All persons now receiving water service from
this Water Utility, or who may request service in the future, shall
be considered as having agreed to be bound by the rules and regulations
as filed with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
A.
Application for water service may be made in writing
on a form furnished by the Water Utility. The application will contain
the legal description of the property to be served, the name of the
owner, the exact use to be made of the service, and the size of the
service lateral and meter desired. Note particularly any special refrigeration,
fire protection, or water-consuming air-conditioning equipment.
B.
Service will be furnished only if:
(1)
The premises have a frontage on a properly platted
street or public strip in which a cast-iron or other long-life water
main has been laid or where the property owner has agreed to and complied
with the provisions of the Water Utility's filed main extension rule;
(2)
The property owner has installed or agrees to install
a service lateral from the curb stop to the point of use that is not
less than six feet below the surface of an established or proposed
grade and meets the Water Utility's specifications; and
(3)
The premises have adequate piping beyond the metering
point.
C.
The owner of a multi-unit dwelling has the option
of being served by individual metered water service to each unit.
The owner, by selecting this option, is required to provide interior
plumbing and meter settings to enable individual metered service to
each unit and individual disconnection without affecting service to
the other units. Each meter and meter connection will be treated as
a separate Water Utility account for the purpose of the filed rules
and regulations.
D.
No division of the water service lateral to any lot
or parcel of land shall be made for the extension and independent
metering of the supply to an adjoining lot or parcel of land. Except
for duplexes, no division of a water service lateral shall be made
at the curb for separate supplies for two or more separate premises
having frontage on any street or public service strip, whether owned
by the same or different parties. Duplexes may be served by one lateral
provided individual metered service and disconnection is provided
and it is permitted by local ordinance.
E.
Buildings used in the same business, located on the
same parcel, and served by a single lateral may have the customer's
water supply piping installed to a central point so that volume can
be metered in one place.
F.
The Water Utility may withhold approval of any application
where full information of the purpose of such supply is not clearly
indicated and set forth by the applicant property owner.
A.
The minimum service contract period shall be one year
unless otherwise specified by special contract or in the applicable
rate schedule. Where the Water Utility has disconnected service at
the customer's request prior to expiration of the minimum contract
period, a reconnection charge shall be made, payable in advance, when
the customer requests reconnection of service. See Schedule R-1 for
the applicable rate. The minimum contract period is renewed with each
reconnection.
B.
A reconnection charge shall also be required from
customers whose services are disconnected (shut off at curb stop box)
because of nonpayment of bills when due. See Schedule R-1 for the
applicable rate.
C.
If reconnection is requested for the same location
by any member of the same household or, if a place of business, by
any partner of the same business, it shall be considered as the same
customer.
An applicant for temporary water service on
a metered basis shall make and maintain a monetary deposit for each
meter installed as security for payment for use of water and for such
other charges which may arise from the use of the supply. A charge
shall be made for setting the valve and furnishing and setting the
meter. See Schedule BW-1 for the applicable rate.
A.
When water is requested for construction purposes
or for filling tanks or other such uses, an application shall be made
to the Water Utility, in writing, giving a statement of the amount
of construction work to be done or the size of the tank to be filled,
etc. Payment for the water for construction may be required in advance
at the scheduled rates. The service lateral must be installed into
the building before water can be used. No connection with the service
lateral at the curb shall be made without special permission from
the Water Utility. In no case will any employee of the Water Utility
turn on water for construction work unless the contractor has obtained
permission from the Water Utility.
B.
Customers shall not allow contractors, masons or other
persons to take unmetered water from their premises without permission
from the Water Utility. Any customer failing to comply with this provision
may have water service discontinued and will be responsible for the
cost of the estimated volume of water used.
A.
In cases where no other supply is available, permission
may be granted by the Water Utility to use a hydrant. No hydrant shall
be used until the proper meter and valve are installed. In no case
shall any valve be installed or moved except by an employee of the
Water Utility.
B.
Before a valve is set, payment must be made for its
setting and for the water to be used at the scheduled rates. Where
applicable, see Schedule BW-1 for deposits and charges. Upon completing
the use of the hydrant, the customer must notify the Water Utility
to that effect.
Any person who shall, without authority of the
Water Utility, allow contractors, masons, or other unauthorized persons
to take water from their premises, operate any valve connected with
the street or supply mains, or open any fire hydrant connected with
the distribution system, except for the purpose of extinguishing fire,
or who shall wantonly damage or impair the same, shall be subject
to a fine as provided by municipal ordinance. Water Utility permission
for the use of hydrants applies only to such hydrants that are designated
for the specific use.
All money deposited as security for payment
of charges arising from the use of temporary water service on a metered
basis, or for the return of a hydrant valve and fixtures if the water
is used on an unmetered basis, will be refunded to the depositor on
the termination of the use of water, the payment of all charges levied
against the depositor, and the return of the Water Utility's equipment.
A.
No water service lateral shall be laid through any
trench having cinders, rubbish, rock or gravel fill, or any other
material which may cause injury to or disintegration of the service
lateral, unless adequate means of protection are provided by sand
filling or such other insulation as may be approved by the Water Utility.
Service laterals passing through curb or retaining walls shall be
adequately safeguarded by provision of a channel space or pipe casing
not less than twice the diameter of the service connection. The space
between the service lateral and the channel or pipe casing shall be
filled and lightly caulked with an oakum, mastic cement, or other
resilient material and made impervious to moisture.
B.
In backfilling the pipe trench, the service lateral
must be protected against injury by carefully hand tamping the ground
filling around the pipe. There should be at least six inches of ground
filling over the pipe, and it should be free from hard lumps, rocks,
stones, or other injurious material.
C.
All water service laterals shall be of undiminished
size from the street main into the point of meter placement. Beyond
the meter outlet valve, the piping shall be sized and proportioned
to provide, on all floors, at all times, an equitable distribution
of water supply for the greatest probable number of fixtures or appliances
operating simultaneously.
A.
The service lateral from the main to and through the
curb stop will be maintained and kept in repair and, when worn out,
replaced at the expense of the Water Utility. The property owner shall
maintain the service lateral from the curb stop to the point of use.
B.
If a property owner changes the use of a property
currently receiving water service such that water service will no
longer be needed in the future, the Water Utility may require the
abandonment of the water service at the water main. In such case,
the property owner may be responsible for all removal and/or repair
costs, including the water main and the Utility portion of the water
service lateral.
C.
If an owner fails to repair a leaking or broken service
lateral from the curb to the point of metering or use within such
time as may appear reasonable to the Water Utility after notification
has been served on the owner by the Water Utility, the water will
be shut off and will not be turned on again until the repairs have
been completed.
See § PSC 185.35, Wis. Adm. Code.
See § PSC 185.89, Wis. Adm. Code.
The curb stop box is the property of the Water
Utility. The Water Utility is responsible for its repair and maintenance.
This includes maintaining, through adjustment, the curb stop box at
an appropriate grade level when no direct action by the property owner
or occupant has contributed to an elevation problem. The property
owner is responsible for protecting the curb stop box from situations
that could obstruct access to it or unduly expose it to harm. The
Water Utility shall not be liable for failure to locate the curb stop
box and shut off the water in case of a leak on the owner's premises.
Meters will be owned, furnished, and installed
by the Water Utility or a Water Utility approved contractor and are
not to be disconnected or tampered with by the customer. All meters
shall be so located that they shall be protected from obstructions
and permit ready access for reading, inspection, and servicing, such
location to be designated or approved by the Water Utility. All piping
within the building must be supplied by the owner. Where additional
meters are desired by the owner, the owner shall pay for all piping.
Where applicable, see Schedule Am-1 for rates.
A.
Meters will be repaired by the Water Utility, and
the cost of such repairs caused by ordinary wear and tear will be
borne by the Water Utility.
B.
Repair of any damage to a meter resulting from the
carelessness of the owner of the premises, the owner's agent, or tenant,
or from the negligence of any one of them to properly secure and protect
the same, including any damage that may result from allowing a water
meter to become frozen or to be damaged from the presence of hot water
or steam in the meter, shall be paid for by the customer or the owner
of the premises.
Where the original service piping is installed
for a new metered customer, where existing service piping is changed
for the customer's convenience, or where a new meter is installed
for an existing unmetered customer, the owner of the premises at his/her
expense shall provide a suitable location and the proper connections
for the meter. The meter setting and associated plumbing shall comply
with the Water Utility's standards. The Water Utility should be consulted
as to the type and size of the meter setting.
The water may only be turned on for a customer
by an authorized employee of the Water Utility. Plumbers may turn
the water on to test their work but upon completion must leave the
water turned off.
A.
Where the Water Utility is unable to read a meter,
the fact will be plainly indicated on the bill, and either an estimated
bill will be computed or the minimum charge applied. The difference
shall be adjusted when the meter is again read, that is, the bill
for the succeeding billing period will be computed with the gallons
or cubic feet in each block of the rate schedule doubled, and credit
will be given on that bill for the amount of the bill paid the preceding
period. Only in unusual cases shall more than three consecutive estimated
or minimum bills be rendered.
B.
If the meter is damaged (see § 298-44, Surreptitious use of water) or fails to operate, the bill will be based on the average use during the past year, unless there is some reason why the use is not normal. If the average use cannot be properly determined, the bill will be estimated by some equitable method.
C.
See § PSC 185.33, Wis. Adm. Code.
See § PSC 185.77, Wis. Adm. Code.
During reasonable hours, any officer or authorized
employee of the Water Utility shall have the right of access to the
premises supplied with service for the purpose of inspection or for
the enforcement of the Water Utility's rules and regulations. Whenever
appropriate, the Water Utility will make a systematic inspection of
all unmetered water taps for the purpose of checking waste and unnecessary
use of water. See § 196.171, Wis. Stats.
When premises are to be vacated, the Water Utility
shall be notified, in writing, at once, so that it may remove the
meter and shut off the supply at the curb stop. The owner of the premises
shall be liable for prosecution for any damage to the Water Utility's
property.
See § PSC 185.36, Wis. Adm. Code.
See § PSC 185.361, Wis. Adm. Code.
See § PCS 185.38, Wis. Adm. Code.
See § PCS 185.39, Wis. Adm. Code.
A.
See § PCS 185.37, Wis. Adm. Code.
B.
The following is an example of a disconnection notice
that the Utility may use to provide the required notice to customers:
|
Disconnection Notice
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Dear Customer:
| |||
|
The bill enclosed with this notice includes
your current charge for Water Utility service and your previous unpaid
balance.
| |||
|
You have 10 days to pay the Water Utility service
arrears or your service is subject to disconnection.
| |||
|
If you fail to pay the service arrears or fail
to contact us within the 10 days allowed to make reasonable deferred
payment arrangement or other suitable arrangement, we will proceed
with disconnection action.
| |||
|
To avoid the inconvenience of service interruption
and an additional charge of (amount) for reconnection, we urge you
to pay the full arrears immediately at one of our offices.
| |||
|
If you have entered into a deferred payment
agreement with us and have failed to make the deferred payments you
agreed to, your service will be subject to disconnection unless you
pay the entire amount due within 10 days.
| |||
|
If you have a reason for delaying the payment,
call us and explain the situation.
| |||
|
Please call this telephone number (telephone
number) immediately if:
| |||
|
1.
|
You dispute the notice of delinquent account.
| ||
|
2.
|
You have a question about your Water Utility
service arrears.
| ||
|
3.
|
You are unable to pay the full amount of the
bill and are willing to enter into a deferred payment agreement with
us.
| ||
|
4.
|
There are any circumstances you think should
be taken into consideration before service is discontinued.
| ||
|
5.
|
Any resident is seriously ill.
| ||
|
Illness Provision: If there is an existing medical
emergency in your home and you furnish the Water Utility with a statement
signed by either a licensed Wisconsin physician or a public health
official, we will delay disconnection of service up to 21 days. The
statement must identify the medical emergency and specify the period
of time during which disconnection will aggravate the existing emergency.
| |||
|
Deferred Payment Agreements: If you are a residential
customer and, for some reason, you are unable to pay the full amount
of the Water Utility service arrears on your bill, you may contact
the Water Utility to discuss arrangements to pay the arrears over
an extended period of time.
| |||
|
This time payment agreement will require:
| |||
|
1.
|
Payment of a reasonable amount at the time the
agreement is made.
| ||
|
2.
|
Payment of the remainder of the outstanding
balance in monthly installments over a reasonable length of time.
| ||
|
3.
|
Payment of all future Water Utility service
bills in full by the due date.
| ||
|
In any situation where you are unable to resolve
billing disputes or disputes about the grounds for proposed disconnection
through contacts with our Water Utility, you may make an appeal to
the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin by calling (800) 225-7729.
| |||
|
(WATER UTILITY NAME)
| |||
An amount owed by the customer may be levied
as a tax as provided in § 66.0809, Wis. Stats.
A.
When the Water Utility has reasonable evidence that
a person is obtaining water, in whole or in part, by means of devices
or methods used to stop or interfere with the proper metering of the
Water Utility service being delivered, the Water Utility reserves
the right to estimate and present immediately a bill for unmetered
service as a result of such interference, and such bill shall be payable
subject to a twenty-four-hour disconnection of service. If the Water
Utility disconnects the service for any such reason, the Water Utility
will reconnect the service upon the following conditions:
(1)
The customer will be required to deposit with the
Water Utility an amount sufficient to guarantee the payment of the
bills for Water Utility service.
(2)
The customer will be required to pay the Water Utility
for any and all damages to Water Utility equipment resulting from
such interference with the metering.
(3)
The customer must further agree to comply with reasonable
requirements to protect the Water Utility against further losses.
B.
See §§ 98.26 and 943.20, Wis. Stats.
A.
The Water Utility reserves the right to shut off the
water supply in the mains temporarily to make repairs, alterations
or additions to the plant or system. When the circumstances will permit,
the Water Utility will give notification, by newspaper publication
or otherwise, of the discontinuance of the water supply. No credit
will be allowed to customers for such temporary suspension of the
water supply.
B.
See § PSC 185.88, Wis. Adm. Code.
It shall be the duty of the Water Utility to
see that all open ditches for water mains, hydrants, and service laterals
are properly guarded to prevent accident to any person or vehicle,
and at night there shall be displayed proper signal lighting to ensure
the safety of the public.
Contractors must call Digger's Hotline and ensure
a location is done to establish the existence and location of all
water mains and service laterals as provided in § 182.0175,
Wis. Stats. Where water mains or service laterals have been removed,
cut or damaged during trench excavation, the contractor must, at his
own expense, cause them to be replaced or repaired at once. Contractors
must not shut off the water service laterals to any customer for a
period exceeding six hours.
A.
Protective devices in general. The owner or occupant
of every premises receiving water supply shall apply and maintain
suitable means of protection of the premises supply and all appliances
against damage arising in any manner from the use of the water supply,
variation of water pressure, or any interruption of water supply.
Particularly, such owner or occupant must protect water-cooled compressors
for refrigeration systems by means of high- and/or low-pressure safety
cutout devices. There shall likewise be provided means for the prevention
of the transmission of water ram or noise of operation of any valve
or appliance through the piping of his own or adjacent premises.
B.
Relief valves. On all closed systems (i.e., systems
having a check valve, pressure regulator, reducing valve, water filter,
or softener), an effective pressure-relief valve shall be installed
at or near the top of the hot water tank or at the hot water distribution
pipe connection to the tank. No stop valve shall be placed between
the hot water tank and the relief valve or on the drainpipe. See applicable
plumbing codes.
C.
Air chambers. An air chamber or approved shock absorber
shall be installed at the terminus of each riser, fixture branch,
or hydraulic elevator main for the prevention of undue water hammer.
The air chamber shall be sized in conformance with local plumbing
codes. Where possible, the air chamber should be provided at its base
with a valve for water drainage and replenishment of air.
[Amended 6-17-2014 by Ord. No. 14-01]
A.
Definition of "cross-connection." A "cross-connection" is defined
as any physical connection or arrangement between two otherwise separate
systems, one of which contains potable water from the Village of New
Glarus' public water system, and the other of which contains
water from a private source, water of unknown or questionable safety,
or steam, gases, or chemicals, whereby there may be a flow from one
system to the other, with the direction of flow depending on the pressure
differential between the two systems.
B.
Unprotected cross-connections prohibited. No person, firm, or corporation
may establish or maintain, or permit to be established or maintained,
any unprotected cross-connection. Cross-connections shall be protected
as required in Ch. SPS 382, Wisconsin Administrative Code.
C.
Inspection. The Water Utility may inspect, or arrange for an inspection of, property served by the public water system for cross-connections. If the inspection is done by a State of Wisconsin Certified Cross-Connection Inspector/Surveyor, the expense will be borne by the property owner. The frequency of inspections shall be established by the Water Utility in accordance with Wisconsin Administrative Code. Any unprotected cross-connections identified by the inspection shall be promptly corrected. Failure to promptly correct an unprotected cross-connection shall be sufficient cause for the Water Utility to discontinue water service to the property, as provided under Subsection F of this section.
D.
Right of entry. Upon presentation of credentials, a representative of the Water Utility shall have the right to request entry, at any reasonable time, to a property served by a connection to the public water system for the purpose of inspecting the property for cross-connections. Refusing entry to such Utility representative shall be sufficient cause for the Water Utility to discontinue water service to the property, as provided under Subsection F of this section. If entry is refused, a special inspection warrant under Section 66.0119 of the Wisconsin Statutes may be obtained.
E.
Provision of requested information. The Water Utility may request an owner, lessee, or occupant of property served by a connection to the public water system to furnish the Water Utility with pertinent information regarding the piping systems on the property. Refusing to provide requested information shall be sufficient cause for the Water Utility to discontinue water service to the property, as provided under Subsection F of this section.
F.
Discontinuation of water for violation. The Water Utility may discontinue water service to any property wherein any unprotected connection in violation of this section exists and take other precautionary measures deemed necessary to eliminate any danger of contamination of the public water system. Water service may be discontinued, however, only after reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing under Chapter 68, Wisconsin Statutes, except as provided in Subsection G of this section. Water service to such property shall not be restored until the unprotected cross-connection has been eliminated.
G.
Emergency discontinuance. If it is determined by the Water Utility
that an unprotected cross-connection or emergency endangers public
health, safety, or welfare and requires immediate action, and if a
written finding to that effect is filed with the Village Clerk and
delivered to the customer's premises, water service may be immediately
discontinued. The customer shall have an opportunity for hearing under
Chapter 68, Wisconsin Statutes, within 10 days of such emergency discontinuance.
Water service to such property shall not be restored until the unprotected
cross-connection has been eliminated.
