A. The city, through its water department, shall have the right at any time to install a meter on any service connected with the city water mains and from the time of such installation the meter rates established by the ordinances of the city shall take effect and apply to water delivered through the service; provided, that if the water rates for such premises shall have been paid in advance at existing flat rates, a credit for the unexpired time for such advance payment in proportion to the whole time thereof shall be allowed upon the meter face.

B. The meter shall be furnished by the city. Property owner is responsible for installation costs. (Ord. 475, 2005: prior code § 15-1-1)

A suitable place, safe from frost or other damage and accessible for examination, must be provided for the meter at the expense of the owner or occupant, and in all cases where the meter is injured by freezing or where it is otherwise damaged by the act or neglect of the owner or occupant of the premises or of his or her agent or servants, the cost of repairing or replacing the meter shall be paid by the owner or occupant, and in case of neglect or refusal to pay the cost of repairing or replacing on demand, the water supply may be turned off, and shall not be again turned on until such cost and penalty are paid. The water rates and charges shall be established by the governing body by resolution and on file in the office of the finance officer. (Ord. 397 § 1 (part), 1996; prior code § 15-1-2)

Every separate building must have its own separate cut-off placed at the outside edge of the sidewalk or in the alley; provided, that when two or more buildings are already supplied through one service connection and one cut-off, such service may be continued until separate services and cut-offs are ordered, but if the water rates for any of such buildings shall become delinquent and remain so for a period of fifteen (15) days, the water supply may be cut from all of the buildings and shall not be again turned on until such delinquent rates and penalty for turning water off and on are paid. The water rates and charges shall be established by the governing body by resolution and on file in the office of the finance officer. The water department may order separate service connections for any such buildings so already supplied through one service if or whenever the city main has been laid in the street adjacent to such building. (Ord. 397 § 1 (part), 1996; prior code § 15-1-3)

The supply of water through each separate service must be recorded by one meter only, for which only one bill will be rendered by the city. If additional or auxiliary meters are desired for recording the subdivision of such supply, they must be furnished and set by the owner or consumer at their own expenses and they must assume all responsibility of minting and reading the auxiliary meter. (Prior code § 15-1-4)

In case of the breakage or stoppage or any other irregularity in the meter installed by the city, the owner or consumer is to immediately notify the water department and any necessary repairs will be made under its supervision. (Prior code § 15-1-5)

Upon written request of any owner or consumer, the water department will test the meter supplying the premises. The owner or consumer, may, if desired, be present when the test is made. The result of the test will in all cases be reported to the owner or consumer requesting the test. If the test of the meters shows that it fails to register correctly within two percent on a flow equal to one-eighth of the diameter of the service, the water department shall make a charge or allow a credit in proportion to the error for all water registered in excess of the minimum amount allowed by the established rates. (Prior code § 15-1-6)

Where a meter has been placed on a pipe connected to a boiler or other hot water apparatus, a check valve must be placed between such meter and the boiler or hot water apparatus which shall protect such meter from back pressure of steam or hot water. In case the meter shall be damaged by hot water or steam, the owner or occupant of the premises shall pay for such damages. (Prior code § 15-1-7)

The city will not be responsible for damages caused by the breaking of a meter or from any accidents resulting from variation in water pressure or the ram of the water in the mains. (Prior code § 15-1-8)

Every person who shall break or deface the seal of any water meter, or who shall obstruct, alter, injure, or prevent the action of any water meter, or who shall make any connection by means of a pipe or otherwise with any main or pipe used for the delivery of water to a consumer in such manner as to take water from such main or pipe without its passing through the meter, or who shall use any water so obtained, or who shall with the intent to defraud, make any connection or reconnecting with such main or pipe, or turn on or off or in any manner interfere with any valve, stopcock, or other appliance connected therewith, shall upon conviction of such fraud be fined not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00) or be imprisoned not more than thirty (30) days, or both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. 439 § 15-1-9, 2001; prior code § 15-1-9)

The superintendent of waterworks shall instruct the city crew to tap the water main and install the desired size of service saddle and corporations. The city will furnish all standard materials and will charge the property owner for such material, actual cost of materials plus freight, handling charges, and a small charge for waste in material. The labor required for digging and backfilling the ditches, laying the pipes, and service shall also be governed by the prices that the city is required to pay laborers for doing such work. (Prior code § 15-1-10)

No connections shall be made to the city water and sewer system by anyone residing outside of the city limits of the city, except those connections made prior to the passage of the ordinance codified in this chapter. (Prior code § 15-1-11)

The Britton industrial park water and sewer system is made part of the Britton water and sewer distribution system. (Prior code § 15-1-12)

Within the limits of the street service pipes shall in no case be laid at a depth less than six feet below the lowest part of the gutter, and in no case shall the service pipe be laid nearer than six feet to a service pipe of any character either in street or private property. (Prior code § 15-1-13)

There shall be a brass curb-cock in each service pipe under the exclusion control of the city council. Such curb-cock shall be placed in the pipe on the outer side of the sidewalk, just inside the curb or at the alley line, and no person not a direct employee of the city council shall open or close or otherwise interfere with curb-cock. Such curb-cock shall be provided with a box or tube or approved pattern, and the top of each box or tube shall be placed on the level with the grade of the sidewalks or alley, and no premises shall be supplied without such box being in good order. In case of neglect or refusal of the occupant or owner to provide or repair the box within a reasonable time, when notified, the water department shall cause it to be done and charge the expense against the premises, to be collected with the bill of supply of water that shall become due against such premises. Each service pipe must be furnished with a stop-cock and waste below the action of the frost, so situated that the water can be conveniently shut off and drained from the pipe to prevent freezing. There shall also be a stop-cock in every attachment located at the first suitable point beyond the street or alley limits to enable consumers to turn the water off in case of accident to the pipes on the premises. (Prior code § 15-1-14)

No excavation in any street or public place shall be left open overnight, except in cases of necessity in which event the water department must maintain suitable barriers and signals of warning during the night. (Prior code § 15-1-15)

All plumbers shall make full returns of the ordinary and special uses to which water is designated to be applied under any permit granted by the city, with a description of all apparatus and arrangements for using the water in every case. This return is to be made by the plumber who does the work, within forty-eight (48) hours after completion of such work, to the city water department. For any misrepresentations or omissions in the statement of the work done, or appurtenance set, through which there may be water used, the plumber may be suspended or his or her license may be revoked. (Prior code § 15-1-16)

Any person who shall lay any water service pipe or introduce into or about any building or on any grounds, any water pipes, or do any plumbing work in any building or on any grounds for the purpose of connecting such pipes or plumbing with the pipes of the city water works, or preparing them for such connecting with a view of leaving such premises supplied with water by such water works, or who shall make any additions or altercations of any water pipes, water closet, stop-cock, or other fixtures or apparatus for the supply of any premises with water without first having obtained a permit in writing for doing such work from the water department of Britton, shall be subject to fine as provided in this chapter. (Prior code § 15-1-17)

The water will not be turned on in any house or private service pipe, until the applicant shall have paid the rent due and shall exhibit his or her receipt therefor. (Prior code § 15-1-18)

The sheriff or such person the sheriff may direct shall be authorized to enter and have free access at all reasonable hours to premises, to ascertain the location or condition of all hydrants, pipes, or other fixtures attached to the water works; and in case he or she finds waste because of negligence or want of repairs, and if such waste is not immediately remedied, the water leading to such premises shall be turned off. It shall be the duty of such officers in case they discover any defect in the private service pipe or in the street, to give notice in writing to be left at the premises, and if necessary repairs are not made within twenty-four (24) hours thereafter, the water shall be turned off, and shall be turned on again after the shutoff fee has been paid to the municipal finance officer of the city. The water rates and charges shall be established by the governing body and on file in the office of the finance officer. (Ord. 397 § 15-1-19, 1996; prior code § 15-1-19)

Persons taking water from distributing pipe must keep their service pipe and fixtures connected with it in good repair and protected from frost at their own expense, and must prevent all unnecessary waste, or the water will be shut off. No abatement shall be allowed from the price charged or agreed upon by reasons of the break, nor will the city, its mayor, or city council, in any case be liable or responsible for any damage growing out of the stoppage of such water or any insufficient supply of the water as to quality or quantity. All persons using water from the waterworks for any purpose whatever will do so at their own risk. (Prior code § 15-1-20)

Any persons desirous of discontinuing the use of water must give notice in writing to the water department, on or before the day to which the rent has been paid, or they will be charged with water rent to the next rent day. (Prior code § 15-1-21)

Service pipes intended to supply two or more distant premises must be provided with separate curb-cocks and shut-off boxes for each premises on the outside of the lot line, or when only one curb-cock is used, the person or persons controlling the curb-cock must pay the water rent of the parties who are thus supplied, as separate water rates will not be made without separate curb-cocks. (Prior code § 15-1-22)

Hydrants, taps, hose, water closets, urinals, bath, and other fixtures will not be permitted to be kept running when not in use, and it is made the duty of the water department to enforce this section, and also notify the consumers of the unnecessary waste of water on their premises. If for forty-eight (48) after being notified that water is being wasted, and the necessary repairs are not made, the water department shall without delay shut off the water on the premises and before it shall be turned on, the consumer shall pay the fine as provided in this chapter. (Prior code § 15-1-23)

The city reserves the right at any time to shut off the water on the main pipe for the purpose of repairing the main pipe, making connections or extensions to the main pipe, or for the purpose of cleaning the main pipe, and it is expressly understood that no claim shall be made against the city by reason of the breaking of the service pipe or service curb-cock, or from any damage arising from shutting off the supply for repairing, laying, or relaying the main pipe, hydrants, or other connections. It is made the duty of the water department to give such reasonable notice as shall be practicable. (Prior code § 15-1-24)

Pipes and appurtenances already put in which are not in accordance with the provisions of this chapter must be made to comply with the rules laid down in this chapter, and if not complied with in a reasonable time, the water supply will be cut off. (Prior code § 15-1-25)

All hydrants located in the city for the purpose of extinguishing fires in such city, are declared to be public hydrants, and no person or persons, other than members of the fire department of the city, for the use and purposes of the department, and those especially authorized by the water department, shall draw water from the hydrant; or in any manner interfere with or injure any of the hydrants. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall upon conviction of such violation be fined a maximum of two hundred dollars ($200.00) or thirty (30) days in jail, or both fine and imprisonment. (Ord. 439 § 15-1-26, 2001; prior code § 15-1-26)

It shall be the duty of the water department, chief of the fire department, and all persons in the employ of the city having police powers to enforce the foregoing rules by making prompt complaint before the city council, against such persons violating such rules. (Prior code § 15-1-27)

In case any person, firm, corporation owning property fronting any of the streets, alleys, or avenues mentioned in this chapter shall show to the city engineer that they have failed to install water, sewer, and gas connections prior to the laying of the pavement in such streets, alleys, and avenues through any sufficient cause, or that the sewer, water, and gas mains already installed on such streets, alleys, or avenues have become defective and in need of repair, or in case any public service corporation shall desire to open such pavement for the laying of mains and conduits, they shall make application for permit for such excavation as provided in this chapter; provided, that if such excavation contemplates installation of water or sewer services, the water department shall be notified of such application by the city foreman prior to the granting of such permit. (Prior code § 15-1-28)

All water used for air cooling systems, lawn or garden sprinkling is subordinate to domestic use or fire protection and may be restricted by the city council at any time, should the scarcity of water or an emergency of any kind so require. Such restrictions shall be imposed by resolution of the city council, and notice of such restrictions in the official newspaper, and if possible, by radio announcement at least twenty-four (24) hours before the effective date of such restrictions; and it is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to use city water in the manner or at the time restricted by such resolution. (Prior code § 15-1-29)