15.08.040 Water service connections.
A. When the premises is located within the city of Bellingham and fully abuts upon a street or city-owned utility easement through which there is a city water main, the premises’ owner may apply for a service. Upon approval of the service by the director of public works and upon such conditions as required by the director, the director of public works shall issue a permit for its installation.
B. When the premises within the city limits for which service is sought does not fully abut a street or city-owned utility easement through which there is a city water main, the application for service may be accepted for review; however, the utility must be constructed and accepted by the city prior to approval of building permits for the adjacent land use. The public works director has the administrative authority to determine if the property requesting service is the last developable lot and may grant an exception for service without requiring a main extension.
C. When the premises for which service is sought does not fully abut a main with sufficient pressure and capacity to provide the required flow at the property line, the application for service may be accepted for review; however, the deficiency of pressure or capacity must be improved prior to issuance of the permit.
D. All premises supplied with city water must have an individual and separate water meter. Premises so supplied will not be allowed to supply water to any other premises. The public works director may require individual buildings on any premises to be separately metered; however, auxiliary uses to single-family residential parcels shall not require separate meters. The director may exempt fire protection services from this requirement.
E. All water service connections shall be metered.
F. All water service customers who are not served by a water meter shall be connected to a city water meter by the city and shall be charged for measured consumption plus the base cost of service.
G. Infill housing sites developed under Chapter 20.28 BMC may be divided into lots that do not abut a water main, provided:
1. The parent site meets the requirements of this BMC 15.08.040;
2. A separate private water service line is installed to city standards from a main to each lot prior to final plat approval;
3. The public works director determines that no main extension is necessary for the orderly extension or efficient looping of the public water system.
H. In all cases where meters are damaged, stolen, altered, lost, injured or broken by owners or occupants of premises, they shall be replaced or repaired under the direction of the director of public works and the cost charged against the owner or occupant; and in case of nonpayment for meter damage, the water shall be shut off, and will not be turned on until such charge and the charge for turning on the water are paid in the same manner as provided for delinquent payments. [Ord. 2012-12-060 § 3; Ord. 2009-08-048; Ord. 2008-08-081; Ord. 2006-08-081; Ord. 2004-11-081 § 4; Ord. 9618 § 12, 1986; Ord. 9073 § 5, 1982; Ord. 8982 § 15, 1981].