All water sold from the Paola City Waterworks shall be measured by meter and paid for by the consumer in accordance with the meter rates as prescribed by ordinance. Meters for the measurement of water shall be furnished and installed by the City of Paola, under the regulations hereinafter prescribed. All meters are to be the property of said City, which through its duly authorized agents and employees, shall have the right of ingress and egress at all reasonable times to property where meters are located for the purpose of reading, repairing, inspecting and otherwise caring for said meters.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.010; Code 2021)

The consumer shall be responsible for the care of any meter together with the meter box or vault, and appurtenant connections installed upon his/her service connection, for any negligent act or willful injury thereto, whether by his/her own act or that of others not in the employ of the City, and shall at all times, when any meter is installed protect said meter from freezing and from damage from heat, hot water or steam and in the event of any negligence or willful injury, the consumer shall promptly notify the Water Department thereof, which shall have the necessary repairs made and charge the cost of the repairs to the consumer.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.020; Code 2021)

(a)   It is unlawful for any person to destroy or damage any water pipe, hydrant or fountain in the City, or any of the appurtenances of any City utility system, or to open any hydrant, service pipe, stop cock or valve belonging to or connected with the City Waterworks System, except where prior approval is obtained from authorized City personnel when necessary to permit modification or improvement of such utility system.

(b)   It is unlawful for any person to damage, molest or in any way interfere with any water meter or to alter the register or mechanism of any meter.

(c)   It is unlawful for any person to damage, molest or in any way interfere with the meter box or meter box cover or to deposit dirt, stone, or rubbish of any kind in or on top of any meter box.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.025; Ord. 3077; Code 2021)

Any person, firm or corporation desiring water supply service must make application at the office of the City Clerk, either in person or by agent or by licensed plumber, who shall be considered his/her or their legal agent. Such application, when properly executed, shall become a binding contract by and between the property owner and the City.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.030; CC 1968 §14-104; Code 2021)

The tapping of mains and the making of connection of service pipes with the Paola Waterworks System, the location of meters and extensions of water mains shall be done under the direction and general supervision of the City Manager or his/her agent. All persons, firms or corporations are hereby forbidden to make any taps or connections with the mains or distributing pipe of the Paola City Waterworks.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.040; Code 2021)

(a)   The following charges shall be made for new services within the City limits, such rates to include the furnishing and installation of all necessary valves, meter box and meter to bring the water to the property line; provided that the distance does not exceed one hundred (100) feet.

(1)   For water meters of one (1) inch in diameter or less: Three thousand dollars ($3,000.00).

(2)   For water meters greater than one (1) inch and up to two (2) inches in diameter: Four thousand dollars ($4,000.00).

(3)   For water meters greater than two (2) inches in diameter: The connection charge shall be established by the City Council on a case-by-case basis.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.050; Ord. 2250; Ord. 2752; Ord. 2774; Ord. 2928; Ord. 2991; Code 2021)

The connection fees collected shall be deposited in a separate, non-lapsing account within the Water Fund. These funds may be expended for improvements to expand the capacity of the water supply, distribution and treatment systems. Examples of capacity improvements include purchasing water rights, building or enlarging reservoirs, enlarging water treatment facilities, constructing water transmission mains, enlarging planned water lines to provide for future capacity, pressure pumping stations and water towers.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.051; Ord. 2774; Code 2021)

Service lines from main to property line shall be not less than three-fourths (¾) inch copper tubing or a material approved by the City Manager suitable for underground water service, with compression type fittings, and shall be laid not less than thirty (30) inches under the ground or street grade. Service lines from three-fourths (¾) inch to and including two (2) inches shall be copper or Pex piping approved for underground use.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.060; Code 2021)

Any and all persons are hereby prohibited from making any extensions of any service pipe connected with the Paola City Waterworks System until arrangements have been made by the consumer desiring such extension with the City and permission has been granted.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.070; Code 2021)

Each and every premise shall have its separate and distinct service connection and in no case, except as hereinafter provided, shall more than one premise be furnished with service from one (1) such connection; provided, that in a case where conditions make this inadvisable in the judgment of the City Manager, permission may be granted for the use of one (1) service connection for more than one (1) premise, which shall be subject to such requirements and conditions as said City Manager may deem necessary. When permission is granted for branch service lines, each branch pipe must have its own shutoff, meter connections and meter installed so that the water may be metered and turned on and off from either premise separately.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.080; Code 2021)

In every instance, the owner of the premises or the party or parties supplied with service shall provide and maintain a location for the meter which is acceptable to the City. When any meter has been placed, its position shall not be changed, except by the City or by authority thereof and at the cost of the owner or party or parties supplied.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.090; Code 2021)

No meter shall be removed or repaired except by employees of the City.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.100; Code 2021)

No allowance except under exceptional circumstances shall be made for water used, lost, or wasted through the meter. Any allowance shall be recorded on forms provided for that purpose and approved by the Governing Body at its next regular meeting.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.110; Code 2021)

The quantity of water recorded by the meter shall be conclusive evidence on both the City and the consumer as to the quantity to figure the cost to the consumer, except when the meter has been found to be defective or has ceased to register. In such case the quantity of water shall be determined by the average daily registration as shown by the meter when in order.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.120; Code 2021)

The City hereby reserves the right to put seals on any water meter or its couplings in or upon any premises, and may shut-off the supply if such seals are found broken or removed. Upon the second offense thereof and for any further offense the City Manager shall cause the service to be disconnected and shall refuse to reinstate service to such premises as long as the consumer upon said premises at the time of the breaking of the seal or the removal of the same shall continue to be the occupant thereof.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.130; Code 2021)

The City hereby reserves the right, at any time without notice, to shut off the mains for the purpose of making repairs or extensions, or for other purposes. All persons having boilers and similar devices within the premises not supplied by tanks but depending upon the pressure in the mains to keep them supplied are hereby cautioned against danger of collapse and advised to provide satisfactory means to relieve hazardous pressures.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.140; Code 2021)

The City shall not guarantee the delivery of water through any of its mains and connection services at any time, except only when its mains, pumping machinery, power and service connection are in good working order, and the supply of water is sufficient for the usual demand of its consumers.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.150; Code 2021)

Every premise connected to the Paola City Waterworks System shall be free of potential pollution from all sources including cross-connections, backflow, and solution or suspension of deleterious materials. The City Manager or any one delegated by him/her shall have free access, at all reasonable times, to all parts of every building, in which water is delivered, to examine the water system to see that it is free from health and physical hazards.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.160; Code 2021)

It is unlawful for any person, persons or corporations to use, take or steal any water from the City, not metered or paid for, or to allow or permit any person, persons or corporations to use, take or steal water from their connections or fixtures in violation of any rules or regulations prescribed by the government of the City of Paola and its Waterworks System, except water for extinguishing a fire.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.170; Ord. 3077; Code 2021)

The curb stop on any and all service connections, and the stopcock or valve in the meter box or well, shall not be used in any way by the consumer for turning on and shutting off the water supply. The turning on or shutting off of the water supply at and with the curb stop shall be done exclusively by the City under the direction of the City Manager except a licensed plumber shall leave the curb cock as it was originally found.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.180; Code 2021)

It shall be unlawful for any person to draw water from any of the fire hydrants for any purpose other than fire protection; except in urgent cases where other means of obtaining water are not available, the City Manager may allow the use of same.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.190; Code 2021)

In all cases that are not specially provided for herein in connection with the proper management of the Paola City Waterworks System, the City Manager is hereby authorized to make special requirements or rules to govern the same, which shall be binding upon the parties concerned, the same as if incorporated herein.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.200; Code 2021)

During alarms of fire when extra pressure is required for fire purposes, the use of hose, sprinklers, and the use of water for purposes not of immediate necessity, shall be discontinued.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.210; Code 2021)

Consumers outside the corporate limits of the City shall be governed by all rules and regulations set out in this Title, except that all fees shall be increased fifty percent (50%).

(Prior Code 2016 §700.220; Code 2021)

All the foregoing rules and each and every addition, modification, or amendment to any of the rules of the City, shall become binding upon and shall form a part of the contract with each and every property owner who makes application for the City water supply service and where premises are furnished with and connected to the Paola City Waterworks System every such property owner shall be considered as having, and be taken and construed to have, expressed his/her consent and be bound thereby.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.230; Code 2021)

Any person or persons violating any of the provisions of this Article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be fined in any sum not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each and every offense, or by imprisonment not to exceed thirty (30) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.240; Ord. 3077; Code 2021)

(a)   The following monthly rates are hereby established for the consumption of water, beginning with the utility bill dated January 31, 2023, to-wit:

(1)   In the City limits:            $1.00 per 100 gallons in 2023

                               $1.05 per 100 gallons in 2024

                               $1.10 per 100 gallons in 2025

(2)   Outside the City limits:    $1.22 per 100 gallons in 2023

                               $1.27 per 100 gallons in 2024

                               $1.32 per 100 gallons in 2025

(b)   These rates do not apply where rates are otherwise specified.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.250; Ord. 2649; Ord. 2752; Ord. 2791; Ord. 2825; Ord. 2928; Ord. 2991; Ord. 3008; Ord. 3022; Ord. 3044; Ord. 3068; Ord. 3081; Ord. 3144; Code 2021; Ord. 3180; Ord. 3198; Ord. 3199)

(a)   The following monthly rates are hereby established for the consumption of water, beginning with the utility bill dated December 31, 2021, to-wit:

(1)   In the City limits.

(2)   Outside the City limits.

(b)   These rates do not apply where rates are otherwise specified.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.260; Ord. 2649; Ord. 2752; Ord. 2791; Ord. 2825; Ord. 2928; Ord. 3008; Ord. 3022; Code 2021; Ord. 3180)

Refer to Section 15-109 for metered volume rates and service charges for qualified low income senior citizens.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.265; Ord. 2911; Code 2021)

It is hereby ordered that every water supply service shall have a monthly water plant debt service charge or rate on each meter installed, as follows:

Seventeen dollars and sixty cents ($17.60) per month beginning with the December 31, 2021, billing statement.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.267; Ord. 2928; Ord. 2991; Ord. 3008; Ord. 3022; Code 2021; Ord. 3180)

(a)   The following rates are hereby established for tank sales of water at designated locations for tank sale of water for the City, effective March 31, 2015, to wit:

(1)   Fifty (50) gallons: forty hundredths dollars ($0.40).

(Prior Code 2016 §700.270; Ord. 3008; Ord. 3045; Ord. 3068; Ord. 3081; Code 2021)

Every firm, person or corporation desiring to install private fire protection equipment consisting of either sprinkler system or the installation of one (1) or more private fire hydrants shall first file plans of the proposed installation with the Building Inspector and Fire Chief. Such plans shall show the number and location of sprinkler heads, the number and location of fire hydrants and the number, size and location of the private service lines and the size and location of proposed taps on the City water mains.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.280; Code 2021)

(a)   Upon approval of the plans, the customer will furnish and install the service line and all of the equipment, and the City will make the required connections with its water mains, the customer to pay the cost of making connections with the mains.

(b)   Water furnished shall be used in emergencies for fire protection only and the City shall have the right to discontinue service if water from the private fire protection system is used for any other purpose.

(Prior Code 2016 §700.290; Code 2021)