ADOPTION DATE:   October 7,1998

                                     Revision #1 Dated September 7,2001

                                      Revision #2 Dated September 1,2006

                                     Revision #3 Dated November 2,2007

RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING POLICY:

Manager, Governing Board

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It is accepted utility practice in the United States among utilities located in suburban and rural areas that fire protection be provided only in areas where population density justifies the installation of storage tanks and pipelines  adequately sized  to meet fire flow requirements. Tanks and pipelines cannot be sized to meet fire flow requirements if customer density will not create a sufficient turnover in water usage, since water that remains in such low use areas over long periods of time is prone to taste and odor problems, bacterial growth, dissipation of chlorine residual and other quality and health concerns.  Additionally, the costs of providing fire service that meets strict state and insurance guidelines go far beyond merely adding fire hydrants.

The utility is run for the benefit of all present and future customers, and while no customer shall intentionally be treated unfairly, no customer shall be treated in a way that compromises the interests of other current and future customers.

LIMITATIONS

The utility is subject to various state and federal regulations and has no discretion to provide fire protection  service in a manner which would violate these regulations.

POLICY STATEMENT

1 ... The utility reserves the right to install and approve the installation of all fire hydrants at any place within its system as it deems necessary and appropriate and to refuse to allow hydrants on all or any part of the system if it is determined that the system can not adequately support such hydrants.

2... The utility reserves the right to approve the location and specifications of fire hydrants and appurtenances on all lines furnished by others in subdivisions, commercial or industrial areas or other such locations.

3 ... All fire hydrants and appurtenances shall be installed either by the utility or by an approved contractor, with installation meeting the utility’s specifications.

4 ... Fire hydrants will be installed at the customers expense.  The cost  for an approved hydrant tap is $4000.00.  There is a one time maintenance fee of $300.00.  The total amount must be paid prior to start of work.

5... No fire hydrant shall be operated by anyone other than authorized fire department or utility personnel, without the written consent of the utility.

6 ... Fire hydrants shall be operated only with a wrench that is approved by the utility.

7 ... Fire hydrants shall be color coded by  painting the hydrant bonnet (cap of hydrant),according to the following standard, at 20 psi residual pressure:

a) Orange  minimum of 500 gpm at 20 psi

b) Red cannot supply 500 gpm at 20 psi

8 ... The utility does not in any way guarantee any pressure or flow minimums with regard to fire hydrants or sprinkler systems.

9... All fire hydrants and their appurtenances shall be installed within utility easements on private property whenever possible and not within any public right-of-way.

10... Customers must pay for all labor and materials necessary to properly install fire hydrants that are not normally supplied by the utility.

11 ... Customers or builders who wish to use hydrants to fill swimming pools or to obtain water to construct buildings must obtain permission from the utility.

12 ... When hydrants are used for such purposes as building construction or filling of pools, a reducing appliance shall be attached to the nozzle of the hydrant with an independent valve capable of regulating the supply. The main valve of the hydrant must be fully opened at the beginning of each work day and remain fully opened until the close of work at night, at which time it must be fully closed.

13 ... Any unauthorized person operating a hydrant without the consent of the utility shall be liable for water usage as estimated by the utility and any damage to equipment.

14 ... Hydrant damage caused by vehicle accidents or any other circumstance shall be reimbursed by the responsible party.

15 ... All fire sprinkler systems shall be subject to the approval of the utility.

16 ... Customers are not permitted to use the water from sprinkler systems for any purpose other than fire protection.

17 ... No cross-connection is allowed between the sprinkler system and potable water lines.

18 ... The utility shall have right of access  during business hours to customers’ premises for the purpose of inspecting fire protection systems.

19 ... Facilities installed for providing water to automatic sprinkler systems for fire protection shall be owned and maintained by the customer.

20 ... Multiple connections for sprinkler service to one structure that is in service at the effective date of this policy shall, for billing purposes only, be considered a single connection.

21... By furnishing water service to a customer, the utility assumes no responsibility for seeing that the customer’s installation complies with any codes, regulations or standards other than those of the utility.

22...  After installation the hydrant becomes a part of the utility system, and is the sole property of the utility district.

23...  All water used for fire suppression for a customer’s property shall be billed to the customer based upon the fire officials estimate of gallons used.  Water will be billed at the current per/1000 gallon rate.

 24…  All water used for non-essential use shall be billed to the responsible individual based upon the fire officials or district manager’s estimate of gallons used.  (The responsible individual will be the determination of the district manager).  Water will be billed at the current per/1000 gallon rate.

RECORD KEEPING DURATION

All records regarding fire protection service shall be kept indefinitely.

OMISSIONS

In the absence of specific rules or policies, the disposition of situations involving fire protection service shall be made by the governing board in accordance with its usual and customary practices.