Chapter 14.84
WATER – MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS1

Sections:

14.84.010    One service connection per building.

14.84.015    One service connection per tax parcel.

14.84.020    Water for construction and building purposes.

14.84.030    Irrigation districts.

14.84.040    Sprinkling – Wetting people on sidewalks.

14.84.050    Right of city to shut off water – Nonliability for damage.

14.84.060    Fire protection services.

14.84.070    Fire hydrant – Operation restrictions.

14.84.010 One service connection per building.

When several houses, buildings or premises are supplied with water through one service connection with the city main, the superintendent may, in his discretion, decline to furnish water until separate services and meters are provided, for each building. In case any one of the owners or occupants of the building being supplied with water through one service connection and meter becomes delinquent or violates any of the provisions of this chapter, the superintendent may shut off the original or main service until separate service connections and water meters are installed for each building and all delinquent and unpaid charges and other charges are paid and the premises supplied by the main service shall be held responsible for all delinquent and unpaid charges against any one or all of the separate owners or users. No change of ownership or occupation shall affect the applications of this section. (Ord. 994 § 40, 1986).

14.84.015 One service connection per tax parcel.

Each separate property tax parcel that receives water service from the city water system shall be required to have a separate water connection, except as follows:

A single connection may supply water to more than one parcel if all of the following conditions are met:

A. All of the benefited parcels are within an approved planned residential development which is located in a multifamily residential district of the city;

B. The owners of all such parcels will be members of a homeowner association incorporated under the laws of the state of Washington;

C. The incorporated homeowner association obtains approval from the city for a water connection to serve all such parcels;

D. The incorporated association also takes all necessary steps to become solely responsible for payment of all bills for city water and all other city utility services delivered or available to such parcels, or any of them, including, but not limited to, sewer, garbage and stormwater. (Ord. 1732 § 2, 2009).

14.84.020 Water for construction and building purposes.

Water for construction purposes shall be secured by written permit at a permit fee of $75.00 per month. All water for building and construction purposes shall be charged against the property and the owner thereof, and all delinquent and unpaid charges therefor shall become a lien upon the premises supplied and be collected in the same manner as other delinquent and unpaid charges for water. (Ord. 994 § 41, 1986).

14.84.030 Irrigation districts.

The city council may at any time and as often as it deems necessary divide the city into irrigation districts, within which districts water may be used at the times in this chapter authorized for sprinkling or irrigation of lawns, gardens, flower beds, plants, trees, shrubs, or parking strips in each of such districts respectively, and shall cause notice thereof to be published in the official newspaper for one week, and from and after the official publication of such notice it shall be unlawful for any person to violate any of the provisions thereof by using water for the purposes specified at any other time or in any other manner than is prescribed in such notice. (Ord. 994 § 42, 1986).

14.84.040 Sprinkling – Wetting people on sidewalks.

It is unlawful for any person to wilfully place any automatic sprinkler or wilfully place or hold any hose in such position or manner that water therefrom falls on any person while on any public street or sidewalk. (Ord. 994 § 43, 1986).

14.84.050 Right of city to shut off water – Nonliability for damage.

The city 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 pipes or fixtures, stoppages or interruptions of water supply or any other damage resulting from the shutting off of water. (Ord. 994 § 44, 1986).

14.84.060 Fire protection services.

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 shall be charged according to the fire service standby schedule. No charge will be made for water used in extinguishing a fire if the owner or occupant of premises where such fire occurs gives written notice to the office of the superintendent within 30 days from the time of such fire. 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 fire service nor through any pipes, tank or other fixtures therewith connected for any purpose except the extinguishing of fire on the premises, or for fire drill, or testing the hose for service. (Ord. 994 § 45, 1986).

14.84.070 Fire hydrant – Operation restrictions.

It is a civil infraction with a monetary penalty of $500.00 for any person, other than properly authorized employees of the city or members of the Valley Regional Fire Authority (VRFA), to operate or tamper with fire hydrants and hose outlets unless permission has first been granted by the city public works department and proper arrangements have been made with the utility clerk for payment of the water to be used. (Ord. 2004 § 1, 2019).


1

For statutory provisions authorizing cities to cut off utility service in order to force the payment of delinquent bills, see RCW 35.21.300; for provisions regarding irrigation districts, see Chapter 87.03 RCW.