Chapter XVI · Utilities

Article 2. Water Service - Rates, Charges and Regulations

Sections 16-201 to 16-220 · 20 sections

16-201 Water Service Connection.

Fee for service connection after the contract for service connection has been entered into and before the connection is made, the owner shall pay fees by meter size as approved by the City Council to tap the main, the installation of the service pipe from the main to the meter or to the first valve, whichever is the least distance, with the materials to be furnished and the work done by the City. The City Council shall establish a Water Connect Fee to turn water service on.

(Ord. 1614, 1829, 2024, 2080, 2225)

16-202 Cut-Offs.

A cutoff valve shall be installed for each service line for each premises served and at such place as the Utilities Director may direct.

(Code 1970, 2730)

16-203 Water Rates & System Impact Fee

The City Council shall establish water rates and service fees for customers of the City water system as follows:

(a)A Service Charge based on meter size for zero usage.

(b)The charge for each 1,000 gallons of water used.

(c)A System Impact Fee for each connection based on meter size.

Wholesale Rates: in addition to the service charge for zero usage, wholesale rates shall be as established by the City Council.

A separate and additional connection fee as established by the City Council shall be charged for each new connection made for service to the Lake of the Forest Water System after October 25, 2007 for any lot not subject to the Lake of the Forest Water System Improvement Benefit District assessment and not identified as a buildable lot in that benefit district.

(Ord. 1775, 1977, 2024, 2072, 2156, 2174, 2193, 2240, 2265, 2297, 2328, 2349, 2378)

16-204 Same; Unmetered Fire Sprinkler Service.

A monthly charge as established by the City Council will be charged to customers that have an unmetered fire sprinkler system connected to the water lines of the City. The monthly charge shall be in lieu of any hookup or installation charge for connecting the sprinkler system to the City water lines.

(Ord. 1614; Ord. 2193; Ord. 2240; Ord. 2265)

16-205 Cross Connection Control; Purpose.

It shall be unlawful for any person to establish or permit to be established or maintain or permit to be maintained, any cross connection whereby a private water supply, or any source of contamination may enter the regular public water supply of the City unless the source is approved by the City Council and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

(Ord. 1647, Sec. 1)

16-206 Same; Cross Connections Prohibited.

It shall be unlawful for any person to establish or permit to be established or maintain or permit to be maintained, any cross connection whereby a private water supply, or any source of contamination may enter the regular public water supply of the City unless the source is approved by the City Council and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

(Ord. 1647, Sec. 2)

16-207 Same; Protective Backflow Preventers Required.

Approved devices to protect against backflow or backsiphonage shall be installed at all fixtures and equipment where backflow backsiphonage may occur and where there is a hazard of contamination of the potable water supply system.

(Ord. 1647, Sec. 3)

16-208 Same; Inspection.

The Utilities Director or other designate of the Utility Department or City shall have the right of entry into any building or premises in the City as frequently as necessary in order to ensure that plumbing has been installed in a manner as to prevent the possibility of contamination of the public water supply of the City.

(Ord. 1647, Sec. 4)

16-209 Same; Protection from Contaminants.

Pursuant to the authority given under home rule powers and K.S.A. 65163a, the City may refuse to deliver water to any premises where a condition exists which might lead to the contamination of the public water and may continue to refuse to deliver water until the condition is corrected to the satisfaction of the City. In addition, the City may immediately terminate water service to a premise where a backflow or backsiphonage condition exists which may be hazardous to the health of customers served by this public water supply system of the City.

(Ord. 1647, Sec. 5)

16-210 Same; Backflow and Backsiphonage Regulations.

There is hereby incorporated by reference for the purpose of regulating cross connections between the public water supply and any sources of contamination that certain manual entitled, “Manual of Regulations Regulating Backflow and Backsiphonage of Contaminants Due to Cross Connections for the City of Bonner Springs, 1993 Edition”, prepared, compiled, published and promulgated by the City of Bonner Springs, Kansas. At least one (1) copy of the manual shall be marked or stamped, “Official Copy as Adopted by Ordinance No. 1647”, and to which shall be attached a copy of this Article, and filed with the City Clerk to be open to inspection and available to the public at all reasonable hours.

(Ord. 1647, Sec. 6)

16-211 Water Conservation; Purpose.

The purpose of Sections 16-211:220 is to provide for the declaration of a water supply emergency and the implementation of voluntary and mandatory water conservation measures throughout the City in the event such an emergency is declared. The Governing Body approved a water conservation plan (policy GB-13-02) to be in compliance with Kansas Department of Health and Environment requirements.

(Code 1989; Code 2014)

16-212 Same; Definitions.

(a)Water — shall mean water available to the City for treatment by virtue of the City’s water rights, water supply, water supply contracts or any treated water introduced by the City into its water distribution system, including water offered for sale at any coinoperated site.

(b)Customer — shall mean the customer of record using water for any purpose from the City’s water distribution system and for which either a regular charge is made or, in the case of coin sales, a cash charge is made at the site of delivery.

(c)Waste of Water — includes, but is not limited to (1) permitting water to escape down a street, roadway or other surface intended for vehicle driving purposes, and/or any gutter, ditch, or other surface drain, or (2) failure to repair a controllable leak of water due to defective plumbing.

(d)The following classes of uses of water are established:

Class 1. Water used for outdoor watering, either public or private, for gardens, lawns, trees, shrubs, plants, parks, golf courses, playing fields, swimming pools or other recreational areas; or the washing of motor vehicles, boats, trailers, or the exterior of any building or structure.

Class 2. Water used for any commercial, agricultural or industrial purposes, except water actually necessary to maintain the health and personal hygiene of bona fide employees of such businesses or interests while such employees are engaged in the performance of their duties at their place of employment.

Class 3. Domestic usage, other than that which would be included in either Classes 1 or 2.

Class 4. Water necessary only to sustain human life and the lives of domestic livestock pets and maintain standards of hygiene and sanitation.

(Code 1989)

16-213 Same; Declaration of A Water Emergency.

In the event that the Governing Body of the City or the City’s designated official determines that the City’s water supply may be the subject to a shortage in supply or the Governing Body of the City determines there is a need for conservation of City’s water resources for any reason, the City may begin the progressive three (3) stage water conservation program by declaring a water watch as described in Subsection (a) or in times of need and/or duress, the Governing Body of the City may choose to declare any Section of the program described in this Section in effect at any time.

(a)Stage 1: Declaration of Water Watch. Whenever the Governing Body of the City finds that conditions indicate that the probability of a drought or some other condition causing a major water supply shortage is rising, it shall be empowered to declare, by resolution, that a water watch exists and that it shall take steps to inform the public and ask for voluntary reductions in water use. Such a watch shall be deemed to continue until it is declared by resolution of the Governing Body to have ended. The resolutions declaring the existence and end of a water watch shall be effective upon their publication in the official City newspaper.

(b)Stage 2: Declaration of Water Warning. Whenever the Governing Body of the City finds that drought conditions or some other condition causing a major water supply shortage are present and supplies are starting to decline, it shall be empowered to declare by resolution that a water warning exists and that it will recommend restrictions on nonessential uses during the period of warning. Such a warning shall be deemed to continue until it is declared by resolution of the Governing Body to have ended. The resolutions declaring the beginning and ending of the water warning shall be effective upon their publication in the official City newspaper. Pursuant to the approval of the Chief Engineer, Division of Water Resources, Kansas Department of Agriculture, the recommended restrictions on nonessential uses may be extended to private wells within the City limits.

(c)Stage 3: Declaration of Water Emergency. Whenever the Governing Body of the City finds that an emergency exists by reason of a shortage of water supply needed for essential uses, it shall be empowered to declare by resolution that a water supply emergency exists and that it will impose mandatory restrictions on water use during the period of emergency. Such an emergency shall be deemed to continue until it is declared by resolution of the Governing Body to have ended. The resolutions declaring the existence and end of a water supply emergency shall be effective upon their publication in the official City newspaper. Pursuant to the approval of the Chief Engineer, Division of Water Resources, Kansas Department of Agriculture, the mandatory restrictions on water use may be extended to private wells within the City limits.

(Code 1989)

16-214 Same; Voluntary Conservation Measures.

Upon the declaration of a water watch or warning as provided in Section 16213(a) or Section 16213(b), the Mayor (or City Manager) is authorized to call on all water consumers to employ voluntary water conservation measures to limit or eliminate nonessential water uses including, but not limited to, limitations on the following uses:

(a)Class one uses of water.

(b)Waste of water.

(Code 1989)

16-215 Same; Mandatory Conservation Measures.

Upon the declaration of a water supply emergency as in Section 16213(c), the Mayor (or the City Manager or authorized City official) is also authorized to implement certain mandatory water conservation measures, including, but not limited to, the following conservation measures:

(a)Suspension of new connections to the City’s water distribution system, except connections of fire hydrants and those made pursuant to agreements entered into by the City prior to the effective date of the declaration of the emergency;

(b)Restrictions on the uses of water in one or more classes of water use as described in Section 16212(d) wholly or in part;

(c)Restrictions on the sales of water at coinoperated facilities or sites;

(d)The imposition of water rationing based on any reasonable formula including, but not limited to, the percentage of normal use and per capita or per consumer restrictions;

(e)Complete or partial bans on the waste of water; and

(f)Any combination of the measures in Subsection (a) through (e) as the Governing Body of the City or authorized City official may deem appropriate and/or necessary.

(Code 1989)

16-216 Same; Emergency Water Rates.

Upon the declaration of a water supply emergency as provided in Section 16-213(c), the Governing Body of the City shall have the power to adopt emergency water rates by ordinance designed to conserve water supplies. Such emergency rates may provide for, but are not limited to:

(a)Higher charges for increasing usage per unit of use (increasing block rates);

(b)Uniform charges for water usage per unit of use (uniform unit rate); or

(c)Extra charges in excess of a specified level of water use (excess demand surcharge).

(Code 1989)

16-217 Same; Regulations.

During the effective period of any water supply emergency as provided for in Section 16213(c), the Mayor (or City Manager or Utilities Director or other authorized City official) is empowered to promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Article, any water supply emergency resolution, or emergency water rate ordinance. Such regulations shall be subject to the approval of the Governing Body at its next regular or special meeting.

(Code 1989)

16-218 Same; Violations, Disconnections and Penalties.

(a)If the Mayor, City Manager, Utilities Director, or other authorized City official or officials charged with implementation and enforcement of this Article or a water supply emergency resolution learn of any violation of any water use restrictions imposed pursuant to Sections 16215 or 16217, a written notice of the violation shall be affixed to the property where the violation occurred and the customer of record and/or any other person known to the City to be responsible for the violation and/or the correction of said violation shall be provided with either actual or mailed notice. Said notice shall describe the violation(s) and order that the noted violation(s) be corrected, cured or abated immediately or within such specified time as the City determines is reasonable for such correction, cure or abatement under the circumstances. In the event the order is not cured within the time period given in the notice, the City may terminate water service to the customer subject to the following procedures:

(1)The City shall give the customer notice by mail or actual notice that water service will be discontinued within a specified time due to the violation(s) and that the customer will have the opportunity to appeal the termination by requesting a hearing scheduled before the City Governing Body or a City official designated as a hearing officer by the Governing Body;

(2)If such a hearing is requested by the customer charged with the violation, the customer shall be given a full opportunity to be heard by the City Governing Body or the City official designated as a hearing officer by the City Governing Body before termination is ordered; and

(3)The City Governing Body or the City official designated as a hearing officer by the City Governing Body shall make findings of fact and order whether service should continue or be terminated.

(b)A fee of $50 shall be paid for the reconnection of any water service terminated pursuant to Subsection (a). In the event of subsequent violations, the reconnection fee shall be $200 for the second violation and $300 for any subsequent additional violations within a one (1) year period.

(c)Violation of this Article shall be a municipal offense and may be prosecuted in Municipal Court. Any person so charged and found guilty in Municipal Court of violating the provisions of this Article shall be guilty of a municipal offense. Each calendar day in which a violation is observed shall constitute a separate offense. The penalty for an initial violation shall be a mandatory fine of $100. In addition, such customer may be required by the Court to serve a definite term of confinement in the City or County jail which shall be fixed by the Court and which shall not exceed thirty (30) days. The penalty for a second or subsequent conviction shall be a mandatory fine of $200. In addition, such customer shall serve a definite term of confinement in the City or County jail which shall be fixed by the Court and which shall not exceed thirty (30) days.

(Code 1989)

16-219 Same; Emergency Termination.

Nothing in this Article shall limit the ability of any properly authorized City official from terminating the supply of water to any or all customers upon the determination of such City official that emergency termination of water service is required to protect the health and safety of the public or for any other emergency as required or authorized by ordinance or as deemed necessity of the City by such City official or the Governing Body of the City.

(Ord. 1693, Sec. 1)

16-220 Same; Severability.

If any provision of this Article is declared unconstitutional, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the constitutionality of the remainder of the Article and its applicability to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

(Ord. 1693, Sec. 2)