§ 102-33. Connections to water and sewer system; installation of water meter.

(a)

Connections generally. All connections to mains of the city's water and sewerage systems shall be made only by the city except in special cases where prior written approval has been obtained from the city. New taps shall be applied for by a licensed master plumber on the regular tap application form furnished by the city. A tap application will not be accepted by the city if the water meter or sewer service location is unspecified. Should it become necessary to renew or increase the size of a tap, the city will determine whether a new tap application is necessary. A tap application and service application, with advance payment or deposit, are required for each building and payment therefor must be made to the city at the time of application.

(b)

Placement and maintenance of water meters; connection to public sewer. A water meter and meter box shall be placed by the city or as directed by the city at or near the property line of the property owner desiring service. In the event of a meter located on private property, all necessary recordable easements will be granted to the city and provided by the applicant. The city shall maintain the proper operation of all meters except as otherwise provided in this article. No repairs to meters owned by the city shall be made other than by the city or its designee. Connections into the public sewer shall be made at the wye branch connection provided. In the case of connections to manholes, force mains, trunk sewers or under special conditions, connections shall be made as directed by the city.

(c)

Obstruction or disturbance of water meter. The applicant, or other customer who is authorized by the applicant to use water under the applicant's contract, shall at all times keep meter boxes unobstructed. The city, acting through its authorized representative, shall have unobstructed access to each meter installed on the service of the applicant. It is unlawful for any person to do anything or cause anything to be done on a water meter or its connections that will result in loss to the city of its lawful revenue expected from the sale of water through the meter so disturbed.

(d)

Blockage of building sewer. The property owner shall be responsible for maintaining at his expense the condition for free flow in the building sewer to the connection with the city's sewer main. If the blockage cannot be removed, the city shall be notified. Upon determination that the blockage is the responsibility of the owner lodging the complaint, the city shall hold the owner responsible for its costs.

(e)

Maintenance of water pipes. The property owner shall be responsible for maintenance of water pipes connecting the building served with the outlet side of the city's meter.

(f)

Backflow prevention. No connection shall be made between the city's water system and that of any other water supply except by written permission from the city and with the installation of a backflow prevention device approved by the city. Water service to other than residential users shall include a backflow prevention device if so required by the city.

(g)

Illegal connections. The city shall have the right to discontinue service in cases where an illegal connection is found and to assess an average bill for such period if it has been established that the user has been receiving service without payment for same.

(h)

Installation of service pipe and lines; condemned properties. The water or sewer service pipe for any building, lot, or premises shall not be laid over or through any other building, lot or premises. No person shall connect or cause to be connected any building, lot or premises with the water or sewer service pipe belonging to or supplying any other building, lot or premises except that other buildings in the rear of the buildings used in connection with same may be supplied from the same service pipe. For any violation of this subsection, the service may be discontinued until the same is corrected. Service lines from the meter or sewer connection to and on the property owner's premises for service shall be installed without expense to the city in conformance with the most recently updated specifications of the Florida Building Code. Service will not continue to be supplied to a building or property which has been condemned by lawful authority.

(i)

Permit required. No person shall connect or interfere with any public sewer, sewer connection, water connection or appurtenance thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the city.

(j)

New service. To provide water and/or sewer services for a land parcel within the city where water and/or sewer services are not existing at that time, the owner shall:

(1)

At his own expense, install all water and/or sewer lines and equipment, including water meters, and perform all work necessary for a water distribution and/or sewer collection system in accordance with the provisions of this article;

(2)

Upon completion, dedicate to the city the entire system excluding only the building sewer and water pipes connecting the building served with the outlet side of the water meter, as provided for in this article; and

(3)

Pay the water pollution control charge determined by the city on the basis of this article, prior to connection of the water and/or sewer system in concern with the existing city services, which connection shall be made by and at the expense of the owner in accordance with tap-in plans approved in writing by the city prior to connection.

(k)

Excavations. All excavations for water and building sewer installations shall be adequately guarded with barricades and lights so as to protect the public from hazard. Streets, sidewalks, parkways, and other public property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored in a manner satisfactory to the city.

(l)

Determination of number of equivalent residential connections. A typical single-family residential connection is defined as one ERC with an equivalent water use and sewage discharge of 350 gallons per day with a wastewater strength not exceeding 300 mg/l BOD of suspended solids. For the purpose of ease of interpretation, the estimated commercial or industrial project shall be divided by the appropriate number of gallons per day (350) to arrive at the number of equivalent residential connections. Such number, once defined, shall be multiplied by the water pollution control charge and water capacity charge then in effect for an equivalent residential connection. Should a given project involve business, industrial, institutional or educational use, or other land use, the city engineers shall estimate the number of equivalent residential connections applicable to such development.

(m)

All connections to mains of the city's water and sewerage systems shall be made only by the city except in special cases where prior written approval has been obtained from the city. No application for connection will be accepted without proof that the lot or premises to be served by such connection is situated within the corporate boundaries of the city.

(Code 1960, § 24-13; Code 1992, § 23-33; Ord. No. 2004-0444, §§ 1, 2, 11-2-2004)