Water Department
Who Maintains my Service Line?
This is a question that we hear often. The answer to this
question is determined by City Code Section 16-33 which was
established by City Officials while organizing the Water
Department.
In Kendallville, the Ordinances explain that the City of
Kendallville will maintain only the main water lines and the
water meter. A main water line is the large lines that run down
the streets in front of your homes. The sizes range from four
(4) inches in diameter to twelve (12) inches in diameter.
When a business or resident builds a facility and request
city water, they must get permission through permits to tap into
our main lines and place a corporation stop in the large main
(Section 16-34), (Section 16-66), (Section 16-91). A corporation
stop is an underground valve that would have the capability of
being turned on and off at the main line. At this point, the
customer would arrange to have approved underground pipe
(Section 16-41) ran from the corporation stop to another
underground valve somewhere in front of the home or business.
This second valve would have a curb box mounted on top of it
to allow access to the valve, even though it is several feet
under the ground. The curb box resembles a pipe that starts at
the top of the valve and extends vertically to the surface. A
lid is then placed on the pipe-like structure to prevent dirt
and debris from entering the curb box assembly and blocking the
top of the valve.
Another line is then installed from the second valve to the
inside of the home where a meter will be installed to monitor
water usage (Section 16-122) The City pays 2/3 of the cost of
the meter and remote reader while the resident pays 1/3 (Section
16-124). This meter is then wired for the remote reader, which
is installed on the outside of the home to allow the Water
Department employee to read the meter without entering the home.
All work is to be inspected by the Water Department before any
fill can be added (Section 16-36).
The second valve and curb box assembly enables the Water
Department employees to access the valve in the case that an
owner chooses to be disconnected, or in the case that the owner
needs to have the water turned off for plumbing repairs or the
case of non-payment of a water bill. There is a fee for water
being turned on or off listed in the Current Rates section
(Section 16-135), (Section 16-136).
City code (Section 16-32) states that this valve may not be
accesses without permission from the Superintendent of the Water
Department. This protects the City from having water turned on
in a non-paying or non-metered situation.
The owner of the residence or business is responsible for the
upkeep of the water line, starting at and including the
corporation stop at the main line, all water lines, the curb box
and valve, and all plumbing to and including the household
plumbing. In addition, the second valve and curb box must be
maintained so that it is accessible and working at all times at
the owner’s expense (Section 16-33).
The Water Department will maintain the water meter, remote
reader and remote wire unless the meter has been abused by
force, neglect or freezing. In these cases, the new meter will
be installed at the owner’s expense (Section 16-137).
If a future council decides to change this agreement, it is
would likely require that the Water Department purchase more
equipment and employ more people to be able to maintain and
repair these service lines. Many cities have chosen this path
and raised rates to accommodate these services. If this law is
changed, we will update this sight.
If you have any further questions about this subject, feel
free to contact the Superintendent of the
Kendallville Water Department.
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