GMU Water Service Rules

WATER SERVICE RULES

FOR

GREENFIELD MUNICIPAL UTILITIES

GREENFIELD, IOWA 50849

EFFECTIVE DATE - April 5, 1996

Revised – March 12, 2002

Revised – April 14, 2009

Revised – June 11, 2015

GMU WATER SERVICE RULES          PAGE #1

DIVISION ONE -- STATEMENTS OF OPERATION

SECTION 1.1  PURPOSE

These service rules have been adopted by the Board of Trustees of Green­field Municipal Utilities. The rules are subject to change from time to time to ensure safe and efficient service in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

SECTION 1.2  APPLICABILITY

These service rules are intended to broadly govern operation of the municipal water utility.  Where a rule cannot be reasonably applied to a specific situation, the Board of Trustees reserves the right to act in an adjudicative capacity to resolve such conflicts.

Rates and charges are not included in these service rules. References to rates or charges and certain other terms and conditions of service "adopted by the Board of Trustees" refer to applicable resolutions adopted by the Board of Trustees.

SECTION 1.3  DEFINITIONS

Unless another meaning is specifically indicated, when used in these rules:

a.  "Complaint" means a statement or question by anyone, whether a utility customer or not, alleging a wrong, grievance, injury, dissatis­faction, illegal action or procedure, dangerous condition or action, or utility obligation. The utility may require that complaints be in writ­ing.

b.  "Customer" is the account holder or any person, firm, association, or corporation, any agency of the federal, state or local government, or legal entity di­rectly benefiting from water service from the water utility. In the case of a residence, customer also means other adult persons occupying the residence, which means they are receiving benefit from the water service.

c.   "Delinquent or delinquency" means an account for which a service bill or service payment has not been paid in full on or before the last date for timely payment.

d.  "Board of Trustees" means the governing board established under Chapter 388, Code of Iowa.

g. "Meter" a device that measures and registers the use of water.

h.   "Timely Payment" is a payment on a customer's account made on or before the date shown on a current bill for service, or on a form which records an agreement between the customer and a utility for a series of partial payments to settle a delinquent account, as payment charge to the current bill or future collection efforts.

i.  "Utility" means Greenfield Municipal Utilities.

GMU WATER SERVICE RULES          PAGE #2

DIVISION TWO -- SERVICE CHARACTERISTICS

SECTION 2.1 SERVICE CHARACTERISTICS (General Statement)

The Utility shall maintain at it’s expense that portion of the service line from the main to the lot or easement line (or master meter location in the case of a privately owned rural service line), including the necessary tap, fittings, pipe and curb stop with riser, after it is installed at the customers expense to the utility's specifications. The customer shall install and maintain at its expense that portion of the service line from said lot or easement line (or master meter location) to his premises. All service lines shall be sized by the utility and installed at a depth of five (5) feet.  Service lines under the size of two (2) inch shall be constructed of type "k" copper from the main to the meter. Service lines of two (2) inch and larger may be constructed of other materials, approved by the superintendent, with a minimum rating of 200 PSI and provisions for locating.

SECTION 2.2 ENGINEERING PRACTICE

Facilities of the utility shall be constructed, installed, maintained and operated in accordance with accepted good engineering practice in the water industry to assure, as far as reasonably possible, continuity of service and safety of people and property.

The utility shall make all reasonable efforts to eliminate interruption of service, and when such interruptions occur will endeavor to reestablish service with the shortest possible delay. Whenever the service is interrupted for the purpose of working on the water system, all custom­ers will be notified in advance, whenever possible and practical to do so.

The utility shall in no event be held responsible for any claims made against it by reason of the breaking of any mains or service pipe, or by reason of any other interruption caused by the malfunction of equipment or stoppage for necessary repairs; and no person shall be entitled to damages nor refund of payment for any interruption of service deemed necessary by the utility.

Due to the elevation changes in the water service area some customers may experience higher than normal water pressures, primarily in areas at or below an elevation of 1260 feet. Also customers within 1000 feet of the water treatment plant may experience swings in their pressure of 20-30 PSI. The Utility shall make a reasonable effort to notify new customers to these areas to point out the problems with the higher and swinging pressures. No person or customer shall be entitled to any payment for damages caused by the higher and/or swinging pressures.

GMU WATER SERVICE RULES          PAGE #3

SECTION 2.3  SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

Except for facilities defined in section 2.1 of these rules as a responsibility of the utility, the customer shall be responsible for all pipes and plumbing equipment on his or her premises. The installation and maintenance of customer facilities shall be consistent with standards imposed by the state plumbing code of Iowa and or the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

The customer's facilities shall be subject to inspection by the utility during normal working hours. No inspection or approval of a customer's compliance with this section by the utility or other agent of the munic­ipal government shall be construed to impose any duty or liability on the utility, but shall be considered solely for the purpose of ensuring protection of the utility's property and continuity of service to cus­tomers of the utility.

SECTION 2.4  METER INSTALLATION

Water meters shall be sized by the utility. Water meters shall be in­stalled horizontally, with an inlet meter valve (Ford B43-332W or equal) and an outlet back-flow preventer (*) (Ford HHC31-323 dual check valve or equal). The water meters shall also be installed with a permanent ground strap mounted ahead of the meter valve to a point beyond the check valve, using clamps (Blackburn J grounding clamp or equal) and  #6 stranded copper wire (installed with a loop to facilitate easy removal of the meter).

For 1" and smaller water meters install prior to October 2,1992, remote readers, meter valves, back-flow preventers and ground straps will be installed by the utility, when meters need maintained, at no cost to the owner and or customer. Water meters larger than 1" shall be treated the same, with the customer being charged for all costs above that of a 1" meter.

The water meter, remote reader & wire, meter valve, back-flow preventer (**) and ground strap will be maintained free of charge by the utility (after original approved installation, paid for by the customer), except when damaged by freezing, hot water or through carelessness, neglect or tampering by the owner and or customer.

* An expansion tank is required to protect the customer's water system when a back-flow preventer is used. The utility will supply an expansion tank (to be installed and maintained by the cust