Fire Hydrant Permits
Permits are not transferable and permits issued to general contractors cannot be used by their sub-contractors. Hydrant Permits: Users of public fire hydrants must contact the Public Works & Utilities Meter Shop for a permit. 10 Day hydrant permit fee: 3” meter....................... $100 If hydrant meter is not returned by the 10th calendar day from date of rental, the permit charge will increase to the monthly rental rate and will be subject to all procedures and penalties. Monthly hydrant permit fees: ¾” meter...................... $100 3” meter....................... $300 If a customer has more than one permit issued, all subsequent permits will be $50 per month. Monthly charges for the hydrant permit and consumption based on readings obtained by the Meter Shop will be billed to the customer. Payment must be obtained by the due date on the bill or the customer will be subject to additional charges, confiscation of the meter and cancellation of the permit. All permit cards must remain with the meter and BE available at all times for inspection. Charges for Water Consumption: As authorized by Section 17.12.090 of the Code of the City of Wichita, the charge for water used from fire hydrants will be at the second rate block in effect for inside city retail customers and is subject to sales tax. Permit holders will be billed a monthly rental charge and water consumption based on the meter reading obtained from inspection, fax or e-mail, whichever is applicable, during the reporting period. A contractor who is using a hydrant meter on a City project shall be directly responsible for all costs associated with using City water and the costs will not be billed to or paid for by a specific project. The cost for hydrant meter rental and for the water consumption itself is NOT tax exempt. Applicants with unpaid charges will not receive permits. An advance deposit, to cover the cost of the equipment issued and anticipated water consumption, will be required. The schedule of deposits based on meter size will be as follows: ¾” meter deposit will be $700 3” meter deposit will be: $2,000 Deposits are required for all contractors located outside the City limits. Deposit requirements may be waived if the customer is able to demonstrate a consistent year of good payment. The deposit will be applied to the account upon returning the meter to be used as a credit against the outstanding balance due. Any unpaid balances are subject to the Utilities’ standard collection policy. If equipment is lost or stolen, report immediately to Meter Shop staff. Lost or stolen equipment will be assessed replacement value and a minimum consumption charge per month from the last known reading. Minimum consumption will be equal to the highest month consumption from the previous three months of consumption history. If no historical consumption is available, 100,000 gallons will be utilized as minimum consumption. If a meter is damaged, repair costs (parts and labor) associated with any damage and a minimum consumption charge per month from the last known reading will be assessed. Minimum consumption will be equal to the highest month consumption from the previous three months of consumption history. If no historical consumption is available, 100,000 gallons will be utilized as minimum consumption. Procedure: A. Hydrant Permits 1. Permits will be issued by the Meter Shop. 2. All customers are required to bring the hydrant meter in quarterly to the Meter Shop at 1825 S McLean (M-F; 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) for a reading and inspection of the meter by the Meter Shop Maintenance Mechanics by the 25th of the month physical readings are being performed. Quarterly readings will be performed during the following months: March, June, September, and December. 3. All customers are required to provide a meter reading via the fax (316) 858-7334 or e-mail to hydrantreadings@wichita.gov for billing purposes no later than 4:00 pm on the 25th of the month during the months the meter is not a physically read and inspected by Meter Shop staff. 4. Meters can be required to be inspected at the Meter Shop at any time. 5. If a meter reading is not obtained monthly via an inspection, fax or e-mail, whichever is applicable, during the required period, a hydrant reporting penalty will be assessed. · First offence $500 · Second offence $1,000 · Third offence or more $2,500 Credits for charges related to the customer’s inability to meet these guidelines will not be granted. 6. Permit holders will need to carry the permit document and the permit document must be available for inspection upon demand at the location where the meter is being used. 7. Permit holders must equip their receptacles/water trucks with proper backflow protection as required. The preferred method is the use of a top-fill air gap two times the outlet pipe diameter. Alternatively, an approved testable backflow preventer may be used although testing may be required on a more frequent interval as specified by the authority. Annual permitting and inspection of protection is required and a permit will be affixed to the rear facing surface of the receptacle/vehicle for which it is issued. Permitting will be done by the Backflow Administrator. 8. Do not transport the meter in an open area that will allow air to enter the meter. This can cause damage to internal parts of the meter and the meter to register usage. 9. Charges for damaged parts will be imposed. 10. The Meter Shop Supervisor and Accounting will maintain copies of all permits issued and records of the status of each. 11. Accounting will manage billings and payments. Policy Enforcement Section 17.12.240 of the Code of the City of Wichita states: “It shall be unlawful for any person to use water from any part of the waterworks system of the City without proper permit or other authority therefore from the Water Department.” Meters issued under the terms of this policy are not to be left unattended and will be confiscated. Failure to follow procedures as herein defined will result in the confiscation of the meter and deposit forfeiture. The current permit will be cancelled and not renewed. Failure of any hydrant users to abide by the permit procedure is unlawful and the City will report and seek to prosecute such violations. Violators will be assessed an Administrative fee of $1,500 per occurrence, for improper use of water from a fire hydrant and a report will be filed with the Police Department for theft of services. If at any time a chemical truck is found misusing a hydrant meter, a minimum Administrative fee of $3,000 will be assessed per occurrence. All permit cards must remain with the meter and BE available at all times for iNSPECTION. Reporting Hydrant Problems If you experience a problem in using any fire hydrant, Please contact Water Distribution at 219-8921 and report it immediately. IF YOU WITNESS SOMEONE ILLEGALLY CONNECTED TO A HYDRANT, PLEASE CALL WATER DISTRIBUTION AT 219-8921 AND REPORT THE INCIDENT.
Permits are not transferable and permits issued to general contractors cannot be used by their sub-contractors.
Hydrant Permits:
Users of public fire hydrants must contact the Public Works & Utilities Meter Shop for a permit.
10 Day hydrant permit fee:
3” meter....................... $100
If hydrant meter is not returned by the 10th calendar day from date of rental, the permit charge will increase to the monthly rental rate and will be subject to all procedures and penalties.
Monthly hydrant permit fees:
¾” meter...................... $100
3” meter....................... $300
If a customer has more than one permit issued, all subsequent permits will be $50 per month. Monthly charges for the hydrant permit and consumption based on readings obtained by the Meter Shop will be billed to the customer. Payment must be obtained by the due date on the bill or the customer will be subject to additional charges, confiscation of the meter and cancellation of the permit.
All permit cards must remain with the meter
and BE available at all times for inspection.
Charges for Water Consumption:
As authorized by Section 17.12.090 of the Code of the City of Wichita, the charge for water used from fire hydrants will be at the second rate block in effect for inside city retail customers and is subject to sales tax. Permit holders will be billed a monthly rental charge and water consumption based on the meter reading obtained from inspection, fax or e-mail, whichever is applicable, during the reporting period. A contractor who is using a hydrant meter on a City project shall be directly responsible for all costs associated with using City water and the costs will not be billed to or paid for by a specific project. The cost for hydrant meter rental and for the water consumption itself is NOT tax exempt.
Applicants with unpaid charges will not receive permits. An advance deposit, to cover the cost of the equipment issued and anticipated water consumption, will be required. The schedule of deposits based on meter size will be as follows:
¾” meter deposit will be $700
3” meter deposit will be: $2,000
Deposits are required for all contractors located outside the City limits. Deposit requirements may be waived if the customer is able to demonstrate a consistent year of good payment.
The deposit will be applied to the account upon returning the meter to be used as a credit against the outstanding balance due. Any unpaid balances are subject to the Utilities’ standard collection policy.
If equipment is lost or stolen, report immediately to Meter Shop staff. Lost or stolen equipment will be assessed replacement value and a minimum consumption charge per month from the last known reading. Minimum consumption will be equal to the highest month consumption from the previous three months of consumption history. If no historical consumption is available, 100,000 gallons will be utilized as minimum consumption.
If a meter is damaged, repair costs (parts and labor) associated with any damage and a minimum consumption charge per month from the last known reading will be assessed. Minimum consumption will be equal to the highest month consumption from the previous three months of consumption history. If no historical consumption is available, 100,000 gallons will be utilized as minimum consumption.
Procedure:
A. Hydrant Permits
1. Permits will be issued by the Meter Shop.
2. All customers are required to bring the hydrant meter in quarterly to the Meter Shop at 1825 S McLean (M-F; 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) for a reading and inspection of the meter by the Meter Shop Maintenance Mechanics by the 25th of the month physical readings are being performed. Quarterly readings will be performed during the following months:
March, June, September, and December.
3. All customers are required to provide a meter reading via the fax (316) 858-7334 or e-mail to hydrantreadings@wichita.gov for billing purposes no later than 4:00 pm on the 25th of the month during the months the meter is not a physically read and inspected by Meter Shop staff.
4. Meters can be required to be inspected at the Meter Shop at any time.
5. If a meter reading is not obtained monthly via an inspection, fax or e-mail, whichever is applicable, during the required period, a hydrant reporting penalty will be assessed.
· First offence $500
· Second offence $1,000
· Third offence or more $2,500
Credits for charges related to the customer’s inability to meet these guidelines will not be granted.
6. Permit holders will need to carry the permit document and the permit document must be available for inspection upon demand at the location where the meter is being used.
7. Permit holders must equip their receptacles/water trucks with proper backflow protection as required. The preferred method is the use of a top-fill air gap two times the outlet pipe diameter. Alternatively, an approved testable backflow preventer may be used although testing may be required on a more frequent interval as specified by the authority. Annual permitting and inspection of protection is required and a permit will be affixed to the rear facing surface of the receptacle/vehicle for which it is issued. Permitting will be done by the Backflow Administrator.
8. Do not transport the meter in an open area that will allow air to enter the meter. This can cause damage to internal parts of the meter and the meter to register usage.
9. Charges for damaged parts will be imposed.
10. The Meter Shop Supervisor and Accounting will maintain copies of all permits issued and records of the status of each.
11. Accounting will manage billings and payments.
Policy Enforcement
Section 17.12.240 of the Code of the City of Wichita states: “It shall be unlawful for any person to use water from any part of the waterworks system of the City without proper permit or other authority therefore from the Water Department.” Meters issued under the terms of this policy are not to be left unattended and will be confiscated. Failure to follow procedures as herein defined will result in the confiscation of the meter and deposit forfeiture. The current permit will be cancelled and not renewed.
Failure of any hydrant users to abide by the permit procedure is unlawful and the City will report and seek to prosecute such violations. Violators will be assessed an Administrative fee of $1,500 per occurrence, for improper use of water from a fire hydrant and a report will be filed with the Police Department for theft of services. If at any time a chemical truck is found misusing a hydrant meter, a minimum Administrative fee of $3,000 will be assessed per occurrence.
and BE available at all times for iNSPECTION.
Reporting Hydrant Problems
If you experience a problem in using any fire hydrant, Please contact Water Distribution at 219-8921 and report it immediately.
IF YOU WITNESS SOMEONE ILLEGALLY CONNECTED TO A HYDRANT, PLEASE CALL WATER DISTRIBUTION AT 219-8921 AND REPORT THE INCIDENT.
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Water Utilities City Hall, 8th Floor 455 N. Main Wichita, KS 67202
: (316) 265-1300
Sandra Morris Customer Service Manager