Chapter 12.04
WATER SERVICE REGULATIONS
Sections:
12.04.010 Superintendent – Office created.
12.04.020 Superintendent – Appointment.
12.04.030 Superintendent – Duties – Compensation.
12.04.050 Applications for water use.
12.04.060 Repealed.
12.04.070 General rules and regulations.
12.04.080 Connections required – Violation – Penalty.
12.04.090 Wells – Use permitted for private irrigation.
12.04.100 Fire protection charge for private well users.
12.04.110 Sewer use regulation for private well users.
12.04.010 Superintendent – Office created.
The office of water superintendent of the city is created. (Ord. 42 § 1, 1935).
12.04.020 Superintendent – Appointment.
The water superintendent shall be appointed by the mayor, by and with the consent and approval of the city council. (Ord. 42 § 2, 1935).
12.04.030 Superintendent – Duties – Compensation.
The water superintendent shall have general charge of the water system of the city, its operation and maintenance, and shall be charged with the duty of carrying out and enforcing the provisions of this chapter and performing such other duties in connection with said water system and the operation thereof as may be required of him by the mayor and council. He shall receive such compensation as may be fixed from time to time by the council. (Ord. 42 § 3, 1935).
12.04.040 Rules established.
The rules, regulations, rates, and penalties set forth in TMC 12.04.050 through 12.04.080 are established for the management of the city water supply system and the sale and use of water therefrom. (Ord. 42 § 4, 1935).
12.04.050 Applications for water use.
Applications for use of water shall be made on printed or typewritten forms provided by the water superintendent for the purpose and shall contain the name and address of the applicant, a description of the property where water is to be used, by lot and block number or other specific description, and shall fully and truly state the purposes for which the water is to be used and shall state the size of service required. At the time of filing such application with the water superintendent, the applicant shall pay to the town clerk-treasurer the amount of any fees or deposits required by this chapter and/or Chapter 12.08 TMC by rules or regulations hereafter adopted. Said applications shall also contain an agreement to comply with all provisions of ordinances, rules and regulations of the city relating to the furnishing and sale of water and use thereof by patrons and shall be signed by the applicant. (Ord. 686 § 1, 2010; Ord. 42 § 5, 1935).
12.04.060 Payments and deposits.
Repealed by Ord. 686. (Ord. 42 § 8, 1935).
12.04.070 General rules and regulations.
The following rules and regulations are established relative to the furnishing of service and water and use thereof:
A. All persons connecting to city services or laying their own private pipe shall be required to use only standard galvanized iron pipe up to and including two inches in size, and all pipes shall be laid not less than four feet below the surface of the ground. The superintendent will maintain private services from city mains in streets which are being graded and will have such access on private property as shall be necessary to maintain such pipes during the work, and shall as soon as practicable upon the completion of such work, re-lay said pipes in street. Except for above cause, owners shall maintain their private pipes beyond the street right-of-way, save and except for the water meter, which, if located on private property beyond the city right-of-way, shall be maintained by the city and the property owner shall have no rights to said meter and the city crew shall have full access on private property as necessary to maintain such meter.
B. All service pipes one and one-half inches in diameter and smaller leading from the main to the curb cock shall be placed not less than 48 inches below the surface of the ground or the established street grade. The service pipe two inches in diameter and larger shall be placed not less than 48 inches below the surface of the ground or the established street grade. The superintendent shall have the right to increase this depth if necessary.
C. All service pipes leading from the curb cock to the building or through the grounds of the premises shall be placed 48 inches less below the surface of the ground or the established street grade than that specified in subsection (B) of this section. The superintendent shall have the right to increase the depth if necessary.
D. Owners of services are responsible for all leaks or damages on account of leaks from the service pipes leading from the city’s stop-cock or meter to the premises served.
E. All water rates will be charged against the property for which the service was installed and shall be billed directly to the owner thereof; provided, however, that upon satisfactory proof of creditworthiness, and with the permission of the owner or landlord of the property and the tenant, the billing therefor may be submitted directly to the tenant. All charges for water, when the same become delinquent and unpaid, shall result in a lien against the property consistent with RCW 35.21.290 and will also result in termination of water service in accordance with the provisions of this code and RCW 35.21.300.
F. 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 pipes or fixtures, stoppages or interruption of water supply, or any other damage resulting from the shutting off of water.
G. The service pipes, connections and 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 damage to meters serving said premises caused by hot water, and shall be charged for repairs to meters caused by such damage.
H. It is unlawful for any person to waste water or 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 for any other reason or to use the water for purposes other than those named in the application upon which rates for water are based, or for any other purpose than that for which his contract provides, or to use it in violation of any provision of this chapter.
I. It is unlawful for any person to intentionally break, deface or damage any water meter, gate, pipe, or waterworks appliance or fixture, or in any other manner to interfere with the proper operation of any part of the water system of the city, and anyone found violating any one of these provisions shall be deemed to have committed an infraction and shall be subject to the penalties set forth in TMC 12.04.080(B). (Ord. 771 § 1, 2016; Ord. 623 § 1, 2005; Ord. 565 § 1, 2000; Ord. 42 § 10, 1935).
12.04.080 Connections required – Violation – Penalty.
Except as provided hereinafter, any person, firm or corporation desirous of providing water service to any building or other improvement within the city of Tonasket for any purpose shall connect to the city’s public water distribution system. All such connections shall be strictly in compliance with the rules and regulations and fees as set forth in this chapter and Chapter 12.08 TMC. Drilling and/or use of private water wells for any purpose within the city is prohibited, except as provided in TMC 12.04.090 and Chapter 12.06 TMC. (Ord. 758 § 1, 2015; Ord. 686 § 3, 2010; Ord. 406 §§ 1, 2, 1988).
12.04.090 Wells – Use permitted for private irrigation.
Private wells existing on or before January 1, 2010, whether situated in the corporate limits or in areas annexed after January 1, 2010, may be used for private irrigation, subject to the following:
A. All such systems shall be required to comply with all provisions of Chapter 12.10 TMC, cross-connection control.
B. The record owner of any such private well(s) agrees to grant to the city a right of first refusal to purchase any such water rights in the event of sale or transfer. (Ord. 686 § 4, 2010).
12.04.100 Fire protection charge for private well users.
A. Any structure that utilizes a private water supply system and is located within 500 feet from a fire hydrant owned and operated by the city is subject to a fire protection charge.
B. The fire protection charge is the minimum basic charge for a one-inch or less meter in the water rate schedule set forth in TMC 12.08.020, as amended, for residential and commercial structures with a gross square foot floor area of 4,000 square feet or less.
C. The fire protection charge shall be the minimum basic charge for a one-inch or less meter for single-family residences, and an additional charge of $0.50 per 1,000 square feet of floor area for all residential and commercial structures in excess of 4,000 square feet, or any warehouse industrial or other structure or use. (Ord. 686 § 5, 2010).
12.04.110 Sewer use regulation for private well users.
A. Any premises that utilizes an existing private water supply shall be subject to sewer charges in the rate schedule set forth in TMC 12.16.040, as amended, for the appropriate class of user.
B. Private well users shall install a suitable control manhole together with a meter and appurtenances in the building sewer at the user’s expense in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 12.12 TMC. (Ord. 686 § 6, 2010).
12.04.120 Penalties.
In addition to any civil remedies provided by state law, including but not necessarily limited to injunctive relief, the performance of any act required or the performance prohibited by this section is designated a civil infraction and any person, firm, or corporation found to have committed such a civil infraction shall be assessed a monetary penalty, which penalty may not exceed $500.00 for each offense. Each day during which a violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense and separate penalties may be assessed for each separate offense. (Ord. 686 § 7, 2010).