§ 27-82. Water system; unauthorized work.

(a)

No person, unless expressly authorized by the POD, shall tamper with, work on, or in any way alter or damage any City water facility. Tampering or work shall include, but is not limited to, opening or closing of valves, turning on hydrants, or causing any water to flow from the water system. No unauthorized person shall cut into or make any connection with the water system. The offending person shall be liable for the cost of all charges attributable to the correction of such tampering, including legal expenses and the cost of estimated water losses which resulted from such tampering. Payment for or correction of such damage shall not relieve the offending person from civil or criminal penalties the City or a court of law may impose for a violation of City ordinance.

(b)

The service valve (curb stop) located at the customer's water meter may be operated to discontinue service or complete repairs of the customer's private water plumbing.

(c)

Tampering with a water service, whether active, standby or removed is prohibited. Tampering includes but is not limited to unauthorized operation of a service valve (curb stop) except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, damaging or circumventing a service lock, installation of a straight pipe (water theft), meter tampering, and other unauthorized use of water. The City may remove the water service to any premises where such tampering has occurred. Any subsequent reconnection of the premises to the water system shall require payment of a connection fee as provided in section 27-109.

(Code 1973, § 28-20; Code 1992, § 27-103)