[Added 8-17-2020 by Ord. No. 1035]
A.
Transfer
of water service and sewer service contingent upon receipt of proof
of compliance of sump pump discharge. Before the City will transfer
the water service or sewer service to a new owner or occupant of a
residence located within the City of El Paso, the new homeowner or
occupant shall provide City proof that all sump pumps of the residence
are properly installed and are not illegally discharging into the
sanitary sewer system of the City of El Paso. This proof of compliance
of proper discharge of the sump pump shall be accomplished by a written
certification by a licensed plumber who has inspected the plumbing
system within the last 60 days and found the residence to be in complete
compliance with the El Paso Municipal Code as it relates to stormwater
discharge from sump pumps, or from a certification of the Director
of Public Works of the City of El Paso, or any City employee authorized
by the Director of Public Works, indicating they have inspected the
plumbing system and found it to be in compliance. A certification
forth shall be prepared and distributed by the City Clerk for use
in certifying compliance.
B.
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 302-52.1A above, no certification of compliance shall be required to be submitted by the new homeowner or occupant if any of the following exceptions occur:
(1)
The owner certifies that there is no sump pump located in the basement
of the residence. In the event a sump pump is in the basement but
is currently inoperable, a certificate of compliance shall still be
required.
(2)
A certification has previously been furnished to the City within
the last 36 months, indicating that the sump pump is properly discharged.
C.
In the
event the sump pump is determined to be not in compliance with the
discharge requirements, the new occupant or homeowner shall be permitted
30 days to bring the system in compliance with the sump discharge
requirements, and in the event the homeowner or occupant fails to
bring the system in compliance within 30 days, such homeowner shall
be subject to the fines and penalties set forth in the Water and Sewer Chapter
of the El Paso Municipal Code with a fine of not less than $100 nor
more than $750, and each day in which such violation continues shall
be deemed a separate offence. All fines and penalties shall be assessed
against the owner of the residence as the owner shall be deemed to
be responsible for the proper discharge of the sump pump or pumps
whether the residence is the personal residence of the homeowner or
a rental residence. During the thirty-day compliance period, the new
occupant or homeowner may obtain water and sewer service to the residence
if such occupant or homeowner agrees to become in compliance during
this period.
D.
The
City Clerk of the City of El Paso shall maintain an accurate written
record of each residence located in the City of El Paso where sump
pumps are known to exist, showing the date of any certifications received
by the City that the sump pump has been inspected and is found to
be in compliance with the El Paso Municipal Code requirements.
E.
Upon
request by any homeowner, the City of El Paso Director of Public Works,
or any of his authorized agents who are employees of the City of El
Paso shall, upon request by the homeowner or occupant, and without
charge to the homeowner or occupant, inspect the sump pump to determine
whether it is properly discharged in compliance with the El Paso Municipal
Code.
No person having a residence or place of business within the
territorial limits of the City waterworks and sewerage system shall
be permitted to secure water for such residence or place of business
located in the City otherwise than through the water mains of the
City, whenever the water mains of the water system of the City are
adjacent to any subdivided lot or parcel of real estate upon which
said residence or place of business is located.
In all cases where a public water main is now installed, or
hereafter may be installed, in any street, alley, public way or easement
in the City, all inhabitants or users located on any lot or parcel
of real estate fronting, abutting on or within a distance of 100 feet
from said public water main to the nearest property line of any such
subdivided lot or parcel of real estate on any such street, alley,
public way or easement, at their expense, shall make or cause to be
made connection to such public water main within three months after
the installation of such public water main, if the same is not now
installed. All users shall discontinue, within the same period of
time, any connection which they theretofore may have had with any
other private water supply.
Any property owner or developer desiring to extend the public
water mains for the benefit of his property may do so in accordance
with the specifications and plans of the City, all of which shall
be at the expense of the property owner or developer.
[Amended 2-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 994]
No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connections with
or opening into, use, alter or disturb any public water main, or appurtenance
thereof, without having first obtained a written permit from the Director
of Public Service.
[Amended 2-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 994]
Any person desiring to make any connection with the water system,
or have the use thereof, shall first make application to the office
of the Director of Public Service upon a blank form or forms furnished
by said office. Said application shall contain an agreement, on the
part of the applicant, that all the rules, regulations, conditions
and provisions of this code and all ordinances of the City will be
complied with; that all fees, deposits, water rates, charges, rents
and all fines and penalties assessed, charged or imposed against said
applicant, upon the property described in said application, will be
paid. When the applicant under this section has complied with all
the provisions of this code and the ordinances of the City, a permit
shall then be issued by the Director of Public Service authorizing
the connection to be made.
The fees to be charged for a permit to tap or otherwise make
a connection with the water system shall be determined in such manner
and amounts as shall be prescribed by ordinance, as adopted by the
City Council from time to time.
All openings made in streets and sidewalks shall be protected
at all times by sufficient barriers, on which signal lights or flares
shall be placed and maintained after dark, together with such other
provisions pertaining to street openings.
A separate and independent building water main shall be provided
for every building; except where one building stands at the rear of
another on an interior lot and no water main is available or can be
constructed to the rear building through an adjoining alley, court,
yard or driveway; the water main from the front building may be extended
to the rear building and the whole considered as one building water
main.
[Amended 1992 by Ord. No. 662; 2-6-2017 by Ord. No. 994]
A.
No person not duly authorized shall turn on any service stop, or
use water therefrom when so turned on, and the person so using or
wasting water in such unlawful manner shall be liable to pay therefor
at the regular water rates.
B.
No seal placed by the Waterworks and Sewerage Department for the
protection of any meter, valve, fitting or other water connection
shall be defaced or broken, except on written authority from the Director
of Public Service.
C.
No person or persons, other than members of the Waterworks and Sewerage
Department, shall use water from any fire hydrant connected with the
waterworks system of the City, except for extinguishing fires or unless
especially authorized by the Director of Public Service.
[Amended 2-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 994]
All permanent water services hereinafter installed, whether
for domestic or commercial purposes, shall be metered. Water meters
shall be furnished by the City, and the same shall remain the property
of the City. The City shall be reimbursed the cost of any meter so
installed by the property owner, which charge shall represent an additional
fee for the privilege of making connection to the system. There shall
be no reimbursement for this initial service fee upon removal of the
water meter. The City will repair and maintain the meters; except
when a water meter is damaged by freezing or by hot water backing
through the meter or by other physical damage, the consumer shall
be required to pay the cost of repairs and labor upon receipt of a
bill for the same. Any such cost of repair shall be a lien against
the premises to the same extent and with the same effect as charges
for water service. The meter shall be set within the building and
it must be attached to the service pipe immediately after such pipe
has entered the wall of the building. In any event, all installations
and the placing of meters shall be subject to the approval of the
Director of Public Service.
[Amended 2-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 994]
The Director of Public Service and every person authorized by
him and all meter inspectors shall have ready access to the premises,
place or buildings where such meters are located for the purpose of
reading, examining, testing and repairing the same, and examining
and testing the consumption, use and flow of water; and it is unlawful
for any person or corporation to interfere with, prevent or obstruct
the Director of Public Service or such other person or inspector in
his work under this chapter. Every consumer of water shall take the
same upon the conditions prescribed in this chapter.
A.
The connection from the main to the curb stop shall be placed at
least four feet below the level of the ground. The service pipe shall
be laid sufficiently waving so that it is at least one foot longer
than if laid in a straight line, and shall be placed in such manner
as to prevent rupture or breakage from settling of the ground. All
service pipes shall be of Type K copper tubing and shall be of not
less than three-fourths-inch nominal diameter.
B.
No person, whether as owner or occupant in possession or control
of any building, structure or premises into which water is supplied
through the City waterworks system, shall be allowed, without written
permission of the City Council, to supply other persons or families
or to supply water from such building or premises to any other building,
structure or premises.
C.
The supply of water to a building, structure or premises of any person who violates any of the provisions of Subsections A and B of this section shall be shut off and stopped forthwith, and the water shall not again be turned on to such building, structure or premises from which it was cut off until there has been paid to the City such sum of money as the City Council deems properly due the City.
D.
If, after the water supply has been turned on to any building, structure
or premises, it is found by any officer or employee of the City that
fraudulent representations have been made by the applicant for such
water supply, or that water is being used in or upon such building,
structure or premises for purposes not set forth in the application
made for such water supply, or that there is wilful and unreasonable
use or waste of water, the Director of Public Service or such employee
of the City as he designates shall have the authority and it shall
be his duty to cut off and stop the supply of water to such building,
structure or premises forthwith, and the water shall not be turned
on to such building, structure or premises until the person or persons
responsible for such fraudulent representation or for such use of
water, or wilful or unreasonable waste thereof, pays the City such
additional sum of money for such water supply or on account of such
unreasonable waste of water as the Director of Public Service or Council
finds properly to be due the City.
[Amended 2-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 994]
E.
Every person supplied with water from the City waterworks system
shall, at his or her own cost and expense, have installed and kept
in repair all pipes leading from the curb stop to his or her building,
structure or premises as are supplied with water through such service
pipe.
F.
Each water service pipe shall be connected with said water main and
shall extend horizontally at right angles with the water main to a
point at least 20 feet from the center line of the street, and shall
there be provided with a bronze curb stop of not less than 3/4 inch
in diameter to be installed within a telescopic shut-off box of the
best quality of cast iron or first-grade steel pipe.
G.
The water main must be tapped at an angle of 45° with the vertical,
and the corporation stop must be turned so that the T handle will
be on top.
In all cases where a standard water main is now installed or
hereafter may be installed in any street, alley, public way or easement
in the City, all water users located on any lot or parcel of real
estate fronting or abutting on any such street, alley, public way
or easement shall make or cause to be made connection to such standard
water main and pay the tapping charges therefor. All users shall discontinue
any connection which they theretofore may have had with any other
water line.
[Added 1987 by Ord. No. 604; 2-6-2017 by Ord. No. 994]
A.
If, in accordance with the Illinois Plumbing Code or in the judgment
of the Director of Public Service, an approved backflow prevention
device is necessary for the safety of the public water supply system,
the Director of Public Service will give notice to the water customer
to install such an approved device immediately. The water customer
shall, at his own expense, install such an approved device at a location
and in a manner in accordance with the Illinois Plumbing Code and
all applicable local regulations, and shall have inspections and tests
made of such approved devices as required by the Illinois Plumbing
Code and local regulations.
B.
No person, firm or corporation shall establish or permit to be established
or maintain or permit to be maintained any connection whereby a private,
auxiliary or emergency water supply other than the regular public
distribution system of said municipality, unless such private, auxiliary
or emergency water supply and the method of connection and use of
such supply shall have been approved by the Director of Public Service
and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
C.
It shall be the duty of the Director of Public Service to cause surveys
and investigations to be made of industrial and other properties served
by the public water supply to determine whether actual or potential
hazards to the public water supply may exist. Such surveys and investigations
shall be made a matter of public record and shall be repeated at least
every two years, or as often as the Director of Public Service shall
deem necessary. Records of such surveys shall be maintained and available
for review for a period of at least five years.
D.
The approved cross-connection control device inspector shall have
the right to enter at any reasonable time any property served by a
connection to the public water supply or distribution system of the
City for the purpose of verifying the presence or absence of cross-connections,
and that the Director of Public Service or his authorized agent shall
have the right to enter at any reasonable time any property served
by a connection to the public water supply or distribution system
of the City for the purpose of verifying information submitted by
the customer regarding the required cross-connection control inspection.
On demand, the owner, lessees or occupants of any property as served
shall furnish to the Director of Public Service any information which
he may request regarding the piping system or systems or water use
on such property. The refusal of such information, when demanded,
shall, within the discretion of the Director of Public Service, be
deemed evidence of the presence of improper connections as provided
in this section.
E.
The Director of Public Service is authorized and directed to discontinue,
after reasonable notice to the occupant thereof, the water service
to any property wherein any connection in violation of the provisions
of this section is known to exist, and to take such other precautionary
measures as he may deem necessary to eliminate any danger of contamination
of the public water supply distribution mains. Water service to such
property shall not be restored until such conditions have been eliminated
or corrected in compliance with the provisions of this section, and
until a reconnection fee as set forth in the fee schedule is paid
to the City. Immediate disconnection with verbal notice can be effected
when the Director of Public Service is assured that imminent danger
of harmful contamination of the public water supply exists. Such action
shall be followed by written notification of the cause of disconnection.
F.
The consumer responsible for backsiphoned material or contamination
through backflow, if contamination of the potable water supply system
occurs through an illegal cross-connection or an improperly installed,
maintained or repaired device, or a device which has been bypassed,
must bear the cost of clean-up of the potable water supply system.
[Amended 2-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 994]
All service pipes and connections shall be inspected and approved
by the Director of Public Service or other persons under his direction;
and no such service pipes shall be covered until they have been so
inspected.
[Amended 2-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 994]
Before a permit for the use of water is issued where meters
cannot be conveniently used, the person applying for the same shall
deposit with the City Treasurer a sum as set forth in the fee schedule
as a payment on account of water to be used by him. On or before 30
days from the date of the permit, the person to whom such permit is
issued shall file with the Water Department a statement in writing,
verified by his affidavit, showing fully the purpose for which the
water was used by him for that time, and the amount and location of
all work done by him during said time in connection with which any
water was used or required. The Director of Public Service shall ascertain
from said statement, and any other information, the amount due for
water so used. If the amount so found to be due, together with all
other fees and costs chargeable against such person, is less than
the sum deposited, the surplus shall be paid back to the depositor.
If the amount due for water so used is more than the sum deposited,
then the excess shall be paid at once to the Water Department by such
person. If such person desires to continue to use the water after
he has filed his statement, he shall again deposit said amount with
the Director of Public Service and shall continue to make deposits
thereafter, and in the same manner as is provided in this section
with respect to the first deposit, and the method of determining the
amount of water used and the charge for the same shall be the same
as the provisions respecting the first deposit as provided in this
section.
