§ 12-103. Utility connections.

(a)

In every case where any person desires connection with the city's water system, the city will, upon written application accompanied by proper payment, furnish to the customer, install, inspect, and test a connection with the city water main.

(1)

The fee shall be established by resolution of the city council and be based on the actual cost of materials and labor supplied by the city.

(2)

All customers shall be supplied with water only when the amount supplied is measured through a meter. Meters for service with the city shall be furnished and installed by the city at the customer's expense. The location, size, installation, type and number of meters shall be at the direction of the director of public works.

a.

In the event that a customer requests a meter location other than that prescribed by the director of public works, and if the director of public works gives his approval, the customer shall bear the entire expense of any excavation or extension of existing lines necessary to make the requested connection.

b.

All meters, curb cocks, valves, meter boxes, and fixtures, appurtenant thereto, connected, installed or used by the city as provided herein, including those furnished at the customer's expense, shall remain the property of the city, under direct control of the city.

c.

All meters, which become unserviceable through normal wear and tear, shall be maintained, repaired and renewed as necessary exclusively by the city. When such maintenance, including adjustments, repair, or replacement of any meter becomes necessary by the act, neglect, negligence or carelessness of the owner or occupant of the premises, or their invitee, any expense thereby incurred by the city shall be charged the customer.

d.

Whenever separate metering is, in the opinion of the director of public works, appropriate, he may require, as a prerequisite for receiving water and sewer service, a customer to have two separate meters, one of which will measure the amount of water supplied to the customer for uses which would ordinarily result in creation of sewage and one to measure the amount of water supplied for uses which will not result in the creation of sewage. The former meter will hereinafter in this Code be referenced as "water/sewer meter."

e.

Whenever metering is provided for receiving water and sewer service, and the residential or commercial structure is demolished and removed from said property, said meter(s) shall be removed from the property at the direction of the director of public works.

(3)

Control devices:

a.

Stop and wastecock. The customer shall install inside the property line a "stop and wastecock" of a design approved by the director of public works, at a location accessible in the event of any emergency. The curb cock at the meter shall not be used in lieu of this "stop and wastecock".

b.

Back-flow. The director of public works may require the installation of a check valve or back flow and siphonage device of a design approved on any premises for the protection of the water system. Should the director of public works deem such installation necessary, upon written notice to the customer of such determination, the customer shall immediately install the type of device indicated in the notice at his own expense.

(b)

No person shall tap, connect to, or otherwise extend a wastewater line located within the public right-of-way or in an easement held by the city, or tap or connect to any wastewater line which is owned or maintained by the city, without having first made application to the city. No wastewater connection shall be made to any premises unless such premises are connected to the water system of the city.

(1)

Any person desiring to make connection to the city wastewater system shall make application to the city. The fee for connections to the wastewater system shall be the actual cost of materials and labor supplied by the city.

(2)

All connections to the city's wastewater system shall be in accordance with the city's rules and regulations. No wastewater connection or house lead shall be covered in the ground before a representative of the city has inspected the connection.

(c)

It shall be unlawful for any person within the city to construct, maintain, or operate a septic or sewage holding tank or any other sewage retainage or holding device of any type whatsoever for the storage or removal of sewage (such tanks or devices herein called "private sewage facility") other than a sewage connection with the city's wastewater system without prior approval from the city council. The approval of the city council shall be conditioned upon the following:

(1)

Any private sewage facility shall meet the minimum requirements of and be licensed by the Denton County Health Department and be approved by the city's engineer.

(2)

The private sewage facility, or any part thereof, may not be constructed within 300 feet of any organized disposal system.

(3)

Any license shall be cancelled and the approval terminated whenever an organized disposal system's collection lines are extended to within 300 horizontal feet of any part of the private sewage facility. Under no circumstances shall the city be liable for any part of the cost of installation or removal of such a private sewage facility, but all such costs shall be borne by the owners and/or users thereof.

(4)

At any time a private sewage facility license becomes cancelled under the operation of provision (3), the owner and/or user of such facility shall take immediate steps to connect with the organized system, at the cost of the owner and/or user, within 180 days of such cancellation.

(5)

The owner and/or user of any private sewage facility shall be liable to the city for any and all damages, costs and other expenses arising out of or caused by use of the private sewage facility.

(d)

Any customer that experiences stoppage in his sewer service should contact a plumber. If the plumber determines the stoppage is in those lines within the city's easement, the city shall be contacted immediately to make the necessary repairs. Should the director of public works determine the stoppage was in the city's lines, he may, at his discretion, authorize payment to the plumber or reimbursement to the customer for reasonable service charges up to $30.00 upon receipt of a written request and a statement from the plumber.

(Ord. No. 841, § 3, 2-7-1994; Code 1983, § 12-103; Ord. No. 05-1616, § 2, 9-19-2005; Ord. No. 2012-1975, § 2, 9-18-2012)