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HomeMy WebLinkAboutG13-12 Ordinance No. G13-12 • AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 14.04 OF THE ELGIN MUNICIPAL CODE, 1976; AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "WATER REGULATIONS" BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS: Section 1. That Section 14.04.005 of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976, as amended; entitled "Definitions" be and is hereby further amended to read as follows: "14.04.005: DEFINITIONS: For the purpose of this chapter, the words set out in this section shall have the following meanings: AUTOMATIC METER READING UNIT: A device as designated by the water director which collects water meter readings electronically via a telephone line or a radio signal. BEGINNING READ: An inside reading made when a customer is added to an account. • BILLING PERIOD: The period between each reading as set forth in subsection 14.04.200A of this chapter. COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT: A building or complex which houses stores, offices or businesses that engage in trade, sales and service. CUSTOMER OR CONSUMER: Jointly and severally, any person or persons receiving or contracting for water service from the city at a particular metered property and the owner or owners of the property served. The foregoing persons shall be jointly and severally liable for all water charges at the metered property. DISCONNECTION: The physical severing of a metered property from the city water system by removing existing pipes, valves, meters or portions thereof. ESTIMATED BILL: A bill based upon projected charges when a reading is not available. FINAL READ: An inside reading made when a customer is deleted from an account. FINANCE DIRECTOR: The finance director of the city. • INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENT: A building or complex which houses • mechanical or manufacturing activities. INSIDE READING: The direct and actual reading of a properly functioning meter by a city employee or agent or a reading obtained electronically by an automatic meter reading (AMR) system operated by the city. INSTITUTIONAL ESTABLISHMENT: A building or complex which houses activities such as health, educational, social or religious such as but not limited to churches, charitable organizations, sanitariums, hospitals, correctional facilities or sports facilities. METER: A device as designated by the water director and used by the city to measure consumption of water for billing purposes. METERED PROPERTY: Any property or part thereof, such as, but not limited to, an apartment, house, business, condominium or office, receiving water from the city and which has a meter utilized by the city to determine water charges for the property served. MULTIPLE METER SERVICE LOCATION: A service location at which there are two (2) or more metered properties. • READING: The process of checking a meter to determine the amount of water usage at any metered property. REMOTE READING: The reading of a meter at a remote reading register. REMOTE READING REGISTER: A device as designated by the water director located outside of a building in an area accessible to city personnel and which displays water consumption as measured by the meter. SERVICE LOCATION: Any property or part thereof receiving water from the city and which is served by a shutoff box. Note: Each service location will include one (single meter service location) or more (multiple meter service location) metered properties. SERVICE PIPES: Those pipes connecting the shut off box to the metered property. SHUT OFF: The termination of water at a service location by closing the valve on a shut off box. SHUT OFF BOX: A valve box or other device as designated by the water director capable of terminating water at a service location. Generally, a shut off box • includes, but is not necessarily limited to, a ball valve, curb stop and buffalo • pattern curb box of a make and manufacturer as designated by the water director. SINGLE METER SERVICE LOCATION: A service location at which there is only one metered property. WATER ACCOUNT: The total cumulative charges for water service at any metered location. WATER DIRECTOR: The director of water operations for the city of Elgin." Section 2. That Section 14.04.020 of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976, as amended, entitled "Water Main, Service Piping and Housing Piping Requirements" be and is hereby further amended to read as follows: "14.04.020: WATER MAIN, SERVICE PIPING AND HOUSING PIPING REQUIREMENTS: A. All service pipes placed in connection with the city water main shall be of copper water tube or ductile iron pipe and must be at least five and on half feet (5 1/2 ') below the surface of the earth. The service pipes from the shut off box shall be not less than the size of pipe as that extending from the main to the shut off box and shall be installed and maintained at the expense of the customer. No service pipes shall be installed of a size less than one inch (1") in diameter. The service pipes shall meet with the following standards: 1. Copper water tubing, type K. E No Pipe I Weight Test 4 Diameter (Pounds ` Pressure Inches Per Foot) 1 (Psi Min 1 0.839 0.780 E 11/4 1.04 0.630 l 1'/Z 1.36 0.580 a J 2 2.06 0.460 • 2. Any service pipes having an inside diameter of three inches (3") or greater shall be a ductile iron pipe. All ductile iron pipe must conform with specifications of the American Water Works • Association and those of the water director. 3. The water department may require the installation of backflow protection devices of approved design in any service line where danger of back pressure is apparent. 4. The shut off box required by this chapter shall be used in copper water tube services and shall be of the "ora seal" or ball valve type. Underground copper joints shall be flanged, and no solder joints are permitted. 5. A shut off box shall be set as required by the water director. 6. All copper water tube service pipes shall be laid in waves and curves in such a manner as to use at least one foot (1') more pipe than would be used if a straight line of pipe was laid and where acid or cinder conditions exist in the ditch, the pipe shall be laid in a bed of sand. B. All other pipes used in connection with the water service located inside of any building after the meter must be galvanized iron, copper or brass. • C. A twenty foot (20') wide permanent easement shall be dedicated to the city for any water main located outside the city's right of way. The easement shall grant the city access to the water main to perform any necessary maintenance, repair, relocation or replacement of the water main. In lieu of the dedication of such an easement, the city may enter into an agreement with the owner of any water main located outside the city right of way, said agreement providing the terms and conditions for the continued maintenance of the water main by the owner. D. Connections between domestic service pipes and the water main shall be made within the city's right of way, with the curb stop set at the right of way line. The water director may permit a manifold connection between the domestic service pipes and the water main when a service location requires service by multiple meters and the water main is located on the opposite side of the street in which the building or facility is located. The individual curb stops for any such manifold connection shall be set at the city's right of way line and not more than four (4) 1-inch taps shall be provided per manifold. Each manifold will be set in a concrete pad and stamped with unit designation. The manifold system shall not be within 10' of a building foundation. .When a building or facility at a service location does not front a street, the water director may permit the installation of an extended water main provided an easement for such • purposes is created within an area located in the front of the building or facility. The extended water main and curb stops shall be installed upon Sthe approval of the water director and the individual taps and curb stops shall be located within three feet (3') of the extended water main. All curb stops, manifolds and b-boxes shall be within an easement granted to the city, if not within the right-of-way. E. Buildings or facilities located within commercial or industrial zoning districts that are erected without frontage on a street or public right of way may obtain domestic water service from a private water main located on the site provided separate curb stops are installed and provided an easement is executed granting the city access to the shut off box. Private water mains and their appurtenances shall not be maintained by the city nor shall the city be liable for any incidental or consequential damage resulting from the city's use or operation of a curb stop installed on a private water main." Section 3. That Section 14.04.065 of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976, as amended, entitled "Cross Connection with Public Water Supply Prohibited" be and is hereby further amended to read as follows: "14.04.065: CROSS CONNECTION WITH PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY PROHIBITED: • A. All industrial, institutional or commercial establishments shall install a reduced pressure zone device on the domestic line. B. All lawn irrigation systems require a Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) device. C. If in accordance with the Illinois plumbing code, or in the judgment of the water operations director, an approved cross connection control device is necessary for the safety of the public water supply system, the water operations director shall give notice to the water customer to install such an approved device immediately. The water customer shall, at his own expense, install such an approved device at a location and in a manner in accordance with the Illinois plumbing code and all applicable local regulations and shall have inspection and tests made by a certified cross connection control device inspector, of such approved devices as required by the Illinois plumbing code and local regulations. D. No person, firm or corporation shall establish, or permit to be established, or maintain, or permit to be maintained, any connection whereby a private, auxiliary or emergency water supply enters the supply or distribution system of the city, unless such private auxiliary or emergency water supply and the method of connection and use of such supply shall have • been approved by the water operations director and the Illinois ienvironmental protection agency. E. It shall be the duty of the water operations director to cause surveys and investigations to be made of premises served by the public water supply to determine whether actual or potential hazards to the public water supply may exist. Such surveys and investigations shall be made a matter of public record and shall be repeated not less than every two (2) years. Inspections shall be conducted at a greater frequency when the water operations director deems it necessary. Records of such surveys shall be maintained by the city water department as a public record and available for review for a period of at least five (5) years. F. The water operations director, or his authorized agent, shall have the right to enter at any reasonable time any property served by a connection to the public water supply or distribution system of the city for the purpose of verifying the presence of cross connections, or of verifying information submitted by the customer regarding the required cross connection control inspection. On demand, the owner, lessees, or occupants of any property so served shall furnish to the water operations director any information which he may request regarding the water piping or systems, or water use on such property. Failure to provide information when demanded, shall be deemed evidence of the presence of improper connections as provided in this section. G. The water operations director of the city is authorized and directed to discontinue, after reasonable notice to the occupant thereof, the water service of any property wherein any connection in violation of the provisions of this section is known to exist, and to take such other precautionary measures as he may deem necessary to eliminate any danger of contamination of the public water supply distribution mains. Water service to such property shall not be restored until such conditions have been eliminated or corrected in compliance with the provisions of this section and until a reconnection fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) is paid to the city. Immediate disconnection with verbal notice may be effected when the water operations director is assured that imminent danger of harmful contamination of the public water supply system exists. Such action shall be followed by written notification of the cause of disconnection. H. The customer is deemed responsible and must bear the cost of cleanup of the potable water supply system if contamination of the potable water supply system occurs through any means under the control of the customer including, but not limited to, an illegal cross connection or an improperly installed, maintained or repaired device, or a device which has been • bypassed. • I. The regulations of cross connection control attached to the ordinance codified in this section are incorporated as an integral part of this section and are approved and supported by the full authority of this section." Section 4. That Section 14.04.070 of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976, as amended, entitled "Water Meter Required; Pits; Ball Valves" be and is hereby further amended to read as follows: "14.04.070: WATER METER REQUIRED; PITS; BALL VALVES: A. All services now in use or hereafter installed shall be provided with water meters of a size and type approved by the water director. No water shall be turned on at any service location until a water meter is installed except as herein provided. All city water used on any premises wheresoever situated in the city, except as hereinafter provided, must pass through a water meter. Except as provided below no bypass or connection around the water meter from the water main or service shall be made, allowed or maintained. B. All meters shall be furnished by the city and shall remain the property of the city. Not more than one water meter shall be utilized at any service location. Any additional meters required for internal private use at a • service location shall be provided and paid for by the customer but shall not be considered a metered location or be read or billed by the city. All meters herein required for air conditioning and air cooling systems shall be paid for by the customer and shall be subject to regulations of the water director regarding installation, inspection and maintenance to the same extent and in the same manner as meters furnished by the city. C. All meters up to and including one inch (1") in diameter shall be installed by the city. Meters in excess of one inch (I") in diameter shall be installed by the customer as directed by the water director. Every meter shall be set and calibrated by or at the direction of the water director. D. Every service location shall be individually metered and shall be provided with water through a separate service pipe to which a shut off box has been installed. The shut off box shall be located in the city's right of way as closely as possible to the city's right of way line. Not more than one meter shall be installed on any single service pipe for which the city generates a water and sewer bill. Service locations with multiple tenants, lessees, condominiums or other similar multioccupant arrangements may install a single meter to service the multiple occupants at the service location provided there is one person, partnership or corporate entity lawfully designated as being solely responsible for the payment of water • and sewer billing generated by the city. In the event any such service location, whether being used for residential or commercial use, is sold or • otherwise divided in any manner that legally requires more than one owner or occupant to make payment on the water and sewer billing generated by the city, each independently owned or occupied portion of the service location shall provide a separate water service pipe, shut off box and meter before receiving water service, or an association of owners or occupants shall be formed that is legally responsible for the payment of a single water and sewer bill. E. All meters for residential service locations shall be required to have an automatic meter reading (AMR) unit as directed by the water director. All other meters shall be required to have an AMR unit as site installation conditions permit to be determined by the water director. All automatic meter reading units shall be of a type of unit that collects meter readings electronically F. Meters shall be placed and located within the building served as directed by the water director to enhance accessibility and protection of the meter. Meters shall be located at the point of entry within 3 feet of an exterior wall, unless otherwise accepted by the water director. The area where the meter is installed should have walk-in accessibility and working headroom. Water meters used for external irrigation systems shall be installed above grade with backflow preventers and shall be installed, • subject to the water director's approval, within a hot box designed to protect the meter and backflow preventer from the elements and unauthorized tampering. No water meter shall be permitted in a crawl space or manhole/meter pit. G. In the event that after installation, the meter becomes inaccessible for any reason, including, but not limited to, flooding or freezing of a meter pit, the water director may direct the customer, at the customer's expense, to take those actions which, in the water director's opinion, are necessary to render the meter readily accessible. H. There shall be installed, on the inlet side of the meter, ball valves of an approved design. There shall also be installed on the outlet side of the meter a ball valve of like design. The meter shall be set in a place so that the meter and the ball valves are easily accessible for removal and for reading, and set in such a manner as to prevent freezing or submersion in water. All meters shall have a working clearance on top of not less than sixteen inches (16") and on all other sides of not less than twelve inches (12"). 1. A bypass shall be installed for all meters of three inches (Y) or larger and in businesses where water service cannot be interrupted during normal business hours. The bypass shall meet standards and requirements as determined by the water director and shall include tamper proof lockable ball valves. All bypass lines shall have similar cross connection control devices as specified under section 14.04.065 as the main water line. The water director shall be notified prior to the unlocking of any such locked bypass valve. Failure to so notify the water director prior to the unlocking of any such locked bypass valve shall constitute unauthorized use of water." Section 5. That Section 14.04.075 of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976, as amended, entitled "Meter Conversion" be and is hereby further amended to read as follows: "14.04.075: METER CONVERSION: All water department meters shall be converted to an automatic meter reading (AMR) unit that collects meter readings via radio signal. The water director shall undertake a systematic program to convert all existing water department meters to AMR units. The conversion to an AMR unit shall be installed at no expense to the customer. The customer shall be required to allow the city to install the AMR unit in a location approved by the water director." Section 6. That Section 14.04.150 of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976, as amended; entitled "Fire Hydrants; Authority to Open" be and is hereby further amended to read as follows: • 14.04.150: FIRE HYDRANTS; AUTHORITY TO OPEN: A. Any fire hydrants installed in the city for the purpose of extinguishing fires in the city are declared to be public hydrants, and no person or persons other than the members of the fire department, for the uses and purposes of said department and those specially authorized by the director of the water department, shall open any of the hydrants or attempt to draw water from the same, or in any manner interfere with or injure any of the fire hydrants. B. No person shall use any wrench or device for opening or shutting fire hydrants except such as has been furnished by the water department or approved by the director. A deposit in the amount identified per the most recently enacted ordinance establishing fees shall be paid for every wrench furnished by the water department. C. Any person convicted of violating subsection A of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00)." Section 7. That Section 14.04.200 of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976, as amended, entitled "Readings" be and is hereby further amended to read as follows: L ' ` 14.04.200: READINGS: A. Billing for water shall be on a monthly basis and shall be based on actual meter reading; provided, however, that every alternate monthly bill may be based upon an estimated amount of water used by each owner/occupancy, which estimate shall be made by the City in its sole discretion. B. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, readings of water meters shall be taken by way of an automatic meter reading unit. Inside readings shall be taken on properties in the event the water director or finance director determines there is a reason to believe the automatic meter reading unit may be inaccurate or that an inside reading is otherwise necessary to accurately register the quantity of water consumed. All customers shall provide reasonable access to the city or its designated agents for the purpose of conducting inside readings. C. If a meter fails to accurately register the quantity of water consumed, or if the city is unable to read the meter, such quantity shall be estimated based upon a like period during the preceding year, or in such manner as the finance director may direct. An estimated bill shall be prepared and sent to the customer. D. Any estimated bill shall be adjusted to correctly reflect actual consumption when an inside reading has been taken." Section 8. That Section 14.04.210 of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976, as amended, entitled "Sprinkler and Fire Protection Service" be and is hereby further amended to read as follows: "14.04.210: SPRINKLER AND FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE: A. Whenever sprinkler or fire protection services are desired, application must be made for the privilege of installing such service. Complete plans for such installation shall be attached to such petition. When the application is approved, a contract shall be entered into with the water department for connection from city mains to the property line, which connection will be made by the department, the cost of the same to be paid by the petitioner before installation is completed. B. City water will not be turned into any sprinkler or fire protection service unless all pipes in connection with such system are left exposed for inspection until a pressure test is made. Water shall not be turned on in such service until costs of such installation are paid in full. The Water Department shall require meters for such services. A valve shall be . installed with a rising stem on each side of the check valve. • C. No additional sprinkler heads shall be installed or new connection of any kind whatsoever shall be made to a sprinkler or fire protection system unless a permit for such connection has been granted by the Water Department. D. Every fire protection and sprinkler service system shall be equipped with a cross connection control device as follows: Pipe Size Device Required With No Device Required With Chemicals Chemicals Up to 2" Double Check Valve (DCV) Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) 2.5" or Double Detector Check Detector Reduced Pressure larger Valve (DDCV)* Zone (DRPZ)* *Meter to read in cubic feet The cross connection control device shall have inspection and tests made by a certified cross connection control device inspector, of such approved devices as required by the Illinois plumbing code and local ordinance 14.04.065. E. Any service location requiring on-site fire protection, including, but not • limited to, an interior fire suppression sprinkler system or an on-site fire hydrant, shall install a dedicated service pipe that is independently connected to the City's water distribution system for the on-site fire protection system at the service location. Water supplied for domestic use on any such premises shall be provided with an independent service pipe with a dedicated shut-off box. F. A customer shall be charged the water service installation rate as provided in this Chapter for any domestic water service tap or fire suppression system tap that is installed by the City. G. When the water main is located on the opposite side of the street in which the building or facility to be serviced by a dedicated service pipe for an on-site fire protection system, the Water Director may permit a domestic service pipe to be connected to the dedicated service pipe for an on-site fire protection system provided the individual taps and curb stop is located at the property line of the building or facility being serviced." Section 9. That Section 14.04.230 of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976, as amended, entitled "Billing" be and is hereby further amended to read as follows: "14.04.230: BILLING: • A. Bills shall include all charges associated with the delivery of water to the • customer including charges related to water usage; installation, repair and maintenance of water service, including meters: authorized surcharges; fees and deposits. B. Water usage charges shall be based upon the reading, estimated charge or customer submitted postcard as provided in Section 14.04.200 of this Chapter. C. 1. Liability: All customers, including, but not limited to, the owner, at any metered property shall be jointly and severally liable for all water charges. Billing shall be sent to the owner. At the owner's request, the billing may be sent to any other customer, subject to the sole discretion of the Finance Director, provided there is a separate meter and separate shutoff for each such building and the proposed customer has a favorable credit history with the City. 2. Single-Meter Service Locations: Such billing of non-owner customers is done as a convenience to the owner and shall not relieve the owner of responsibility for the bill. Any agreement between a property owner and his tenant regarding payment of water bills shall not be binding on the City. The City shall not provide such billing to non-owner customers where there are • multiple meters but only one shutoff. 3. Multiple-Meter Service Locations: Separate bills shall be sent for each metered property. D. All bills for water service not paid within the first twenty (20) days after the same become due and payable shall be considered delinquent accounts and subject to an additional late payment charge equal to ten percent (10%) of the unpaid bill. The past due amount, including the late payment charge, shall be included on the subsequent water bill demanding immediate payment. Provided, whenever a water bill becomes delinquent, and there have been no prior delinquencies within the same calendar year for the metered location, the above described late payment charge shall not be assessed if all arrearages are paid within ten (10) days of the issuance of the subsequent water bill. If a customer's account remains delinquent after the issuance of the subsequent water bill which includes a past due amount, such customer shall be given written notice pursuant to Section 14.04.235 of this Chapter that water service will be shut off or disconnected if the past due amount and late charges are not paid within five (5) days of the mailing of such notice. • E. The City may cause water service to be shut off at a metered property for Snonpayment of water bills after notice as set forth in subsection D of this Section. F. The delinquent water bills of a customer at any metered location may be applied to the water bills of that same customer at any other metered location. G. A request to the City for a final reading of the water meter shall be made three (3) days prior to the date the final reading is requested. Upon receipt, the City shall take a final reading and prepare a bill to be submitted to the consumer or user for payment prior to issuance of any real estate transfer stamps." Section 10. That Section 14.04.260 of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976, as amended, entitled "Leakage; No Rate Deduction When" be and is hereby further amended to read as follows: "14.04.260: LEAKAGE; NO RATE DEDUCTION WHEN: No deduction shall be made on account of leaking after water has passed through a meter except as is hereinafter provided. In the event that meter registration amounts to more than six (6) times the average monthly usage for the preceding six (6) months and inspection reveals that the increase in meter registration was caused by a leak as a result of defective plumbing or plumbing fixtures or such other conditions as are beyond the control of the customer occurring prior to customer's knowledge of the defect, the Water Director and Finance Director, in the exercise of reasonable discretion, may abate or refund an amount equal to seventy five percent (75%) of the excess over an amount equal to six (6) times the amount of the average monthly bill; provided, however, that no rebate or refund shall be allowed unless and until the defect is repaired. No rebate will be granted for leakage that occurs five (5) days after notification of a leak." Section 11. That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance be and are hereby repealed. Section 12. That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and publication in the manner provided by law. MWA vC� avid J. Ka-Win, Nfayor Presented: March 21, 2012 • Passed: March 21, 2012 FtUMIry Omnibus Vote: Yeas: 6 Nays: 0 Recorded: March 21, 2012 Published: March 23, 2012 Attest: Kimberly Dewis, Ci