Article 2. Water
15-201 Combined waterworks and sewage system; superintendent of water and sewage.
The waterworks system and sewage system of the city are hereby combined as a single utility. The general management, care, control and supervision of the city water system shall be in the superintendent of water and sewage, who shall be appointed by the mayor with the consent of the governing body.
(Ord. 585; Code 2001)
15-202 Regulations.
The furnishing of water to customers by the city through its waterworks system shall be governed by the regulations set out in this article.
(Code 2001)
15-203 Service not guaranteed.
The city does not guarantee the delivery of water through any of its mains and connecting services at any time except only when its mains, pumping machinery, power service connection are in good working order, and the supply of water is sufficient for the usual demand of its consumers.
(Code 2001)
15-204 Service connections required.
(Code 2001)
15-205 Application for service.
(Ord. 725; Code 2026)
15-206 City to make connections.
All taps shall be given, street excavations made, corporation cocks inserted, pipes installed from main to curb, and the curb cock installed in a meter box to which the service pipe is to be connected by city employees only.
(Code 2001)
15-207 Installation/connection costs.
The sum of $2,500.00 shall be paid to the City for the reimbursement of its costs incurred in the installation of a water meter and any necessary connection to the water main. However, if the installation of service would require directional drilling, other additional installations, or any and all other additional costs which exceed that sum, including, but not limited to, the cost for installation of a larger that three-quarter (3/4) inch pipe, the City shall assess or charge in addition to the above sum based upon the estimated costs incurred by the City for the installation of the additional facilities. The charge shall be paid either at the time the application for water service is made, or at such time as the City may direct, but in any case, before installation of service.
(Ord. 820; Code 2026)
15-208 Curb cocks.
There shall be a curb cock in every service line attached to the city main, the same to be placed within the meter box. Curb cocks shall be supplied with strong and suitable “T” handles.
(Code 2001)
15-209 Check valves.
Check valves are required on all connections to steam boilers or on any other connection deemed necessary by the water superintendent. Safety and relief valves shall be placed on all boilers or other steam apparatus connected with the water system where the steam pressure may be raised in excess of 40 pounds per square inch.
(Code 2001)
15-210 Unauthorized service.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation, other than duly authorized city officials or employees to turn water on or off at the water meter or curb cock shut off, with a key or in any other manner, without first obtaining written permission from the mayor or the governing body.
(Code 2001)
15-211 Meters.
(Code 2001)
15-212 Same; testing.
Meters shall be tested before being set and at any other time thereafter when they appear to be measuring incorrectly. If a test is requested by the customer and the meter is found to be accurate within two percent, the meter will be deemed correct and a charge of $10 will be made to the customer.
(Code 2001)
15-213 Tampering with meter.
It shall be unlawful for any person to break the seal of any meter, to alter the register or mechanism of any meter, or to make any outlet or connection in any manner so that water supplied by the city may be used or wasted without being metered. It shall be unlawful for any person except an authorized employee of the water department to turn any curb cock on or off.
(Code 2001)
15-214 Leaks prohibited; penalty.
No allowances shall be made for water used or lost through leaks, carelessness, neglect or otherwise after the same has pass through the meter. However, every customer shall have the right to appeal to the city from water bill or meter reading which he or she may consider excessive.
(Code 2001)
15-215 Disconnection, reconnection charge.
The governing body shall establish, by ordinance, a water service disconnection and reconnection charge. Whenever the city receives a request from a customer for termination of water service the disconnection charge shall be added to the customer’s final bill. Any service disconnected for nonpayment of delinquent bill shall be reconnected only upon payment of the delinquent bill, interest penalty thereon, and the fee charged by the city for disconnection shall be $15 per disconnection and the fee for reconnection shall be $15 per reconnection. Reconnection and disconnection are to be done by city personnel only and city personnel will perform reconnection except on an emergency basis, on Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There will be no reconnection on weekends unless authorized by the governing body.
(Ord. 653; Code 2001)
15-216 Utility deposit.
At the time of making application for water service, the property owner or customer shall make a cash deposit to secure payment of accrued bills or bills due on discontinuance of service.
(Code 2001)
15-217 Interrupt service.
The city reserves the right to interrupt water service for the purpose of making repairs or extensions to water lines or equipment.
(Code 2001)
15-218 Prohibited acts.
It shall be a violation of this article for any unauthorized person to:
(Code 2001)
15-219 Wasting water.
Water users shall prevent unnecessary waste of water and shall keep sprinklers, hydrants, faucets and all apparatus, including the service line leading from the property to the meter in good condition at their expense.
(Code 2001)
15-220 Right of access.
Authorized employees of the city may enter upon any premises at reasonable hours for the purpose of reading the meter or servicing or inspecting meters or water lines.
(Code 2001)
15-221 Rates.
The rates per month for the use of water in the city shall be as follows:
| INSIDE CITY | |
|---|---|
| 0-7,000 gallons | $15.00 per 1,000 gallons |
| All use above 7,000 gallons | $17.00 per 1,000 gallons |
| OUTSIDE CITY | |
| 0-7,000 gallons | $16.00 per 1,000 gallons |
| All above 7,000 gallons | $18.00 per 1,000 gallons |
| BUSINESS, COMMERICAL, CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS | |
| 0-7,000 gallons | $18.00 per 1,000 gallons |
| All above 7,000 gallons | $20.00 per 1,000 gallons |
(Ord. 821; Code 2026])
15-222 Payment of bills.
All water bills for the previous month’s water service shall be paid on or before the 10th day of the month following the service. For any billing not paid when due a late charge of 10 percent will be added to the bill.
(Code 2001)
15-223 Delinquent accounts; notice; hearing; finding; liability.
Water service shall be terminated for nonpayment of service fees or charges pursuant to Article 1 of this chapter.
(Code 2001)
15-224 Use during fire.
No person owning or occupying premises connected to the municipal water system shall use or allow to be used during a fire any water from the water system except for the purpose of extinguishing the fire. Upon the sounding of a fire alarm it shall be the duty of every such person to see that all water services are tightly closed and that no water is used except in extraordinary cases of emergency during the fire.
(Code 2001)
15-225 Cross-connections prohibited.
No person shall establish or permit to be established or maintain or permit to be maintained, any cross connection whereby a private, auxiliary, or emergency water supply other than the regular public water supply of the city may enter the supply and distributing system of the city unless specifically approved by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the governing body.
(Code 2001)
15-226 Same; protective backflow devices required.
Approved devices to protect against backflow or backsiphonage shall be installed at all fixtures and equipment where backflow and/or backsiphonage may occur and where there is a hazard to the potable water supply in that polluted water or other contaminating materials may enter into the public water supply. Any situation in which a heavy withdrawal of water, such as a sudden break in the main or water being used from a fire hydrant, may cause a negative pressure to develop which could lead to backsiphonage of polluted water into the system shall be improper and must be protected by approved backflow preventive valves and systems as determined by the superintendent.
(Code 2001)
15-227 Same; inspection.
The city utility superintendent or other designee of the governing body shall have the right of entry into any building or premises in the city as frequently as necessary in his or her judgment in order to ensure that plumbing has been installed in accordance with the laws of the city so as to prevent the possibility of pollution of the water supply of the city.
(Code 2001)
15-228 Same; protection from contaminants.
Pursuant to the city’s constitutional home rule authority and K.S.A. 65-163a, the city by its utility superintendent may refuse to deliver water through pipes and mains to any premises where a condition exists which might lead to the contamination of the public water supply system and it may continue to refuse the delivery of water to the premises until that condition is remedied. In addition, the city utility superintendent may terminate water service to any property where the cross connections or backsiphonage condition creates, in the judgment of the superintendent, an emergency danger of contamination to the public water supply.
(Code 2001)