CHAPTER 90

WATER SERVICE SYSTEM

90.01 Definitions 90.11 Installation of Water Service Pipe
90.02 Superintendent’s Duties 90.12 Responsibility for Water Service Pipe
90.03 Mandatory Connections 90.13 Failure to Maintain
90.04 Abandoned Connections 90.14 Curb Valve
90.05 Permit 90.15 Interior Valve
90.06 Connection Charge 90.16 Inspection and Approval
90.07 Compliance with Plumbing Code 90.17 Completion by the City
90.08 Plumber Required 90.18 Shutting off Water Supply
90.09 Excavations 90.19 Operation of Curb Valve and Hydrants
90.10 Tapping Mains 90.20 Requested Disconnection

90.01 DEFINITIONS. The following terms are defined for use in the chapters in this Code of
Ordinances pertaining to the Water Service System:
1. “Combined service account” means a customer service account for the provision of two
or more utility services.
2. “Customer” means, in addition to any person receiving water service from the City, the
owner of the property served, and as between such parties the duties, responsibilities, liabilities
and obligations hereinafter imposed shall be joint and several.
3. “Superintendent” means the Superintendent of the City water system or any duly
authorized assistant, agent or representative.
4. “Water main” means a water supply pipe provided for public or community use.
5. “Water service pipe” means the pipe from the water main to the building served.
6. “Water system” or “water works” means all public facilities for securing, collecting,
storing, pumping, treating and distributing water.

90.02 SUPERINTENDENT’S DUTIES. The Superintendent shall supervise the installation of water
service pipes and their connection to the water main and enforce all regulations pertaining to water services
in the City in accordance with this chapter. This chapter shall apply to all replacements of existing water
service pipes as well as to new ones. The Superintendent shall make such rules, not in conflict with the
provisions of this chapter, as may be needed for the detailed operation of the water system, subject to the
approval of the Council. In the event of an emergency the Superintendent may make temporary rules for
the protection of the system until due consideration by the Council may be had.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 372.13[4])

90.03 MANDATORY CONNECTIONS. All residences and business establishments within the City
limits intended or used for human habitation, occupancy or use shall be connected to the public water
system, if it is reasonably available. The determination as to reasonable availability shall be made by the
Council, and written notice of the Council’s order to make a connection shall be given by the Mayor to the
owner of the property involved. Connection shall be made within thirty (30) days of the receipt of said
notice. In the event connection has not been made within said period of time, the owner shall nonetheless
pay the connection charge at the expiration thereof in the amount hereinafter provided, as well as the
minimum charge of ten dollars ($10.00) per month thereafter with respect to such property until connection
is made. In the event of a subsequent connection, no additional charge therefor shall be made.
90.04 ABANDONED CONNECTIONS. When an existing water service is abandoned or a service is
renewed with a new tap in the main, all abandoned connections with the mains shall be turned off at the
corporation stop and made absolutely watertight.

90.05 PERMIT. Before any person makes a connection with the public water system, a written permit
must be obtained from the City. The application for the permit shall include a legal description of the
property, the name of the property owner, the name and address of the person who will do the work, and
the general uses of the water. If the proposed work meets all the requirements of this chapter and if all fees
required under this chapter have been paid, the permit shall be issued. Work under any permit must be
completed within thirty (30) days after the permit is issued, except that when such time period is inequitable
or unfair due to conditions beyond the control of the person making the application, an extension of time
within which to complete the work may be granted. The permit may be revoked at any time for any violation
of these chapters.

90.06 CONNECTION CHARGE. Before any permit is issued the person who makes the application
shall pay a connection charge in the amount of four hundred dollars ($400.00) to reimburse the City for
costs borne by the City in making water service available to the property served.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 384.84)

90.07 COMPLIANCE WITH PLUMBING CODE. The installation of any water service pipe and any
connection with the water system shall comply with all pertinent and applicable provisions, whether
regulatory, procedural or enforcement provisions, of the State Plumbing Code.

90.08 PLUMBER REQUIRED. All installations of water service pipes and connections to the water system
shall be made by a State-licensed plumber.

90.09 EXCAVATIONS. All trench work, excavation, and backfilling required in making a connection
shall be performed in accordance with the State Plumbing Code and the provisions of Chapter 135 of this
Code of Ordinances.

90.10 TAPPING MAINS. All taps into water mains shall be made by or under the direct supervision of
the Superintendent and in accord with the following:
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 372.13[4])
1. Independent Services. No more than one house, building or premises shall be supplied
from one tap unless special written permission is obtained from the Superintendent and unless
provision is made so that each house, building or premises may be shut off independently of the
other.
2. Sizes and Location of Taps. All mains six (6) inches or less in diameter shall receive no
larger than a three-fourths (3/4) inch tap. All mains of over six (6) inches in diameter shall receive
no larger than a one inch tap. Where a larger connection than a one inch tap is desired, two (2)
or more small taps or saddles shall be used, as the Superintendent shall order. All taps in the
mains shall be made in the top half of the pipe, at least eighteen (18) inches apart. No main shall
be tapped nearer than two (2) feet of the joint in the main.
3. Corporation Stop. A brass corporation stop, of the pattern and weight approved by the
Superintendent, shall be inserted in every tap in the main. The corporation stop in the main shall
be of the same size as the service pipe.
4. Location Record. An accurate and dimensional sketch showing the exact location of the
tap shall be filed with the Superintendent in such form as the Superintendent shall require.
90.11 INSTALLATION OF WATER SERVICE PIPE. Water service pipes from the main to the meter
setting shall be Type K copper. The use of any other pipe material for the service line shall first be approved
by the Superintendent. Pipe must be laid sufficiently waving, and to such depth, as to prevent rupture from
settlement or freezing.

90.12 RESPONSIBILITY FOR WATER SERVICE PIPE. All costs and expenses incident to the
installation, connection and maintenance of the water service pipe from the main to the building served
shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the City from any loss or damage that may directly
or indirectly be occasioned by the installation or maintenance of said water service pipe.

90.13 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN. When any portion of the water service pipe which is the
responsibility of the property owner becomes defective or creates a nuisance and the owner fails to correct
such nuisance the City may do so and assess the costs thereof to the property.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.12[3a & h])

90.14 CURB VALVE. There shall be installed within the public right-of-way a main shut-off valve on
the water service pipe of a pattern approved by the Superintendent. The shut-off valve shall be constructed
to be visible and even with the pavement or ground. When the Superintendent has determined the curb
valve is defective and the owner fails to correct such conditions within ninety (90) days after notice, the
City may do so and assess the cost thereof to the property. When the Superintendent has determined the
curb valve is defective and there is a delinquency on a City utility, the City shall send notice to the owner
to correct the condition within thirty (30) days. If the owner fails to correct, the City shall do so and assess
the cost thereof to the property.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.12[7])

90.15 INTERIOR VALVE. There shall be installed a shut-off valve on every service pipe inside the
building as close to the entrance of the pipe within the building as possible and so located that the water
can be shut off conveniently. Where one service pipe supplies more than one customer within the building,
there shall be separate valves for each such customer so that service may be shut off for one without
interfering with service to the others.

90.16 INSPECTION AND APPROVAL. All water service pipes and their connections to the water
system must be inspected and approved in writing by the Superintendent before they are covered, and the
Superintendent shall keep a record of such approvals. If the Superintendent refuses to approve the work,
the plumber or property owner must proceed immediately to correct the work. Every person who uses or
intends to use the municipal water system shall permit the Superintendent to enter the premises to inspect
or make necessary alterations or repairs at all reasonable hours and on proof of authority.

90.17 COMPLETION BY THE CITY. Should any excavation be left open or only partly refilled for
twenty-four (24) hours after the water service pipe is installed and connected with the water system, or
should the work be improperly done, the City shall have the right to finish or correct the work, and the
Council shall assess the costs to the property owner or the plumber. If the plumber is assessed, the plumber
must pay the costs before receiving another permit, and the plumber's bond or cash deposit shall be security
for the assessment. If the property owner is assessed, such assessment may be collected with and in the
same manner as general property taxes.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.12[3a & h])

90.18 SHUTTING OFF WATER SUPPLY. The Superintendent may shut off the supply of water to
any customer because of any violation of the regulations contained in these Water Service System chapters
that is not being contested in good faith. The supply shall not be turned on again until all violations have
been corrected and the Superintendent has ordered the water to be turned on.
90.19 OPERATION OF CURB VALVE AND HYDRANTS. It is unlawful for any person except the
Superintendent to turn water on at the curb valve, and no person, unless specifically authorized by the City,
shall open or attempt to draw water from any fire hydrant for any purpose whatsoever.

90.20 REQUESTED DISCONNECTION. In the event any house, building or property connected to
the public water system is no longer used for human occupancy, the Council may, upon application from
the owner of such house, building or property, order the disconnection thereof from the public water system.
In such event, no water service charges shall thereafter be charged with respect thereto. In the event such
house, building or property shall again be used for any purpose requiring connection to the public water
system, all back charges or the connection charge shall again be imposed, whichever is less.