24.02.115 System ownership.
A. Utility Ownership of Water Facilities.
1. The utility owns all water facilities in public rights-of-way and in easements dedicated to the public and accepted by the utility, up to and including the meter, except to the extent that private ownership is otherwise indicated as a matter of record. Such facilities typically include:
a. Meters and all facilities connecting meters with water mains;
b. Water mains;
c. Reservoirs, pumping stations, inlet meters, pressure reducing valve stations and other appurtenances intended to serve the general public;
d. The valve separating the public water system from a private fire protection system.
2. The utility may acquire existing private facilities; provided, that:
a. Ownership of the facility would provide a public benefit;
b. Necessary and appropriate property rights are offered by the property owner at no cost to the utility;
c. The facility substantially meets current code and engineering standards, as determined by the utility, or is brought up to current code and engineering standards by the owner;
d. The utility has adequate resources to maintain the facility; and
e. The facility is transferred to the utility by bill of sale at no cost to the utility.
B. Private Ownership of Water Facilities. Water facilities located on private property are exclusively owned by the underlying property owner(s), unless otherwise assigned or dedicated by easement to the city, except to the extent that public ownership is otherwise indicated as a matter of record. Property owners shall be responsible for the development, maintenance, and repairs of all private water facilities. (Ord. 5963 § 1, 2010.)