Chapter 06 – Water Service
6.01-Department of Public Works
6.02-Jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works
6.03-Director of Public Works
6.04-Meter Readings
6.05-Connections to Water System
6.06-Turning on Water; Seals
6.07-Use of Hydrants
6.08-Meters
6.09-Access to Premises
6.10-Rates
6.11-Required Use of Water
6.12-Delinquent Charges
6.13-Responsibility for Water Registered by Meters
6.14-Notice of Lien
6.15-Tapping Water Mains, Cost
6.16-Reserved
6.17-Installation of Service Pipes
6.18-Inspection and Approval of Service Pipes
6.19-Water Meters Required
6.20-Use of Plumber’s Name
6.21-Water Meter Tampering Charge
6.22-Accounts
6.23-City Liability
6.24-Rules and Regulations
6.25-Fire Connection Privilege
6.26-Police Duties
6.27-Outdoor Water Use Restrictions
6.28-Water Repairs and Maintenance
6.29-Use of Well Water Prohibited
6.01 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
The waterworks system in the City of Hickory Hills shall be maintained and operated by the Department of Public Works.
A charge shall be made to the residents of the city which shall be reasonable for the use and service of such waterworks and such charges or rates for that purpose shall be established, and such rates shall be sufficient to pay the costs, maintenance, operation, depreciation and payment of the principal and interest on any revenue bonds that may be issued by the city for the construction, installation, repairing and improving of the system.
6.02 JURISDICTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
The Department of Public Works, under the direction of the Director of Public Works and such other officers and employees as may be from time to time appointed, shall have the supervision, management and control, subject to the City Council of the maintenance, enlargement and operation of the waterworks system owned and controlled by the city, the procuring and selling of water, and all matters and things connected with the operation, maintenance and extension of the waterworks system, including the establishment of restrictions on sprinkling within the city, and preserving the property belonging thereto.
6.03 DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
The Director of Public Works shall have the supervision over all buildings and equipment used in the furnishing of water in the city and shall see that the object and purposes of the Department of Public Works are carried out, and that the waterworks system is conducted on an economical, businesslike basis. For this purpose it shall be the duty of the Director of Public Works and all of the officers, employees and servants of said department to enforce all the provisions of this chapter and to observe and obey and carry out the orders and directions of the City Council. He shall prepare and keep in his office a complete atlas of the waterworks system with all valves and hydrants, water service connections and other appurtenances distinctly recorded therein.
6.04 METER READINGS
The Director of Public Works shall designate employees of the Department of Public Works or such other persons as may be designated by him to periodically read the water meters and compile records of such readings. In the event such person is unable to obtain a reading of the water meter at the designated time, a card will be left at the address of the applicable water a account with instructions printed on such card to place the actual meter reading of the account at that time on a place designated on the card and return the card to the City Clerk’s office within 5 days. In the event the card is not returned to the office of the City Clerk with the applicable meter reading thereon, an additional charge will be assessed to the water account for each card left by the meter reader and not returned.
6.05 CONNECTIONS TO WATER SYSTEM
Any person desiring to make any connection with the water system of plant, or use water therefrom, shall first make application to the Building Commissioner upon a blank form or forms to be furnished by the department. The application shall contain an agreement on the part of the applicant that all the rules relating to the water system will be complied with; that all water rates, assessments and rents and all fines and penalties assessed, charged or imposed against said applicant or the property described in the application will be paid.
6.06 TURNING ON WATER; SEALS
(a) No person not authorized shall turn on any service cock, or use water therefrom when so turned on, and the person so using or wasting water in such unlawful manner shall be liable to pay therefor at the regular water rates.
(b) No seal placed by the department for the protection of any meter, valve, fitting or other water connection shall be defaced or broken except on written authority from the Director of Public Works.
6.07 USE OF HYDRANTS
No person, other than members of the Department of Public Works shall use water from any fire hydrant connected with the city water system, except for extinguishing fires or unless especially authorized by the Director of Public Works.
6.08 METERS
(a) All water consumers supplied by the city shall be supplied through meters only. All meters used in connection with said water system shall be and remain for all time the property of the city and shall be purchased by the city, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. The City Council shall in all cases determine the kind and pattern of water meters to be adopted and no other kind shall be installed at any time. After the meter is placed, only officers or employees of the department shall be allowed to repair, remove or in any manner interfere with the same. A stopcock or valve shall be placed on each side of the meter.
(b) The cost of keeping each meter in repair shall be paid by the person upon whose application such meter was installed or repaired as soon as the bill therefor is presented. The person upon whose application any meter is installed shall be liable for any breakage or any loss or damage to such meter in any way, except by ordinary use and wear, and the cost of making good such loss or damage shall be paid by the person upon whose application such meter was installed or repaired as soon as the bill for same is presented, and the amount therefor shall be alien against the premises for which such meter was installed to the extent and with the same effect as water rates.
(c) Water meters shall be located at such place and in such manner the city through its City Council shall direct, and boxes or vaults in which such meters are to be placed shall be in accordance with specifications to be prescribed by the city, and such boxes or vaults must be so constructed as to prevent freezing of water flowing through such meters. Vaults must be kept in such condition so that the meter may be read at any time. In any street where water mains are installed, the single family residence fronting thereon shall have the meter installed inside the building, preferably in the basement, if any, and otherwise in a convenient location adjacent to an interior wall at a height not less than 15 inches above the floor.
6.09 ACCESS TO PREMISES
The Director of Public Works and every person authorized by him and all meter inspectors shall have ready access to the premises, place or buildings where such meters are located for the purpose of reading, examining, testing and repairing the same, and examining and testing the consumption, use and flow of water, and it shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with, prevent or obstruct the Director of Public Works or such other person or inspector in his work hereunder. Every consumer of water shall take the same upon the conditions prescribed in this chapter.
6.10 RATES
(a) Commercial Users. The term “commercial users” as used herein shall mean any user other than a single family residential user.
(b) Billing Period. All commercial users as defined herein shall be billed on a monthly basis. All other users shall be billed on a quarterly basis.
(c) Rates. There is hereby established a rate, minimum billing amount and a minimum charge for the use of water supplied by the City of Hickory Hills as follows:
The rate for the use of water supplied by the City of Hickory Hills shall be $3.38 per 1,000 gallons or fraction thereof, subject to the following minimums:
|
Minimum Billing Amount |
Minimum Charge |
|
| Commercial Users |
Minimum billing – 5,000 gallons |
$16.90 per monthly billing |
| Single Family Residential Users |
Minimum billing – 15,000 gallons |
$50.70 per quarterly billing |
For multiple dwellings in excess of two dwelling units per building, the minimum quarterly billing shall be for a minimum of 5,000 gallons per dwelling unit for any billing period for which the meter has not been read.
(d) Liability for Payment. The owners of the premises, the occupant thereof, and the user of the service shall be jointly and severally liable to pay for the service on such premises and the service is furnished to the premises by the city only upon the condition that the owner of the premises, occupant and users of this service are jointly and severally liable therefor to the city.
(e) Bills. All bills for utility service at a residential property shall be sent to the owner of the property and it shall be the primary responsibility of the owner to pay said bill. Bills for utility service will not be sent to tenants of residential property. The name on a utility account shall be the owner and shall not be changed unless proof of ownership is presented to the City. The City may change its records to reflect the ownership of property so that bills are sent to the owner.
6.11 REQUIRED USE OF WATER
(a) All premises in the City are required to purchase all of their potable water supply from the City. No person may use a well or other source of water for potable water or for processing water in the City. All water which is drained into the City’s sanitary sewer system must be purchased from the City.
(b) Nothing herein shall prevent the use of a well or cistern as a supply of non-potable water for outdoor sprinkling purposes.
6.12 DELINQUENT CHARGES
(a) All water charges for single family residential use consumption shall be due and payable on or before the 20th day after the date when the statements of such charges are rendered and shall become delinquent if remaining unpaid thereafter. A penalty in an amount equal to 10% of the unpaid delinquent amount shall be added to the bill for each 3-month period (or part thereof) that the bill remains delinquent.
(b) All water charges for commercial use consumption shall be due and payable on or / before the 30th day after the date when the statements of such charges are rendered and shall become delinquent if remaining unpaid thereafter. A penalty in an amount equal to 10% of the unpaid delinquent amount shall be added to the bill for each month (or part thereof) that the bill remains delinquent.
(c) It shall be the duty of the City Clerk to cause the statement for water charges to be delivered on the respective dates thereof to each consumer of water.
(d) Whenever any such charges shall remain delinquent for a period of more than 30 days, the City Clerk shall cause a notice of delinquency to be sent by mail, to the party responsible for payment of the water bill at the address shown for said party on the records of the city. Said notice shall state in substance that if the delinquent water bill is not paid within 10 days from the date of the notice, the water services to the supplied premises will be turned off. Upon the expiration of the aforesaid 10-day period and in the event that the delinquent water bill has not been paid, water service to the supplied premises of the delinquent consumer shall be turned off and said water service shall not be resumed until all water bills including delinquencies have been paid. In addition thereto, a charge of $25 shall be made by the city for turning on and restoring the water services to the premises. However, whenever the water service is temporarily turned off at the request of any consumer and the meter is not removed and there is no delinquency in payment of water charges, the consumer shall pay the regular minimum rate per billing period, but shall not be required to pay the aforesaid charge of $25 for turning on the water when requested.
(e) No person owing water charges and removing to other premises where there are water connections or where connections shall afterwards be made, shall be supplied with water until such charges in arrears are paid in full.
6.13 RESPONSIBILITY FOR WATER REGISTERED BY METER
.The owner or tenant of premises supplied with water will be held responsible for all water registered by the meter. No reduction shall be made or rebate allowed to any consumer on account of leakage or alleged leakage in any pipe, tank, or other apparatus or device.
Any person who shall vacate any premises, or any person who shall enter upon and occupy any premises, shall immediately before vacating the premises or moving to the premises, notify the Department of Public Works and secure reading of the meter.
6.14 NOTICE OF LIEN
In each case where a delinquent bill is not paid within 5 days from the date of the notice of delinquency, and when no negotiation is completed allowing the account to be in installments, the City Clerk shall cause a notice of lien to be prepared and filed in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of Cook County.
6.15 TAPPING WATER MAINS, COST
(a) Whenever any permit for a connection with the water mains is issued hereunder, the Director of Public Works or an employee of the city so designated for the work by the Director of Public Works shall supervise the tapping of the main of the system where such connection is to be made and shall supervise the insertion of the corporation cock.
(b) The tapping of any water main shall be done solely by a plumber licensed by the State of Illinois and appointed as the “City Plumber.”
(c) No connection with any water main shall be of less than 3/4 inch for single family t. residences. Multiple family residence and business establishments shall have larger size taps directed by the Director of Public Works of Water.
(d) All corporation cocks and goosenecks, curb cocks and buffalo or shut-off boxes and meter boxes installed in connection with the water system shall be subject to the approval of the city as to make and pattern.
(e) No person in any manner shall obstruct or cause to be obstructed the free access of any duly authorized officer or employee of the city to any stop cock, water meter, elevator dial, buffalo or shut-off box or connection with any water main or service pipe by means of any coal, lumber, brick, building material, or by any other means or device whatsoever, or to use or prevent free access thereto by such officer or employee whenever such officer or employee shall desire access thereto.
6.16 RESERVED
6.17 INSTALLATION OF SERVICE PIPES
(a) The connections from the main to the service cock shall be placed at least 5 feet below the level of the ground, and the lead or copper service pipe shall be laid sufficiently wavy so that it shall be at least one foot longer than if laid in a straight line and shall be placed in such manner as to prevent rupture or breakage from settling to the ground.
(b) Lead pipe and all lead connections shall have wiped joints and lead pipe shall consist of the following specifications:
| Diameter of Pipe |
Western Standard XXXX Weight per lineal foot |
| 3/4" pipe | 3 pounds, 8 ounces |
| 1" pipe | 4 pounds, 12 ounces |
| 1-1/4" pipe | 6 pounds |
| 1-1/2" pipe | 7 pounds, 8 ounces |
| 2" pipe | 9 pounds |
Copper tubing, U.S. Government Type K, may be used in lieu of lead pipe.
Lead or copper service pipe shall extend from a connection with the corporation stop to the curb stop.
(c) No person, whether owner or occupant, in possession or control of any building, structure or premises into which water is supplied through the Hickory Hills water system shall be allowed, without permission from the City Council, to supply water from such building or premises to any other building, structure or premises. Any violation of this section shall result in the supply of water to the building, structure or premises being shut off and stopped forthwith, and the water shall not again be turned on to such building, structure or premises from which it was cut off until there shall have been paid to the city such sum of money as the City Council shall deem properly due the city.
(d) If, after the water supply shall have been turned on to any building, structure or premises, it shall be found by any officer or employee of the city that fraudulent representations have been made by an applicant for such water supply or that water is being used in or upon such building, structure or premises for purpose not set forth in the application made for such water supply, or that there is willful and unreasonable use or waste of water, the proper officer or employee of the city shall cut off and stop the supply of water to such building, structure or premises forthwith, and the water shall not be turned on to such building, structure or premises until the person responsible for such fraudulent representation or for such use of water or willful or unreasonable waste thereof shall pay to the city such additional sum of money for such water supply or on account of such unreasonable waste of water as the City Council shall find properly to be due the city.
(e) Every person supplied with water from the city water system shall at his own expense and cost, have installed and keep in repair all pipes leading from the buffalo or shut-off box to his building, structure or premises which are supplied with water through such service pipe. Service pipes laid from the water main to the buffalo or shut-off box shall not be less than one inch internal diameter.
(f) Each water service pipe shall be connected with the main water pipe and shall extend horizontally at right angles with the main water supply pipe to a point at least 8 feet from the nearest property line of the street and shall be provided with a brass stop cock of not less than 3/4 inch in diameter to be installed within a telescopic shut-off box of the best quality of cast iron or first grade steel pipe.
(g) All corporation and curb cocks used in connection with the water system shall be made of bronze which shall have the following composition: copper 80 percent to 85 percent; tin 4 percent to 6 percent; zinc 4 percent to 6 percent; lead not more than 5 percent. All casts shall be high grade, true to form and dimensions smooth and free from all sand or blowholes or other foundry defects, and all material used herein shall be of the best quality and subject to the approval of the City Council.
(h) Samples of corporation cocks and stop cocks must be submitted to the City Council and to the department for inspection before installation. The main must be tapped at an angle of 45 degrees with the vertical, and the corporation cock must be turned so that the T handle will be on top.
6.18 INSPECTION AND APPROVAL OF SERVICE PIPES
Service pipes and connections shall be inspected and approved by the Director of Public Works or other persons under his direction and control, and no such service pipes shall be covered until they have been so inspected.
6.19 WATER METERS REQUIRED
(a) No person shall use or take any water from the waterworks system unless the amount of water is metered through a water meter approved by the Department of Public Works.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to water used by the Roberts Park Fire Protection District or the North Palos Fire Protection District for emergency purposes in fighting a fire or responding to a hazardous material incident.
(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to water used by the City of Hickory Hills, the Roberts Park Fire Protection District or the North Palos Fire Protection District when filling water tanks on vehicles provided that the amount of water taken can be determined by the volume of the water tank being filled and the amount of the water taken is reported to the Department of Public Works on forms provided by them within 24 hours thereafter.
6.20 USE OF PLUMBER’S NAME
No plumber shall allow his name to be used by any other person or party directly or indirectly for the purpose of obtaining permits or doing any work under his license.
6.21 WATER METER TAMPERING CHARGE
No person other than an authorized representative of the City may attempt to or remove, replace, adjust, or otherwise work on any water meter. In the event that there is a broken water meter seal, then it is conclusively presumed that the occupant or owner of the premises have attempte to or have removed, replaced, or adjusted, or otherwise worked on any water meter. In order to restore or maintain water service to the premises an additional charge of $500 shall be imposed in order to defray the cost of inspections and replacing the water meter seal. the $500 charge shall be imposed on the next water bill for the premises and shall be due and payable as provided in Section 6.12
6.22 ACCOUNTS
All revenues and monies derived from the operation of the waterworks system shall be held by the City Clerk to the extent received by him separate and apart from all private funds and separate and apart from all other funds of the city. Such revenues and monies without any deductions shall be delivered to the City Treasurer no more than 10 days after the receipt of the same, or at such more frequent intervals as may from time to time be directed by the City Council. The Treasurer shall receive all such revenues from the waterworks system and all other funds and monies incident to the operation of said system as the same may be delivered to him and deposit same in such funds as may be set by ordinance. The Treasurer shall establish a proper system of accounts and shall keep proper books, records and accounts in which complete and correct entries shall be made of all transactions relative to the waterworks system, and at regular annual intervals the City Council shall cause to be made under the direction of the City Council, an audit by an independent auditing concern of the books to show the receipts and disbursements of the water system.
6.23 CITY LIABILITY
All connections and water applied for hereunder and all the water used hereunder, shall be upon the express condition that the city shall not be liable, nor shall any claim be made against it for damage or injury caused by reason of the breakage of any main, branches, service pipes, apparatus or appurtenances connected with said system or plant, or any part or portion of said plant, or for any interruption of the supply by reason of the breakage of machinery or by reason of stoppage, alteration, extension or renewals. All repairs to service pipes and connections therefrom shall be at the expense of the owner or tenant of the premises supplied, excepting repairs on the section of the pipe included between the corporation cock at the main and the curb cock in the parkway.
6.24 RULES AND REGULATIONS
(a) Water consumers, licensed plumbers and others shall be governed by the following rules and regulations:
1. All work done in the streets and alleys or public places of the city in connection with the water system shall be done in a thorough and workmanlike manner and shall be under the supervision and direction of the Director of Public Works and subject to his approval.
2. No connection shall be made with the water system without a proper permit from the Department of Public Works.
3. No water service shall be laid nearer than 18 inches from a parallel trench.
4. A gooseneck shall be provided for each service pipe and must be supported by means of brick built up from the bottom of the trench.
5. Earth removed in excavating for water service pipes shall be removed from the street and the trench filled with sand until 6 inches from ground level and then filled with earth. When completed, the surface of the back filling in the trenches shall not be higher than the general surface of the ground on either side of same, and the roadways of all streets shall be left, and shall be maintained for a period of one year in as good condition for travel as they were before. Water service pipes shall be installed under permanent pavement and sidewalks by jacking in such manner as to avoid damage to surface. Where absolutely necessary to cut any such pavement, a deposit of $200 shall be made as a bond to be held pending the satisfactory restoration of pavement.
6. The installation of all service pipe must be done in a workmanlike manner, under the supervision of the Director of Public Works and shall withstand a test of 125 pounds pressure for a period of 10 minutes without leaking.
7. There shall be a shut-off period provided for every connection or tap, which shut-off must be in what is commonly called a buffalo box; same shall be located as near the outer sidewalk edge as conditions will permit. Each meter shall be set in a meter vault of not less than 18 inches in internal diameter with a steel or cast iron lid or cover, except where there are heated basements or utility rooms, in which event the meter may be installed in such basement or utility room.
8. The pipe to be used on construction of the service pipe from the shut-off box to the meter shall be of lead or copper pipe of the same specifications as hereinbefore prescribed for the service pipe between the water main and shut-off box.
9. All service pipes shall be so laid so as to prevent freezing, breaking or rupture by settling.
10. All boilers connected with the water system shall be provided with a tank of sufficient capacity to hold at least 6 hours supply and in case this supply is shut off for the purpose of repair or any other purpose, the city will not be responsible for any damage that may result. Consumers and other persons are prohibited from connecting pipes direct with the city pressure to supply steam boilers.
11. No alteration, change of location or addition of any kind shall be made to any water meter, water cock or service pipe connected in any way with the supply to any building or premises, without a written permit from the Director of Public Works.
12. A complete statement in writing shall be made to the Director of Public Works by the person doing the work of all connections made with the water system.
13. All hydrants or plugs placed for fire purposes are declared to be the public hydrants, and no person except such as have been authorized by the City Council shall open or draw water therefrom, or in any manner interfere with same except in case of fire.
14. The Director of Public Works and other authorized persons shall have free access to any premises in which water is introduced for the purposes of examining the fixtures and pipes at any time between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. of any day.
15. No booster pump or other apparatus intended to increase water pressure shall be installed without approval of the city nor unless a tank or reservoir be provided between the meter and such pump or apparatus. The tank or reservoir shall be covered and shall be provided with a vent or overflow to atmosphere, and shall be so designed as to prevent a direct hydraulic connection between the meter and the pump or pressure increasing apparatus.
16. Application for water service shall be made in writing on a form prepared by the city for the purpose. Each application shall be accompanied by a contractor or plumber’s statement showing how the connection shall be made.
6.25 FIRE CONNECTION PRIVILEGES
Any person being a regular consumer may be permitted by the City Council to make special connections with the street mains, together with hydrants and house cocks to be used in case of fire. For such permit, and for all water used for fire purposes, there will be no charge, but all such work in connection with the water system must be done by the city or under the direction of the Director of Public Works of Water.
6.26 POLICE DUTIES
It shall be the duty of the Director of Public Works and police and all persons in the employ of the city having police power to enforce the provisions of all ordinances, rules and regulations respecting the water the water system and to arrest or cause to be arrested all persons violating the same.
6.27 OUTDOOR WATER USE RESTRICTIONS
(a) No person shall, during the period of May 15 through September 15, permit or sprinkle any lawn, garden, or landscape area during the hours of 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m.
(b) During the period of May 15 through September 15, residents owning or controlling property with an ODD numbered street address may use water for lawns, gardens, landscaping, car washing and swimming pool purposes on ODD numbered calendar dates only.
(c) During the period of May 15 through September 15, residents owning or controlling property with an EVEN numbered street address may use water for lawns, gardens, landscaping, car washing and swimming pool purposes on EVEN numbered calendar dates only.
(d) No person shall sprinkle any lawn, garden, or landscape area during prohibited hours after a temporary emergency water shortage is declared by the City Council prohibiting the same.
(e) No person shall use water for any outside purpose, including but not limited to, watering of lawns; watering of gardens; watering of landscaping; washing of cars; washing of outside areas such as windows, buildings, sidewalks or driveways; or filling of swimming pools during prohibited hours after a temporary emergency water shortage is declared by the City Council prohibiting the same.
(f) "Sprinkle" means the use of any device for distributing water over an area not under the active control and in the possession of a person such as by a mechanical or automatic sprinkler or sprinkler system.
(g) "Watering" means the distribution of water over an area under the active control and in the possession of a person such as by hose or sprinkling can.
(h) Persons using private wells or cisterns, who wish to be exempt from the provisions of this section, must register with the Public Works Department, be inspected, and be certified as not using City provided water for such purposes.
6.28 WATER REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE
All fire hydrants on private property shall be kept in good working order by the owner of the private property where located. All fire hydrants shall be subject to inspection by the City. No person shall take or allow water to be taken from any fire hydrant, whether on public or private property, unless the water usage is metered, and unless the City is given prior written notification. No person shall block access to or viewing of any fire hydrant. No fire hydrant may be installed without a permit from the City.
All fire hydrants and water lines located on private property or private water lines located on public property may be repaired by the City in cases of emergency. The bill for such repair shall be a lien against the property. If said bill is not paid, the City may terminate water service pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.12.
The City is not responsible for any damage or liability caused by the reason of or failure of the water system, including lack of pressure, inadequate facilities, or inoperative facilities.
The City is responsible only for repairs to the main water line before the connection of a private line to the main is made. All repairs to any private water line, wherever located, are the responsibility of the owner of the property serviced by the private water line. The City may give notice to repair any private water line which notice may be oral or in writing to the owner or occupant of the property. If the repair is not made within the time limit specified, or if the City deems it necessary to take immediate action to protect the integrity of the City’s water, sewer, or street system, the City may shut off water service to the private water line. The City shall not turn service back on until proper repairs have been made and approved by the City, and paid for.
6.29 USE OF WELL WATER PROHIBITED
(a) Except for such uses or methods in existence before the effective ate of this ordinance, the use of, or attempted use of, groundwater from within the corporate limits of the City, as a potable water supply, by the installation or drilling of wells or by any other metho, is hereby prohibited. This prohibition expressely includes the City.
(b) No person (including the City and any other unit of government) shall drill a well in order to obtain a potable water supply for use in or outside of the City.
(c) No person shall connect any pipe containing water supplied by the City with water supplied from any well.