CHAPTER XV. UTILITIESCHAPTER XV. UTILITIES\ARTICLE 2. WATER

The general management, care, control and supervision of the city water system shall be in the superintendent of utility, who shall be appointed by the mayor with the consent of the governing body. 

(Ord. 863, 17-101; Code 1996)

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 1996)

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 1996)

(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 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.

(Ord. 863, 17-114; Code 1996)

(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 1996)

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.

(Ord. 863, 17-113; Code 1996)

The fee for connection to the city waterworks system shall be $50.

(Code 1996; Code 2015)

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.

(Ord. 863, 17-118; Code 1996)

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.

(Ord. 863, 17-119; Code 1996)

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.

(Ord. 863, 17-108; Code 1996)

(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. In the business district the meters may be installed in the basement at a location specified by the city.

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

(Code 1996)

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 1996)

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.

(Ord. 863, 17-108; Code 1996)

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 1996)

Any service disconnected for nonpayment of delinquent bill shall be reconnected only upon payment of the delinquent bill, interest penalty thereon, and the reconnection charge.  

(Code 1996)

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

(Code 1996)

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 1996)

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 1996)

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 1996)

(a)   5/8” Water meters or less, using 2,000 gallons of water or less, shall be charged a minimum fee of $8.67.

(b)   3/4” Water meters using 4,000 gallons of water or less, shall be charged a minimum of $11.03.

(c)   1” Water meters using 5,000 gallons of water or less, shall be charged a minimum fee of $12.24.

(d)   1 ½” Water meters, using 11,000 gallons of water or less shall be charged a minimum of $19.37.

(e)   2” Water meters, using 18,000 gallons of water or less shall be charged a minimum of $27.71.

(f)    All water in excess of the minimums shall be charged at the rate of $2.28 per 1000 gallons or any part thereof.

(g)   The State-mandated water protection fee of .032 cents for each 1000 gallons of water sold at retail by the City of Stafford, Kansas, shall be included on the city’s billing statements for water furnished to consumers. The funds so collected shall be remitted quarterly to the Kansas Department of Revenue as required by law.

(h)   The owner of any real property that contains a plumbing system that has the ability to access the municipal water system shall be liable for payment of a minimum fee set forth herein; regardless of whether such owner connects the plumbing system serving the real property to the municipal water system

(Code 1996; Ord. 1019; Code 2015; Ord. 1032; Ord. 1037; Ord. 1046; Ord. 1050; Ord. 1069)

Effective January 1, 2012, meters will be read on the 15th day of each month. The January 2012 bill will be due on February 15, 2012. All remaining months thereafter, meters will be read on the 15th day of each month, with payments due on or before the 15th day of the following month. Any payments not received by the 15th day of the month shall be delinquent and assessed a 10 percent late charge.

(Code 1996; Ord. 1003; Code 2015)

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

(Code 1996)

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. 

(Ord. 863, 17-121; Code 1996)

The curb cock and meter shall be located at a curb between the main and the property to be served and at the curb nearest to the main.

(Ord. 863, 17-115)

No one except regular city employees of the water department or plumbers duly licensed in accordance with the ordinances of this city shall do any plumbing work on any service pipes connected or to be connected to the municipal water system.

(Ord. 863, 17-116)

All service pipes in this city shall be brass, copper, iron or PVC as provided in sections 4-306:308, and shall be laid not less than 30 inches below the established grade, or as low as the street mains. 

(Ord. 863, 17-117)

The cost of original installation of all plumbing between the curb and any service devices maintained by the consumer, and all extensions hereafter made to such service pipes, as well as all repairs to the same, shall be borne entirely by the consumer, although such service pipes and devices shall at all reasonable times be subject to inspection by duly authorized officials of the water and light system of this city, and repairs found to be necessary by such officials shall be made promptly or the city will discontinue service until such repairs are made. 

(Ord. 863, 17-120)

When the city temporarily disconnects water service to any customer in order to render service to the customer, there shall be no charge during regular business hours and a $10 service call after hours and weekends. The charges shall not apply to permanent disconnections or to initial connections for water service.

(Code 1982, 17-124)

The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this policy:

(a)   Air Gap Separation -- The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying water to a tank, plumbing fixtures or other device and the overflow level rim of the receptacle, and shall be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe measured vertically above the flood level rim of the vessel, but in no case less than one inch.

(b)   Approved Tester -- A person qualified to make inspections; to test and repair backflow prevention/cross connection control devices; and who is approved by the city.

(c)   Authorized Representative -- Any person designated by the city to administer this cross connection control ordinance.

(d)   Auxiliary Water Supply -- Any water source or system, other than the city, that may be available in the building or premises. This does not include other KDHE permitted public water supply systems.

(e)   Backflow - The flow other than the intended direction of flow, of any foreign liquids, gases, used water or substances into the distribution system of a public water supply system.

(f)    Backflow Prevention Device -- Any device method or type of construction intended to prevent backflow into the public water supply system.

(g)   Consumer -- Any individual firm, partnership, corporation or agency or their authorized agent receiving water from the city.

(h)   Contamination -- An introduction of any sewage, process fluids, chemicals, wastes or any other substance that would be objectionable.  Contamination may be a threat to life or health or may cause an aesthetic deterioration, color, taste or odor.

(i)    Cross Connection - Any physical connection or arrangement between two otherwise separate piping systems; one of which contains potable water of the public water supply system and the second, water of unknown or questionable safety, or steam, gases, chemicals, or substances whereby there may be backflow from the second system to the public water supply system. No physical cross connection shall be permitted between a public water supply system and an auxiliary water supply system.

(j)    Degree of Hazard - An evaluation of the potential risk to public health and the adverse effect of the hazard upon anyone using the water.

(k)   Health Hazard - Any condition, device or practice in the public water supply system which could create or may create a danger to the health and well-being of anyone using the water or allow contamination of the water.

(l)    Public Water System -- The water supply source, distribution system and appurtenances to the service meter operated as a public utility which supplies potable water to the consumers’ water systems.

(m)  Public Water Supply System --  The  public  water  system  and  the consumers’ water systems.

(n)   Consumer’s Water System - All service pipe, all distribution piping and all appurtenances beyond the service meter of the public water system.

(o)   Service Connection -- The terminal end of the service line from the public water system. If a meter is installed at the end of the service, then the service connection means the downstream end of the meter.

(Ord. 886, Sec. 1)

(a)   No water service connection shall be installed or maintained to any premises where actual or potential cross connections to the public water supply system may exist unless such actual or potential cross connections are abated or controlled to the satisfaction of the city or its authorized representative.

(b)   No connection shall be installed or maintained whereby an auxiliary water supply may enter a public water supply system.

(Ord. 886, Sec. 1)

(a)   The consumer’s premises shall be open at all reasonable times to the city or its authorized representative, for the conduction of surveys and investigations of water use practices within the consumer’s premises to determine whether there are actual or potential cross connections in the consumer’s  water  system.

(b)   On request by the city or its authorized representative, the consumer shall furnish requested information on water use practices within his or her premises and in the consumer’s water system.

(c)   On request by the city or its authorized representative, the consumer shall conduct periodic surveys of water use practices on the premises of the consumer’s water system to determine whether there are actual or potential cross connections. The consumer shall provide the survey results to the city or its authorized representative.

(Ord. 886, Sec. 1)

(a)   An approved backflow prevention device shall be installed on each service line to a consumer’s water system serving premises where, in the judgment of the city or its authorized representative or the KDHE, actual or potential cross connections exist. The type and degree of protection required shall be commensurate with the degree of hazard and/or type of contamination that may enter the public water supply system.

(b)   An approved air gap separate or reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device shall be installed at the service connection or within any premises where, in the judgment of the city or its authorized representative or the KDHE, the nature and extent of activities on the premises, or the material used in connection with the activities, or materials used in connection with the activities, or materials stored on the premises, would present a health hazard or contamination of the public water supply system from a cross connection. This includes but is not limited to the following situations:

(1)   Premises having an auxiliary water supply, unless the quality of the auxiliary supply is acceptable to the city or its authorized representative and the KDHE.

(2)   Premises having internal plumbing arrangements which make it impractical to ascertain whether or not cross connections exist.

(3)   Premises where entry is restricted so that inspection for cross connections cannot be made with sufficient frequency or at sufficiently short notice to assure the cross connections do not exist.

(4)   Premises having a repeated history of cross connections being established or re-established.

(5)   Premises, which due to the nature of the enterprise therein, are subject to recurring modification or expansion.

(6)   Premises on which any substance handled to permit entry into the public water supply system, or where a cross connection could reasonably be expected to occur.  This shall include the handling of process waters and cooling waters.

(7)   Premises where toxic or hazardous materials are handled.

(c)   The following types of facilities fall into one or more of the categories or premises where an approved air gap separate or reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device may be request by the city or its authorized representative or the KDHE to protect the public water supply and must be installed at these facilities unless all hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions have been eliminated or corrected by other methods to the satisfaction of the city or its authorized representative and the KDHE:

(1)   Agricultural chemical facilities.

(2)   Auxiliary water systems, wells.

(3)   Boilers.

(4)   Bulk water loading facilities.

(5)   Car washing facilities.

(6)   Chemical manufacturing, processing, compounding or treatment plants.

(7)   Chill water systems.

(8)   Cooling towers.

(9)   Feedlots.

(10) Fire protection systems.

(11) Hazardous waste storage and disposal sites.

(12) Hospitals, mortuaries, clinics or others as discovered by sanitary surveys.

(13) Irrigation and sprinkler systems.

(14) Laundries and dry cleaning.

(15) Meat processing facilities.

(16) Metal manufacturing, cleaning, processing and fabricating plants.

(17) Oil and gas production, refining, storage or transmission properties.

(18) Plating plants.

(19) Power plants.

(20) Research and analytical laboratories.

(21) Sewage and storm drainage facilities--pumping stations and treatment plants.

(22) Veterinary clinics.

(Ord. 886, Sec. 1)

(a)   Any backflow prevention device required by this article shall be of a model or construction approved by the city or its authorized representative and the KDHE.

(1)   Air gap separate to be approved shall be at least twice the diameter of the supply pipe, measured vertically above the top rim of the vessel, but in no case less than one inch.

(2)   Double check valve assemblies or reduced pressure principle backflow prevention devices shall appear on the current list of approved backflow prevention devices established by the KDHE, unless the device was installed at the time this article was passed and complies with required inspection and maintenance.

(Ord. 886, Sec. 1)

(a)   Backflow prevention devices required by this policy shall be installed at a location and in a manner approved by the city or its authorized agent. All devices shall be installed at the expense of the consumer, unless the city or its authorized representative agrees otherwise.

(b)   Backflow prevention devices installed at the service connection shall be located on the consumer’s side of the water meter, as close to the meter as is reasonably practical and prior to any other connection.

(c)   Backflow prevention devices shall be conveniently accessible for maintenance and testing, protected from freezing and where no part of the device will be submerged or subject to flooding by any fluid. All devices shall be installed according to manufacturers ‘ recommendations.

(Ord. 886, Sec. 1)

(a)   The consumer is required by this article to inspect, test and overhaul backflow prevention devices in accordance with the following schedule or more often as determined by the city or its authorized representative.

(1)   Air gap separations shall be inspected at the time of installation and at least monthly.

(2)   Double check valve assemblies shall be inspected and tested for tightness at the time of installation and at least every 12 months thereafter. They shall be dismantled, inspected internally, cleaned and repaired whenever needed and at least every five years.

(3)   Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention devices shall be inspected and tested for tightness at the time of installation and at least every 12 months thereafter. They shall be dismantled, inspected internally, cleaned and repaired whenever needed and at least every five years.

(b)   Inspections, tests and overhauls of backflow prevention devices shall be made at the expense of the consumer and shall be performed by an approved tester.

(c)   Whenever backflow prevention devices required by this policy are found to be defective, they shall be repaired or replaced without delay at the expense of the consumer.

(d)   The consumer must maintain a complete record of each backflow prevention device from purchase to retirement. This shall include a comprehensive listing that includes a record of all tests, inspections and repairs.  All records of inspections, tests, repairs and overhauls shall be provided within 30 days to the city or its authorized representative.

(e)   All backflow prevention devices shall have a tag showing the date of the last inspection, test or overhaul other maintenance.

(f)    Backflow prevention devices shall not be bypassed, made inoperative, removed or otherwise made ineffective without specific authorization by the city or its authorized representative.

(Ord. 886, Sec. 1)

(a)   The city or its authorized representative shall deny or discontinue the water service to any premises or any consumer wherein any backflow prevention device required by this policy is not installed, tested and maintained in a manner acceptable to the city or its authorized representative, or if it is found that the backflow prevention device has been removed or bypassed, or if an unprotected cross connection exists.

(b)   Water service to such premises shall not be restored until the consumer is in compliance with this cross connection article to the satisfaction of the city or its authorized representative.

(Ord. 886, Sec. 1)