Chapter 14.08
WATER CONNECTIONS*

Sections:

14.08.010    Water Connection Authority.

14.08.020    Application to Connect.

14.08.030    Connection Method.

14.08.040    Separate Service Connections Required.

14.08.050    Flow Protection Devices Required.

14.08.060    Precautionary Conditions for Dangerous or Corrosive Liquids.

14.08.070    Pressure Relief Valve.

14.08.080    Protection on Additional Supply Lines.

14.08.090    Protection for Two or More Supply Services.

14.08.100    Inspection of Protection Devices for Watertightness.

14.08.110    Owners Inspection and Maintenance of Protection Devices.

*    Prior history: 1949 Code §§ 7204—7207 and 7242; Ord. 643.

14.08.010 Water Connection Authority.

No person is, or shall be, authorized to install any pipe, apparatus, appliance or connection to the City’s utilities system, except the Utilities Director or the Utilities Director’s duly appointed agents or employees. (Ord. 2023-22 § 639, 2023; Ord. 2018-8 §§ 1—3, 2018; Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-31 § 2 (part), 1992)

14.08.020 Application to Connect.

Every owner, or tenant of the premises, who shall desire to connect his property to the public water system for the purpose of having water furnished to such premises shall make a written application to the City, describing the premises to be connected therewith, the size of the pipe by which the connection is desired to be made; setting forth the address of the owner and the person to whom all notices are to be mailed; the application shall contain an express agreement on behalf of applicant that the water to be used on the premises shall in all respects be used subject and subordinate to the provisions of this Code and subsequent amendments and the order of the City Council, and lawful regulations of the City. (Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-31 § 2 (part), 1992)

14.08.030 Connection Method.

Upon presentation at the office of the Utilities Department of the receipt for installation of fees and execution of the agreement hereinbefore provided for, the Utilities Director shall cause the premises described in the application, if the same abut upon the street or alley upon which there is a City water main, to be connected with the City’s water main by a service pipe extending from the main to the curb line on the front of the property or to the side or rear, and including a stopcock placed, which service pipe and stopcock shall thereafter be maintained by and kept within the exclusive control of the City. In cases of application for water service on premises not abutting upon a street or alley upon which there is a City water main, the City will lay its service pipe from the main toward the premises for a distance not to exceed one hundred (100) feet, and permit connection by means of a union and pipes laid at the expense of and maintained by the owner of the service, or may in the discretion of the Utilities Director, upon the payment of the actual costs thereof, extend the service to the premises of the applicant along and beneath any public street of the City, but not otherwise. No service connection less than one inch in size shall be installed. (Ord. 2023-22 § 640, 2023; Ord. 2018-8 §§ 1—3, 2018; Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-31 § 2 (part), 1992)

14.08.040 Separate Service Connections Required.

Two or more houses or buildings under the same ownership and on a single lot or on a single parcel of land may be supplied through the same service connection, or a separate service connection may be provided for each house or building. The City shall have the right, as necessary to assure efficient service and reduce practical difficulties, to limit the number of houses or buildings, or the area of land under one ownership to be supplied by one service connection. The same service connection shall not be used to supply water to property in a single ownership which is separated by a public street, alley or right-of-way or which is nonadjoining. The same service connection shall not be used to supply water to adjoining property of a different ownership. The restrictions of this subsection shall not apply to services already lawfully installed, unless in the judgment of the City compliance is necessary to settle disputes or for the protection or improvement of the particular service or the City water system.

In making application for a water service connection, the applicant shall specify the property to be served by such service connection and only the property so specified shall receive water through such service connection. (Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-31 § 2 (part), 1992)

14.08.050 Flow Protection Devices Required.

An approved double-checked valve or other backflow protection devices approved in accordance with Chapter 14.10 shall be installed in all existing water systems of all consumers, at the expense of the consumer, before service will be continued or granted when any one of the following conditions applies:

A.    Where an unapproved fresh water supply is already available from a well, spring, reservoir or other source, the installation of backflow protective devices may not be required. If the consumer agrees to abandon this other supply and agrees to remove all pumps and piping necessary for the utilization of this supply, service may be granted.

B.    Where salt water, or water otherwise nonpotable, is available for industrial or fire protection purposes, or where fresh water hydrants are or may be installed on docks.

C.    Where the premises are or may be engaged in industrial processes using or producing process waters or liquid industrial wastes, or where the premises are or may be engaged in handling sewage or any other dangerous substance.

D.    Where the circumstances are such that there is special danger of backflow of sewage or other contaminated liquids through plumbing fixtures or water-using or treating equipment, or storage tanks and reservoirs.

E.    Where an approved water supply line terminates as a pier head outlet which is used to supply vessels at piers or waterfronts. These installations shall be located where they will prevent the return of any water from a vessel or any other source into the City water supply system.

F.    Where the premises are used for a trailer park. (Ord. 2023-22 § 641, 2023; Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-31 § 2 (part), 1992)

14.08.060 Precautionary Conditions for Dangerous or Corrosive Liquids.

Under special circumstances, when the consumer is engaged in the handling of especially dangerous or corrosive liquids or industrial or process waters, the City may require the consumer to eliminate certain plumbing or piping connection as an additional precaution and as a protection to the backflow preventive devices. (Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-31 § 2 (part), 1992)

14.08.070 Pressure Relief Valve.

As a protection to the consumer’s plumbing system, a suitable pressure relief valve must be installed and maintained by him, at his expense, when check valves or other protective devices are used. The relief valve shall be installed between the check valves and the water heater. (Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-31 § 2 (part), 1992)

14.08.080 Protection on Additional Supply Lines.

Whenever backflow protection has been found necessary on a water supply line entering a customer’s premises, any and all water supply lines from the City’s mains entering such premises, buildings or structures shall be protected by an approved backflow device, regardless of the use of the additional water supply lines. (Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-31 § 2 (part), 1992)

14.08.090 Protection for Two or More Supply Services.

Two or more services supplying water from different street mains to the same building structure or premises through which an interstreet main flow may occur, shall have an appropriate backflow prevention device installed on each water service to be located adjacent to and on the property side of the respective meters. (Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-31 § 2 (part), 1992)

14.08.100 Inspection of Protection Devices for Watertightness.

The double check valve or other approved backflow protection devices may be inspected and tested periodically for watertightness by the City. (Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-31 § 2 (part), 1992)

14.08.110 Owners Inspection and Maintenance of Protection Devices.

The owner of any premises on which or on account of which check valves or other protective devices are installed shall inspect these devices for watertightness and reliability at least every three months. The devices shall be serviced, overhauled or replaced whenever they are found defective and all costs of repair and maintenance shall be borne by the consumer. Certified records of such inspection and operations will be required by the City. (Ord. 96-22 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 92-31 § 2 (part), 1992)