Chapter 15 · Utilities

Article 2. Water

Sections 15-201 to 15-228 · 28 sections

15-201 Regulations.

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 1991, 14-201)

15-202 Service not guaranteed.

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 1975, 20-112; Code 1991, 14-202)

15-203 Service connections required.

(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.

(Code 1991, 14-203)

15-204 Application for service.

(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;

(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 15-206.

(Code 1991, 14-204)

15-205 City to make connections.

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 1991, 14-205)

15-206 Water connect fees; costs.

Regulations relating to water connection fees and costs shall be as follows:

(a)All charges for water service installation in the amounts as hereinafter fixed shall be paid to the city clerk when application is made for a new service installation for the supply of water from the city mains. The city shall make such installation when the applicant shall have extended his or her service line to the proper location for a meter as determined by the water department. A water connection fee shall be charged to each customer as established from time to time by Resolution of the Governing Body of the City of Augusta, Kansas.

(b)Whenever services shall be permitted by the city to a water user outside of the city limits, then the water connection fee shall be fixed by the governing body of the city upon the granting of an application therefor.

(Ord. 1303, Sec. 2; Code 1991, 14-206)

15-207 Curb cocks.

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 1975, 20-106; Code 1991, 14-207)

15-208 Check valves.

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 1975, 20-111; Code 1991, 14-208)

15-209 Unauthorized service.

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 city manager or his or her designee.

(Code 1975, 20-118; Code 1991, 14-209; Code 2010)

15-210 Meters.

(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 property line.

(Code 1975, 20-104; Code 1991, 14-210; Code 2010)

15-211 Same; testing.

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 established from time to time by Resolution of the Governing Body of the City of Augusta, Kansas will be made to the customer.

(Code 1991, 14-211)

15-212 Tampering with meter.

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 city to turn any curb cock on or off, except an authorized employee of the city to turn any curb cock on or off.

(Code 1975, 20-115; Code 1991, 14-212; Code 2010)

15-213 Leaks.

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 1991, 14-213; Code 2010)

15-214 Disconnection, reconnection charge.

The governing body shall establish, by resolution, a water service disconnection and reconnection charge. Any service disconnected for nonpayment of delinquent bill shall be reconnected only upon payment of the delinquent bill, interest penalty thereon, and the disconnection and reconnection charge.

(Code 1991, 14-214)

15-215 Water service maintenance.

Property owners shall at their own expense repair, replace or remove all such waterlines on their own premises as may be required by the department to prevent loss to the city or damage to the public. When the owner shall fail promptly to repair waterlines on his or her own premises after notice by the city, the department may disconnect the service until repaired or until the condition causing loss or damage shall be corrected.

(Code 1975, 20-107; Code 1991, 14-215)

15-216 Interrupt service.

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

(Code 1975, 20-103; Code 1991, 14-216)

15-217 Prohibited acts.

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 city manager or his or her designee;

(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 1991, 14-217; Code 2010)

15-218 Wasting water.

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 1991, 14-218)

15-219 Right of access.

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 1975, 20-114; Code 1991, 14-219)

15-220 Rates.

The rates charged for water received from the municipal water system of the city shall be as follows:

(a)Rates; Within City. The rates for water used within the city shall be as follows:

Base charge, per month$17.37

1 to 10,000 gallons$3.90 per thousand (1,000) gallons

10,001 to 20,000 gallons$4.15 per thousand (1,000) gallons

20,001 to 50,000 gallons$4.40 per thousand (1,000) gallons

Over 50,000 gallons$4.65 per thousand (1,000) gallons

(b)Rates; Outside City. The rates for water used outside the city shall be as follows:

Base charge per month$18.81

1 to 10,000 gallons$4.10 per thousand (1,000) gallons

10,001 to 20,000 gallons$4.35 per thousand (1,000) gallons

20,001 to 50,000 gallons$4.60 per thousand (1,000) gallons

Over 50,000 gallons$4.85 per thousand (1,000) gallons

(c)Annual Base Rate Escalator. The base charge will be increased annually on January 1^st, beginning in 2019, by three percent (3%).

(Ord. 1985; Code 2010; Ord. 2059; Ord. 2122; Code 2020)

15-221 Ownership of water installation and meter.

The city expressly retains the title to and the ownership of the water service installation, the water meter and all service equipment used in connection with the supply of water to any premises or building within the city. In the event of subdivision of any lots or parcels of ground or the transfer of the title to other persons, any water service installed previous to the subdivision of the lot shall be and remain with the building or premises immediately adjacent thereto. All transfers of the ownership of any property in the city now or thereafter reserved by water by any existing installation shall be deemed not to affect this rule and the city will only supply water to the building or premises immediately adjacent to the service connection through the service previously installed.

(Code 1975, 20-108; Code 1991, 14-229)

15-222 Extension of waterlines.

The city may extend its waterlines within or without the city by construction or purchase when applications have been made and agreements entered into by persons along the proposed extension that will in the judgment of the governing body produce a revenue sufficient to pay the interest on the cost of the extension and the cost of extending water service; provided, that the city may make extensions within the city without application in the manner provided by law; provided further, that the city may at its option require any applicant from outside the city limits to who it may decide to sell water to construct his or her own connection to the waterlines within the city at his or her own expense and to maintain the same at the expense of the owner; provided further, that any extension of water service outside the city limits shall be subject to the approval of the governing body.

(Code 1975, 20-109; Code 1991, 14-230)

15-223 Trenching and backfilling.

No excavation made by a plumber in the public grounds shall be kept open longer than is absolutely necessary to make the connections required and while open, the ditch or excavation shall be protected by suitable barriers, guards and lights, as provided by ordinances pertaining to such work. The backfilling shall be thoroughly compacted and left in a condition satisfactory to the department. Where such excavation or backfilling is made in an unsatisfactory manner, the department shall cause it to be corrected and the charges thereof shall be charged to the plumber.

(Code 1975, 20-110; Code 1991, 14-231)

15-224 Cross-connections prohibited.

No person, company, corporation or institution shall establish, or permit to be established, or maintain, or permit to be maintained, any cross connection whereby a private water supply, or any source of contamination, may enter the public water supply of the City of Augusta, unless said source is approved by the City Council of the City of Augusta and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

(Ord. 1867, Sec. 2; Code 1991, 14-232; Code 2010)

15-225 Same; protective backflow devices required.

Approved devices to protect against backflow or backsiphonage 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.

(Ord. 1867, Sec. 3; Code 1991, 14-233)

15-226 Same; inspection.

The Public Works Director or his designate of the City of Augusta shall have the right of entry into any building or premises in the City as frequently as necessary in order to ensure that plumbing has been installed in a manner as to prevent the possibility of contamination of the public water supply of the City of Augusta, Kansas.

(Ord. 1867, Sec. 4; Code 1991, 14-234; Code 2010)

15-227 Same; protection from contaminants.

Pursuant to the authority given under Home Rule Powers and K.S.A. 65-163a, the City of Augusta, may refuse to deliver water to any premises where a condition exists which might lead to the contamination of the public water and may continue to refuse to deliver water until the condition is corrected to the satisfaction of the City. In addition, the City shall have the authority to immediately terminate water service to premises where a backflow or backsiphonage condition exists which may be hazardous to the health of customers served by this public water supply system of the City of Augusta.

(Ord. 1867, Sec. 5; Code 1991, 14-235)

15-228 Backflow and back siphonage regulations incorporated.

There is hereby incorporated by reference for the purpose of regulating cross connections between the public water supply and any source of contamination that certain manual adopted by the Governing Body of the City Augusta, known as, “MANUAL OF REGULATIONS REGULATING BACKFLOW AND BACKSIPHONAGE OF CONTAMINANTS DUE TO CROSS CONNECTIONS FOR THE CITY OF AUGUSTA PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY”. No fewer than three (3) copies of said manual shall be marked or stamped, “Official Copy as Adopted by Ordinance No. 1867”, and to which shall be attached a copy of this code section or said ordinance, and filed with the City Clerk to be open to inspection and available to the public at all reasonable hours.

(Ord. 1867, Sec. 6; Code 2010)