ORD 2006-09 CITY WATER METERS
ORDINANCE 2006-09
AN ORDINANCE of the City of Bainbridge Island,
Washington, establishing new requirements for city water
meters; modifying the requirements for applications to
connect to the city's water system; and amending
Sections 13.08.040 and 13.08..050 of the Bainbridge
Island Municipal Code.
WHEREAS, the City has developed a more consistent and efficient process for
reviewing and approving water and sewer service availability requests, and
WHEREAS, an improved foml for requesting water service availability has been
developed; and
WHEREAS, the City believes that the installation of a separate city water meter for each
separate building served requires higher city maintenance and repair costs, and results in higher
utility billing costs; and
WHEREAS, the City has determined that there is no fundamental engrncenng
requirement for a separate water for each separate building served; and
WHEREAS, the City believes that requiring a separate city water meter for each separate
building served is a financial disincentive to achieving a Comprehensive Plan growth strategy of
a compact, mixed use town center with building forms that provide for pedestrian walkways and
plazas, and
WHEREAS, the City has detennined that improving the management of water flow
through city water meters is in the City's best interest; now, therefore
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WASHINGTON, DO
ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1.
follows:
Section 13.08.040 of the Bainbridge Island Municipal Code IS amended as
"13.08.040 Meters required.
A. All connections to the city's water system, other than for fire protection,
shall be metered by a city water meter of one ofthe types approved by the city.
B. When more than one building, duplex, mobile home or separate dwelling is
connected to one meter, each such building., duplex, mobile home or separate
dwelling must be provided with separate shutoff valves in good working order, so
that such unit may be shut off without disturbing service to the remaining units.
Every such separate unit not already equipped with the shutoff valve as provided
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in this Subsection must be so equipped at the owner's expense as soon as the
defect is known or found to exist.
C. No ,vater meter shall be removed or 111 any way disturbed except by an
authorized representative of the city.
D. All meters shall be and remain the property of the city and shall be
removed only by the city when the use of water on the premises is to be entirely
stopped or the service connection discontinued or abandoned.
E. On and after March 1, 1999, a person applying to connect to the city's
water system or to change his or her use of the city's water system shall provide a
separate city water meter for each separate category of use.
F. A person applying to connect to the city's water system or to change his or
her use of the city's water system may connect more than one building, place of
business, duplex, mobile home or separate dwelling to one city water meter;
provided, that all buildings, duplexes, mobile homes or separate dwellings
connected to one city water meter shall have one owner or owner's association
who shall be legally responsible for the payment of the cOlTesponding city uti lit l'
water bills. A change in ownership or owner's association which would result in
property owned by more than one owner or owner's association being connected
to a single city water meter shall require the installation of additional city water
meters pursuant to the requirements of this Chapter.
G. A city water meter shall be sized to provide for a maximum rate of
continuous water flow that is less than the water meter manufacturer's published
maximum continuous flow rate and that is less than the maximum flow rate as
established by the American Water Works Association. A city water meter shall
be sized to provide for a maximum rate of intermittent water flow that is less than
the water meter manufacturer's published maximum intem1ittent flow rate.
H. A person whose property is connected to the city's water system shall
apply for City approval to install a larger city water meter or to install additional
city water meters when a condition is known or reasonably anticipated that will
cause the maximum rate of continuous water flow to be greater than the water
meter manufacturer's published maximum continuous flow rate or the maximum
now rate established by the American Water Works Association, or will cause the
maximum rate of intermittent water flow to be greater than the water meter
manufacturer's published maximum intermittent flow rate.
1. A person ''''hose property was connected to the city's water system on or
before February 28, 2003, and has a single line serving both a required fire
sprinkler system and domestic needs may, ail that person's option and expense,
install a double-check backflow prevention device and thereafter pay monthly
charges based on the size of the line serving only that person's domestic needs"
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Section 2.
follows:
Section 13.08.050 of the Bainbridge Island Municipal Code is amended to read as
'"13.08.050 Application requirements.
A. The owner of property within the city's water service area as identified in
the city's comprehensive plan requiring water service shall not be allowed to
install a well if the distance from the propcliy to an existing water main, with
capacity to serve the property, is 300 feet or less. The distance shall be measured
as a straight-line distance from the end of the main to the nearest comer or edge of
the property to be served. The owner of the property shall apply to the city for
water service, extend the water main, install hydrants and connect the property to
the city's water system in accordance with this title. In addition, the owner of
property containing a building or structure for human occupancy or other use
necessitating water service, which is within the city's water service area and
which is located within 300 feet of a water main, and whose water supply has
been certi fied by the local health officer to be a health hazard, shall apply to the
city [or water service, extend the water main, install hydrants, and connect the
property to the city's utility system in accordance with this chapter.
B. Within the city's water service area, an owner of property requesting water
service shall be required to extend an existing water main \\lith capacity to serve
the propeliy if:
1. The distance from the propeliy to the main is 300 feet or less in all
cases.
2. The distance from a plat or PUD to the main is greater than 300 feet
where water is available for firefighting in accordance with Resolution 98-34, as
amended.
All water main extensions shall be sized and configured in accordance with
the city's water system plan and the city's design and construction standards and
specifications.
C. A person applying to request city water system capacity availability, to
connect to the city's water system, or to change his or her use of the city's water
system shall request approval on a printed fon11 to be provided by the City. The
application shall contain the subject parcel tax account, owner, agent, application
purpose, CUlTent or previous site use, and proposed site LIse information. The
applicant shall complete and attach to the application a project summary in the
format required by the city, a cross-connection control analysis fon11 to be
provided by the city, and a site plan at Y2 drawing scale showing proposed water
mains and water meters for all applications other than for a change in LIse that
does not require a building pel111it. Water meter size engineering data for all
proposed uses other than [or single family residential shall be attached to the
application in the fon11at required by the city. The application shall be signed by
the owner ofthe premises to be served, or the owner's duly authorized agent, and
shall be filed with the city. The applicant shall pay all related application and
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processing fees and costs, as established by resolution or ordinance of the city
council."
Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force forty five (45) days from and after
its passage, approval and publication as provided by law.
PASSED by the City Council this 22nd day of March, 2006.
APPROVED by the Mayor this 24th day of March, 2006.
e~~OI~~~
T/AUTHENTICATE:
/ ..' '/l) J..J
- ~~/
~~ Isan Kasper, City Clerk
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK:
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL:
PUBLISHED:
EFFECTIVE DATE:
ORDINANCE NO.: 2006-09
March 15, 2006
March 22, 2006
March 29, 2006
May G, 2006
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