The general management, care, control and supervision of the city water system shall be in the superintendent of water and sewage, who shall be appointed by the mayor with the consent of the governing body.
(Code 1988)
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 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 1988)
(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 dwelling unit, business building, and public building where service is desired shall be supplied with water from a separate tap or connection to the water main and each dwelling unit, business building, or public building shall be supplied with water through a separate meter, unless by permit from the mayor and council authorizing other arrangement.
(d) No connection to the municipal water system shall be made outside the city limits.
(Code 1988; Ord. 00-15-204(c); Ord. 15-204)
(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 1988)
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 1988)
The fees for connection to the city waterworks system shall be as follows:
For connecting water main with three-fourths inch tap, three- fourths inch service line and installing three-fourths inch meter - $550;
(Ord. 12-301; Code 1988)
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 1988)
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 1988)
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 1988)
(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 1988)
Meters shall be tested before being set and at any 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 (2%), the meter will be deemed correct and a charge of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) will be made to the customer. Should the customer fail to pay that charge the same may be assessed and charged against the lot or parcel of ground on which the meter is located. The County Clerk shall extend the same on the tax roll and it shall be collected by the County Treasurer and paid to the city as other city taxes are collected and paid.
(Code 1988; Ord. 2020-08)
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 1988)
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 1988)
The governing body shall establish by ordinance, a water service disconnection and reconnection charge. Whenever the city receives a request from a customer for termination of water service the disconnection charge shall be added to the customer’s final bill. Any service disconnected for nonpayment of delinquent bill shall be reconnected only upon payment of the delinquent bill, interest, penalty thereon, disconnection charge of $75, and reconnection charge of $75. Reconnection of service disconnected for nonpayment of delinquent bill shall occur the next business day observed by the city office following payment of all charges.
(Code 1988; Ord. 08-15-216)
At the time of making application for water service, the property owner or customer shall make a cash deposit to secure payment of accrued bills or bills due on discontinuance of service.
(Code 1988)
The city reserves the right to interrupt water service for the purpose of making repairs or extensions to water lines or equipment.
(Code 1988)
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 1988)
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 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)
(a) Rates within the corporate limits for single family residential customers, commercial customers, churches, lodges and clubs with a 5/8” water meter. The rates per month for the use of water in the city shall be as follows:
(1) The minimum charge shall be $18.36 and include no water usage;
(2) For the first 2,000 gallons or fraction thereof a charge of $4.59 for each 1,000 gallons;
(3) For the next 8,000 gallons or fraction thereof a charge of $5.10 for each 1,000 gallons;
(4) For all additional water used during each month a charge of $5.61 for each 1,000 gallons.
(Code 1988; Ord. 2020-02; Ord. 21-01)
(b) Rates for water service outside the corporate limits for single family residential customers, commercial customers, churches, lodges and clubs with a 5/8” water meter. The rates per month for the use of water in the city shall be as follows:
(1) The minimum charge shall be $30.09 and include no water usage;
(2) For the first 2,000 gallons or fraction thereof a charge of $6.69 for each 1,000 gallons;
(3) For the next 8,000 gallons or fraction thereof a charge of $7.14 for each 1,000 gallons;
(4) For all additional water used during each month a charge of $7.65 for each 1,000 gallons.
(c) Rates within the corporate limits for multi-residential customers and multi-commercial customers a 5/8” water meter. The rates per month for the use of water in the city shall be as follows:
(1) The minimum charge shall be $18.36 per dwelling unit and include no water usage;
(2) For the first 2,000 gallons or fraction thereof a charge of $4.59 for each 1,000 gallons;
(3) For the next 8,000 gallons or fraction thereof a charge of $5.10 for each 1,000 gallons;
(4) For all additional water used during each month a charge or $5.61 for each 1,000 gallons.
(d) Rates within the corporate limits for multi-residential customers, commercial or institutional customers with a 2” water meter. The rates per month for the use of water in the city shall be as follows:
(1) The minimum charge shall be $60.18 and include no water usage;
(2) For the first 2,000 gallons or fraction thereof a charge of $4.59 for each 1,000 gallons;
(3) For the next 8,000 gallons or fraction thereof a charge of $5.10 for each 1,000 gallons;
(4) For all additional water used during each month a charge of $5.61 for each 1,000 gallons.
(Code 1988; Ord. 21-01; 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% will be added to the bill.
(Code 1988)
Water service shall be terminated for nonpayment of service fees or charges as provided in sections 15-102:104. An additional charge of $20.00 shall be charged to each account requiring a certified notice.
(Code 1988; Ord. 08-15-228)
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 1988)
There is hereby incorporated by reference the “CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL ORDINANCE FOR WINCHESTER, KANSAS” prepared and published by Kansas Department of Health and Environment and revised by HAYES & HAYES, Attorneys at Law, save and except such articles, sections, parts or portions as are hereafter omitted, deleted, modified or changed, such incorporation being authorized by K.S.A. 12-3009 through 12-3012, inclusive as amended. At least one copy shall be marked or stamped “Official Copy as adopted by the Code of the City of Winchester,” with all sections or portions thereof intended to be omitted or changed clearly marked to show any such omission or change shall be filed with the city clerk to be open to inspection and available to the public at all reasonable hours.
(Code 1988; Ord. 90-15-211; Code 2022)