Fayette Service ordinance (§ 705.320)

A. Readiness To Accept. Before installing a service extension and providing water, the owner may require the applicant to pipe his/her home and be in readiness to accept the service.

B. Service For Sole Use Of The Water User. The standard water service connection is for the sole use of the water user and does not permit the extension of pipes to transfer water from one property to any other consumer nor will the user share, resell or submeter water to any other consumer. If an emergency or specific situation should make such an arrangement advisable, it shall be done only on specific written permission of the owner for the duration of the emergency. No more than one (1) residence shall be served by one (1) water service connection. A farm containing one (1) residence and other buildings for use in the farming operation shall be considered as one (1) residence and the water user may use water from one (1) meter for all such buildings; provided that in the event that a farm contains two (2) or more residences, a meter shall be required for each residence, unless the owner shall find such to be an unusual hardship upon the water user, in which case a special agreement may be made concerning such additional residence and the rules for a multiple-unit dwelling as set forth in these rules and regulations shall be applied to determine the rate for such farm containing two (2) residences.

C. Hardship Agreements. The owner may enter into a special agreement whereby a right of entry is granted to the owner to read a meter placed on private property for remotely located residences or remotely located water uses, where the location of the meter as provided in these rules and regulations would, in the owner's opinion, cause undue hardship and expense on the water user. Such special agreements must be written and no water user or applicant for water service shall have any right to force the owner to enter into such a special agreement, but such agreements must be entered into solely at the discretion of the owner. The owner may, in the alternative, apply the multiple-unit residence rule stated in these rules and regulations.

D. Continuity Of Service. The owner will make all reasonable efforts to supply continuous, uninterrupted service. However, it shall have the right to interrupt service for the purpose of making repairs, connections, extensions or for other necessary work. Efforts will be made to notify water users whenever possible who may be affected by such interruptions, but the owner will not accept responsibility for losses which might occur due to such necessary interruptions. The owner does not accept responsibility and shall not be liable for losses which might occur due to interruptions to service for any cause and does not accept responsibility for losses due to failure of the owner to notify any water user of any such interruption.

E. Services. The owner will install all water service pipes from its mains to the meters on property abutting the right-of-way along which the main is installed insofar as its current financial responsibilities, obligations and conditions will permit and, insofar as adequate water pressure is available at the point of delivery requested by the applicant or water user. The service pipe shall not be less than three-fourths (3/4) inch in size and the owner will also install and pay for the owner's main connection, meter and meter setting. The meter will be set at the point on the water user's premises designated by the owner. The charge for services to be made by the owner shall be that amount specified in these rules and regulations, or as otherwise provided by the owner, but in no event shall it be less than the cost to the owner.

F. Right To Inspect. Representatives of the owner shall have the right at all reasonable hours to enter upon the water user's premises to read and test meters, inspect piping and to perform other duties for the maintenance and operation of service or to remove its meters and equipment upon discontinuance of service by the water user.

G. Piping Work To Be Inspected. All piping work in connection with pipe and services connected with the owner's main shall be submitted to the inspection of the owner before such underground work is covered up. Whenever, the owner determines that a job of plumbing is obviously defective, although not in direct violation, the owner may require that it be corrected before the water will be turned on. The owner may prescribe the type of materials and the standard of workmanship to be followed in enforcing this Section.

H. Intercepting Tank Required For Large Customers. Service pipes shall not be connected to the suction side of pumps. The supply for use of a character requiring a large quantity of water within as short period will not be permitted except through intercepting or intermediate storage tanks.

I. Check Valves, Flush Valves And Vacuum Breakers. Water users having boilers or hot water systems connected with mains of the owner must have a check valve in the supply pipe to the boilers and hot water heating systems, together with a release valve at some point between the check valve and the heating system. All water users are hereby cautioned against danger of collapse of boilers since it is sometimes necessary to shut off the supply of water without notice and, for this reason, a vacuum valve should be installed in the steam lines to prevent collapse in case the water supply is interrupted. The owner, however, will not be responsible for accidents or damages resulting from the imperfect action or failure of said valves.

J. Cross-Connections And Interconnections. The owner will not allow to be made any physical connection in its water supply system to that of any other pipe system or equipment, where such other pipe system or equipment in any manner receives all or any part of its supply of water directly or indirectly from wells, streams or any source other than that of the water system of the owner.

1. No other interconnection or cross-connection, as defined below, shall be permitted. The making, causing or permitting of the installation or existence of any interconnection or cross-connection shall constitute a violation of the rules and regulations of the owner and such prohibited connection shall be removed forthwith in a manner acceptable to the owner and the duly constituted public health officials.

2. Failure to do so within two (2) days from and after date of notification by the owner may result in discontinuance of water service without further notice.

3. When used in these rules and regulations, the following words and phrases shall have the meaning herein provided.

a. Cross-Connection. Any pipe, valve, or other arrangement or device connecting the pipe lines of the owner or facilities directly or indirectly connected therewith to and with pipes or fixtures supplied with water from any source other than the lines of the owner directly connected.

b. Interconnection. A plumbing arrangement, other than a cross-connection, by which contamination might be admitted or drawn into the distribution system of the owner, or into lines connected therewith, which are used for the conveyance of potable water.

4. The owner shall have the right at all hours to enter upon water user's premises for the purpose of inspection and enforcement of this provision.

K. Applicants Having Excessive Requirements. In the event of an applicant whose water requirements are bound to exceed the owner's ability to supply it from existing physical assets without adversely affecting service to other water users, the owner will not be obligated to render such service, unless and until suitable financing is provided by the applicant to cover the additional physical assets. The owner has no obligation to reimburse the applicant for physical assets provided.

L. Customer's Duty Regarding Service Lines. The waters user's service pipe and all connections and fixtures attached thereto shall be subject to the inspection of the owner before the water will be turned on, if the owner so elects, and all properties receiving a supply of water and all service pipes, meters and fixtures, including any and all fixtures within any improvements or buildings on said properties, shall at all reasonable hours be subject to inspection by any duly authorized employee or agent of the owner.

1. All service pipes shall be laid at all points at least forty-two (42) inches below the surface of the ground and shall be placed on firm and continuous earth so as to give unyielding and permanent support. They shall not be laid in sewer ditches. It shall be installed in the trench at least eighteen (18) inches in a horizontal direction, in undisturbed earth, from any other trench wherein are laid gas pipe, sewer pipe, or for other facility public or private. Such service line shall not pass through premises other than that to be supplied unless the owner shall so agree in writing.

2. Water user shall, at his/her own cost and expense, make all changes in the service pipe required or rendered necessary on account of changes in the street grades, relocation of mains or other causes.

3. No fixture shall be attached to, or any branch made in, the service pipe between the main of the owner and the meter.

4. Any repairs or maintenance necessary to the service pipe or any pipe or fixture in or upon the water user's premises shall be performed by the water user at his/her sole expense and risk.

5. Service pipes must be kept and maintained in good condition and free from all leaks, and for failure to do so the water supply may be discontinued.

6. The owner shall in no event be liable for any damage done or inconvenience caused by reason of any break, leak or defect in, or by water escaping from, service pipes, or from fixtures on the premises of the owner or water user. The water user shall be billed in the usual manner for the cost of all such water according to the rate schedule of the owner as provided for in these rules and regulations.

M. No One But Owner's Employee May Turn Water Off Or On. No one but an employee or a person authorized by the owner shall turn on water or shut off water to any water user or to any property, except in the case of escaping water.

N. Water Users Requiring Uninterrupted Supply. The owner will endeavor to give reasonable service, but does not guarantee a sufficient or uniform pressure, or an uninterrupted supply of water, and water users are cautioned to provide sufficient storage of water where an absolutely uninterrupted supply must be assured, such as for steam boilers, hot water heating systems, gas engines, etc.

1. Fixtures or devices taking a supply of water directly from the service pipes, depending upon the hydraulic pressure of the pipe system of the owner for supplying same under working pressure, would do so at the risk of the parties making such attachments, as the owner will not be responsible for any accidents or damages to which such fixtures or devices are subject.