The general management, care, control and supervision of the city water system shall be in the superintendent of water.

(Code 2007)

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 2007)

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 2007)

(a)   The owner of all houses, buildings, or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purpose, situated within the city abutting on any street, alley, or right-of-way in which there is now located or may in the future be located near public water mains, is hereby required at his or her own expense to make connection to such public water main.

(b)   Before any connection is made to the city’s water system an application must be made in writing to the city clerk by the owner of the premises, or his or her authorized representative, for a permit to make such connection.

(c)   Each residence of building shall be considered a separate unit and must have its own individual and separate service from the water mains. Except, that when businesses are closely related to each other are carried on at one location or adjoining locations by a corporation, copartnership, individual, or are managed by one manager, and are supplied water by one meter, such businesses shall be considered as one business and there shall be one minimum charge made.

(Code 1977, §§ 13.08.020 and 13.08.030; Code 2007)

(a)   Any person, firm or corporation desiring a connection with the municipal water system shall apply in writing to the city clerk, on a form furnished by the city for that purpose, for a permit to make the connection.

(b)   The application shall:

(1)   Contain an exact description including street address of the property to be served;

(2)   State the size of tap required;

(3)   State the size and kind of service pipe to be used;

(4)   State the full name of the owner of the premises to be served;

(5)   State the purpose for which the water is to be used;

(6)   State any other pertinent information required by the city clerk;

(7)   Be signed by the owner or occupant of the premises to be served, or his or her authorized agent.

(c)   Each application for a connection permit shall be accompanied by payment of fees and/or costs specified in section 15-207.

(Code 2007)

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 2007)

The fees for connection to the city waterworks system shall be as follows:

(a)   For connecting water main with three-fourths inch tap, three- fourths inch service line and installing three-fourths inch meter - $500.00 inside city limits, and $600.00 outside the city limits;

(b)   For connecting water main with one-inch tap, one-inch service line and installing one-inch meter - $750.00 inside city limits, and $900.00 outside the city limits;

(c)   For connecting water main with two-inch tap, and a greater than 1-inch service line and installing a greater than 1-inch meter - $2,300.00 inside city limits, and $2,500.00 outside the city limits;

(d)   All charges hereunder are subject to sales tax.

(Code 1977, § 13.04.060. F; Ord. 1042; Code 2022)

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 2007)

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 2007)

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 2007)

(a)   All water furnished to customers shall be metered.

(b)   Meters shall be located between the sidewalk or property line and curbing when the main is in the street, and on private property within three feet of the alley line when the main is in the alley.

(c)   The city’s responsibility stops at the meter.

(d)   All water meters shall remain the property of the city and shall be subject to water department rules and regulations.

(Code 1977, § 13.04.060. F; Code 2007)

Meters shall be tested before being set and at any other time thereafter when they appear to be measuring incorrectly.

(Code 2007)

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 2007)

No allowances shall be made for water used or lost through leaks, carelessness, neglect or otherwise after the same has pass through the meter.

(Code 2007)

The governing body of the City of Hiawatha hereby establishes the reconnection charge/service fee during business hours in the following amounts:

(a)   Twenty-Five Dollars ($25.00) for the first reconnection;

(b)   Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for the second reconnection within twelve (12) months of the first reconnection;

(c)   One Hundred ($100.00) for the third and any subsequent reconnections within twelve (12) months of any previous reconnection.

For a reconnect fee for after hours, reconnection of water and sewer shall require cash or check only and the fee for after-hours reconnect shall be One Hundred Dollars ($100). After hours reconnect shall begin at 4:00 p.m. weekdays and include weekends and holidays. Any service disconnected for nonpayment of delinquent bill shall be reconnected only upon payment of the delinquent bill, late penalty, service fee for reconnection charge and any other associated fees.

(Ord. 2074; Code 2022)

At the time of making application for water service, the property owner or customer shall make a cash deposit in the amount and manner specified in section 15-105 to secure payment of accrued bills or bills due on discontinuance of service.

(Code 2007)

The city reserves the right to interrupt water service for the purpose of making repairs or extensions to water lines or equipment.

(Code 2007)

It shall be a violation of this article for any unauthorized person to:

(a)   Perform any work upon the pipes or appurtenances of the city’s waterworks system beyond a private property line unless such person is employed by the city;

(b)   Make any connections with any extension of the supply pipes of any consumer without written permission to do so having been first obtained from the governing body;

(c)   Remove, handle or otherwise molest or disturb any meter, meter lid, cutoff, or any other appurtenances to the water system of the city.

(Code 2007)

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 2007)

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 2007)

The rates per month for the use of water shall be as follows:

(a)   Within City Limits.

(1)   The minimum charge for the first 200 cubic feet per month will be based upon the size of the meter as follows:

(2)   Step Schedule. For the first 200 cubic feet or 1,496.1 gallons, the charge shall be the minimum per month according to the meter size. For Water usage over 200 cubic feet or 1,496.1 gallons the rate shall be:

 

Gallons	Rate per 1,000 Gallons
Over 1,496.1	$5.51

(b)   Outside City Limits.

(1)   Minimum Charge. The minimum charge for the first 200 cubic feet per month will be based upon the size of the meter as follows:

(2)   Step Schedule. For the first 200 cubic feet or 1,496.1 gallons, the charge shall be the minimum per month according to the meter size. For Water usage over 200 cubic feet or 1,496.1 gallons the rate shall be:

 

Gallons	Rate per 1,000 Gallons
Over 1,496.1	$11.02

(c)   Existing Meters. All existing meters will be billed for the minimum at the largest meter size now in service at the meter location of water user and any new meters added will be at the rate stated in this section.

(d)   Special Rates; Un-metered Rates.

(1)   The city reserves the right to contract with any large customer or consumer pertaining to the supply and metering of water.

(2)   The governing body may authorize the sale of water without metering the same at the rate to be fixed by the gallon, barrel or tank wagon load. In such case, the city clerk shall collect all sums due for the sale of un-metered water and shall account monthly for such sums.

(e)   Bulk Rate. For bulk water out of a hydrant, the charge shall be $5.51 per thousand gallons.

(Code 1977, §§ 13.08.010 and 13.08.070; Ord. 896; Ord. 1065; Ord. 2030; Code 2022)

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. In the event that the 10th day of the month falls on Saturday, Sunday, any legal holiday or such other day that the city building is not open for business, the penalty will not be assessed until after twelve noon on the first business day following the 10th day of the month.

(Code 1977, § 13.04.200; Ord. 992; Code 2022)

Water service shall be terminated for nonpayment of service fees or charges as provided in sections 15-102:104.

(Code 2007)

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 2007)

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 2007)

Approved devices to protect against backflow or back siphonage 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 2007)

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 2007)

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 2007)

(a)   In order to protect and promote the health of the residents of the city, the fluoridation of the water provided by the municipal water utility is authorized and directed.

(b)   The amount and method of fluoridation shall be consistent with all applicable state and federal regulations as well as standards generally recognized and accepted by the medical and dental profession.

(c)   Fluoridation of the water provided by the municipal water utility shall commence at the earliest feasible time after the adoption of the ordinance codified in this section.

(Code 1977, 13.04.175)

An electrically continuous insulated number 12 gauge solid AWG copper tracer wire shall be installed with and attached to all underground non-metallic private water and sewer line piping and shall terminate above grade at the cleanout(s) with sewer lines. When an outside meter box is present, the tracer wire shall terminate inside the water meter box. The termination point of the opposite end shall be attached to an approved electrode such as a copper rod driven in the earth. The number 12 AWG wire shall be attached to the electrode by means of an approved grounding clamp of copper alloy and be UL listed for direct burial. When no wire exists that the public utility line, a copper rod or pipe shall be driven in the earth near the public utility or at the termination point and the number 12 AWG wire attached to the electrode by means of the approved grounding clamp.

(Ord. 897; Code 2007)