A. City Installation. Upon application of any customer installing an automatic sprinkler system for fire protection service only, the department shall permit laying of service lines to the affected property line. Such installations shall be made in accordance with city standards and shall be approved prior to connection to the building.

B. Meters not Required. A meter shall not be required on such automatic sprinkler system installed for fire protection service, provided that there is an approved backflow assembly and a water motorized flow alarm on sprinkler system pipes going into the building and that no water is drawn from such service for any purpose other than firefighting. Customers shall report water use volume for any nonfirefighting related purposes and shall be charged at the applicable customer class rate of their primary domestic service. No fire protection monthly base user charge will be made for customers receiving separate metered domestic water to the structure or property served. Customers not receiving domestic metered water shall be charged the minimum monthly user charge based upon the size of the fire service line in accordance with rates in VMC 14.04.210(A)(1), in addition to any reimbursement or main line fees. This subsection shall not apply to single-family residential structures; all single-family residential fire protection services shall be metered.

C. The department requires that all new single-family dwelling residential structure combination domestic/fire sprinkler service and meters be served by a minimum one-inch service and one-inch meter. The customer is required to pay all fees to construct said one-inch service and one-inch meter and all applicable main charges. The monthly customer charge will be at the standard charge for a one-inch meter as set forth in VMC 14.04.210(A)(1).

D. If a residential customer has an existing three-quarters-inch by five-eighths-inch service and meter that shows inadequate flow capacity, the customer will be required to pay the additional fees to retire the three-quarters-inch service and install a new one-inch service. The monthly customer charge will be at the standard charge for a one-inch meter as set forth in VMC 14.04.210(A)(1).

E. Meter Bypass. The department may at any time place a small meter bypass around the main gate valve to detect leakage or unauthorized use of water.

F. Repairing Defective Equipment. Immediately upon notice from the department, the customer shall repair or replace any defective piping and cease unauthorized use of water.

G. Service Termination on Failure to Comply. For failure of the customer to comply with the rules and regulations as directed, the department may terminate the service and render an estimated bill for the water used or wasted, and may install a meter in the service at the customer’s expense and charge thereafter at the regular rate for metered service.

H. Liability in Fire. The city shall not be held responsible or liable for any fire loss or damage of any nature directly or indirectly caused by the condition of the customer’s fire mains or other apparatus, by flow or fluctuating pressure, by amount of water available, or by shutoff for nonpayment, to make tests or to enforce rules. (Ord. M-4359 § 1, 2021; Ord. M-4022 § 25, 2012; Ord. M-2803 § 1, 1989; Ord. M-2520 § 6, 1985; Ord. M-1167 § 11, 1970; Ord. M-810 § 14, 1966; Ord. M-479, 1959; Ord. M-298, 1956; Ord. M-144 § 20, 1954)