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 1988)

The water production superintendent and water distribution superintendent shall have full charge of the city’s water properties.

(Code 1988)

(a)   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.

(b)   The city shall charge a property owner, at time of connection, an impact fee for a new, typical water service connection in the amount of $350 to cover a portion of the impact to the water utility of the new service connection. A new, typical water service connection is defined as: “one where there is no water service connection to which a connection can be made on the premises or the property owner is requesting a separate and distinct water utility connection where there is an existing water service connection

(Ord. 1882, Sec. 1; Code 1988)

(a)   The applicant for a connection permit shall, at the time of applying for the permit, pay to the city clerk a water connection fee which is set by resolution of the governing body. The fee shall cover installation costs for a 5/8” by 3/4” meter. Connect charges and connect fees shall not be assessed to commercial or industrial-type businesses which have not previously operated in the city. All residential services and residential services which may also include a home occupation covered by the same meter are subject to the payment of the connect charges and fees. Businesses and industrial-type businesses are those activities operated for a profit.

(b)   For meters in excess of 5/8 by 3/4” the applicant shall pay an additional fee, as set by resolution of the governing body, equal to the cost of the desired meter. The city shall be responsible for making and maintaining the tap at the city water main and the installation maintenance and repair of the meter. All other costs of installation, maintenance and repair of the service from the water main to the point of use shall be the responsibility of the applicant. All work done by the applicant shall be inspected by city personnel. Meter locations will be determined by city personnel. Existing water meters which are located in basements or other structures shall be removed and placed as described above when existing water lines break or require substantial repair.

(Ord. 1542, Sec. 2; Ord. 1574, Sec. 1; Ord. 1658; Code 1988)

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

(b)   Meters shall be located so as to provide the city personnel with uninhibited access at any hour of the day. The location of the meter will ordinarily be between the sidewalk and the property line or the curbing when the main is in the street and within three feet of the alley when the main is located in the alley. Existing water meters which are located in basements or other structures shall be removed and placed as described above when existing water lines break or require substantial repair.

(c)   Meters larger than 1” shall be located in a meter pit, of a size no less than 4’ x 8’ inside dimensions, with a manhole large enough for the entrance of service personnel. The pit shall have a concrete cover built in. Prior to construction, the city distribution maintenance superintendent shall approve the pit design and construction methods.

(d)   All 1½” and 2” water services shall have a ball valve or a seal valve installed adjacent to the meter between the main and the meter. Corporation stops may not be used for this purpose.

(e)   Water meter lids shall be Mueller type H-10818, Ford Type W32 or approved equivalent. Meter yokes shall be Mueller type H-1402 with connection H-14222, Ford type V72-12 or approved equivalent:

(f)    The owner shall be responsible for running type K copper line from the city water main to the water meter. When there is a break in the existing water lines between the main and meter the old line must be replaced with type K copper. When new connections are made to the city’s water main by the property owner, the old line must be cut next to the main and the corporation stop shut off at the main. All work must be done by the owner in compliance with Chapter 4 of this Code.

(Ord. 1574, Sec. 1; Ord. 1602; Code 1988)

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 the customer shall be charged a meter testing fee in such amount as set by resolution of the governing body of the city.

(Code 1988)

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. In addition to any criminal liability, the city may discontinue service to a customer and remove its meter from the customer’s premise in case evidence is found that any portion of the city’s utility services has been tampered with in such manner that a customer may have received unmetered· service, or in the event evidence of fraudulent use of utility services in any manner is discovered.     In any such event, the city may require a customer to pay such amount of utility services as the city may estimate from information available to have been used but not registered by the city’s utility meter or otherwise fraudulently used and to pay all damages to the city’s utility services, if any, before utility service is restored. In addition, before service is restored, the customer shall be required to bear all costs incurred by the city for such protective equipment as, in the judgment of the city, may be necessary and give satisfactory assurance that such tampering and fraudulent use of water service will be discontinued.

(Code 1988)

No allowances shall be made for water used or lost through leaks, carelessness, neglect or otherwise after the same has passed 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 1983)

Any service disconnected for nonpayment of a delinquent account shall be reconnected only upon payment of the delinquent account, plus a reconnection fee in such amount which is set by resolution of the governing body of the city and such reconnection shall be made during regular business hours of the city. If special arrangements are made to have service reconnected during nonbusiness hours, there shall be a charge amount equal to the amount of the reconnection fee plus 125% of the reconnection fee as set by the governing body of the city.

(Ord. 1574, Sec. 1, Code 1988)

(Code 2016)

(Code 2016)

The purpose of this article is to protect the public potable water supply of the city from pollution or contamination due to cross connection, to prohibit and eliminate all cross connections within the public potable water supply system and, to provide for the maintenance of a continuing effective cross connection control program and thus protect the public health. The city inspector shall be responsible for effectively conducting the cross connection control program of the city public potable water supply. If in the judgment of said city inspector an approved backflow prevention devise is required, the city inspector or his agent will give notice in writing to the customer to install the proper device. The customer shall immediately install the proper device at the customer’s expense.

Failure to comply shall be grounds for discontinuing water service to said customer until the device is properly installed.

(a)   Definitions:

(1)   Agency. The department of the municipal government invested with the responsibility for enforcement of this article.

(2)   Air Gap. The unobstructed vertical distance at least twice the diameter of the supply line and no less than one inch, through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying water to a tank, plumbing fixture, or other device and the flood level rim of the receptacle.

(3)   Approved Device. Shall mean devices tested and accepted by a recognized testing laboratory approved by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the City of Beloit.

(4)   Backflow. The flow of water or other substances into the distribution system of a potable supply of water from any source other than its intended source. Backsiphonage is one type of backflow.

(5)   Backflow Preventer. A device or means to prevent backflow.

(6)   Backsiphonage. The flowing back of contaminated or polluted substances from a plumbing fixture or any vessel or source into the potable water supply system due to negative pressure in said system.

(7)   Contaminant. Any substance that upon entering the potable water supply would render it a danger to the health or life of the consumer.

(8)   Cross Connection. Any physical connection or arrangement between two otherwise separate piping systems, one of which contains potable water and the other which contains water or any substance of unknown or questionable quality whereby there may be flow from one system to the other.

(9)   Double Check Valve Assembly. A device consisting of two internally loaded soft seated check valves with positive shut-off valves on both upstream and downstream ends, and properly located test ports.

(10) Dual Check Valve. A device consisting of two internally loaded soft seated check valves. This device does not contain test ports and is acceptable for use only at the meter of residential customers.

(11) Free Water Surface. A water surface at atmospheric pressure.

(12) Flood Level Rim. The edge of the receptacle from which water overflows.

(13) Frost Proof Closet. A hopper with no water in the bowl and with the trap and water supply control valve located below the frost line.

(14) KDHE. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

(15) Plumbing. The practice, materials and fixtures used in the installation maintenance, extension and alteration of all piping fixtures appliances and appurtenances.

(16) Pollution. The presence of any foreign substance (organic, inorganic or biological) in water which tends to degrade its quality so as to constitute a hazard or impair the usefulness or quality of the water to a degree which does not create an actual hazard to the public health but which does adversely affect the water.

(17) Reduced Pressure Zone Backflow Preventer. An assembly of two independently acting soft seated approved check valves together with a hydraulically operating mechanically independent differential pressure relief valve located between the check valves and at the same time below the first check valve. The unit shall contain properly located test cocks and resilient seated shut-off valves at each end of the assembly. To be approved these assemblies must be accessible for inspection and testing and be installed in an above ground location where no part of the assembly will be submerged.

(18) Tester. A trained technician certified in the testing and repair of backflow preventers.

(19) Vacuum. Any absolute pressure less than that exerted by the atmosphere.

(20) Vacuum Breaker. A device that permits entrance of air into the water supply distribution line to prevent backsiphonage.

(21) Water, Potable. Water free from impurities in amounts sufficient to cause disease or harmful physiological effects·. Its quality shall conform to Kansas Department of Health and Environment requirements for public water supplies.

(22) Water, Non-potable. Water that is not safe for human consumption or that is of questionable potability.

(b)   REQUIREMENTS:

(1)   General. A public potable water supply system shall be designed, installed and maintained in such a manner as to prevent contamination from non-potable sources through cross connect ions or any piping connection to the system.

(2)   Cross Connections Prohibited. Cross connections are prohibited except when and where as approved by City Inspector suitable backflow preventers are properly installed, tested and maintained to insure proper operation on a continuing basis.

(3)   Interconnections. Interconnection between two or more public water supplies shall be permitted only with the approval of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. (K.S.A. 65-163[a]).

(4)   Individual Water Supplies. Connections between a private water supply and the public potable water are prohibited. (K.S.A. 65-163[a]).

(5)   Connections to Boilers. Potable water connections to boiler fed water systems in which boiler water conditioning chemicals are or can be introduced shall be made through an air gap or through a reduced pressure zone principle backflow preventer located in the potable water line before the point where such chemicals may be introduced.

(6)   Prohibited Connections. Connection to the public potable water supply system for the following is prohibited unless properly protected by the appropriate backflow prevention device.

(A)  Bidets

(B)  Operating, dissecting, embalming, and mortuary tables or similar equipment-in such installations the hose used for water supply shall terminate at least 12 inches away from every point of the table or attachments

(C)  Pumps for non-potable substances.    Priming only through an air gap.

(D)  Building drains, sewers, or vent systems.

(E)   Commercial buildings or industrial plants manufacturing or otherwise using polluting or contaminating substances.

(F)   Any fixture of similar hazard.

(G)  Refrigeration Unit Condensers and Cooling Jackets. Except when potable water provided for a refrigeration condenser or cooling jacket is entirely outside the piping or tank containing a toxic refrigerant, the inlet connection shall be provided with an approved backflow preventer. Heat exchangers used to heat water for potable use shall be of the double wall type.

(H)  Protective Devices Required. The type of protective device required under this article shall be determined by the degree of hazard which exists as follows:

(i)    Premises having auxiliary water supply shall protect the public system by either an approved air gap or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly.

(ii)   Premises having water or substances which would be non-hazardous to the health and well being of the consumers shall protect the public system with no less than an approved double check valve assembly.

(iii)  Premises where material dangerous to health is handled in a manner which creates an actual or potential hazard shall protect the public system by an approved air gap or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly.

(iv)  Premises where cross connections are uncontrolled shall protect the public water supply by installing an approved air gap or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device at the service connection.

(v)   Premises where because of security requirements or other prohibitions it is impossible to complete an in plant cross connection inspection, the public system shall be protected by an approved air gap or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly.

Premises which may fall into one or more of the above mentioned categories may be, but are not limited to the following:

(a)   Beverage bottling plants.

(b)   Buildings - Hotels, Apartments, Public or private buildings, or other structures having actual or potential cross connections.

(c)   Car wash facilities.

(d)   Chemical manufacturing, handling, or processing plants.

(e)   Chemically contaminated water.

(f)    Dairies and cold storage facilities.

(g)   Film or photography processing laboratories.

(h)   Fire systems.

(i)    Hospitals, Medical Centers, Morgues, Mortuaries, Autopsy facilities, Clinics, or Nursing and Convalescent homes.

(j)    Irrigation systems.

(k)   Laundries.

(l)    Metal cleaning, processing, or fabricating plants.

(m)  Oil and gas production, storage, or transmission facilities.

(n)   Packing or food processing plants.

(o)   Paper and paper products plants.

(p)   Power Plants.

(q)   Radioactive materials plants or handling facilities.

(r)    Restricted or classified facilities.

(s)   Rubber plants.

(t)    Sand, Gravel, or Asphalt plants.

(u)   Schools or colleges.

(v)   Sewage and storm drainage facilities and reclaimed water systems.

(w)  Solar heating systems.

(x)   Temporary service-fire hydrants, air valves, blowoffs and other outlets.

(y)   Water front marinas.

(c)   INSTALLATION. Approved devices shall be installed at all fixtures and equipment where backflow or backsiphonage may occur and where a minimum air gap between the potable water outlet and the fixture or equipment flood-level rim cannot be maintained. Backflow and backsiphonage devices of all types shall be in an accessible location. Installation in pits or any other location not properly drained shall be prohibited, except that dual check valves may be installed in the meter box.

(1)   Connections not subject to backpressure. Where a water connection is not subject to back pressure, a vacuum breaker shall be installed on the discharge side of the last valve on the line serving the fixture or equipment. A list of some conditions requiring protective devices of this kind are given in the following table titled Cross Connections where Protective Devices are Required.

 

CROSS CONNECTIONS WHERE PROTECTIVE DEVICES ARE REQUIRED AND CRITICAL LEVEL (C-L) SETTINGS FOR VACUUM BREAKERS

(2)   Connections subject to backpressure. Where a potable water connection is made to a line, fixture, tank, vat, pump, or other equipment with a hazard of backflow or backsiphonage where the water connection is subject to backpressure, and an air gap cannot be installed, the City Inspector may require the use of an approved reduced pressure principle backflow preventer. A partial list of such connections is shown in the following table.

 

PARTIAL LIST OF CROSS CONNECTIONS SUBJECT TO BACK PRESSURE

(c)   Barometric Loop. Water connections where an actual or potential backsiphonage hazard exists may in lieu of devices specified above, be provided with a barometric loop. Barometric loops shall precede the point of connection.

(d)   Dual Check Valve. Dual check valves may be installed at the meter. These valves shall be inspected and repaired not less frequent than every third year. These valves shall be installed only in situations where the City Inspector is assured that only non-contaminating substances are subject to backflow into the potable system.

(e)   Vacuum Breakers. Atmospheric vacuum breakers shall be installed with the critical level at least six inches above the flood rim of the fixture they serve and on the discharge side of the last control valve to the fixture. No shut off valve or faucet shall be installed beyond the atmospheric vacuum breaker. Pressure vacuum breakers shall be installed with the critical level at least twelve inches above the flood rim but may have control valves downstream from the vacuum breaker. For closed equipment or vessels such as pressure sterilizers the top of the vessel shall be considered the flood level rim and a check valve shall be installed on the discharge side of the pressure vacuum breaker.

(d)   MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR.

It shall be the responsibility of building and premise owners to maintain all backflow preventers and vacuum breakers within the building or on the premises in good working order and to make sure no piping or other arrangements have been installed for the purpose of bypassing the backflow devices. Testing and repair of these devices should be made by qualified technicians. (Qualified technicians are those technicians who have completed a Kansas Department of Health and Environment approved training course and have passed a written examination such as the American Backflow Prevention Association device testers examination.) The City Inspector shall certify the device testers after ascertaining the technician meets the above qualifications. The City Inspector will also assure the proper installation of all backflow preventers and will set appropriate testing and overhaul schedules for such devices. Testing intervals shall not exceed one (1) year and overhaul intervals shall not exceed five (5) years.

(1)   Certified Tester/Repair Technicians. All certified tester/repair technicians shall be re-certified at no less than three year intervals.

(e)   PENALTIES AND FINES.

Notification. The City Inspector shall notify the owner, or authorized agent of the owner, of a building or premises in which there is found a violation of this article, of such violation. The City Inspector shall set a reasonable time for the owner to have the violation corrected. If the owner fails to correct the violation within the specified time, the City of Beloit shall cease delivery of water to the building or premises until the violation shall be satisfactorily corrected.

(Ord. 1662; Code 1988)

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 1988)

The following fees and requirements are hereby established for the extension of water service outside of the city limits of the City of Beloit, Kansas:

(a)   The customer requesting such out-of-city water service shall pay a fee for each water service connection outside of the city limits as set out in the city’s annual fee resolution and adopted by the governing body. This fee shall be in addition to any impact fee charged by the city.

(b)   All costs associated with the extension of the water service shall be paid by the customer. Costs of extension will include, but are not limited to: materials, labor, and equipment rental. Prior to commencement of the project, the city shall provide an estimated total cost to the customer.

(c)   Any structure connected to the city’s water service must be constructed in compliance and maintain compliance with the relevant provisions of the Beloit City Code and city policies.

(Ord. 2146; Code 2016)

Bills shall be rendered monthly as provided Article 1 of this chapter and shall be collected as a combined utility bill.

(Code 2016)

(a)   All water shall be sold on a separate metered basis.

(b)   The monthly rate to be charged for retail water sold to customers within the city limits shall be as follows:

(1)   Base rate of $19.78; and

(2)   $4.00 per 1,000 gallons used

(c)   The monthly rate to be charged for retail water sold to customers outside the city limits shall be as follows:

(1)   Base rate of $35.00; and

(2)   $7.50 per 1,000 gallons used

(d)   The rate to be charged for wholesale water sold to Rural Water District No. 1, Mitchell County, Kansas, shall be as follows: $0.00193 per gallon.

(e)   Cost Factor Adjustment. The rates, set forth in this schedule, are based upon a cost factor to the customer of $1.60 per 1,000 gallons produced. If it is determined that the cost factor at time of customer’s monthly billing is greater than this amount, the monthly billing shall be adjusted to account for the actual cost of production.

(f)    A franchise fee of three and one half percent (3.5%) will be charged to all customer accounts each month.

(g)   State Water Fees. The city shall impose and collect water protection fees and public water supply fees in accordance with K.S.A. 82a-954 and K.S.A. 65-163(e), as may be amended.

(Ord. 2055; Ord. 2101; Ord. 2114; Ord. 2167; Code 2016; Ord. 2308)