Chapter XIV · Utilities

Article 2. Water

Sections 14-201 to 14-224 · 24 sections

14-201 Superintendent of water and sewage.

The general management, care, control and supervision of the city water system shall be in the superintendent of water and sewage, who shall be appointed by the mayor with the consent of the governing body.

(Code 2018)

14-202 Regulations.

The furnishing of water to customers by the city through its waterworks system shall be governed by the regulations set out in this article.

(Code 2018)

14-203 Service not guaranteed.

The city does not guarantee the delivery of water through any of its mains and connecting services at any time except only when its mains, pumping machinery, power service connection are in good working order, and the supply of water is sufficient for the usual demand of its consumers.

(Code 2018)

14-204 Service connections required.

(a)The owner of all houses, buildings, or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purpose, situated within the city abutting on any street, alley, or right-of-way in which there is now located or may in the future be located near public water mains, is hereby required at his or her own expense to make connection to such public water main.

(b)Before any connection is made to the city’s water system an application must be made in writing to the city clerk by the owner of the premises, or his or her authorized representative, for a permit to make such connection.

(Ord. 97; Code 2018)

14-205 Application for service.

(a)Any person, firm or corporation desiring a connection with the municipal water system shall apply in writing to the city clerk, on a form furnished by the city for that purpose, for a permit to make the connection.

(b)The application shall:

(1)Contain an exact description including street address of the property to be served;

(2)State the size of tap required;

(3)State the size and kind of service pipe to be used;

(4)State the full name of the owner of the premises to be served;

(5)State the purpose for which the water is to be used;

(6)State any other pertinent information required by the city clerk;

(7)Be signed by the owner or occupant of the premises to be served, or his or her authorized agent.

(c)Each application for a connection permit shall be accompanied by payment of fees and/or costs specified in section 14-207.

(Code 2018)

14-206 City to make connections.

All taps shall be given, street excavations made, corporation cocks inserted, pipes installed from main to curb, and the curb cock installed in a meter box to which the service pipe is to be connected by city employees only.

(Code 2018)

14-207 Connection fees; security deposit.

(a)All new service activations require a $25 non-refundable activation fee in addition to any associated new service costs such as adding a meter or tapping in to the sewer.

(b)A SECURITY DEPOSIT of $120 be required when, during a calendar year, three (3) shut-off notices are delivered OR one (1) non-pay shut-off occurs. This SECURITY DEPOSIT can be split as a Misc. Charge over the next three (3) Utility Bills and will earn interest as specified by law. The SECURITY DEPOSIT will be held until a request for cancellation of service is made and can be applied to a final bill or refunded to the customer once the final bill has been satisfied.

(Ord. 97; Ord. 198; Ord. 211; Ord. 282; Ord. 373; Code 2018; Ord. 404)

14-208 Curb cocks.

There shall be a curb cock in every service line attached to the city main, the same to be placed within the meter box. Curb cocks shall be supplied with strong and suitable “T” handles.

(Code 2018)

14-209 Check valves.

Check valves are required on all connections to steam boilers or on any other connection deemed necessary by the water superintendent. Safety and relief valves shall be placed on all boilers or other steam apparatus connected with the water system where the steam pressure may be raised in excess of 40 pounds per square inch.

(Code 2018)

14-210 Unauthorized service.

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation, other than duly authorized city officials or employees to turn water on or off at the water meter or curb cock shut off, with a key or in any other manner, without first obtaining written permission from the mayor or the governing body.

(Code 2018)

14-211 Meters.

(a)All water furnished to customers shall be metered.

(b)Meters shall be located between the sidewalk or property line and curbing when the main is in the street, and on private property within three feet of the alley line when the main is in the alley. In the business district the meters may be installed in the basement at a location specified by the city.

(c)The city’s responsibility stops at the property line.

(Code 2018)

14-212 Same; testing.

Meters shall be tested before being set and at any other time thereafter when they appear to be measuring incorrectly. If a test is requested by the customer and the meter is found to be accurate within two percent, the meter will be deemed correct and a charge of $10 will be made to the customer.

(Code 2018)

14-213 Tampering with meter.

It shall be unlawful for any person to break the seal of any meter, to alter the register or mechanism of any meter, or to make any outlet or connection in any manner so that water supplied by the city may be used or wasted without being metered. It shall be unlawful for any person except an authorized employee of the water department to turn any curb cock on or off.

(Code 2018)

14-214 Leaks prohibited; penalty.

No allowances shall be made for water used or lost through leaks, carelessness, neglect or otherwise after the same has pass through the meter. However, every customer shall have the right to appeal to the city from water bill or meter reading which he or she may consider excessive.

(Code 2018)

14-215 Disconnection, reconnection charge.

The governing body shall establish, by ordinance, a water service disconnection and reconnection charge. Whenever the city receives a request from a customer for termination of water service the disconnection charge shall be added to the customer’s final bill. Any service disconnected for nonpayment of delinquent bill shall be reconnected only upon payment of the delinquent bill, interest penalty thereon, and the reconnection charge.

(Code 2018)

14-216 Utility deposit.

A security deposit of $120 be required when, during a calendar year, three (3) shut-off notices are delivered or one (1) non-pay shut-off occurs. This security deposit can be split as a Misc. Charge over the next three (3) Utility Bills and will earn interest as specified by law.

At the time of making application for water service, the property owner or customer shall make a cash deposit to secure payment of accrued bills or bills due on discontinuance of service.

(Ord. 193; Ord. 368; Code 2018)

14-217 Interrupt service.

The city reserves the right to interrupt water service for the purpose of making repairs or extensions to water lines or equipment.

(Code 2018)

14-218 Prohibited acts.

It shall be a violation of this article for any unauthorized person to:

(a)Perform any work upon the pipes or appurtenances of the city’s waterworks system beyond a private property line unless such person is employed by the city;

(b)Make any connections with any extension of the supply pipes of any consumer without written permission to do so having been first obtained from the governing body;

(c)Remove, handle or otherwise molest or disturb any meter, meter lid, cutoff, or any other appurtenances to the water system of the city.

(Code 2018)

14-219 Wasting water.

Water users shall prevent unnecessary waste of water and shall keep sprinklers, hydrants, faucets and all apparatus, including the service line leading from the property to the meter in good condition at their expense.

(Code 2018)

14-220 Right of access.

Authorized employees of the city may enter upon any premises at reasonable hours for the purpose of reading the meter or servicing or inspecting meters or water lines.

(Code 2018)

14-221 Rates.

(a)Subject to subsection (c), the following monthly rates and charges shall apply for the use of water from the waterworks system supplied by the City of Overbrook, Kansas:

(1)Minimum charge for first 1,000 gallons is $15.21

(2)All over 1,000 gallons = $8.90/1,000 gallons or fraction thereof.

(3)Public schools within the city limits of Overbrook are now subject to the minimum.

(b)This rate change eliminates the convenience charge for making credit card/ACH payments to the City through the City online payment portal. Please note that this does not apply to charges that your bank (or credit card company, etc.) may charge you.

(c)A 10% rate increase on subsection (a) rates will be effective January 1, 2021; a 9% rate increase on subsection (a) rates will be effective each January 1st through 2023; a 5% rate increase on subsection (a) rates will be effective January 1, 2024; a 5% rate increase on subsection (a) rates will be effective January 1, 2025; thereafter, beginning January 1, 2026, a 2% rate increase on subsection (a) rates will be effective annually each year on January 1^st.

(Ord. 153; Ord. 193; Ord. 235; Ord. 249; Ord. 272; Ord. 308; Ord. 363; Code 2018; Ord. 402; Ord. 415)

14-222 Payment of bills.

All water bills for the previous month’s water service shall be paid as described in section 14-102.

(Code 2018)

14-223 Delinquent accounts; water.

Water service shall be terminated for nonpayment of service fees or charges as described in Article 1.

(Code 2018)

14-224 Use during fire.

No person owning or occupying premises connected to the municipal water system shall use or allow to be used during a fire any water from the water system except for the purpose of extinguishing the fire. Upon the sounding of a fire alarm it shall be the duty of every such person to see that all water services are tightly closed and that no water is used except in extraordinary cases of emergency during the fire.

(Code 2018)