§ 110-31. Requests for service.

(a)

Domestic water service within service limits. To obtain domestic water service from an existing distribution main under this article, the county will accept applications and deposits by mail. However, in order for the county to render a correct bill, the county may require the customer to produce proof of the date of occupancy, as when metered service is reconnected without county knowledge or consent. The applicant, when mailing in an application, should be certain that the name of the customer and the street address to which service is to be rendered are correct. Upon a customer's initial request for water service to a property, the county will require payment of a service installation fee to defray installation costs. Additional service to the same property may also be obtained at similar fees per meter. The service installation fee will be collected only once for each meter pursuant to section 110-37.

(b)

Fire protection water service within service areas. To obtain fire protection water service within the service areas, application should be made at the office of the county. For a new fire line or combination fire line and domestic water service installation, it is necessary that the county be provided both preliminary plans and plumbing plans for a cost estimate. After the cost has been determined, it will be necessary for the applicant to sign the agreement or contract for service or to send a letter authorizing the installation. However, every applicant shall prepay the estimated cost of the installation from the water main to the property line, including an isolating valve, a detection check valve for determining leakage or unlawful usage, plus the extension of the proper size main if necessary, street repair, sidewalk repair, labor, concrete vault for detection check valve, other related materials, and such other costs as may be incurred in rendering service.

(c)

Mandatory service area. Connections to the county's water system shall be mandatory for developments required to connect to the county's wastewater treatment system, unless a service agreement is entered into with the county providing alternative arrangements for potable water service.

(d)

Service commitment fee. Upon the receipt of a complete service application and a determination of the service available, the county will issue an intent to serve which grants conditional approval of water service, subject to this article, for a period of six months. The conditions under which the county grants such conditional approval and subsequent plan approval are summarized as follows:

(1)

Within six months of the issuance of the conditional approval, the applicant must submit construction drawings for the project to the county for review and approval. Upon approval of the construction drawings, the applicant is notified in writing and the copies of the approved plans and permits are available for pickup upon receipt of this service commitment fee set forth in subsection (d)(3) of this section.

(2)

Construction plan approval by the utilities department is valid for a period of 12 months. If construction is not done within 12 months, the applicant must reapply for service. If construction is not done within six months and changes in the county's specifications have occurred, the plans must be resubmitted for approval.

(3)

The service commitment fee is a nonrefundable payment equal to 100 percent of the impact fee in existence for the development or project at the time the service commitment is issued. Payment of the service commitment fee does not entitle the connection of the development or the project without paying impact fees in existence at the time of connection; however the service commitment fee will be applied toward the impact fee in existence at the time the development or units for which the fee is paid are so connected to the system.

(4)

Only for single family detached residential developments with 25 or more units, the county may allow payment of the service commitment fee pursuant to the following installment program. Ten percent of the service commitment fee for a specific development or phase of development shall be due and payable at the time the county executes a water distribution system permit application for the state department of environmental protection and 40 percent of the service commitment fee shall be due and payable either upon approval of construction plans by the county for the specific development or phase of development and upon issuance of the water distribution system permit by the state department of environmental protection or within nine months after the county executes the water distribution system permit application, whichever occurs first. The remaining 50 percent shall be due and payable either upon issuance of a building permit for a structure or unit which would exceed 50 percent of the development units specified on the application executed by the county or 18 months after the initial ten percent service commitment fee payment, whichever occurs first. This subsection shall apply to any service commitments issued between September 28, 2005 and October 1, 2010.

(Code 1970, § 26-74; Ord. No. 87-09, § 4, 3-24-87; Ord. No. 88-26, § 1, 9-6-88; Ord. No. 91-06, § 1, 4-23-91; Ord. No. 93-19, § 1, 9-8-93; Ord. No. 96-16, § II, 8-6-96; Ord. No. 99-17, § 2, 9-28-99; Ord. No. 02-30, § 2, 11-26-02; Ord. No. 06-04, § 2, 2-28-06)