Title 13

Chapter 4
WATER – GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

Sections:

13.4.010 Definitions—water

Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used in this title shall be as follows:

"Authority" means the state or local government entity enacting and enforcing this chapter.

"Bathe" means to immerse and wet oneself or wash oneself.

“City Manager" means the city manager of the City or authorized deputy, agent or representative.                                                                                                  
"Connection Fee" is a fee for service extension to new buildings, or for extension to new buildings for larger diameter lines.

"Curb" shall mean the vertical member along the edge of a street to form part of the gutter.

"Curb Box" is a cast iron or plastic tube-like device to provide easy access to curb valves which are located underground.

"Curb Valve" is a valve installed in the water service line and accessible for operation from the surface of the ground for routinely interrupting flow through the service line.

"Dedicated Right-of-Way" means a legal right to the land used by a public utility for water or sewer lines.

"Easement" means an acquired legal right for the specific use of land owned by others.

"Motel" and "Hotel" means a building or group of buildings on the same premises either detached or in connected rows; containing sleeping or dwelling units, and designed for, or occupied with an ordinary rental period not exceeding two weeks.

“Family Residence" is a dwelling structure having not more than two living units.

“Fire Lines" shall mean lines which provide water to private fire alarm systems.

"General Plumbing Permit" is a permit issued when any water service piping is repaired, altered or installed.

"Mobile Home" shall mean a trailer that is used as a permanent dwelling, is connected to utilities and designed without a permanent foundation.

"Montana Public Works Standard Specifications” is a manual establishing maximum uniformity of engineering and construction practices among Montana public works projects.

“Multi-unit Dwelling" means a building containing a unit or combination of units with individual bath and kitchen facilities.  This definition includes apartments, condominiums, townhouses.  A seasonal multi-unit dwelling is an individual unit of a multi-unit dwelling which is occupied on an intermittent basis and is not utilized as a primary residence.

"MUTCD" means Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

"O & M" means operation and maintenance.

"Private Water Supply System" means any assemblage of pipes, hose, conduits, pumps, tanks, siphons, etc., whereby water is obtained from any well, spring, pond, digging, river, or lake, to be used on or above the ground for any purpose.

"Remote" means the outside receptacle used to read the water meter consumption.

"Residential Building" means and includes only the types of buildings and structures:  single-family residential, duplexes, triplexes, apartment houses, motels, hotels, trailer courts and multi-unit dwellings.

"Residential Customer" means any single family residence occupied by one family.

"Right-of-Way Permit" is a permit issued for any excavation in a dedicated right-of-way.

"Service Area” See Section 13.02.060

"Service Connection" is the point at which the building water or sewer connects to the public water or sewer.

"Shall" is mandatory (see "may").

"Single Family Service" shall mean that one meter is supplied for service to one dwelling unit.

"Single Family Residence" means a building designed for and used exclusively for residence purposes by one family. 
This definition shall include a single mobile home not located in a trailer court.

"Sprinkler Line" shall mean lines providing water to underground lawn sprinkling systems.               

"Tapping Fee" is a fee charged for any new or replacement tap being made on a water main.

"Trailer Court or Mobile Home Park" means any area or site or land upon which two or more mobile homes are placed and maintained for dwelling purposes, either on a permanent or semi-permanent basis.

"Trailer House" is the same as "mobile home."

"Utility" means a service (water, sewer, storm drain) or the department of Public Works that provides such service.

"Watercourse" means a natural or artificial channel for the passage of water either continuously or intermittently.

"Water Meter" shall be referred to as "meter."

"Water Service" shall mean any utility water that is provided to a location.

"Water Service Line" is the line that carries the water to the requested location

"Water, Sewer, Sanitation, Storm Drain and Fire Hydrant Consumer Contract" shall mean the contract made between the City of Great Falls and the customer.  (Ord. 2645, 1993; Ord. 2356 Exh.  B (part), 1984, § 13.04.100 (part)).

13.4.020 Water service--emergency discontinuance

Notice will be given, whenever practicable, prior to shutting off the water, but consumers are warned that owing to unavoidable accidents or emergencies their water supply may be shut off at any time. Any temporary failure on the part of the City to supply service by reason of an accident or otherwise shall not render the City liable beyond a pro rata abatement of service charges during such interruption. (Ord. 2645, 1993; Ord. 2356 Exh. B (part), 1984, §13.08.100 (part), 13.08.150).

13.4.030 Restriction of water use—authorization

  1. The City reserves the right in the case of shortage of water, or for any other cause, to make an order, rule or regulation forbidding or suspending the use of City water for sprinkling, irrigating or watering any lawn or garden, or other uses deemed necessary.
  2. The City Manager is authorized and empowered, when in his/her opinion the amount of water being pumped reaches such volume that, unless restricted, the public health, safety and general welfare might be endangered, to establish the times and hours when City water be used for irrigating, sprinkling or watering lawns and gardens, and may set and fix times when no water may be used for such purposes by giving notice through the City's official newspaper and local radio stations. (Ord. 2645, 1993; Ord. 2356 Exh. B (part), 1984, §13.08.370).

13.4.040 Restriction of water use--violation—misdemeanor

Any person violating the restrictions as imposed by the City or who wastes water by letting it run in avenues, streets, alleys or roadways shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (Ord. 2645, 1993; Ord. 2356 Exh. B (part), 1984, §13.08.380).

13.4.050 Water service--violation—penalty

  1. For violation of any of the rules set out in Sections 13.04 through 13.10 or for nonpayment of water rent, for either domestic, sprinkling or other purposes, the City has the right to turn off the water without further notice, and after it has been turned off from any service pipe on account of nonpayment or violation of the rules, the same shall not be turned on again until back rents and the cost to turn the water on are paid. The charge for turning the water on shall be determined by City resolution.
  2. The City agrees to furnish water, sewer and storm drainage services for certain specified users for a certain specified sum. If, therefore, a consumer furnishes other people with water without permission from the City or uses it for other purposes than those he/she is paying for, it is a violation of his/her contract, and the consumer offending, after reasonable notice, may have his/her water shut off and service discontinued until such time as the cost of additional service furnished and the cost to turn the water on are paid. The charge for turning the water on shall be determined by City resolution. (Ord. 2645, 1993; Ord. 2356 Exh. B (part), 1984, §13.08.130 (part)).

13.4.060 Water service--owner responsibilities

Owners of property must keep their fixtures and service pipes in good order at their own expense, and all water ways closed when not in use. Leaky fixtures must be repaired at once without waiting for a notice from the City, and if not repaired after reasonable notice is given the water will be shut off by the Public Works Department. (Ord. 2645, 1993; Ord. 2356 Exh. B (part), 1984, §13.08.060 (part)).

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