<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 40-4. - System operation.</div>
<div class="chunk-content">
            <p class="incr0">
               (a)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Ownership.</span> The county shall be the owner of the system. The water mains are under the exclusive
               control of the county, and all persons other than agents and employees of the county
               are forbidden to disturb, tap, change, obstruct access to, or interfere with them
               in any way. Any persons, firms, or corporations installing mains at their own expense
               shall first submit complete plans and specifications prepared by a registered professional
               engineer for such work to the superintendent for approval, at which time the BOC shall
               determine the conditions for such installation. The county will furnish all meters
               and transmitters.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (b)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Operation and maintenance.</span> The operation, maintenance, alteration, repair and management of the system shall
               be under the supervision and control of the county. The county shall retain the exclusion
               right to establish, maintain and collect rates and charges for system operations.
               The county may employ such person or persons in such capacity or capacities as it
               deems advisable. The BOC may make such rules, orders and regulations as it deems advisable
               and necessary to ensure the efficient establishment, operation and maintenance of
               the system and the collection of rates and charges. Users shall in all cases be responsible
               for the maintenance of water meters. Users will be charged for the cost of any replacement
               lid, meter or transmitter needed due to damage caused by the user.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (c)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Fiscal year.</span> The system shall be operated on the basis of an operating year commencing July 1
               of each year and ending June 30 of the following year.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (d)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Free service prohibited.</span> The system will not supply water to any person, firm or corporation without charge
               except area municipal or volunteer fire departments.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (e)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Meters.</span> All water service shall be metered, and all meters are the property of the system.
               All meters shall be read at a reasonable time. Failure of the user to provide access
               to an authorized county employee for meter reading will result in either such user's
               water service being discontinued, or at the discretion of the county, the user being
               issued a water bill based on an estimate of 3,000 gallons, with a monthly increase
               of 5,000 gallons until such time and a good reading can be obtained or based on an
               average of past usage. Users are responsible for maintaining the meters and keeping
               them free from damage and/or intentional tampering or destruction. Users who tamper
               with or destroy meters shall be subject to the enforcement provisions in <a href="" data-chunk-id="CD_ORD_CH40WASYOR_S40-10EN" class="section-link" data-product-id="14528">section 40-10</a> herein. Users may request that meters be tested, and will be charged a fee for such
               testing in accordance with the county's schedule of fees.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="p0">
               No meter shall be required for a private fire line provided the following requirements
               are met:
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (1)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  The fire line shall be separate from any other service line and shall serve only fire
                  hydrants and sprinkler systems used for firefighting purposes only.
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (2)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  The fire line shall contain a double detector check valve at the property line constructed
                  at the property owner's expense and constructed with ductile iron or PVC.
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (3)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  No hoses or pipe shall be connected to the fire hydrants to draw water from the same
                  except for firefighting purposes, except as expressly allowed by the superintendent
                  for line flushing purposes.
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (4)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  By placing an unmetered fire line on the property, the owner or developer shall grant
                  to the county a perpetual easement to come on the property, including into any private
                  structures or buildings served by the fire line for any purpose permitted under this
                  chapter, including inspecting the line and the appurtenances thereto for safety and
                  to ensure that no illegal taps or connections have been made. The superintendent shall
                  give 24 hours' prior notice of such inspection except in the event of an emergency.
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (5)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  The owner of the property on which the fire line is located agrees to promptly repair
                  and leaks discovered in the fire line within ten consecutive calendar days' notice
                  of same. If repairs are not made promptly, the county shall have the right to take
                  any such action deemed expedient to uncovering exposed the line to discover the location
                  of this suspected leak and repair it, in addition to the remedy set forth in <a href="" data-chunk-id="CD_ORD_CH40WASYOR_S40-10EN" class="section-link" data-product-id="14528">section 40-10</a> herein or otherwise in this chapter.
                  </p>
               		
               
            <p class="incr0">
               (f)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Access to premises.</span> Each user of the system must permit entry to a county maintenance employee for the
               required maintenance of the system. Each user is also responsible for keeping the
               meter free of debris, overgrowth, and obstructions to access, including, but not limited
               to, dogs and vehicles. Failure on the part of any user of this water system to permit
               entry of the authorized county maintenance employee upon the premises through the
               user's violation of this section will authorize the county to immediately terminate
               the use of the water system by the user.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (g)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Maintenance and efficient operation.</span> The county will maintain the system in good repair and working order and will operate
               the same efficiently and will faithfully comply with all rules and regulations of
               the state health department and all state or federal statutes, regulations and rules
               applicable to the operation of a public water system.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (h)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Notice of users.</span> Where in this chapter giving notice is required, such notice shall be deemed to have
               been given when it has been placed in the United States mail addressed to the BOC
               in care of the clerk to the BOC or to the user of the service at the premise to which
               service is being furnished.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (i)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Improvements.</span> The county may provide public improvements by enlarging or extending the public water
               system or by combining with other water systems. The county may make purchases, undertake
               construction of improvements and enlargements, and make repairs to the system as needed.
               The county may collect charges, fees, rentals and establish rates for the services
               and facilities resulting from public improvements.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (j)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Limitations on usage.</span> Users will be limited to one residential dwelling unit per meter. Users will be required
               to come into compliance with the requirements of subsection <a href="" data-chunk-id="CD_ORD_CH40WASYOR_S40-5SEPICO" class="section-link" data-product-id="14528">40-5</a>(b)(5) within 180 days of discovery of the user's noncompliance.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="historynote0">
               (<a class="ordinance-link" href="" data-product-id="14528" data-ordinance-id="1301605">Ord. of 7-1-2024</a>)
               </p></div>