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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1776ORDINANCE NO. )"7 2 Jam' AN ORDINANCE of the City of Kent, Wash- ington, fixing, regulating and controlling the use and price of water supplied by the City of Kent, providing for penalties for violations of the Ordinance provisions, and repealing Ordinances 680, 688, 693, 713, 897, 914, 1034, 1272 and 1490, all Ordinances relating to the regulation, con- trol and price of water in the City of Kent. D THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Water Sold To Be Metered. All water of the water department of the City of Kent shall be sold by use of a water meter that measures the amount of water used by a consumer, except that water used or consumed by the City of Kent in its governmental capacity need not be metered. Section 2. Rates for Water - Connection. The City Council may from time to time fix rates to be paid by a consumer for water procured from the water department of the City of Kent, and for the amount of the cost to be charged to and paid by the applicant for a water connection to a water main, including a water meter. Water connections shall be of various sizes as hereinafter specified. All water connections and all water meters shall be installed by the water department of the City of Kent. Section 3. Using Water in Excess of Meter Capacity. The water department will not install a water meter on a service which demands water in excess of the rated capacity of the meter. The water department of the City of Kent shall have the right to dis- continue water service to any consumer when the demand of the service exceeds the following meter capacities: 01 Dom. a a 35 D�- k, 5/8" x 3/4" meter 3/4" meter 1" meter 1-1/2" meter 2" meter 3" meter 4" meter 20 gallons per minute 30 gallons per minute 50 gallons per minute 100 gallons per minute 160 gallons per minute 300 gallons per minute 500 gallons per minute Section 4. Maintenance of Water System. All tanks, re- servoirs, water meters, water mains, pipe, couplings, shut-off valves, stop cocks and every other kind of equipment or material in use or in place as a part of the water system of the City of Kent and which are located in any street, alley, city park, city property, or in any easement or franchise belonging to the City of Kent, or located upon private property from a water main of the water system to and including the water meter, are the property of the City of Kent and are subject to the exclusive control and regulations of the city. All pipe and connections from the water meter to the premises and/or building served by city water are the property and the sole re- sponsibility of the owner or lessee of the premises or building. Section 5. Right of Entry - Shutting Off Water. Employees of the water department of the City of Kent when in the course of their employment shall have the right to go upon private property to read, inspect, repair, install, or remove a water meter, or to in- spect, repair or remove any connection between the water main to and including the water meter, or to shut-off a water service; and, a water meter may be removed from the premises for purpose of in- spection or repair, or when a water service has been abandoned or not paid for, or when a bill for consumed water or sewer service is not paid. Section 6. Separate Meters Required - Exceptions. Except as hereafter provided, each separate building occupied as a dwelling or as a place of business must have a separate water service and water meter, and where the applicant desires to have two or more service pipes on the same premises he shall so state in his application for a water connection, and separate service pipes shall be run with individual stop cocks to each water meter. Provided, that each mobile home park and each condominium may be served by one water meter; and provided, further, that the City Council may enter into -2- agreements with commercial and industrial users to allow more than one building to be served by a single meter. Section 7. Existing Service to More than One Building. At the time of the adoption of this ordinance where more than one building is served through one meter, the consumption of water for each billing period shall be divided by the number of buildings so served and the charge will then be calculated as if each building were a separate account. Section 8. Connection with Other Water Supply. No service connection shall be allowed from the city mains to any pre- mises supplied by water from any other source, unless special per- mission is given by the water superintendent, which special per- mission may be terminated at any time if in the judgment of the water superintendent the public interest so requires. No cross connection shall be made or maintained between any city service connection and pipe supplying water from any other source unless the water supplied from the other source, by tests by the State of Washington Board of Health, is shown to conform with the United States Bacteriological Standard for drinking water. Said tests must be made by a professional testor and submitted to the City at least once each month. Section 9. Outside of City Limits Connections. When- ever any one or more persons outside the limits of the City of Kent, not already furnished with water by the City, shall desire said sy- stem to be extended, such person or persons shall apply to the City Council to have such water service so extended. Such application shall designate the premises to be supplied and the number of ser- vices desired. Should a permit be granted by the City Council, the applicants shall, at their own expense, install all necessary mains or pipes in accordance with the requirements of the City Engineer and the Comprehensive Water Plan of the City of Kent. All regulations concerning the size of service and meter shall apply. Whenever any water district desires to purchase water from the City, it shall make application to the City Council and if accepted, -3- install all mains and services in accordance with the rules and re- gulations of the City. An individual contract will be negotiated for the purchase of water. Whenever any portion of a water dis- trict is annexed to the City of Kent, the ownership of the mains, meters and services shall become the property of the City of Kent in accordance with RCW 35.13.220. Section 10. Installation and Connection Charges Inside City Limits. Any property owner within the city limits applying for new water service shall pay a service, material and connection charge. This charge will include the cost of connection and laying of pipe from the city water main to the property line of the property to which service is desired, or at a distance of sixty (60) feet from the main toward such property line, whichever is shorter. The mini- mum charge so established is as follows: $125 for each 5/8 x 3/4" connection $150 for each 3/4" connection $175 for each 1" connection $360 for each 1-1/2" connection $500 for each 2" connection On any connection over two (2) inches, the minimum charge shall be the actual cost of the meter and installation, plus twenty- five percent. In the event an undersized meter is installed, deduction will be allowed from the above charges which will reflect the dif- ference in cost between the undersized meter and the regular size meter. All service material (including water meter) will remain the property of the City. If 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. If it becomes necessary during the in- stallation of said connection on a time and material basis to break and replace either concrete or blacktop paving, then in each such in- stance an additional charge shall be made to cover the cost of such repair. Section 11. Installation and Connection Charges Outside City. Any property owner outside the city limits applying for water service shall pay a service, material and connection charge. This charge will include the costs of connection and meter. The -4- minimum charge so established shall be the cost as established for inside city limits plus 50%. Section 12. Stop Cocks. All service pipes must come direct from the street main and shall be laid at such depth and at such point as the water department foreman shall designate. All stop cocks and connections thereto shall be maintained and under the control of the water department. Section 13. Turn On and Off Service by Water Department Employees. No person except employees of the water department will be allowed to turn the water on or off at the City's stop cock after the plumbing has been completed and the water turned on by the water department, except to repair the special stop and waste cock or the pipe between it and the city's stop cock. Section 14. Special Stop and Waste Cock. A special stop and waste cock with a key attached thereto shall be placed on the pipe leading from the city's stop cock outside of the building or inside if basement is available. No branch pipe, bibb or fixture of any kind shall be placed between this stop cock and the city's main. If this stop cock does not thoroughly drain all pipes throughout the pre- mises, additional ones shall be placed in all sags, bends and traps that cannot otherwise be drained. If the service is to a business building adjacent to a city sidewalk, a valve type stop and waste cock in a cast iron valve box, with traffic type lid shall be in- stalled near outside wall of the building. Section 15. If a property owner, lessee or occupant re- quests a change in meter size and/or water line size, an application therefore shall be made to the City Engineer. The charge for this service will be on a time and material basis. A credit on this charge will be made for the meter removed. This credit will be based on a depreciation schedule of twenty percent per year for the number of years the meter has been in service, with a minimum credit of $2.50. No credit will be allowed for the valves, meter box, or pipe origi- nally installed. Section 16. Connections from Stop Cock at Owner's Expense and Care. All pipes and connections from the City's adapter or coupl- -5- ing located on or near the property line or near the meter box shall be put in at the expense of the property owner, who shall be re- sponsible for all damages resulting from leaks and breaks. Section 17. Plumber's Permit For Turn On and Off. No plumber or other person will be allowed to make connection with the City mains or make alterations in conduit, pipe or other fixture connecting therewith, or to connect pipes when they have been dis- connected, or to turn water off or on, upon any premises at the City's stop cock without a permit from the Water Superintendent. Section 18. Water Turned On By Owner or Tennant Pro- hibited. Should the water be turned on to the premises by any one other than an employee of the Water Department after it has been turned off at City stop cock, it will be turned off again at the City stop cock and locked, and will not be turned on again until the charges as herein prescribed have been paid. Such charges will consist of the actual cost per hour, in- cluding overhead, of sending water department employees to return service to the account, plus the normal $3.00 turn on charge. How- ever; in no 'case will the charge be less than $10.00. Section 19. Vacant Premises - Water Supply. Should it be desired to discontinue the use of water supply to vacant pre- mises for a period of not less than thirty (30) days, notice in writing must be given to the Finance Department; the water will then be turned off; and will be turned on again on written application at a charge of three (3) dollars for such turn -on. No remission of charges will be made for a lesser period than thirty (30) days or without receipt of notice by the Finance Department. Section 20. Size of Water Main. No water main shall be installed unless it is at least six (6) inches in diameter and is the size indicated in the Comprehensive Water Plan. Section 21. Turning Off - Turning On - Charges. For the purpose of paying the expense to the water department, a charge as hereinafter set forth is hereby fixed and made to turn off or turn on the water service to any building for the making within the build- ing of any inspection, repair, maintenance, enlargement, replacement, addition, or change in or to the water line or lines, or plumbing, or plumbing fixtures, or for the purpose of connecting any kind of machine, appliance, toilet and/or bath facilities, or any other kind of plumbing in or to the water system located within the building when said building does not have stop and waste cock as required in Sec- tion 14. The charge shall be ten (10) dollars if the turn off and turn on is done within a period of forty-eight (48) hours, which charge shall be first paid to the City Treasurer before any water service is turned off or turned on for any of the purposes set forth above. If the turn off and turn on is not done within a period of forty-eight (48) hours, the charge is ten (10) dollars to turn off the water service and ten (10) dollars to turn on the service which charge shall be first paid to the City Treasurer before any water service is turned off or turned on for any of the purposes set forth above. Section 22. Prohibited Uses Listed. No person, firm or corporation shall: (1) Use water from the City water system for sprinkling or irrigating when requested by a police officer or fireman of the City of Kent to cease such use during a fire which the fire department is seeking to control; or when use of water for sprinkling or irrigation is forbidden by the City Council; (2) Bathe in, fish in, or throw any substance into any reservoir or water tank or standpipe or into any pipe or connection in the City water system, or upon the premises where any reservoir, water tank or stand- pipe is located; or (3) Obstruct the access to any fire hydrant, or place lumber, dirt, rubbish or other material upon public right-of-way or City owned property within twenty (20)feet of a fire hydrant; or to open or operate a fire hydrant except it be by a member of a fire de- partment or employee of the City of Kent in pursuance of his employment or duty; or -7- (4) Break or deface the seal of a water meter, or tamper with, damage, obstruct or alter a water meter in service; or (5) Make any connection by means of a pipe, or other- wise with a water main or water pipe for delivery of water from the City water system to a consumer in such a manner that the water is not first mea- sured by a water meter prior to consumption; or (6) Turn on or turn off a water service at the water box or at any place between the water meter and the water main of the City water system (only an employee of the Water Department is authorized to either turn on or turn off a water service); or (7) Interfere with, obstruct, or prevent free or safe access to any water meter or water service for pur- pose of reading, inspection, repair, removal, or installation, by any employee of the Water Depart- ment in pursuit of his employment; or (8) Tamper with, destroy, break, or interfere with any part of the water system; or (9) Make, construct, buy, sell or in any way dispose of to any person any curb cock key or hydrant wrench that fits or may be used on any part of the City water system without permission of the Water Superintendent of the City of Kent. Section 23. Water Rates Within the City of Kent. The minimum monthly rate for: 0-499 cu. ft. $3.00 500 - 999 cu. ft. .40 per 100 cu. ft. 1,000 - 1,999 cu. ft. .30 per 100 cu. ft. 2,000 - 7,999 cu. ft. .25 per 100 cu. ft. 8,000 - 14,999 cu. ft. .20 per 100 cu. ft. 15,000 - 39,999 cu. ft. .15 per 100 cu. ft. 40,000 and over .12 per 100 cu. ft. A monthly demand charge for service and meter is as follows: W10 Less than 1 inch -0- 1 inch $ 1.50 1-1/2 inch 3.00 2 inch 6.00 3 inch 9.00 4 inch 12.00 6 inch 34.50 8 inch 49.50 10 inch 64.50 12 inch 79.50 Section 24. Water Rates Outside City of Kent. The minimum monthly rate for: 0 - 499 cu. ft. 1 inch 500 - 999 cu. ft. 4.50 1,000 - 1,999 cu. ft. 2,000 - 7,999 cu. ft. 8,000 - 14,999 cu. ft. 15,000 - 39,999 cu. ft. 40,000 - and over $ 4.50 .60 per 100 cu. ft. .45 per 100 cu. ft. .38 per 100 cu. ft. .30 per 100 cu. ft. .23 per 100 cu. ft. .18 per 100 cu. ft. A monthly demand service and meter charge is as follows: Less than 1 inch -0- 1 inch $ 2.25 1-1/2 inch 4.50 2 inch 9.00 3 inch 13.50 4 inch 18.00 6 inch 51.75 8 inch 74.25 10 inch 96.75 12 inch 119.25 Section 25. Billing for Service. All billing for water shall be made to the nearest five (5) cents. Section 26. Effective Date of Rates. The minimum rates and charges set forth herein shall be effective for water billed and charges made therefor from and after the 26th of June, 1972. Section 27. Charges When Meter is Out of Order. In the event a meter fails to register the ainount of water used, the custo- mer will be charged at the average rate of monthly consumption as shown by the meter when in order. WON Section 28. Request for Meter Check. A customer may request a meter check. If it is found that said meter is regis- tering less than or more than the requirements of the State of Washington for meter accuracy, no charge will be made. If it is found that the meter is registering in accord- ance with State regulations, a charge of five (5) dollars will be made for meters one (1) inch or less in size; and ten (10) dollars for any meter over one (1) inch in size. This charge will be added to the next water billing. Section 29. Fire Protection Service. Pipes for fire protection purposes must be fitted up with such fixtures only as are needed for fire protection and such fixtures shall be sealed by the Water Department, and in no case shall such seal be broken, except in case of fire or by the Fire Chief for the purpose of testing the pipes, fixtures or hose. When seals are broken in case of fire, it shall be the duty of the owner or tenant of the premises to notify the water department within twenty-four (24) hours after its occurrence, and the said seal shall be replaced by the Water Department. Section 30. Penalty for Violation. Any person, firm or corporation found guilty of violating this chapter or any part thereof shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine not exceeding Three Hundred (300) Dollars. Section 31. Emergency Shut -Off Without Notice. The water may at any time be shut off from the mains without notice, for repairs, extensions, or other necessary purposes and persons having boilers supplied by direct pressure from the mains are cautioned against danger of explosion or collapse, and where meters are in use, a safety valve shall be placed between the boiler on such service and the meter at the owner's expense, and he shall be held responsible to the City for any and all damages to meters caused by hot water. The -City will not -be responsible for the safety of boilers or other fixtures on the premises of any water consumer. -10- s Section 32. The Ordinances 680 (1937); 688 (1938); 693 (1938); 713 (1941); 897 (1955); 914 (1955); 1034 (1959); 1272 (1964); and 1490 (1967) are hereby repealed. Section 33. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force five (5) days from and after its passage, approval and pub- lication as provided by law. PASSED by the City Council and APPROVED by the Mayor of the °ty of Kent, Washington, at a regular meeting thereof, this day of June, 1972. ISABEL OGAN,Y R ATTEST: C MARIE JENS(r, City Clerk ROVED AS TO FORM: k l,� kq/)/Il DONALD E. MIRK, City Attorney PASSED the day of June, 1972. APPROVED the _'_ day of June, 1972. PUBLISHED the :2_3 day of June, 1972. I hereby certify that this is a true copy of Ordinance / No. F l% , passed by the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, and approved by the Mayor of the City of Kent as hereon indicated. _ (SEAL) t. MARIE JENS , City C1 k