HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Rural Water Ordinance ORDINANCE NO. 4010
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA,
BY REPEALING SECTIONS 28.201,28.202,28.206,28.601,28.604(8),AND 28.605(4)AND
BY ENACTING NEW SECTIONS 28.201, 28.202, 28.205(6), 28.206, 28.209(2), 28.209A,
28.214(a), 28.501(2), 28.503(a), 28.601, 28.604(8), 28.604(9), 28.605(4) AND 28.605(5)
THEREOF,FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FOR RURAL WATER SERVICES AND
RATES; REPEALING ANY AND ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN
CONFLICT TO THE EXTENT OF SUCH CONFLICT; PROVIDING A PENALTY; AND
ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ENACTED,by the City Council for the City of Ames,Iowa,that:
Section One. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa shall be and the same is hereby amended by
repealing sections 28.201, 28.202, 28.206, 28.601,28.604(8), and 28.605(4) and by enacting new sections
28.201,28.202,28.205(6),28.206,28.209(2),28.209A,28.214(a),28.501(2),28.503(a),28.601,28.604(8),
28.604(9), 28.605(4) and 28.605(5) as follows:
"Sec.28.201.WATER RATES AND CHARGES
The rates and charges for water supplied to consumers by the water utility of the city,to be billed on or after July 1,2009
are as follows:
(1) Residential Rates.
(a) Availability. The residential rate shall apply to all customer accounts within the Ames
corporate limits serving properties that are intended for occupancy by a single family as defined by the Ames Zoning
Ordinance,provided that such accounts consist of no more than two dwelling units served by a single water meter or to
multiple unit residential structures(such as apartment buildings)where every dwelling unit is separately metered. The
rate does not apply to domestic uses that consist of more than two dwelling units served by a single meter or to water
accounts that provide service for common areas such as shared laundry facilities or for general property maintenance.
(b) Rate per billing period. For each monthly billing period a residential rate customer:
(i) shall be charged a minimum charge based on meter size,and in addition
(ii) shall be charged for water usage during the billing periods as follows:
(a)for bills mailed on or between July 1 and October 31 (summer period):
$0.0157 per cubic foot for the first 1000 cubic feet of usage
$0.0278 per cubic foot for the next 1500 cubic feet of usage
$0.0417 per cubic foot for all usage over 2500 cubic feet
(b)for bills mailed on or between November 1 and June 30(winter period):
$0.0157 per cubic foot
(2) Non-residential(Commercial)Rates
(a) Availability. The non-residential rate shall apply to all accounts that do not meet the
criteria for residential,irrigation and yard water,rural water,or preferred industrial rates.
(b) Rate per billing period: For each monthly billing period a non-residential customer:
(i)shall be charged a minimum charge based on meter size,and in addition
(ii)shall be charged for water usage during the billing periods as follows:
(a)for bills mailed on or between July 1 and October 31 (summer period):
$0.0206 per cubic foot
(b)for bills mailed on or between November 1 and June 30(winter period):
$0.0157 per cubic foot
(3) Non-Peaking Industrial Rate.
(a) Availability. The non-peaking industrial rate shall be available to all non-residential rate
customers who submit an acceptable application and meet the following criteria:
(i)Average winter usage greater than 100,000 cubic feet per billing period.
Average winter usage per billing period will be calculated by taking the sum of the usage
during the most previous December,January,and February billing periods and dividing by
three.
(ii)A summer peaking factor equal to or less than 120%. The summer peaking
factor shall be computed by taking the largest consumption from the previous June, July,
August,and September billing periods and dividing it by the average winter usage,with the
result expressed as a percentage.
(b) Application for Non-peaking Industrial Rate. It is the responsibility of the customer to
apply for the non-peaking industrial rate each calendar year. The application shall be on a form provided by the Utility
Customer Service Division. Approved applications will be valid for one summer season after which the customer shall
be moved back to the non-residential rate.
(c) Rate per Billing Period. For each monthly billing period a non-peaking industrial rate
customer:
(i)shall be charged a minimum charge based on meter size,and in addition
(ii)shall be charged for water usage during the billing periods as follows:
(a)for bills mailed on or between July 1 and October 31 (summer period):
$0.0157 per cubic foot
(b)for bills mailed on or between November 1 and June 30(winter period):
$0.0157 per cubic foot
(4) Irrigation and Yard Water Service Rate.
(a) Availability. The irrigation and yard water rate shall apply to all separately metered water
uses that meet one of the following criteria:
(i)Serves primarily outdoor water uses,such as irrigation systems and outside hose bibs.
(ii)Serves cooling towers,spray ponds,evaporative condensers,chillers,or such similar uses
where water is used as a medium for cooling.
(iii)Serves as a temporary water service,whether for irrigation purposes or for other outdoor
uses.
(b) Rate per Billing Period. For each monthly billing period an irrigation and yard water rate
customer:
(i)shall be charged a minimum charge as described below,and in addition
(ii)shall be charged for water usage during billing periods as follows:
(a)for bills mailed on or between July 1 and October 31 (summer period):
$0.0227 per cubic foot for the first 2000 cubic feet of usage
$0.0417 per cubic foot for the next 3000 cubic feet of usage
$0.0695 per cubic foot for all usage greater than 5000 cubic feet.
(b)for bills mailed on or between November 1 and June 30(winter period):
$0.0157 per cubic foot
(5) Rural Water Rate.
(a) Availability. The rural water rate shall apply to all customer accounts outside the Ames
corporate limits,except those covered by a separate wholesale contract or agreement for service.
(b) Rate per billing period. For each monthly billing period,a rural water rate customer:
(i) shall be charged a Rural water minimum charge based on meter size.
(ii) shall be charged for water usage during billing periods as follows:
(a)for bills mailed on or between July 1 and October 31 (summer period):
$0.0261 per cubic foot for the first 2000 cubic feet of usage
$0.0480 per cubic foot for the next 3000 cubic feet of usage
$0.0799 per cubic foot for all usage greater than 5000 cubic feet.
(b)for bills mailed on or between November 1 and June 30(winter period):
$0.0181 per cubic foot for all consumption.
(6) Water Rate and Charge Adjustments. It shall be the duty of the director of water and pollution
control to review and recommend to the city council revisions of the rates and charges established and set out in this
division at intervals appropriate to provide for the funding needs of the utility.
(7) Minimum charges. For each monthly billing,each customer shall be charged a minimum monthly
charge based on the size of the water meter(s)and/or irrigation meter(s)at each location. The minimum monthly charge
may be prorated, based on a 30-day billing period, for the customer's initial and/or final bills,provided that in no case
shall the minimum monthly charge be less than three dollars and eighty-five cents($3.85). The minimum monthly charge
for each water meter location shall be as follows:
i
Residential,
Non-residential,
Size of Non-peaking Industrial, Yard Water Rural Water
Meter and Irrigation Accounts Accounts Accounts
5/8"or 5/8"x3/4" 8.05 3.05 9.25
3/4 inch 16.10 4.70 18.50
1 inch 32.20 6.60 37.00
1-1/2 inch 64.40 9.10 74.05
2 inch 128.80 12.10 148.10
2 inch,battery of 2 249.55 -- 287.00
2 inch,battery of 3 370.30 -- 425.85
3 inch 257.60 15.70 296.25
4 inch 434.70 19.55 499.90
6 inch 724.50 23.40 833.20
8 inch 1,449.00 27.25 1,666.00
10 inch 2,173.50 31.10 2,500.00
(8) Multiple dwellings-Mobile home parks. Multiple dwellings, including mobile home parks,may
be serviced from a single water meter. However,there shall be a surcharge added to the water rates set forth above,to
be calculates as follows:
For a 5/8 inch meter serving 2 or more dwelling units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.30/month/unit
For a%inch meter serving 4 or more dwelling units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.30/morith/unit
For a 1 inch meter serving 8 or more dwelling units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.30/month/unit
For a 1-1/2 inch meter serving 16 or more dwelling units . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.30/month/unit
For a 2 inch meter serving 30 or more dwelling units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69.30/month
for the first 30 units plus$3.60/month per unit for each
additional unit in excess of 30 units
For a 3 inch or larger meter serving any number of dwelling units . . . . . 3.20/month/unit
For the purposes of this section, a dwelling unit is defined as a self-contained living facility(i.e., including
kitchen and bath)such as an apartment or a licensed independent mobile home space.
(a) For rural customer accounts outside the Ames corporate limits, the multiple unit charges
shown above shall be multiplied by a factor of 1.15.
(9) Yard meter minimum charges.
For each monthly billing after July 1,2000 each customer shall be charged a minimum monthly charge based on the size of the yard
meter(s)at each location.The minimum monthly charge for each yard meter location shall be as follows:
Size of Meter Minimum Monthly Charged
5/8 inch or5/8"x%.. ...... ... ......... .... ........... ........... . . . . 3.05
%inch. ........................ ..... ........ .. . . . . ..... . . . . . ... .. .4.70
1inch........ . . . ...... ... ... ...... ..... . . .......... . . ... .... . . . . . 6.60
1-1/2 inch..... . . . ..... .. .............. ... . .. .......... ....... .. . .. 9.10
2inch......... . . ..... . .. . ......... .. . . .. . . .......... . .. ..... .. . . 12.10
3inch...... .. . ..... .... . . . .. ..... .... . .. ...................... . . . 15.70
4inch... .... . .. . ......... ....... . . .. . . .. . ............... ....... . . 19.55
6inch............................ . . . . . . . . ....... ............... ..23.40
8inch............................. .. ... ................ . . ....... .27.25
10inch............................ . . . . . . . ............. . . . . .... . . .31.10
(Ord.No. 2338, Sec. 1, 4-28-70; Ord.No. 2412, Sec. 2, 9-5-72; Ord. No. 2461, Sec. 3, 12-18-73; Ord.No. 2653,Sec.
2, 5-2-78; Ord.No. 3167, Sec. 1, 4-28-92; Ord. No. 3199, Sec. 1, 9-24-92; Ord.No. 3278, Sec. 1, 5-24-94; Ord.No.
3326, Sec. 1, 5-9-95; Ord. No. 3568, 6-27-00; Ord. No. 3995 06-23-09) .
Sec.28.202. WATER SERVICE,CONNECTION CHARGE.
(1) Generally.There is established hereby,as a fee for connection to the water main,such charge as the
City Council shall by resolution set for the property served by and adjacent to the main,provided that no water utility
special assessment connection fee has been imposed previously with respect to said land and the main was financed with
funds of the City.
r
(a) Rural water connections.If an existing water main is adjacent to a rural property,rural
water customers shall pay a fee for connection to the water main as provided generally above. If no main is adjacent to
the property,the City will construct a temporary water service line to property to be used until such time as a water main
is constructed adjacent to the property. The rural customer shall pay the entire actual cost for design and installation
of the temporary line in accord with the City's engineering fee schedule then in effect.Additionally, at such time as a
main becomes adjacent to the property,the rural customer shall be required to connect to that main and shall pay a fee
for connection to that main in accordance with the connection fee schedule then in effect.
Sec.28.205. LOCATION AND ACCESSIBILITY
(6) Access Granted. As a condition of service, all customers must consent to provide access to the
property for the purposes of meter reading,and to perform routine and emergency service and maintenance of the water
meter.Failure or refusal to grant access may result in termination of water service.
Sec.28.206. METER VALVES
There shall be an inverted key,ringstyle, locking-type water meter valve of'Ford KV-23-W' pattern, or its
equivalent,attached to every water service pipe inside the building wall,the valve to be set not less than two and one-half
feet above the finished floor. There shall also be a valve installed on the discharge side of each meter.
(Ord. No. 3199, Sec. 1, 9-24-92)
Sec.28.209. REMOTE READING DEVICE
(2) Rural Water customer remote readers.Rural customers shall provide a mounting location for the
remote meter reading device that will facilitate easy access for meter reading.For locations that are served by the City
of Ames municipal electric utility, the remote reading device shall be placed within three feet of the electric meter
wherever practical.Alternate locations and installation requirements shall be approved by the Water Meter Division prior
to installation of the water meter.
It shall be the responsibility of the customer to maintain an adequate clearance around the remote reading device
to prevent landscaping, snow drifts or piles, or other obstructions from interfering with access to the remote reading
device for meter reading, service,or maintenance.
Sec. 28.209A. RURAL CUSTOMER BACKFLOW PREVENTION. For all water customers outside the Ames
corporate limits,a testable backflow prevention device shall be required.
(1) Location. The backflow prevention device shall be installed directly after the meter.
(2) Installation. It is the responsibility of the customer to provide this device,and it shall be installed by
a plumber licensed by the City of Ames pursuant to a plumbing permit acquired from the City of Ames,and installed in
compliance with all Plumbing codes applicable in the City of Ames.
(3) Maintenance/Testing. The device shall be tested upon installation and at least annually thereafter
by a registered backflow prevention assembly technician. Results of all backflow prevention assembly test reports shall
be submitted to the Water Meter Division within 10 working days of when the device was tested.
It is the responsibility of the customer to maintain the backflow prevention device.
If backflow occurs at a rural water location, the customer shall comply with provisions of Ames
Municipal Code Sec.21.501(47)(b)(xii).
Failure to perform the required testing at least annually,or to maintain the device in good repair,may
result in termination of service.
(Code 1956,Sec. 31-29.1;Ord.No.2073,Sec. 1, 5-11-65;Ord.No.2416,Sec.2, 9-26-72;Ord.No. 3199,Sec. 1,9-24-
92)
Sec. 28.214. OWNERSHIP, REPAIR, AND CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR WATER SERVICE
CONNECTIONS
(a) Code Requirements for Rural Water Service. The service connection for a rural water
account,from the tap at the main through the outlet of the backflow prevention device,shall comply in all respects with
the requirements of the Ames Plumbing Code. Installation,alteration,repair, or other work performed on any part of
the water service shall be done only pursuant to a permit from the City of Ames Inspections Division and all work shall
be completed in compliance with the permit and any other requirements of the Inspections Division.
Sec.28.501. UNAUTHORIZED ALTERATION OF LINES AND METERS,BYPASSING.
(2) For rural water accounts,no person shall interfere with,tamper with,alter,or bypass any water meters,
lines,pipes,or conduits installed or owned by the City of Ames outside of the Ames corporate limits without express
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authorization of the City.No change,modification,replacement,or other alteration shall occur to the service line from
the main through the outlet of the backflow prevention device without the express approval of the City.
Sec.28.503. MUNICIPAL UTILITY SERVICE CONNECTIONS OUTSIDE CITY.
(a) For properties outside the corporate limits where the City has previously denied a rural water
association or district the right to serve the property,the City will provide service within four years of-the rural water
denial in accordance with Iowa Code § 357A.2 and§364.4.
Sec.28.601. WATER SHORTAGES.
From time to time,circumstances may cause the ability of the Ames Municipal Water Utility to supply water
to become so diminished that there will not then be a sufficient supply of potable processed water to meet all customary
and usual demand indefinitely. Under those conditions the City Council may find, and declare by resolution, the
existence of a public water shortage emergency. During such emergency,the City Council shall establish,by resolution,
one or more of the water rationing stages described in Sections 28.602 through 28.605.The emergency water rationing
measures shall apply to all customers of the Ames Municipal Water Utility.
(Ord. No. 2777, Sec. 1, 7-21-81; Ord. No. 3199, Sec. 1, 9-24-92, Ord.No. 3620, 6-26-01)
Sec. 28.604.STAGE II: MODERATE MANDATORY RATIONING.
(8) For each water utility service location within the Ames corporate limits,the water utility customer shall
pay a surcharge rate of$0.075 per cubic foot(approximately 10 per gallon)of water metered to the location during a
billing cycle that is in excess of 1.5 times the average amount of water that was metered to the location during the billing
cycles corresponding to the previous December,January,and February.
(9) RuraCustomer surcharge rates.When the City Council has declared a water emergency and instituted
moderate mandatory rationing,rural customers shall pay a surcharge rate that is 1.15 times the rate established under
Section 28.604(8)for customers in the city limits.
(Ord. No. 3927, 10-01-07)
Sec. 28.605. STAGE III: SEVERE MANDATORY RATIONING.
(4) For each water utility service location within the Ames corporate limits, the water utility customer
shall pay a surcharge of$0.225 per cubic foot(approximately 3¢ per gallon)of water metered to the location during a
billing cycle that is in excess of 1.1 times the average amount of water that was metered to the location during the billing
cycles corresponding to the previous December,January,and February.
(5) Rural Customer surcharge rates.When the City Council has declared a water emergency and instituted
severe mandatory rationing,rural customers shall pay a surcharge rate that is 1.15 times the rate established under Section
28.605(4)for customers in the city limits.
(Ord. No. 3927, 10-01-07)."
Section Two. All ordinances,or parts of ordinances,in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of
such conflict, if any.
Section Three. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication as
required by law.
Passed this 22"d day of September , 2009 .
Diane R.Voss,City Clerk Ann H. Campbell,Mayor 41