RURAL WATER, SEWER & SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT NO. 3,
DEWEY CO., OK RULES & REGULATIONS
These rules are issued in compliance with the provisions of the Rural Water Districts Act of Oklahoma (82 O.S. Supp. 1972, *1324.1-1324.26) and the Bylaws of the District and are designed to govern the supplying and taking of water service in a uniform manner for the benefit of the District and its members. They are subject to change from time to time.
Definitions: The following expressions when used herein will have the meaning stated below:
Applicant: Any individual, firm, partnership, corporation or other agency owning land located within the District applying for water service.
Benefit Unit: A right entitling the holder to one service connection.
Board: The Board of Directors of Rural Water, Sewer & Solid Waste Management District No. 3, Dewey Co., OK.
Consumer: Any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, or other agency receiving water service from the District’s facilities and owning or occupying land located within the District in favor of which one or more benefit units have been subscribed and paid for.
Service: The term service when used in connection with the supplying of water service shall mean the availability for use by the consumers of water adequate to meet the consumer’s requirements. Service shall be considered as available when the District maintains the water supply at normal pressure at the point of delivery, in readiness for the consumer’s use, regardless of whether or not the consumer makes use of it and when the District has service available to the member.
Application for Water Users’ Agreement: The agreement or contract between the consumer and the District, pursuant to which water service is supplied and accepted.
Water Service: Water service shall consist of facilities for supplying water to one residence or business establishment located on land within the District. A landowner must purchase a Benefit Unit and accept water service for each residence or business establishment served.
Rules and Regulations
If the existing water line is on the property where a new user wants a meter set, the total fee will be a Benefit Unit of:
$1500 ⅝” METER- Residential
$3,000 ⅝” METER - Commercial
$5,000 1” METER
$7,500 1.5” METER
$10,000 2” or LARGER METER.
If the existing water line is not on the property, then the initial cost of securing water service from the District will be a Benefit Unit of:
$1500 ⅝” METER- Residential
$3,000 ⅝” METER - Commercial
$5,000 1” METER
$7,500 1.5” METER
$10,000 2” or LARGER METER
connection with increasing increments for larger meters plus the actual cost of laying a line from the existing line to the consumer’s property line. The consumer will pay for the line laid from the meter.
The consideration paid for the Benefit Unit is a donation to the District and will not be refunded. The unit can be transferred to a new owner by sale of the land, providing all bills are paid up to date or transferred to another location. The unit entitles the owner to one water line from the district’s water system. Such line shall serve only one residence or one business establishment together with the necessary and usual out buildings.
The District will set meters five (5) feet inside the property line unless circumstances warrant otherwise. The consumers will be responsible for the service line from the meter to their residence, business or hydrant. The consumers will be required to pay for all water registered through their meter.
When a consumer owns one or more units and owes for water registered on one of the units, all units will be delinquent until all bills are paid. The owner of each unit is responsible for all bills registered on that unit.
In accordance with Oklahoma State Health Department regulations, water consumer’s service lines shall be a minimum of 15’ from a septic tank lateral field if the ground slopes from the water line, and a minimum of 50’ if the ground slopes toward the water line. Any water line which is or will become the property and responsibility of the district less than a distance of 200’ may be constructed of PVC pipe or polypipe. Any water line which is or will become the property and responsibility of the district totaling a contiguous distance of 200’ or greater shall be constructed of polypipe.
The consumer will make no physical connection between any private water system and the water system of the district. No cross-connection of any kind will be allowed.
Meter stops inside the meter box are the property of the District and are not constructed to be used as cut off valves. Continuous use of these valves will result in damage to the valve and will make them of no use to the District or the consumer. Each consumer must have his own cut off valve and should use the meter stops only in cases of emergency. Consumers are responsible for repairs to meter stops and meters due to negligence on the consumer’s part.
All rates herein can be changed by the board at their discretion.
Violation of any of the provisions herein shall be grounds for discontinuance of service.
MONTHLY HOUSE/COMMERCIAL/PASTURE TAPS
After service has been made available, a minimum monthly fee at the current rate for the first 2000 gallons must be paid each month plus any additional water used through the meter at the rates adopted by the district. The minimum charge must be paid each month whether water is used or not. There are no vacation rates. The district will read all meters monthly and will bill the consumer monthly on all house/commercial/pasture taps.
Monthly house/commercial/pasture tap payments are due from the 1st to the 10th each month. A penalty of $35.00 is added for payments received after the 20th. Failure to pay the bill by the 10th of the following month will result in a discontinuance of service. To restore service, the bills must be paid up to date, plus a re-connect charge of $35.00. Failure to pay the penalty on a late bill will result in a discontinuance of service if the penalty due is not paid with the next month’s bill. To restore service, the penalty must be paid in addition to a $35.00 re-connect charge. The owner of the unit must pay the current rate minimum fee each month whether or not a meter is present unless the tap has been placed on Benefit Fee Maintenance at the rate of $5.00 per month by notifying the district at PO Box 118, Mutual, OK 73853 in writing. Nonpayment of the minimum fee will result in a loss of the benefit unit.
If a meter is to be installed where one has been taken out, the charge will be $750.00, or if the old unit has past due bills on it, the bill must be paid before a new unit will be considered on the same owner. If it is a new owner, it will be transferred with the bills paid to date or a new benefit fee paid, whichever is less.
RENTAL PROPERTY – HOUSE/COMMERCIAL/PASTURE TAP
After service has been made available on a monthly house/commercial/pasture tap, a minimum fee at current rates for the first 2000 gallons must be paid each month plus any additional water used through the meter at the rates adopted by the District. The minimum charge must be paid each month whether water is used or not. There are no vacation rates. The district will read all district meters monthly and will bill the consumer monthly on all rental house/commercial/pasture taps.
Monthly rental house/commercial/pasture tap payments are due from the 1st to the 10th each month. A penalty of $35.00 is added for payments received after the 20th. The owner of the unit must pay the current rate minimum fee each month whether or not a meter is present. Nonpayment of the minimum fee will result in a loss of the benefit unit. If a unit is to be rented, the owner is required to notify the District by application that the renter is moving into the residence or is planning to move from the residence. Each renter is required to pay a $120.00 deposit, which will be refunded, when the renter leaves if all bills are paid. The owner is responsible for all bills left by the renter which are not covered by the $120.00 deposit. A $35.00 fee will be made for all re-connections.
When a meter quits working, an estimate of the bill is obtained by taking an average of the past three months’ water usage.
Discontinuing payment of any tap will result in a loss of the benefit unit unless placed on Benefit Fee Maintenance at the rate of $5.00 per month.
RULES FOR DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS
If the consumer’s bill is not paid by the 1st of the following month, a Bill/Cut-Off Notice will be sent as a reminder for the consumer to pay the bill or to make arrangements with the District if unable to pay the entire bill. If unable to pay the bill, the District will offer the following option:
A deferred payment plan.
The opportunity to notify the District that a life-threatening situation exists. Verification of the situation must be completed and signed by a medical person and certification can be required every 30 days.
If by the 10th day of the following month the consumer hasn’t made payment arrangements, the operator of the District shall provide a 48-hour notice of disconnection. If the bill remains unpaid at the end of the 48-hour period, the operator of the District shall remove the meter disconnecting service to the Consumer.
It should be noted that when service trips for collection, disconnection or re-connection are made by the District operator, a $100.00 service fee will be assessed in addition to the $35.00 re-connection fee and with the current and past due bill paid in full
BENEFIT FEE MAINTENANCE
In the event a consumer wishes to have their meter removed, but desires to maintain the benefit fee, a fee of $5 per month shall be paid to do so. If the meter is reinstalled, a re-connection fee of $35.00 shall be paid.
Revised 8-12-2021