydrant shall be placed or maintained in any street, alley or public place so as to be used by the public or irresponsible persons. (Ord. 59 § 9, 1939)
13.05.100 Furnishing water to additional premises prohibited – Exception.
It shall be unlawful for any person whose premises are supplied with water to furnish water to additional premises unless he shall first make application in writing so to do upon a printed form furnished for that purpose, and in the same manner as an original application for the installation of water service. (Ord. 59 § 10, 1939)
13.05.110 Penalty for connecting additional premises.
When additional premises are connected without the application prescribed in TMC 13.05.100, such premises may be charged at double the rate for the time they are in use, and the service may be shut off by the superintendent and a charge of $2.00 made for shutting off and turning on such service. In case water shall be turned off as provided in this section, the same shall not be turned on again until all rates and charges against said premises have been paid in full. (Ord. 59 § 11, 1939)
13.05.120 Cutting out, removing or transferring service connections – Connection with new mains.
When it is desired to change the location of the old service connection or where a service connection to any premises is abandoned or no longer used, the superintendent may cut out or remove such service connection, after which, should a service connection be required to said premises, a new service shall be placed only upon the owner making an application and paying for a new tap in the regular manner. When service connection of any premises on an unpaved street does not exceed one inch in size and the same does not come from the main in front of said premises, the superintendent shall, when a main is laid in front of said premises, after notifying the owner or tenant thereof, transfer the service connection to the new main without charge, and at the same time cut out the old service connection. When a new main is laid in any street, owners of premises on said street, or within one-half block on side streets, who are being supplied with city water from a private main or a connection to a private service shall make application for a tap and shall connect up with a separate service connection to the main in front of the premises. (Ord. 59 § 12, 1939)
13.05.130 Application required to discontinue water use.
Whenever the owner or occupant of any premises connected with the city's water supply system desires to discontinue use of water, he shall make written application. (Ord. 59 § 13, 1939)
13.05.140 Discontinued service – Reinstallation requirements.
When service has been discontinued from any premises upon the application of the owner thereof, or for nonpayment of water charges, or for any other cause, it shall be unlawful for any person to again connect said premises with water until all arrearages for said premises have been paid, and application made for reinstallation of service, and other cause or causes corrected to the satisfaction of the superintendent. (Ord. 59 § 14, 1939)
13.05.150 Violation of TMC 13.05.140 – Penalty.
If any persons shall violate any provision of TMC 13.05.140, the superintendent shall shut off the water furnished to the premises upon which such violation is made, and shall charge $2.00 for shutting off and again turning on such water. In any such case the superintendent shall not again turn on such water until all unpaid and delinquent charges for water and other charges have been fully paid. (Ord. 59 § 15, 1939)
13.05.160 Irrigation or sprinkling prohibited during progress of fire.
It shall be unlawful for any person to use any water for irrigation or sprinkling during the progress of any fire in the city unless for the protection of property, and all irrigation and sprinkling shall be immediately stopped when an alarm of fire is sounded in any part of the city, and shall not be begun again until the fire is extinguished. In case of a shortage of water, the superintendent may shut off all water used for other than domestic purposes without notice. (Ord. 59 § 16, 1939)
13.05.170 Right of town to shut off water.
The town reserves the right at any time, without notice, to shut off the water supply for repairs, extensions, nonpayment of rates, or any other reason, and the city shall not be responsible for any damage, such as bursting of boilers supplied by direct pressure, the breaking of any pipe or fixtures, stoppages or interruption of water supply, or any other damage resulting from the shutting off of water. (Ord. 59 § 17, 1939)
13.05.180 Maintenance responsibility for service pipes, connections and other apparatus.
The service pipes, connections and other apparatus within any private premises must be kept in good 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 neglect to promptly repair any service or fixture, or make any changes or alterations required in this chapter, the superintendent shall have authority, when deemed necessary, to go on the premises and make or cause to be made such changes, alterations, or repairs, and charge the same against the premises and the owner thereof. The owner of any service connection shall be responsible for any damage to meters serving said premises caused by hot water, and shall be charged for repairs to meters caused by such damage. (Ord. 59 § 18, 1939)
13.05.190 Water waste unlawful.
It shall be unlawful for any person to waste water or to allow it 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 other purposes than those named in the application upon which rates are based or for any other purpose than that for which his contract provides, or to use if in violation of any provision of this chapter. (Ord. 59 § 19, 1939)
13.05.195 Water leakage – Billing adjustment – Discontinuance of service.
(1) Upon written notification (water utility leak notification form provided by the town of Twisp water utility department) by the water utility customer to the town of Twisp utility clerk and the public works department of a broken pipe and subsequent verification and inspection by said department, the water utility customer shall have 14 days from notification and verification and inspection by the town of Twisp public works department to repair the broken pipe. Upon verification of repair, the town at the sole discretion of the council may provide a rate adjustment for the billing period during which the particular leak took place. The adjusted monthly rate shall be equal to the average monthly bill from the previous two months; provided, however, the maximum amount of rate adjustment for the billing period during which the leak took place shall be $250.00. In the event that the broken pipe has not been repaired within the 14-day grace period, the utility customer shall be responsible for payment of the entire water consumption charge.
(2) Excessive water use shall be determined to be due to a leak when a broken or leaking private water line is verified to be leaking as a result of accidental damage or natural deterioration, not as a result of abuse or willful neglect. A reduction in billing shall not be permitted if such excess consumption is due simply to leaky faucets or other plumbing fixtures.
(3) Notification by the water utility customer must be made in writing on forms provided by the town of Twisp utility department to the town of Twisp utility department.
(4) The water, utility and public works departments may discontinue service to any premises if the owner or occupant refuses to make repairs necessary to avoid waste of water. If the resident is not at home and it is observed that water is being lost through leakage, the department may, at its discretion, terminate water service and shall leave written notice as to the reason for its action. (Ord. 554 § 1, 2006; Ord. 492 §§ 1 – 3, 5, 2000)
13.05.200 Free access for purposes of inspection required.
It shall be unlawful for any person to fail, neglect or refuse to give the superintendent and his duly authorized representatives free access at all reasonable hours to all parts of buildings or premises supplied with water from the city's mains for the purpose of inspecting the condition of pipes and fixtures, noting the amount of water used and the manner in which it is used. (Ord. 59 § 20, 1939)
13.05.210 Violation of TMC 13.05.200.
If the owner or occupant of any premises supplied with city water shall violate any provision of TMC 13.05.200, the superintendent may shut off such service, and such owner or occupant shall be required to pay all delinquent and unpaid charges against such premises together with a charge of $2.00 for shutting off and turning on such water before the same shall be again turned on. (Ord. 59 § 21, 1939)
13.05.220 Water turnoff due to nonpayment of violation charges.
In case of any violation of any of the preceding sections, the superintendent may cause written notice thereof to be served on the owner or occupant of the premises where such violation takes place which notice shall require the payment of the charges hereinabove provided, and if such charges are not paid within 24 hours of the time of the service of such notice, the water shall be turned off from such premises and shall in no case be turned on until the charges have been paid. (Ord. 59 § 22, 1939)
13.05.230 Water meter testing – Responsibility for charges determination – Amounts.
Where the accuracy of record of a water meter is questioned it shall be removed at the consumer's request and shall be tested by the water department by means of the apparatus there provided, and a report thereon duly made. Both parties to the test must accept the findings so made. If the test discloses an error against the consumer of more than three percent on the meter's registry, the excess of the consumption on the three previous readings shall be credited to the consumer's meter account and the water department will bear the entire expense of the test, and the deposit required as hereinafter prescribed shall be returned. On the other hand, where no such error is found, the person who has requested the test shall pay the charge fixed for such test. Before making a test of any meter the person requesting such a test shall, at the time of filing his request with the superintendent, make a deposit with the city treasurer of the amount charged for such test subject to the conditions herein stated which charges are fixed as follows:
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For testing 1/2-inch meters: |
$2.00 |
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For testing 3/4-inch meters: |
$2.00 |
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For testing 1-inch meters: |
$2.50 |
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For testing 1-1/2-inch meters: |
$3.00 |
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For testing 2-inch meters: |
$4.00 |
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For testing 3-inch meters: |
$6.00 |
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For testing 4-inch meters: |
$11.00 |
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For testing 6-inch meters and greater: |
$16.00 |
No meter shall be removed or in any way disturbed nor the seal broken except in the presence or under the direction of the superintendent. (Ord. 59 § 23, 1939)
13.05.240 Consumer accounts – Delinquency – Discontinuance of service.
It shall be the duty of the town treasurer or the superintendent as the council shall direct to keep accounts with all consumers of water to enter on such accounts all charges and penalties. He shall cause to be kept proper accounts with all consumers of water and every 30 days or less compile a statement of the names and property of such consumers as are delinquent and shall form with cause the service of these consumers to be discontinued. (Ord. 59 § 24, 1939)
13.05.250 Violation reports by employees – Fire reports by fire chief.
It shall be the duty of all employees of the said town to give vigilant aid to the superintendent in the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter, and to this end they shall report all violations thereof which come to their knowledge to the office of the superintendent, and it shall be the duty of the chief of the fire department to report immediately to the superintendent in case of fire in premises having service for fire protection purposes, that fire has occurred there. (Ord. 59 § 26, 1939)
13.05.260 Interference with fire hydrants, stop valves or stopcocks prohibited – Exception.
It shall be unlawful for any person, except when duly authorized by the superintendent or who shall be a member of the fire department, to open, operate, close, turn on, turn off, interfere with, attach any pipe or hose to or connect anything with any fire hydrant, stop valve or stopcock belonging to the city. Any person, other than authorized employees of the town of Twisp, requiring the use of any hydrant, stopcock or valve belonging to the city must make written application for the same in advance to the superintendent. The superintendent shall then send a hydrant inspector to open such hydrant, stopcock or valve, and the time of such inspector shall be charged to the person making application for the use of such hydrant, stopcock or valve. Should it be necessary for the inspector to remain at the hydrant, stopcock or valve until the person using the same has secured the necessary supply of water, the full time consumed by the inspector shall be charged to the person securing such service but in no case shall the charge be less than $1.00. The superintendent may require a deposit in advance as a condition for supplying such water. (Ord. 59 § 27, 1939)
13.05.270 Interference with any and all municipal water supply system-controlled items prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person, unless duly authorized by the superintendent, 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 control of the municipal water supply system of the town of Twisp. (Ord. 59 § 28, 1939)
13.05.280 Interference with reservoirs or areas under control of municipal water supply system prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person to bathe in, fish in or throw any substance into any reservoir, or place any foreign substance into any reservoir, or place any foreign substance upon any grounds belonging to, connecting with or under the control of the municipal water supply system of the town of Twisp. (Ord. 59 § 29, 1939)
13.05.290 Fire hydrant access – Obstruction prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person to obstruct the access to any fire hydrant by placing around or thereon any stone, brick, lumber, dirt or other material or to open or operate any fire hydrant, or draw or attempt to draw water therefrom, or to willfully or carelessly injure the same. (Ord. 59 § 30, 1939)
13.05.300 Unauthorized connections to municipal water supply system prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person to make connections with any fixtures or connect any pipe with any water main or water pipe belonging to the municipal water supply system without first obtaining permission so to do from the superintendent. (Ord. 59 § 31, 1939)
13.05.310 Superintendent – Final authority.
The superintendent shall have authority to decide any question which may arise and which is not fully covered by the provisions of this chapter, and his decisions in such cases shall be final. (Ord. 59 § 32, 1939)
13.05.320 Domestic and irrigation minimum rates.
(1) All use and service for water shall be furnished and measured by meter and shall be charged and paid for at meter rates. Henceforth there shall be no distinction made between commercial and domestic users. The amount of water used shall govern the charge to be made over and above the minimum rate.
(2) During the months of May, June, July and August, a minimum of $1.00 per month for the first 1,000 square feet of irrigated garden tract, $0.50 for the second such 1,000 square feet, and $0.25 for each thousand or fraction in excess thereof shall be charged and payable in advance. Statements for minimum charges will be rendered monthly in advance on all services and any excess shall be included in the next month's billing. Failure to make payment within the prescribed time will subject the user to the penalties provided in the above section.
(3) The town of Twisp reserves the right to discontinue the furnishing of water and any service outside the city limits at any time.
(4) One person, company or association must pay for all service used for his or their own use or the use of others to whom it may be accessible. (Ord. 70 § 2, 1947; Ord. 59 § 33, 1939)
13.05.330 Meter reading – Fees due and payable – Nonpayment – Security payments.
(1) For the collection of meter water rates, the town of Twisp may be divided into districts corresponding to daily routes for meter reading.
(2) All fees for the use of water for domestic use shall be due and payable in advance within 10 days after the date of billing in each district for each calendar month and shall be paid at the office of the city treasurer, except that fees and excess water shall be due and payable with the minimum advance fees for the following month.
(3) All fees for the use of water for commercial use shall be due and payable in advance within 10 days after the date of billing in each district for each calendar month and shall be paid at the office of the treasurer, except that fees for excess water shall be due and payable with the minimum advance fees for the following month.
(4) In case of nonpayment of fees and charges for water within 30 days after they are due, the water may be shut off, without further notice, and a charge of $2.00 shall be added to cover the expense of turning the water off and on and in no case shall water be turned on again until the amount has been paid in full.
(5) Failure to receive mail will not be recognized as valid excuse for failure to pay rates when due. Change of ownership of property and change in address must be on file in writing at the office of the superintendent and the superintendent may require payment in advance or satisfactory security for all water to be furnished by meter. If such payment be not made or security furnished within the time fixed by the superintendent, no water shall be furnished. (Ord. 59 § 34, 1939)
13.05.340 Work done by the water department for the town – Payment.
All work done by the water department for the town for the public and municipal uses shall be charged to and, when allowed, paid for out of the general fund of the city treasurer at the actual cost of labor performed and materials furnished. (Ord. 59 § 35, 1939)
13.05.350 Domestic use – Commercial use.
(1) Domestic Use. The term “domestic use” as stated herein shall be held and construed to mean water used for residence purposes or for irrigation only.
(2) Commercial Use. The term “commercial use” as stated herein shall be held and construed to mean all use of water not capable of being classified above under domestic use.
(3) The amount of water furnished for domestic use for the minimum rate from October 1st to April 1st shall not exceed 400 cubic feet or its equivalent, 3,000 gallons per month. The amount of water furnished for domestic use for the minimum rate from April 1st to October 1st shall not exceed 800 cubic feet or its equivalent, 6,000 gallons per month. For any excess above the said minimum delivered for domestic purposes, a charge of $0.08 per thousand gallons, or $0.06 per one hundred cubic feet per month shall be charged; provided, that seasonal or other customers, such as fruit packing plants and the like who use large amounts of water shall be required to make an advance deposit which in the opinion of the superintendent is sufficient to protect the town against any failure to pay the metered service, said deposit to remain with the town until water service is discontinued to the customer and at the location for which the deposit was made and then only when all accounts are paid in full. (Ord. 102-A § 2, 1951; Ord. 59 § 36, 1939)
13.05.360 Unauthorized water turnon – Penalty.
Should any unauthorized person turn on water or allow or cause it to be turned on after it has been shut off by the superintendent or his deputy, the pipes will be disconnected from the water system and a charge and penalty of $5.00 made for the expense of removing and replacing the connection. (Ord. 59 § 37, 1939)
13.05.370 Separate connections required – Exceptions.
Each separate dwelling or building must be connected to the water system by a separate pipe controlled by a stopcock accessible at all times to the employees of the water department except as hereinafter provided as follows:
The owner, lessee or agent of any block, building, apartment house or place where water is supplied or used for more than one purpose or by more than one person, firm or family must pay in advance for all purposes to which the water is to be applied, and may collect from tenants for such purposes; provided, however, that where two or more dwellings or buildings on the same premises, but not under the same roof and not owned by the same party are served and which dwellings or buildings have not heretofore installed separate water taps or service but are being served through one tap, each dwelling shall be charged with the full rate charged per month for water and each will be given credit for 600 cubic feet on the excess meter reading for each month, if there be any. (Ord. 59 § 38, 1939)
13.05.380 Change in water use purpose – New application required.
Should the applicant or occupant of the premises desire to apply the water for a purpose other than those stated in his original application, a new application must be obtained at the office of the superintendent. (Ord. 59 § 39, 1939)
13.05.390 Requirement to charge base rate.
(1) Requirement to Charge Base Rate. All individual water service accounts to which water is furnished by the town of Twisp water department shall be charged the minimum rate per month as established for such account, regardless of whether the property is occupied or vacant, unless the account is an inactive water account or an abandoned water service.
(2) Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) “Inactive water account” whenever used in this section shall mean a current water account designated to a particular parcel of property, in which the improvements which comprise the type of use of such property (i.e., residence, commercial or industrial building or structure) have been destroyed, torn down or under major restoration, and the water service is interrupted, and the property owner intends to rebuild or restore such improvements within 24 months of the date of destruction, commencement of tearing down or major restoration, and the property owner applied to the town and received approval of inactive status.
(b) “Abandoned” whenever used in this section shall mean a water service of the town which delivered water to a particular parcel of property or water account in which: (i) the property owner has ceased using and paying for such water service prior to January 1, 1996, and continued not using and paying for such water service to the present; or (ii) the property owner has requested discontinuance of water service for a particular piece of property or account, and the town has approved such discontinuance and discontinued water service without reinstallation. An inactive water account shall not be deemed to be abandoned.
(3) Inactive Water Account Application. Whenever the improvements which comprise the type of use of a parcel of property (i.e., residence, commercial or industrial building or structure) have been destroyed, torn down or under major restoration where water service is interrupted, and which was previously connected to the town's water supply system, and the property owner intends to rebuild or restore such improvements within 24 months of the date of destruction, commencement of tearing down or major restoration, the owner may make written application to the town to have the water account to such property deemed to be an inactive water account. Such application shall be made on a form provided by the town and, if approved, such inactive status shall commence as of the date of approval by the town, not to exceed 24 months. Upon approval, any water service rates shall be suspended, and water service rates shall commence again when water service is restored to the property. If water service is not restored to the property within 24 months, water service rates shall commence at the minimum rate as previously established for the account, and the property owner shall be required to pay a reconnection fee to the town to restore water service to the property. The property owner may request a temporary turnon period (for example, the property can sustain service in nonwinter months) and a subsequent shutoff (winter months) during an inactive water account status as long as the property owner pays all associated fees and charges when such temporary turnon and shutoff occurs.
The property owner shall pay all costs, charges and fees associated with any turnoff, meter charge, if required, and restoration of service.
(4) Abandoned Water Service. If property or water service is abandoned, the property owner must apply for a new service and pay all fees and costs associated with such new service. (Ord. 563 §§ 1 – 4, 2006)
13.05.400 Pipes for fire protection purposes.
Pipes for fire protection purposes must be fitted up with such fixtures only as are needed for fire protection and each fixture shall be sealed by the water department. When practicable, the hose shall be kept attached to the fixtures and suspended conveniently for use in case of fire. All such pipes shall be so connected that any water used thereby shall be metered as any other water used on the same premises. Services shall be installed at the expense of the user. (Ord. 59 § 41, 1939)
13.05.410 Public fire hydrants – Right of town to make water shortage provisions.
(1) All public fire hydrants shall be under the control and kept in repair by the water department and by the fire department in case of fire and such others as the superintendent shall authorize shall have access to said hydrants. Any person who shall open to operate any fire hydrant or draw or attempt to draw water therefrom or willfully or carelessly injure the same shall be subject to pay all damages done to said hydrant, and will be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
(2) The town council reserves the right in the case of the shortage of water or for any other cause to make any order forbidding or limiting the use of water for irrigation, sprinkling or sluicing, and may at their discretion make such order at any time giving notice in the city official newspaper, and any person violating such order shall be subject to a charge of $2.00 for the first offense, and the water shall be shut off and in no case shall it be turned on until such charges have been paid. (Ord. 59 § 42, 1939)
13.05.420 Plumbers employed by water department – Record keeping.
All plumbers in the employ of the water department must make in writing a true and accurate return of the work done within 24 hours after the completion of the work, and before water will be turned on. He must describe the position of the service pipes, stopcocks and other fittings outside the premises by reference to streets and lot corners on blank forms furnished by the superintendent. (Ord. 59 § 43, 1939)
13.05.430 Injured or broken meters – Responsibility for repair charges.
In all cases where meters are injured or broken by the carelessness or negligence of the owner or occupants of premises, they shall be repaired or replaced by the water department and a charge for such repair or replacement shall be made against the owner or occupant of the premises for the actual cost of labor and material used in making such repairs or replacements. (Ord. 59 § 44, 1939)
13.05.440 Meter readings.
Commercial meters will be read monthly throughout the year. Domestic meters will be read on or about the first day of the month from April to October, inclusive of each year. Any excess water used by domestic services during the months from October 1st to April 1st will be due and payable with the April billing. Users are requested to keep notes of such readings to avoid disagreements. If either the superintendent or his deputies shall discover that any meter has been tampered with or the seal broken, he shall shut off the water supply until the full amount of the fixed rate for the month, together with $2.00 for the expense of turning the water off and on shall have been paid to the town treasurer. The superintendent is hereby authorized to connect water meters on all service pipes where the city water is used for irrigation or flush fittings connected with the sewer system or with a cesspool. Whenever it is possible and practicable, all meters shall be installed in the parking strip of the property served and no branch pipe shall be taken off of the service between the meter and the street. (Ord. 59 § 45, 1939)
13.05.450 Additional unlawful acts and offenses.
In addition to the unlawful acts and offenses elsewhere in this chapter specified, it shall be unlawful for any person or persons, firm or corporation to:
(1) Accept payment of any kind for water, furnished by the water department, except as provided in this chapter;
(2) Disturb or damage any pipe, machinery, tools, or any other property of the water department;
(3) Open, close, turn on, interfere with, or to attach or connect with any fire hydrant, stop valve, stopcock or pipe belonging to the water department. (Ord. 59 § 46, 1939)
13.05.460 Irrigation or sprinkling – Prohibited hours.
It shall be unlawful for any water user to irrigate out of an open hose or use water for irrigation or sprinkling during the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. (Ord. 59 § 47, 1939)
13.05.470 Fire standby charge.
There shall be a fire standby charge of $50.00 per month for any user who shall have a private system of fire protection to protect his property, whereby he shall have need to rely on city water to protect his property by use of his own system. (Ord. 70 § 4, 1947)
13.05.480 Unavailability of meters – Estimated charges.
In case meters for use are not available for immediate installation, the council may enter into oral agreement with the user for an estimated charge for water until such time as meters can be installed. In all such cases there shall be charged at least the minimum charge previously provided in this chapter. (Ord. 70 § 5, 1947)
13.05.490 Violation – Penalty.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $100.00 or imprisoned in the city jail for a term not exceeding 30 days or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. 59 § 48, 1939)