OR 180 Regulates water & sewer within the City limits; provides for the appointment of a Superintendent of waterworks AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS
ORDINANCE NO.180
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS, REGULATING
WATER AND SEWER WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE CITY; PROVIDING FOR THE
APPOINTMENT OF A SUPERINTENDENT OF WATERWORKS; PROHIBITING AND
MAKING IT UNLAWFUL FOR PERSONS TO INTERFERE, DESTROY, DEFACE, INJURE
OR TRESPASS UPON WATER TANKS, FIRE HYDRANTS, METER BOXES AND OTHER
PROPERTIES MAKING UP THE WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM OF THE CITY; MAKING
IT UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO MAKE ANY CONNECTION TO THE WATER
AND SEWER SYSTEM WITHOUT FIRST MAKING APPLICATION TO THE CITY;
ESTABLISHING WATER RATES; ESTABLISHING RATES FOR SEWER SERVICE;
PROVIDING REGULATIONS TO CONTROL EXTENSION OF WATER LINES INTO
SUBDIVISIONS OR TO INDIVIDUALS; PROVIDING PRO-RATA CHARGES;
ESTABLISHING TAPPING FEES, REQUIRING ALL OWNERS OR OCCUPANTS OF
BUILDINGS TO CONNECT TO THE CITY SEWER WHERE THE PROPERTY LINE OF
THE LAND ON WHICH SUCH BUILDING IS SITUATED APPROACHES OR EXTENDS
TO WITHIN ONE HUNDRED FEET (100') OF ANY CITY SEWER MAIN; ESTABLISHING
FEES TO BE CHARGED FOR SEWER SERVICES; PROVIDING REGULATIONS FOR
EXTENSION OF SEWER LINES TO SUBDIVISIONS AND INDIVIDUALS; REPEALING
ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT WITH THIS ORDINANCE; PROVIDING A
SEVER ABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF THIS
ORDINANCE NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00)
FOR EACH OFFENSE; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COPPELL,
TEXAS:
SECTION 1. "WR" (WATER REGULATIONS)
WR-1 SUPERINTENDENT OF WATERWORKS: There shall be appointed
by the City a Superintendent of Waterworks and such
Superintendent shall, at the direction of the City Administrator,
perform all duties placed upon him by the City and such other
duties prescribed by the provisions of this Code and State Statute.
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storage tank or
permission of
Administrator.
UNLAWFUL ACTS: It shah be unlawful for any person to do,
commit or assist in committing any of the following things or
acts:
(A) To open or close any fire hydrant, meter box cover or stop cock
connected with the Waterworks System, or lift or remove the covers
of any gate valve or shut-offs thereof, without the permission of the
Superintendent of Waterworks, except in case of fire, and then under
the direction of officers of the Fire Department.
(B) To interfere with, destroy, deface, injure or wantonly force open any
gate or door, or in any way whatsoever destroy, injure or deface any
part of any engine house, reservoir, stand pipe, elevated tank, building
or buildings, or appurtenances, fences, trees, shrubs or fixtures or
property appertaining to the waterworks system.
(C) To go upon or ascend the stairway or steps, on any elevated water
stand pipe of the Waterworks System, except by
the Waterworks Superintendent, and the City
(D) To place any telegraph, telephone, electric light pole or any obstruction
whatsoever within three feet (3') of any fire hydrant.
(E) To resort to any fraudulent device or arrangement for the purpose of
procuring water for himself or others from private connections on
premises contrary to the provisions of this Code.
(F) To place upon or about any fire hydrant, gate, valve or curb cock
connected with the Waterworks System any object, material, debris or
structure of any kind, or to interfere in any manner whatsoever with
any of the waterworks, or to turn on the water after service has been
discontinued.
(G) To park a vehicle within fifteen feet (15') of any fire hydrant.
(H) To make or permit to be made any connections with the main or
service pipes or the Waterworks System or to turn on or use the water
of the System without first obtaining a permit therefor.
(1) To remove any water meter or water meter lid that has been placed
by the City, or to in any manner change, interfere with or tamper with
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(J)
any water meter or water meter lid; providing that the provisions of
this Section shall not apply to the employees of the City when acting
in their official capacity; or,
To have in one's possession a key or master key that will unlock water
meter lids. This subsection does not apply to City officials or employees.
APPLICATION FOR CONNECTION: It shall be unlawful for any
person to make any connection to the mains or pipes of the
Waterworks System without first making application to the City,
stating fully the several and various uses for which water is
wanted, giving the name of the property, the number of the lot
and block, name of the street and house number. Upon the
payment of the tspping fee, the Superintendent shall make, or
have made, the necessary connections and furnish a curb stop
box and curb cock, the cost of which is included in the tapping
fee, and every premises not now equipped with the curb stop
box and curb cock and connected with any water main, or being
supplied with any water from the Waterworks, shall have a
separate service connection, curb stop box and curb cock installed
by and at the expense of the owner of the premises. If the
application is approved by the Superintendent of Waterworks, a
permit will be issued. All fees and charges shall be paid for at
amounts and rates fixed by Section WR-14 of this Code.
WATER RATES: The monthly rates or charges for service
furnished by the City waterworks
dwellings shall be as follows:
First 2,000 gallons (minimum)
All over 2,000 gallons
system for single-family
$5.00
~$1.50 per 1,000 gal.
The monthly rates or charges for services furnished by the City
waterworks system for nonsingle-family dwellings, such as but
not limited to apartment or multi-family complexes, mobile home
parks, hotels and motels, office buildings, townhouses,
condominiums, or other users wherein there is one master meter
which serves more than one unit shall be the same rates as set
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forth for single-family dwellings above, based upon an average
usage for each user from the master meter multiplied by the
number of users of such meter. For clarification and example,
if an apartment house had ten (10) units and the master meter
indicated seventy thousand (70,000) gallons of water consumption,
the average use would be seven thousand (7,000) gallons, yielding
a rate of $12.50 for each unit multiplied by the total number
of units (ten) (10) equaling a total bill of one hundred twenty
two dollars fifty cents ($125.00) to be paid by the customer.
For motels, divide total number of rooms rented by thirty (30)
(representing days) for total units to be billed.
DISCONTINUANCE OF SERVICE: Any person wishing to
discontinue the use of water supplied from the Waterworks System
must give notice thereof to the City, otherwise the charge will
be entered until such notice has been given. The charge for
shutting off and turning on of such service shall be five dollars
($5.00).
REPORT LEAKS: It shall be the duty of all employees of the
City, including officers and members of the police force to report
to the Superintendent of Waterworks, upon blanks furnished for
that purpose, any leaks or unnecessary waste of water that may
come to their attention, also any violation of this Ordinance.
METERS: All meters whether private or belonging to the
Waterworks System shah be set by the employees of the City.
If the meter fails to register, the consumer will be charged at
the average daily consumption as shown by the meter when in
order. All water that passes through the meter shall be charged
for, whether used or not.
SEPARATE METERS REQUIRED: Each consumer of water living
in a separate house must have a separate connection and meter
for each house; provided, that in cases of hardship or where a
residence is not in reach of a City water main, arrangements
may be made, at the option of the City, to secure water from
another user of City water.
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REPAIR WATER LINES: In the interest of water conservation,
if at any time water lines and connections from the meter loop
connection into the residence, house, barn, business, yard or
similar places become rusted out, broken or in general
deteriorated, it shall be the duty of the owner of the premises
to place his lines in a good and serviceable condition. The
replaced and repaired lines must meet specifications laid down
by the City Plumbing Code.
METER DEPOSIT: Each water consumer shall make a meter
deposit in at least the sum of twenty dollars ($20.00). Should
a twenty dollar ($20.00) deposit be insufficient to pay an average
monthly bill or if experience has proved that a customer does
not pay water bills promptly, and as due, the City Administrator
may require the meter deposit to be in any sum deemed necessary
to protect the City. Such meter deposit may be applied to the
payment of any water and sewer overdue to the City. Any
unused portion of the deposit shall be refunded to the consumer
at any time service is discontinued.
WATER RATIONING: The Mayor, or in his absence the Mayor
Pro Tem of the City, may when necessary to do so to protect
the citizens of the City, order a rationing system suited to the
emergency then existing, by declaring an emergency.
EXTENSION OF WATER LINES TO SUBDIVISION AND
WITHIN SUBDIVISIONS, OR TO INDIVIDUALS:
(A) Where extension of water mains are required to serve property which
has been subdivided or platted for development and resale, the costs of
approach mains fronting on property not owned by the developer but required
and necessary to connect property to be developed shall be borne solely by
the developer. The sizes of all aforementioned mains shall be determined
by the City. Refunds for main extensions will be as follows:
1. Upon approval and acceptance of the system by the City, on any mains
larger than twelve inch (12") diameter, the City will pay, upon acceptance
if funds are available, or will enter into a pro-rata agreement with the
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developer, the amount being the difference between the cost of the
oversized mains and the twelve inch (12") diameter mains.
2. The City will only refund to the subdivider pro-rata charges received
from applicants who desire to connect to the mains of a diameter larger
than twelve inch (12") with the total refund not to exceed the amount
of the subdivider's cost of the off-site improvements.
3. The maximum period of time for the pro-rata reimbursement to the
subdivider for the off-site mains shah not exceed seven (7) years.
(B) Oversized Mains Within Subdivisions. Developers of subdivisions shah
bear the entire costs of water and sewer systems within or along the
boundary of their subdivisions, except than on any mains larger than
twelve inch (12") the City will refund the difference between the cost
of the oversized mains and the twelve inch (12"). Adequate size of
such water and sewer mains shah be determined by the City.
PRO-RATA CHARGES: The City may extend water and sanitary
sewer mains in the streets and alleys, or easements within the
City limits in order to permit connections by those persons
desiring water and sanitary sewer services. A charge, known as
"pro-rata," shah be made against each lot or tract of land, and
the owner thereof, whose water line shah be hereafter connected
with any water mains in the City, shah be charged the following
rates:
(A) Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) per acre of land to which water
connections are made on a line.
(B) Four Dollars ($4.00) per front foot of the lot or tract of land of five
(5) acres or led which water connection is made.
In addition to the pro-rata charge on water and sewer mains, the
property owner must pay the connection charges as established by
Section WR-14.
The maximum period of time for the pro-rata reimbursement to the
original depositor for off-site mains shah not exceed seven (7) years.
TAPPING CITY MAINS
(A) Water: The tapping fee for connection with the Waterworks System
shah be:
SR-1
3/4"
2" arid over
$175.00
$200.00 plus cost of materials and labor
$250.00 plus cost of materials and labor
Total cost of materials and labor
EXCEPT in the case of apartment complexes, mobile home parks, office
buildings, motels, townhouses, multi-family dwellings, etc., and all other
facilities other than single family dwellings served by one master meter,
in which case the charges shah be:
(1) Mobile Home Parks: $50.00 per each mobile home space and total
cost of materials and labor for the master meter.
(2) Apartment Complexes, Townhouses, Office Buildings, Multi-Family
Dwellings, etc. Served by One Master Meter:
(a) $50.00 per each unit of 2 bedrooms or more shown on the plans
submitted for building permit.
(b) $45.00 per each 1 bedroom unit shown on the plans submitted
for building permit.
(c) $45.00 per each separate place of business shown on the plans
submitted for building permit.
SECTION 2. "SR" (SEWER REGULATIONS)
CONNECTION TO SEWER REQUIRED: All owners or occupants
of buildings, or agents for the owners, situated in any section
of the City where a sanitary sewer now exists, or where it may
hereafter exist, and where the property line of the land on which
any such building is situated approaches or extends to within one
hundred feet (1009 of any such sewer are hereby required to
construct or cause to be constructed suitable water closets on
their property, and connect the same with the City sewer, under
the supervision of the Plumbing Inspector provided however, that
where there now exists a septic tank in proper sanitary working
condition, it may be permitted to remain in use until such time
as it may be found to be unsanitary and in this event, it may
be ordered removed by the Plumbing Inspector upon ten (10) days
notice to the owner thereof, and all facilities shall be connected
to the City sewer, within ninety (90) days after service is
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(A)
(s)
ava~able. It shah be the duty of any such property owners or
occupants of such property to keep and maintain the water closet
and connection thereof in perfect condition and free from any
obstruction, and it shall be unlawful for any person to build or
use any privy vault above or below the ground in the City or on
any lot or parcel of land. All persons now having such privies
in such locations are hereby required to abate the same within
thirty (30) days after notice by the Plumbing Inspection, to do
so, and to construct and to put in water closets and connect the
same with the City sewer.
SEWER RATES: The monthly rates or charges for services
furnished by the sanitary sewer system of the City for single-
family dwellings shah be based on the amount of meter water
which is furnished during the month as follows:
First 1,000 gallons (minimum)
All over 1,000 gallons
Sewer Service Only (Flat Rate)
Each residential, units, apartments,
mobile home parks will be billed
$4.00
~$.55 per 1,000 gal.
$7.85
multi-family dwellings, or
a minimum charge plus
consumption up to the maximum of 14,000 gallons of metered
water per unit.
PRO-RATA CHARGES: The City may extend sanitary sewer
mains in the streets and alleys, or easements within the City
limits in order to permit connections by those persons desiring
sanitary sewer service. A charge, known as "pro-rata," shall be
made against each lot or tract of land, and the owner thereof,
whose sewer line shall be hereafter connected with any sewer
mains in the City, shah be charged the following rates, which
rates are a portion of the total cost of such sewer mains:
Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) per acre of land to which sanitary sewer
connections are made on a fine.
Four Dollars ($4.00) per front foot of the lot or tract of land of five
acres of less to which sanitary sewer connection is made.
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(A)
(A)
TAPPING CITY MAINS
Sewer: The tapping fee for connection with the Sanitary Sewer System
shall be:
(2)
6" and larger
Mobile Home Parks:
$150.00
Total cost of materials and labor
$100.00 per each mobile home space and
total cost of materials and labor.
(3) Apartment Complexes, Motels, Townhouses, Office Buildings,
Multi-Family Dwellings, etc., Served by One Master Meter:
(a) $100.00 per each unit of 2 bedrooms or more as shown on
the plans submitted for a building permit.
(b) $50.00 per each 1 bedroom unit as shown on the plans
submitted for a building permit.
(c) $50.00 per each separate place of business shown on the plans
submitted for building permit.
EXTENSION OF WATER AND SEWER LINES TO SUB-
DIVISION AND WITHIN SUBDIVISIONS OR TO
INDIVIDUALS
Where extensions of sewer mains are required to serve property which
has been subdivided or platted for development and resale, the costs
of approach mains fronting on property not owned by the developer
but required and necessary to connect property to be developed shah
be borne solely by the developer. The sizes of aH aforementioned
mains shall be determined by the City. Refunds for main extensions
will be as follows:
(1) Upon approval and acceptance of the system by the City, on any
mains larger than twelve inch (12") diameter, the City will pay,
upon acceptance if funds are available, or will enter into a pro-rata
agreement with the developer, the amount being the difference
between the cost of the oversized mains and the twelve inch (12")
diameter mains.
(2) The City will only refund to the subdivider pro-rata charges
received from applicants who desire to connect to the mains of
a diameter larger than twelve inch (12") or larger with the total
refund not to exceed the amount of the subdivider's cost of the
off-site improvements.
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(3) The maximum period of time for the pro-rata reimbursement to
the subdivider for the off-site mains shall not exceed seven (7)
years.
(B) Oversized Mains Within Subdivisions. Developers of subdivisions shall
bear the entire eosts of water and sewer systems within or along the
boundary of their subdivisions, except that on any mains larger than
twelve inch (~[2") the City will refund the difference between the cost
of the oversized mains and the twelve inch (12"). Adequate size of
such water and sewer mains shall be determined by the City.
SECTION 3. "WS" (WATER AND SEWER REGULATIONS)
LIABILITY FOR MATERIALS: Each property owner or subdivider
shall furnish materials and shall install all water service lines
and sanitary sewer laterals from the mains to the structures at
his own cost and expense to meet the standard details and
specifications and the approval of the City, except that the City
will furnish the meters, necessary fittings, and meter boxes for
the water service lines and will complete the meter installations
and connections. For the connections to the mains and for
furnishing and installing water meters.
PAYMENT OF BILLS: The rates and charges fixed and prescribed
for the waterworks, and sanitary systems shall be paid
simultaneously by users to the City, on the billing date shown
on the monthly statement, which shall be the date such rates or
charges shall become due or payable unless otherwise indicated,
and the City shall refuse to accept the payment for a part of
such service unless the entire amount due from the respective
user or customer for all services supplied and billed is paid. In
case any user or customer of such services does not pay the
amount due by such user or customer within ten (10) days from
the date the same becomes due and payable, it is hereby made
the duty of the City to issue a notice of "Disconnect of Service
Until Paid in Full," together with notice of a five dollar ($5.00)
reconnect charge. When payment is made, service may be
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resumed. Any payment made by personal check will be subject
to a five dollar ($5.00) service charge if the check is returned
by the bank for any reason.
TRANSFER ACCOUNT: Any person owing water, or sewer fee
and removing to other premises where there are water connections
or where connections are thereafter made, shah before being
permitted to use the water pay all former delinquencies. Further
a person's unpaid water and sewer fee may be transferred to
another premises where water service is currently in use when
two (2) or more services are being rendered to the same person
at the same time and one is disconnected.
NO FREE SERVICE: No free service shall be allowed, and to
the extent that the City or any of its departments avail
themselves of the services and facilities afforded by the
waterworks and sanitary sewer system, they shall pay therefor
the same rates and charges herein prescribed for other consumers.
SECTION 4. REPEALING CLAUSE
All ordinances, or parts of ordinances, inconsistent or in conflict with the
provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION 5. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE
If any article, paragraph or subdivision~ clause, phrase, or provision of this
ordinance shall be adjudged invalid or held unconstitutional, the same shall
not affect the validity of this ordinance as a whole or any part or provision
thereof, other than the part so decided to be invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 6. PENALTY CLAUSE
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this
ordinance shall be deemed guility of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction,
shall be punished by a penalty of fine not to exceed the sum of Two Hundred
Dollars ($200.00) for each offense, and each and every day such offense is
continued shall constitute a new and separate offense.
SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This ordinance shall take effect immediately from and after the publication
of its caption, as the law in such cases provides.
DULY PASSED by the City Council of the City of Coppell, Texas, this
__~_~day of f~(L~ , 1978.
APPROVED:
ATTE~:
APPROVED AS TO FORM: