Chapter 15 · Utilities

Article 2. Water

Sections 15-201 to 15-226 · 26 sections

15-201 Creation.

A municipal water system to serve the domestic water needs of the citizens of the city and surrounding areas is hereby created and in connection with the operation of the municipal water system, there is hereby created a water utility department to be staffed with personnel at the discretion of the city.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 1)

15-202 Regulations.

The furnishing of water to customers by the city through the municipal water system shall be governed by the regulations set out in this article.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 2)

15-203 Maintaining connections to the municipal water system required.

(a)It shall be unlawful for the owner of premises located within the City when the premises abut a street, alley or right-of-way in which public water lines are located, to fail at the owner’s expense to connect to the public water line within thirty (30) days from the date such owner receives notice from the City that a public water line that abuts the premises of the owner is available to be connected to.

(b)An owner or other person authorized by the owner shall, before connecting to the public water line, make an application for such that includes the following information to the City Administrator or designee: served;

(1)An exact description including street address of the property to be

(2)The size of tap required;

(3)The size and kind of service pipe to be used;

(4)The full name of the owner of the premises to be served;

(5)The purpose for which the water is to be used;

(6)Any other pertinent information required by the City Administrator;

(c)Each application for a connection permit shall be accompanied by payment of fees and/or costs specified in Section 15-205.

(Ord. 643)

15-204 City to make connections.

All taps shall be given, street excavations made, corporation cocks inserted, pipes installed from main to curb, and the curb cock installed in a meter box to which the service pipe is to be connected by authorized city representatives only.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 4)

15-205 Connection fees.

No one shall tap or hook onto or into the City water lines without first applying for water service from the City of Maize, Kansas.

(a)The following connection fees are established. These fees will apply to service connections (all users per connection) made upon application to tap or hook into the City water lines:

(1)3/4-inch or smaller meter – $1,000.

(2)1-inch meter – $1,300.

(3)Meters larger than 1-inch shall be assessed a minimum fee of $1,900. If the cost of meter, equipment and installation is more than the minimum, the fee will be the cost of the meter, equipment and installation plus a 5% servicing fee.

(b)In addition, a plant equity fee in the following amount shall be assessed to all users per connection. This fee shall be assessed upon application to tap or hook into the City water lines:

(1)¾-inch or smaller meter-$1,100

(2)1-inch meter-$1,500

(3)1 ½-inch meter-$2,100

(4)2-inch meter-$2,600

(5)3-inch meter-$3,600

(6)4-inch meter-$5,100

(7)6-inch meter-$7,600

(8)meters larger than 6-inch shall be assessed a fee of $11,000

(Ord. 883)

15-206 Curb cocks.

There shall be a curb cock in every service line attached to the city main, the same to be placed within the meter box. Curb cocks shall be supplied with strong and suitable T handles.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 6)

15-207 Check valves.

Check valves are required on all connections to steam boilers or on any other connection deemed necessary by the water superintendent. Safety and relief valves shall be placed on all boilers or other steam apparatus connected with the water system where the steam pressure may be raised in excess of 40 pounds per square inch.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 7)

15-208 Unauthorized service.

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation, other than duly authorized city officials or employees to turn water on or off at the water meter or curb cock shut off, with a key or in any other manner, without first obtaining written permission from the mayor or the governing body.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 8)

15-209 Meters.

(a)All water furnished to customers shall be metered.

(b)Meters shall be located between the sidewalk or property line and curbing when the main is in the street, and on private property within three feet of any alley line when the main is in the alley.

(c)The city’s responsibility stops at the meter.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 9)

15-210 Same; testing.

Meters shall be tested before being set and at any other time thereafter when they appear to be measuring incorrectly. If a test is requested by the customer and the meter is found to be accurate within two percent, the meter will be deemed correct and a charge of $10 will be made to the customer.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 10)

15-211 Tampering with meter.

It shall be unlawful for any person to break the seal of any meter, to alter the register or mechanism of any meter, or to make any outlet or connection in any manner so that water supplied by the city may be used or wasted without being metered. It shall be unlawful for any person except an authorized employee of the water department to turn any curb cock on or off.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 11)

15-212 Leaks prohibited; penalty.

No allowances shall be made for water used or lost through leaks, carelessness, negligent or otherwise after the same has passed through the meter. However, every customer shall have the right to appeal to the city from water bill or meter reading that he or she may consider excessive.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 12)

15-213 Disconnection, reconnection charge.

Any service disconnection for nonpayment of delinquent bill shall be reconnected only upon payment of the delinquent bill, interest penalty thereon, and a reconnection fee of Fifty Dollars ($50.00).

(Ord. 685, Sec. 2)

15-214 Utility deposit.

At the time of making application for water service, the property owner or customer shall make a cash deposit in the amount and manner specified in section 15-203 to secure payment of accrued bills or bills due on discontinuance of service.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 14)

15-215 Interrupt service.

The city reserves the right to interrupt water service for the purpose of making repairs or extensions to water lines or equipment.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 15)

15-216 Prohibited acts.

It shall be a violation of this article for any unauthorized person to:

(a)Perform any work upon the pipes or appurtenances of the city’s waterworks system beyond a private property line unless such person is employed by the city.

(b)Make any connections with any extension of the supply pipes of any consumer without written permission to do so having been first obtained from the governing body.

(c)Remove, handle, or otherwise molest or disturb any meter, meter lid, cutoff, or any other appurtenances to the water system of the city.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 16)

15-217 Wasting water.

Water users shall prevent unnecessary waste of water and shall keep sprinklers, hydrants, faucets and all apparatus, including the service line leading from the property to the meter in good condition at their expense.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 17)

15-218 Right of access.

Authorized employees of the city may enter upon an premises at reasonable hours for the purpose of reading the meter or servicing or inspecting meters or water lines.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 18)

15-219 Rates for customers.

(a)Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following phrases shall have the meaning set forth as follows:

(1)Billing Period — means a period of time between the dates a Meter is read, which will usually equal approximately one month.

(2)Business Unit — means one separate Business Unit located in a Multi-Unit Commercial Center.

(3)Customer — means a person, partnership, corporation, governmental unit or other legal entity.

(4)Dwelling Unit — means one separate unit that is located within a Multi-Family Complex.

(5)Meter — means a mechanical device which measures and records the quantities of water furnished to a Customer.

(6)Multi-Family Complex — means a single building that consists of two or more separate Dwelling Units.

(7)Multi-Unit Commercial Center — means a single building that consists of two or more separate Business Units.

(8)Premises — means an inhabited building or buildings on a tract of land.

(9)Water Service Connection — means a connection between a Customer’s plumbing and a Meter through which City water is supplied to a Customer.

(b)Rates for Customers Inside the City Limits of the City.

(1)Water service charges per Billing Period will be assessed to Customers who are supplied City water through a Water Service Connection; PROVIDED, Premises that have never been connected to City water are not deemed to be connected to City water for the purpose of being assessed, until the City has provided the Customer of the Premises 30 calendar days’ written notice that the Premises is eligible to be supplied City water.

(2)Customers who have a Water Service Connection in accordance with Section 15-219(b)(1), whether or not any City water volume passes to the Customer, will pay a Base Rate charge per Billing Period as set out in Table 1.

(3)In addition to the Base Rate charge, Customers will pay an additional charge per Billing Period based upon gallons of water used per Billing Period, as measured by the Meter that serves the Customer, for water usage that exceeds 2,999 gallons per Billing Period, at rates set in Table 1.

(4)The Base Rate and the additional charges will be adjusted on an annual basis on each December 31st as set forth in Tables 1 and 2.

Table 1: Water User Rates – as of January 1, 2026

Description	2026	2027	2028	2029	2030
Base Rate ($/Mo) Inc. 2,999 gal
5/8” & 3/4”	$27.56	$28.66	$29.81	$31.00	$32.24
1”	$35.88	$37.32	$38.81	$40.36	$41.97
1 ½”	$44.20	$45.97	$47.81	$49.72	$51.71
2”	$53.56	$55.70	$57.93	$60.25	$62.66
3”	$63.96	$66.52	$69.18	$71.95	$74.82
4”	$74.36	$77.33	$80.43	$83.64	$86.99
6”	$84.76	$88.15	$91.68	$95.34	$99.16
Volume Rate ($/1,000 gal of metered water consumption)
3,000 to 5,999 gallons	$5.89	$6.12	$6.37	$6.62	$6.89
6,000 to 70,999 gallons	$8.91	$9.27	$9.64	$10.03	$10.43
> 70,999 gallons	$6.67	$6.93	$7.21	$7.50	$7.80

(5)Every unit in a Multi-Family Complex shall have a separate Meter when every Dwelling Unit in the complex has a ground floor entrance.

(6)When a Multi-Family Complex has more than one story, and individual Dwelling Units can be accessed from common areas on floors other than the ground floor, each separate Dwelling Unit within the Multi-Family Complex will be served by one Meter. The owner of a Multi-Family Complex that is served by one Meter will be responsible for paying water usage charges assessed under this Section 15-219(b) of the Code of the City at the rates set in Table 1.

(7)A Multi-Unit Commercial Center Premises will be served by one Meter. The owner or management company of a Multi-Unit Commercial Center will pay a base rate per Billing Period for water that equals the base rate as set out in Table 2 times the number of Business Units located in the Multi-Unit Commercial Center, regardless of, whether or not water passes through the Meter. The owner or management company of a Multi-Unit Commercial Center that is served by one Meter will be responsible for paying water usage charges assessed under this Section 15-219(b) of the Code of the City at the rates set in Table 2.

(8)In addition to the Base Rate charge, each Multi-Unit Commercial Center Owner or management company will pay a volume charge based upon gallons of water used per Billing Period, as measured by the Meter that serves the Customer, for water usage that exceeds 2,999 gallons per Billing Period, at rates set in Table 2.

Table 2: Multi Unit Commercial water User Raters – as of January 1, 2026.

Description	2026	2027	2028	2029	2030
Base Rate ($/Mo) Inc. 2,999 gal
Multi-Unit Commercial	$27.56	$28.66	$29.81	$31.00	$32.24
Volume Rate ($/1,000 gal of metered water consumption)
3,000 to 5,999 gallons	$5.89	$6.12	$6.37	$6.62	$6.89
6,000 to70,999 gallons	$8.91	$9.27	$9.64	$10.03	$10.43
>70,999 gallons	$6.67	$6.93	$7.21	$7.50	$7.80

(9)Fire Hydrant Meter Rates.

Table 3: Fire Hydrant Meter Raters – as of January 1, 2026.

Description	2026	2027	2028	2029	2030
Base Rate ($/Mo) Inc. 2,999 gal
Fire Hydrant Meter Base Rate	$165.75	$183.15	$202.38	$223.64	$247.12
Volume Rate ($/1,000 gal of metered water consumption)
3,000 to 5,999 gallons	$5.89	$6.12	$6.37	$6.62	$6.89
6,000 to 70,999 gallons	$8.91	$9.27	$9.64	$10.03	$10.43
>70,999 gallons	$6.67	$6.93	$7.21	$7.50	$7.80

(10)A Custom who is permitted to use a Fire Hydrant Meter will pay a Base Rate charge per month as set out in Table 3, whether any City water volume passes through the meter. In addition to the Base Rate charge, Customers will pay an additional charge per Billing Period based upon gallons of water used per Billing Period, as measured by the Fire Hydrant Meter the Customer is permitted to use that exceeds 2,999 gallons per Billing Period at rates set in Table 3. The City may waive the Meter rates set forth in Table 3 if the use of the Fire Hydrant Meter is connected to a City infrastructure project.

(11)Before being permitted to use a Fire Hydrant Meter a Customer will make application for a permit on a form provided by the Public Works Department and will enter into an agreement with the City that sets the terms and conditions of the Customer’s use of the Fire Hydrant Meter. The City may terminate the agreement if the Customer violates a term or condition of the agreement. If any agreement is terminated the Customer must return the Fire Hydrant Meter to the City Public Works Department within twenty-four hours.

(c)Rates for Customers Outside the City Limits of the City.

(1)Customers serviced by the City’s municipal water system at locations outside the corporate limits of the City shall pay a Base Rate equal to 150% of the minimum Base Rate charge paid by Customers per meter, based on meter size within the City limits of the City.

(2)Additional charges for water usage in excess of 2,999 gallons per Billing Period shall be charged at the same rate as paid by Customers within the City.

(d)Meter readings made by the City will be rounded down to the nearest thousand.

(e)The minimum water service charge will not be assessed if improvements that are being served or are available to be served are removed from the property.

(Ord. 880; Ord. 967; Ord. 1018; Ord 1033; Ord. 1105)

15-220 Delinquent accounts; notice; hearing; finding; liability.

Water service shall be terminated for nonpayment of service fees or charges as provided in section 15-213.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 20)

15-221 Use during fire.

No person owning or occupying premises connected to the municipal water system shall use or allow to be used during a fire any water from the water system except for the purpose of extinguishing the fire. Upon the sounding of a fire alarm it shall be the duty of every such person to see that all water services are tightly closed and that no water is used except in extraordinary cases of emergency during the fire.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 21)

15-222 Cross-connection prohibited.

No person shall establish or permit to be established or maintain or permit to be maintained, any cross connection whereby a private, auxiliary, or emergency water supply other than the regular public water supply of the city may enter the supply and distributing system of the city unless specifically approved by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the governing body.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 22)

15-223 Same; protective backflow devices required.

Approved devices to protect against backflow or backsiphonage shall be installed at all fixtures and equipment where backflow and/or backsiphonage may occur and where there is a hazard to the potable water supply in that polluted water or other contaminating materials may enter into the public water supply. Any situation in which a heavy withdrawal of water, such as a sudden break in the main or water being used from a fire hydrant, may cause a negative pressure to develop which could lead to backsiphonage or polluted water into the system shall be improper and must be protected by approved backflow preventive valves and systems as determined by the superintendent

(Ord. 565, Sec. 23)

15-224 Same; inspection.

The city utility superintendent or other designee of the governing body shall have the right of entry into any building or premises in the city as frequently as necessary in his or her judgment in order to ensure that plumbing has been installed in accordance with the laws of the city so as to prevent the possibility of pollution of the water supply of the city.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 24)

15-225 Same; protection from contaminants.

Pursuant to the city’s constitutional home rule authority and K.S.A. 65-163a, the city by its utility superintendent may refuse to deliver water through pipes and mains to any premises where a condition exists which might lead to the contamination of the public water supply system and it may continue to refuse the delivery of water to the premises until that condition is remedied. In addition, the city utility superintendent may terminate water service to any property where the cross connections or backsiphonage condition creates, in the judgement of the superintendent, an emergency danger of contamination to the public water supply.

(Ord. 565, Sec. 25)

15-226 Severability.

If any provision of this Chapter 15, Article 2, is declared invalid or unconstitutional, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the constitutionality of the remainder of this Chapter 15, Article 2, and the application thereof to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby.