Section 7 click here for PDF
WATER SERVICE LINES

7.01 Ownership and Maintenance: All water service lines, valves, and appurtenant fixtures, with the exception of the meter set, are owned and must be maintained by the property owner. All costs for installation, maintenance, and/or replacement of these are the responsibility of the property owner. The Board may refuse to deliver water to any property whose water service line is improperly designed or constructed, or which is not in proper condition to carry and convey water. Leaks on a customer’s service line or private main must be repaired within ten (10) days of the date the Board notifies the customer. If the Board determines that the leak is causing substantial property damage or wasting a significant amount of water, the Board will provide seventy-two (72) hours written notice to the customer that the leak must be repaired or the Board will shut off the leaking service line or private main and bill the customer for costs incurred by the Board.  In cases where the leak is a safety risk or is causing extreme damage to public or private property, the Board may elect to shut the water off immediately and will make every effort to notify the customer in advance.

7.02 Installation: All water service lines must be installed in accordance with Board water service line specifications and any applicable regulations in the City of Pueblo Code of Ordinances. All valves and/or any other appurtenances must be installed at location(s) specified by the Board. See Appendix G.

7.03 Abandonment: When water service is abandoned and/or the building being served is demolished, the property owner’s service line will be disconnected from the water main and the corporation stop or valve at the main will be closed, and any associated costs become the property owner's responsibility.  If the property owner does not disconnect the water service after thirty (30) days’ notice, the Board will disconnect the water service and bill the property owner for the cost. The Executive Director or his designated representative may authorize the granting of an extension of one (1) year.  A written request for extension must be submitted in advance to the Division Manager of Transmission & Distribution (see Section 6.06 and Appendix D, item VI, part D). No refund shall be made to any customer for abandonment of water service.

7.04 Fire Protection Service Lines: A fire protection service is completely separate from any other service line.  Each fire protection service line must have its own tap or tee off of a Board or private water main.

7.05 Locating Water Service Lines: The Board will assist in locating water service lines, mains, valves, and meter sets at no charge. The Board accepts no responsibility for lost time or any expense incurred if the location is missed.

7.06 Cross-Connection Inspection: All water connections served by the Board are subject to a cross-connection inspection or survey. In addition, all customers served by the Board must comply with the following:

A. Disconnect alternative water sources from the water service lines receiving water from the Board's system.

B. Eliminate all hazardous cross-connections and back siphonage conditions.

C. Install and maintain on each potable water service line or private main (see Section 10.02I.) serving any commercial property, a Board approved Reduced Pressure Principle Back flow Assembly. The purpose of the back flow assembly is to protect the Board's water customers and system.

D. Install and maintain Board approved backflow assemblies on all fire protection systems.

E. Annually test the backflow prevention assemblies and provide written certification to the Board from a Board approved tester that such assemblies pass the required testing. Failure to provide written certification to the Board within ten (10) days of the annual test date (based on initial date of installation) will result in discontinuance of water service until such time as written certification is received.

F.Meet all requirements of the City of Pueblo Code of Ordinances, the State of Colorado Cross Connection Manual, and Article 12 of the Colorado Primary Drinking Water Regulations.

7.07 Unmetered Water Service Lines: For all unmetered water service lines which are discovered, the property owners will be required to pay six (6) years’ back water charges assuming minimum usage on the size meter corresponding to the service line size originating from the main.  In addition, property owners who have unmetered service lines larger than one-inch (1") are responsible for the associated meter set fees since these oversized meters required an additional fee during the metering program.  A meter set fee will also be required in those cases where the unmetered line is a second line into a property.  The property owner may, at his option, abandon the service at his expense, only paying the back water charges, with all meter set fees being waived.  In cases of flagrant violation of the rules and regulations in which the water service line was not missed during the meter program but, in fact, was installed in violation of Board rules and regulations, then the applicable meter set and plant water investment fees will be assessed if the owner does not abandon the service line.  In addition, the property owner will be required to pay, as damages, up to three times the amount of the Board’s actual costs and/or expenses (based on normal/average consumption for a similar type customer) if any, plus all reasonable expenses and costs incurred, including, but not limited to, costs and expenses for investigation, disconnection, reconnection, service calls, labor, equipment, and expert witnesses; costs of the suit; and reasonable attorney fees.  The Executive Director or his designated representative may waive all or a portion of the above-mentioned fees in cases where no monetary damage has been sustained by the Board due to the property in question being vacant or unused for some portion of time.

Revised: 08/19/08