Williams Lake, British Columbia
· adopted 2005-09-20
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CONSOLIDATED VERSION OF
WATERWORKS BYLAW
BYLAW NO. 1972, 2005 &
SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS
THERETO
(For convenience only)
(CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY)
A BYLAW TO PROVIDE FOR REGULATIONS
& RATES FOR THE SUPPLY OF WATER
WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY
BYLAW NUMBER 1972, 2005
CITY OF WILLIAMS LAKE
BYLAW NO. 1972
BEING A BYLAW OF THE CITY OF WILLIAMS LAKE TO PROVIDE FOR
REGULATIONS GOVERNING RATES AND TERMS UNDER OR UPON WHICH
WATER MAY BE SUPPLIED AND USED WITHIN THE CITY OF WILLIAMS LAKE.
WHEREAS Section 194 of the Community Charter provides that Council operating and
maintaining a municipal utility, may by bylaw, fix the rate and terms which water facilities
may be supplied and used;
WHEREAS the Council of the City of Williams Lake has passed, on the 20th day of April,
1982, Bylaw No. 854 cited as the "Williams Lake Water Works Management Bylaw
No. 854, 1981";
WHEREAS the Council of the City of Williams Lake has passed, on the 1st day of
January, 2003, an amendment to Bylaw 854 cited as Bylaw No. 1902;
WHEREAS the Council of the City of Williams Lake has passed, on the 27th day of May,
2003, a further amendment to Bylaw 854 cited as Bylaw No. 1915;
WHEREAS the Drinking Water Protection Act [S.B.C. 2001, c 9] requires that water
utilities assume liability for the provision and supply of potable water; and
WHEREAS the Council of the City of Williams Lake now deems it expedient to repeal
Bylaw No. 854, 1981 and any amendments thereto;
NOW THEREFORE the Council of the City of Williams Lake, in open meeting
assembled, hereby enacts as follows:
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 2
PART 1 - Short Title
1. That this Bylaw be cited for all purposes as the City of Williams Lake Waterworks
Bylaw No. 1972, 2005
PART 2 - Definitions
1. For the purposes of this Bylaw:
"Approved Backflow Prevention
Assembly"
means an assembly that has been approved in
accordance with the current British Columbia
Plumbing Code and the City, for preventing
backflow;
"Authorized Agent"
means
a
Person,
Firm
or
Corporation
representing the City of Williams Lake by
written consent;
"Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester"
means an individual who is certified by the
Province of British Columbia and approved by
the City, to approve backflow prevention
assemblies;
"Backflow"
means the flow of water or other fluids in the
direction opposite to normal flow;
"Building Inspector"
means the person, appointed by Council from
time to time, to act in the capacity of the
Building Inspector;
"Bulk Water"
means any large amount of unmetered water
being
withdrawn
from
the
City's
Water
Distribution system from a source other than
that which is meant as a service to a property or
dwelling;
"City"
means the Municipal Area comprised within the
boundaries of the City of Williams Lake, or the
City of Williams Lake, as the context may
require;
"Collector"
means the person, appointed by Council from
time to time, to act in the capacity of the
Collector as provided under Section 154 of the
Community Charter;
"Commercial User"
means any user other than a residential user;
"Community Charter"
means the Community Charter, S.B.C. 2003;
BL2142 (21/2/12)
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 3
"Consumer"
means any person who is the owner or agent
for the owner of any premises to which water is
supplied from the works, and also any person
who is the occupier of any such premises, and
also any person who is actually a user of water
supplied to any premises or by any service from
the works;
"Contaminant"
means any physical, chemical, biological or
radiological substance or matter in water which
may render the water non-potable, according to
regulations of the Province of British Columbia;
"Council"
means the Council of Williams Lake;
"Cross-connection"
means any physical piping arrangement where
a public water supply is directly or indirectly
connected to a secondary water source, fixture
or device that may contain contaminants,
sewage or other waste liquid capable of
contaminating the water supply;
"Demand Charges"
means charges made by the City based on the
size of service required to service the normal
quantity of water for a metered rate;
"Demand charges" (Fire Protection)
means charges made by the City based on the
difference between the size of the service
required for fire protection purposes and the
size of service required to supply the normal
quantity of water for a metered rate;
"Director"
means the person appointed by the Council as
Director of Municipal Services, as well as any
person designated to assist him or her in the
enforcement of municipal bylaws;
"Drinking Water Protection Act"
means the Drinking Water Protection Act,
S.B.C. 2001;
"dwelling unit"
means one self-contained unit designed for
year-round occupancy by one (1) Family, and
the principal use of such dwelling is residential,
with complete living facilities for one (1) or more
persons, and containing only one (1) complete
set of cooking facilities;
"flat rate" (commercial)
means the rate charged for unmetered water
use for industrial, commercial, civic and
institutional water use;
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 4
"flat rate" (residential)
means
the
rate
charged
for
unmetered
residential water use;
"Large Industrial Consumer"
means an industrial consumer requiring water
service in excess of 40 million Imperial gallons
of water per year;
"Large Industrial Tariff #1 - Water"
means a tariff available to any industrial
consumer of water within the City, that
demonstrates to the satisfaction of the City the
probable consumption in excess of 40 million
Imperial Gallons, but less than 125 million
Imperial gallons of water per year;
"Large Industrial Tariff #2 - Water"
means a tariff available to any industrial
consumer of water within the City, that
demonstrates to the satisfaction of the City the
probable consumption in excess of 125 million
Imperial gallons of water per year;
"Local Government Act"
means the Local Government Act, R.S.B.C.
1996, c 323, as amended and the regulations
made thereunder;
"media"
means any publication or periodical that
contains items of news and advertising and is
distributed at least once weekly in the City, or
any radio or television broadcast with coverage
in the City;
"metered rate"
means the rate charged for metered water use;
"meters"
means
meters
and
all
equipment
and
instruments supplied and used by the City and
authorized by the City to be used to calculate
the amount of water consumed on the premises
upon which such meters are situated;
"mobile home"
means the same as a dwelling unit;
"multiple family dwelling unit"
means buildings containing more than one
dwelling unit.
"outdoor cleaning"
means any and all use of running water for the
purpose of outdoor cleaning of surfaces and
structures, including, without limitation, the
washing or rinsing of driveways, vehicles,
sidewalks, patios and buildings;
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 5
"Person"
means
an
individual,
a
corporation,
proprietorship, business, society or group
maintaining control over a property;
"rate" and "rates"
means the price or sum of money to be paid by
any consumer either for the given quantity of
water supplied to him as measured by a meter
or to be paid for a service to his premises for a
stated period of time;
"Sani-station"
means a location provided by the City of
Williams Lake that is used by recreational users
only to discharge their waste material from a
recreation vehicle into the City's Sanitary Sewer
Collection System and refill their recreational
vehicles with potable water;
"Secondary Suite"
means an owner occupied single family
dwelling zoned either R-1 or R-8 with a
maximum size of 970 square feet or 40 percent
of the total floor area of the building.
"service"
means and includes the supply of water from
the works to any person, and all the taps,
valves, meters, connection and other things
necessary to and actually used for the
purposes of such supply;
"water"
means water supplied by the City's water
distribution system; and
"works"
means the water works of the City.
PART 3 - Water Works Authority
1. Where applicable, the provisions of the "Health Act" and "Drinking Water
Protection Act" and any other provincial statute shall apply.
2. The provisions of this Bylaw apply to all areas within the municipal boundaries
that are currently connected to the water system, or will be connected to the
water system in the future.
BL2131 (3/5/11)
BL2142 (21/2/12)
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 6
3. The provisions of this Bylaw apply to the areas outside the municipal boundaries
for water services which were connected to the water supply system at the time
this Bylaw came into force and effect, and further applies to additional areas for
water service which may be formed in the future, provided that any agreements
covering the capital costs and establishing future areas for water service shall
specifically adopt the provisions of this Bylaw.
4. All works and lands which form part of the various water systems of the City,
including any valves, meters or other elements of the water system, whether on
public streets or roads, or other properties or easements belonging to the City
whether enclosed or unenclosed, are the property of the City and any
unauthorized person or persons trespassing or tampering in any manner
whatsoever are guilty of a breach of this Bylaw.
5. Testing and maintenance of potable water quality shall be done in accordance
with the provisions of the Drinking Water Protection Act, and the City shall
assume responsibility for the care and upkeep of all works and lands forming part
of the water system.
PART 3.1 - Authority of the Director
1. Council may from time to time appoint a Director to supervise the water works
department of the City of Williams Lake, among whose duties it shall be to see
that the provisions of this Bylaw are enforced and carried out.
2. The Director shall have power, subject to the consent of the Council, to employ
assistants and inspectors as he shall deem necessary for the purpose of
effectually carrying out the provisions of this Bylaw, and whenever the Director is
authorized or directed to perform any act or duty under this Bylaw, that act or
duty may be performed by any inspector or employee authorized by the Director
to perform that act or duty.
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 7
3. The Director is hereby authorized and directed to have a general supervision
over the installation, construction and maintenance of all water works in the City,
and it shall be his duty to see that all water works are installed, constructed and
maintained in a condition that they will not cause damage to life or property.
4. Before any person shall install or construct any water works, or shall commence
doing any construction work in relation to or in connection with the same, he shall
notify the Director in writing. If required by the Director he shall furnish a plan and
specification which shall show:
a. the purpose for which the water works are to be used;
b. the size of pipes and the number of outlets in connection with the
installation or connection;
c. a description of the material which the applicant proposes to use in
connection with the installation or construction; and
d. the street, lot, block and registered plan number of the property or building
in which the installation or construction is to be made or carried out.
5. For the purposes of inspecting the water works, the Director shall cause any
obstruction, matter or thing which may interfere with the inspection to be
removed, and no person shall interfere with or prevent the Director from
removing any obstruction, matter or thing which may interfere with or prevent his
making a thorough inspection of any water works.
6. Immediately after the completion of any water works or part thereof, and before
the work or any part thereof has been covered or concealed, the Director shall be
notified that the work is ready for inspection. The notice shall request the Director
to inspect such work within two (2) days thereafter (not including Saturdays,
Sundays or Public Holidays).
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 8
7. No person shall obstruct or prevent the Director or any person duly authorized by
him from carrying out any or all of the provisions of this Bylaw, nor shall any
person refuse to grant the Director, or any person duly authorized by him,
permission to inspect any water works at any reasonable time.
8. The Director shall have authority to suspend, regulate or stop the supply of water
to any or all consumers for purposes of water conservation or whenever, in the
opinion of the Director, public interest may require it. If an action is taken, written
notice shall be provided forthwith to Council stating the reasons for the action.
PART 4 - Prohibitions
1. No person may, without written authorization from the Director and subject to the
provisions of this Bylaw:
a. make or maintain any connection to, or use water from the waterworks;
b. tamper with, alter, remove, destroy, damage, deface or in any way
interfere with the waterworks;
c. introduce to, or allow to be introduced to the waterworks, any contaminant;
d. perform any work whatsoever on any component of the Waterworks,
except as an authorized employee, agent or contractor of the City;
e. connect to the Waterworks in any manner or in any way access or take
water from the water main or any fixture or property of the Water works;
f. connect, cause to be connected or allow to remain connected any pump,
booster or other device that has the effect of increasing water pressure in
service lines to a higher pressure than the normal water pressure in the
said service lines;
g. connect, cause to be connected or allow to remain connected any piping,
fixture, fitting, container, meter, appliance or cross-connection in a manner
or in circumstances that could cause or allow any part of the waterworks
to become contaminated;
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 9
h. sell or dispose of any water, or permit to be carried away, or use water or
allow it to be used on a lot other than that for which the service connection
has been provided; or
i. open any hydrant, stand-pipe, stop-cock or valve or use any water from it.
2. No person shall interconnect any portion of works on private property which are
supplied by the City with an external source of water, such as a well, except with
written permission from the Director. Wherever works on private property which
are supplied by the City are connected to a body of contaminated water, such as
a swimming pool, in such a way that, if a reverse flow were to be induced, a
health hazard could result, the owner of the property shall install and maintain a
back-flow preventer on every such potentially dangerous cross-connection to the
approval of the Director.
3. No device designed to introduce another substance into the water in the
connection between the building and the water supply main shall be installed
without written permission of the Director who, in consultation with the health
inspector, shall ensure that the device is designed and installed so that such
substances cannot be introduced into the City's works.
4. No person shall use water for any purpose other than as stipulated in the terms
of service, except by written permission of the City, which shall state the purpose,
time of use and quantity of water to be used and any additional charges, if any,
and any special works required to be altered or installed.
PART 5 - Water Supply and Pressure
1. If the water supply fails, whether from natural causes, routine maintenance or
accident, the City shall not be liable for damage by reason of that failure, whether
the failure arises from the negligence of any person in the employment of the
City, or from any other cause whatsoever, nor shall the City be liable in any event
for damages to person or property, arising, accruing, or resulting from the use of
water supplied as per the terms and conditions of this Bylaw.
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 10
2. The City does not guarantee the pressure of the water supply system, or accept
responsibility for the maintenance of pressure in its water mains, or for increases
or decreases in pressure. The City reserves the right at any and all times, without
notice, to change the operating water pressure and to shut off water for the
purposes of making repairs, extensions, alterations, or improvements to the
system.
3. Consumers depending upon a continuous and uninterrupted supply or pressure
of water, or who have processes or equipment that require particularly clean
and/or pure water, shall provide facilities as they consider necessary to ensure a
continuous and uninterrupted supply, pressure and/or quality of water required
for their use at their own expense.
PART 6 - Water Service Connections
1. Applications for water service shall be made in writing upon the form provided for
that purpose and no water connection or change in service will be made until the
application and agreement contained therein have been completed, executed,
and approved and the required deposit has been paid to the Collector.
2. Upon receipt of an application for a connection, and where the water service is
already in place to the consumers property line, the City is entitled to, and
demands from the applicant in advance, the fee as set out in Schedule B,
attached hereto and forming part of this Bylaw.
3. Upon receipt of an application, the City will estimate the costs and upon
agreement to bear such costs and advance payment, tap the main and lay a
service pipe to the nearest boundary of the applicant's property. For such
connection, the City is entitled to demand and receive from the applicant, in
advance, the fees as outlined in Schedule A, attached hereto and forming part of
this Bylaw.
BL2409 (27/08/24)
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 11
4. Application for water service that has been made in accordance with this Bylaw
may be withdrawn and the applicant shall be entitled to:
a. full return of monies paid at the time of service application, if City has not
purchased the labour, equipment, and materials and has not started the
service connection work; or
b. if City has purchased the labour, equipment, and materials and/or has
started the service connection work, the monies paid at the time of service
application, less the costs and fees as outlined in Schedule A, already
incurred prior to application withdrawal and the cost of returning disrupted
surfaces, if any, to pre-work condition.
5. The City shall in every case determine the location and size of the service pipe to
be used, having first given due consideration to any specific request.
6. Where a specific size of water service has been requested and where the City
can not readily supply that service, the applicant shall have the option to:
a. Accept the size of water service as determined by the Director:
b. Pay in advance the appropriate cost of upgrading the City's mains to meet
the requested specifications, according to the fee as set out in Schedule
A, attached hereto and forming part of this Bylaw; or
c. Accept a full return of monies paid at the time of service application.
7. No person, except the duly authorized agent of the City, may tap or make any
connections with the City mains unless written authorization is given in advance
by the Director.
8. No person may use the water for purposes other than those for which the original
application for water was made.
9. When any residential or commercial water service is abandoned, it shall be
sealed off by an authorized agent of the City, and for that service the City is
BL2409 (27/08/24)
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 12
entitled to demand and receive the fee as outlined in Schedule A, attached
hereto and forming part of this Bylaw.
10. Unless the Director otherwise approves, there shall not be more than one water
service to any one building or one site, however, where there are two or more
residential buildings or dwelling units supplied by one water service, each
residential building or dwelling unit shall be considered to be a separate service.
PART 6.1 - Temporary Service
1. Every person requiring the installation of a Temporary Service Connection from a
Parcel to the City Waterworks must first make application for and obtain a
building permit, and pay the fee set out in Schedule B, attached hereto and
forming part of this Bylaw.
2. Every Temporary Service Connection must be approved by the Director and shall
be installed by a duly authorized agent of the City subject to the following
provisions:
a. The pipe must be of a size, type, length and capacity as approved by the
Director;
b. The Director shall determine the location of the water main and where the
service must be connected to the water main;
c. The owner shall be responsible for maintenance of the pipe from the point
of connection at property line, to the premises which it services;
d. The Director may refuse a Temporary Service Connection if, in the opinion
of the Director, the connection would have a detrimental effect on the
City's waterworks.
3. Prior to use of water for construction purposes the Owner must ensure adequate
protection be made to prevent backflow into the City waterworks by installing at
minimum an approved double-check valve assembly. The Water service
connection shall be turned on only after the City has inspected the service and
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 13
confirmed that the required Backflow Prevention Device has been correctly
installed.
PART 6.2 - Fire Hydrant Use
1. Fire hydrants may be used in an emergency for fire fighting, and may, with the
Director's approval, be used for:
a. testing and flushing water mains;
b. Emergency potable water supply and
c. Pollution or environmental protection activities, including flushing or
dilution.
2. No person, except employees or agents of the City in the course of their
employment, shall open any hydrant, standpipe or valve or use water there from.
PART 6.3 - Water Turn-on and Turn-off
1. There shall be a fee charged for turning a water service on or turning a water
service off as set out in Schedule C, attached hereto and forming part of this
Bylaw. This fee shall be levied and collected by the Collector at the time the
application is made in writing on the appropriate form provided for that purpose.
2. The water turn-on/turn-off fee shall not apply to a water service being turned on
at the time of service connection, except that, if a request or application is made
to leave the water service turned off at the time of connection, then the fee shall
be charged when application is made for turning the water service on.
3. Turn-on/turn-off fees may be temporarily or fully waived by order of the Director
in emergencies or in cases where it is impractical, or would create undue delay
or hardship. If waived temporarily, an application must be submitted as soon as
possible and no later than fifteen (15) days after the order of the Director.
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 14
4. No person, except the duly authorized agent of the City, is permitted to turn on or
turn off any service pipe stopcock or valve.
PART 6.4 - Discontinuation of Service
1. Water service may be discontinued by the City, in accordance with the enabling
provisions of the Community Charter, for any of the following reasons:
a. By application in writing by the consumer stating the purpose for the
disconnection, and the length of time of disconnection.
b. By order of the Director or the Building Inspector for repairs or
replacement.
c. By order of Council for non-payment of fees for water supplied to any
consumer provided that the order shall not be made until fifteen (15) days
after December 31st of that year.
d. By order of Council for any other infractions of the provisions of this bylaw.
2. Where water service is discontinued for non-payment of charges, the service
shall not be turned on until payment of all arrears has been made.
PART 6.5 - Obligation of Service
1. Nothing in the Bylaw shall obligate the City to supply water to any Parcel where,
in the opinion of the Director, the cost of laying Water Mains or Water Service
Connections to the property would be prohibitive or create an excessive burden
upon the resources of the system.
2. Where the City determines not to provide the supply of water to a Parcel due to
cost alone, and sufficient capacity exists to provide service to the property, the
owner of the property may, subject to approval by the Director, pay the City for
the cost of the installation as per Schedule A, attached hereto and forming part
of this Bylaw.
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 15
PART 7 - Plumbing Requirements
1. All plumbing connecting the water works system with land and buildings or
structures which shall mean all pipes, valves, and other materials extending from
the property line to the land to be supplied with water shall:
a. be installed and maintained by the owners of the lands or by their agents
at their own expenses;
b. be installed in accordance with the Williams Lake Building and Plumbing
Bylaw; and
c. be kept in good repair at all times.
2. The property owner or consumer shall be responsible for the costs of thawing
services from the service valve near the property line should the service become
frozen.
3. Should the City thaw the service, then the consumer will be billed for the actual
costs of` labour, equipment and material incurred by the City for thawing the line.
4. In any case where a boiler, or equipment similar to a boiler, is supplied directly
from a service, such boiler or other equipment shall be equipped with at least one
safety valve, vacuum valve or other device sufficient to prevent the collapse or
explosion thereof in the event the water supply thereto is shut off.
PART 7.1 - Cross-Connection and Backflow Prevention
1. No person may connect, cause to be connected or allow to remain connected,
any piping, fixture, fitting, container or appliance in a manner which under any
circumstances may allow water, waste water, or any harmful liquid, gas or
substance to enter the City's waterworks.
2. Where the Director determines that there exists an existing connection or cross-
connection prohibited by this Bylaw, he may give written notice to the consumer
to correct the connection or cross-connection at the expense of the consumer
within the time specified in the notice.
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 16
3. A person to whom notice has been given under this section shall correct the
connection or cross-connection by installing an approved backflow prevention
assembly in accordance with the Accepted Procedures and Practices in Cross
Connection Control Manual, most recent edition.
4. Where the Director determines that a connection or cross-connection prohibited
by this section places a consumer or any other person at immediate risk, or if the
consumer fails to correct the connection or cross-connection as required by this
Bylaw, Council may order the disconnection of the supply of water without notice
until the connection or cross-connection is corrected.
5. Every consumer shall, upon the installation of an approved backflow prevention
assembly and annually thereafter, or more often as required by the Director,
arrange for the inspection and testing of the assembly by a certified backflow
prevention assembly tester. The results of all inspections and testing shall be
submitted to the Director within thirty (30) days of that inspection and testing.
6. All consumers shall permit the Director or appointed officer to enter their
premises at all reasonable times in order to carry out inspections and surveys of
the premises to determine the existence of connections or cross-connections
prohibited by this section.
7. A new Service Connection shall not be turned on at the curb stop until the
consumer's water service has been inspected by the Building Inspector for
connections and cross-connections prohibited by this section. This shall not
prohibit the use of a water service for construction purposes for a limited time,
provided the Director is satisfied that adequate provision is made to prevent
backflow into the City water system.
BL2409 (27/08/24)
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 17
PART 7.2 - Water Meters
1. The City may (whenever it shall be deemed advisable) compel the use of water
meters by any person using or consuming water supplied by the City, and may
refuse to supply water to any premises whatsoever unless the person requiring
water shall first sign an agreement to take, use and pay for that water according
to the terms of this Bylaw.
2. When the use of an un-metered water service changes, the City may request, in
writing, that the consumer install the appropriate sized meter for the amount of
water consumed.
3. An owner of an apartment building containing more than four suites may choose
to have the building metered and pay the rates according to Schedule E. Once
an apartment building has been metered it cannot be reverted to flat rate.
4. All water meters will be available from the City and the cost and installation of the
meter shall be borne by the consumer.
5. The property owner shall be responsible for upkeep and maintenance of all frost-
proof chambers for meters within their respective properties.
6. All meters shall be maintained and repaired or replaced by the City, provided
however:
a. That when the repair or replacement becomes necessary through no fault
of the consumer, the repair or replacement will be carried out at the
expense of the City.
b. When the repair or replacement becomes necessary through the fault of
or by negligence of the consumer, such repair or replacement will be
carried out at the expense of the owner or consumer.
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 18
7. A consumer, with the approval in writing of the Director, may install at their own
risk and expense an additional water meter or meters to register subdivision of
the main incoming water supply. Additional meters shall be considered to be
private meters and shall be installed on the downstream side of the water meter
supplied and installed by the City. The owner shall maintain the additional meters
and the readings of the amount of water passing through the meters will not be
recognized by the City for billing purposes and no accounts will be rendered by
the City in connection therewith.
8. The consumer shall make provisions for the installation of a water meter and
remote readout to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector. All valve bypasses
shall remain as sealed by the Building Inspector, or other designated municipal
employee.
9. The Director or any other authorized person may enter, at any reasonable time,
the consumer's premises for the purposes of reading and inspecting water
meters, inspecting and ascertaining whether the provisions of this bylaw or any
other regulations made hereunder are being duly observed by a consumer
entitled to use City water.
10. The Director, with sole discretion, may determine that an existing meter requires
a remote reader. The consumer shall, upon receipt of written notice, and within
thirty days connect the remote reader in a location approved by the Director.
11. If a meter reading is disputed by either the City or the consumer, written notice
shall be given to the other. Following written notice, a meter situated on the
premises of the consumer shall be tested or calibrated by a proper official
designated by the City. If the meter is found to be accurate within +/- 1.5% of the
volume of water passing through it, the expense of the tests or calibrations shall
be borne by the party giving such notice. If the meter is inaccurate within the
aforesaid limits the meter shall be repaired or replaced by another meter and the
expense of doing so shall be borne by the City.
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 19
12. If a meter is inaccurate within the limits of +/- 1.5% of the water passing through
it, the accounts based upon the meter readings for the past three (3) consecutive
readings immediately preceding the date of the tests or calibrations shall be
corrected in proportion to the error. The consumer shall pay or be refunded the
amount so determined. The payment or refund shall be accepted by both the City
and the consumer as settlement in full, to the date thereof, for all claims on
account of the inaccuracy of the meter.
13. If a meter cannot be read, the Collector shall estimate the flow based upon the
average of the last three consecutive readings and render an account owing.
14. Where the consumer wants a separately installed metered irrigation system, the
line feeding the irrigation system must be a separate service from the municipal
main or a branch line from the building service pipe connected in front of the
building meter. The meter for the irrigation service must be installed in a separate
meter vault.
PART 8 - Water Works Charges
1. All rates and charges shall be paid to the City on or before the due date as
shown on the invoice.
2. Payments for utilities shall be credited by the Collector in the following order
against:
a. Utility arrears including penalties;
b. Current period water charges; and
c. Current period sewer charges.
3. All water supplied or services provided shall be paid for according to the amount
set out in Schedules A to K inclusive, attached hereto and forming part of this
Bylaw.
BL2142 (21/2/12)
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 20
4. A consumer who requests the City to read a meter on any day other than the
normal meter reading day shall pay in advance the fee as set out in Schedule D,
attached hereto and forming part of this Bylaw.
5. Failure to receive a water service invoice by mail will not be recognized as a valid
excuse for failure to pay rates when due, or make the necessary alterations or
repairs as may be required.
6. All invoices for water connections shall commence on the first day of the month
following the date of the connection to the water main or when any approved
change in service has been affected, provided that a written application has not
been made to have the water turned off at the time that the connection is made.
7. When an application to turn-on a water connection is made, invoices shall
commence on the first day of the month following the turn-on of water.
8. The amount set out in Schedule H, attached hereto and forming part of this
bylaw, shall be paid in addition to the other rates and charges for all water
supplied to consumers who have an increased size of service for fire protection
purposes.
PART 8.1 - Metered Rate Accounts
1. Except for large industrial customers, all water supplied to metered rate accounts
shall be paid for according to the amount set out in Schedule E, attached hereto
and forming part of this bylaw.
2. Large industrial consumers shall pay a Large Industrial Tariff metered rate
amount as set out in Schedule J, attached hereto and forming part of this Bylaw.
3. The City shall send invoices covering all metered rate accounts for water used.
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 21
4. The City shall have the option of discontinuing meter readings at any time and
charging the consumer at the flat rate as set forth in Schedules F and G,
attached hereto and forming part of this Bylaw.
PART 8.2 - Unmetered Rate Accounts
1. The Director shall have the authority to estimate the service size for billing
purposes and to charge the rates assigned in Schedule F and G attached hereto
and forming part of this Bylaw, where the consumer has not allowed for the
installation of a water meter.
2. The City shall send invoices covering all flat rate (commercial) accounts for water
used, for the amount set out in Schedule F attached hereto and forming part of
this Bylaw.
3. The City shall send invoices covering all flat rate (residential) accounts for water
used, for the amount set out in Schedule G attached hereto and forming part of
this Bylaw.
PART 8.3 - Bulk Water
1. The Automated Bulk Water Station will be located at the Stampede Grounds, 850
Mackenzie Avenue, next to the City's Sani-station for all bulk water sales. All bulk
water sales will be paid for in advance at City Hall when using the Automated
Bulk Water Dispensing system. The amount of monies collected for Bulk Water
sales will be as per Schedule K of this Bylaw.
2. Where the consumer may require bulk water that they cannot receive from the
Bulk Water Station, it is up to the discretion of the Director of Municipal Services
to allow the use from another source in the Water Distribution System. All
appropriate backflow control measures and flow recording equipment must be in
place before doing so. A record of the start and end number of the flow metering
device will be the responsibility of the City staff and the consumer will be charged
BL2278 (15/05/18)
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 22
after the recording device has been removed at the rates as described in
Schedule K of this Bylaw.
3. Any material or equipment required to operate the Bulk Water Station or water
withdrawn from a fire hydrant that is given to the consumer by the City of
Williams Lake will become the responsibility of the consumer. The consumer is
responsible for the care and safe keeping of the backflow/metering device and
any costs due to damage to the equipment or surrounding area in the event the
device is lost, stolen or vandalized while being used for their purpose.
PART 8.4 - Penalties
1. A penalty of ten percent (10%) will be added to the rates as set out in Schedules
A to J inclusive, of this Bylaw, if an invoice is not paid on or before the due date
as shown on the invoice.
2. Any consumer paying a rate for the use of municipal water shall be liable for
water charges unless a notice of discontinuation has been given to the City. Any
service supplied for a portion of a month shall be charged as if it were a full
month.
3. Any rate or charge as specified in this bylaw that is due and payable by
December 31st and unpaid on that date shall be deemed to be taxes in arrears
and shall be so entered on the tax roll by the Collector.
4. Where water works are operated and maintained for consumers or localities
adjacent to the City, those rates, charges, fees and penalties which remain
unpaid after December 31st in any year will be deemed to be taxes in arrears on
the property concerned. If unpaid after March 31st of the following year, interest
will be applied at eight percent (8%) per annum, accruing as from the first day of
January of that year, and the Collector shall promptly forward to the Surveyor of
Taxes in whose jurisdiction the real property lies a statement showing the
amount of the arrears. The Surveyor shall add the amount to the taxes payable
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 23
on the property, and after that the amount subsequently added according to this
section shall be deemed to be provincial taxes, and shall be dealt with in the
same manner as taxes against the property under the Taxation (Rural Area) Act.
PART 9 - Bylaw Infractions
1. Every person who violates any of the provisions of this Bylaw or who suffers or
permits any act or thing to be done in contravention or in violation of any of the
provisions of this Bylaw, who neglects to do or refrains from doing anything
required to be done by way of the provisions of this Bylaw or does any act which
violates any of the provisions of this Bylaw, is guilty of an offence against this
bylaw and liable to the penalties hereby imposed. Each day that a violation
continues to exist shall constitute a separate offence.
2. Every person who commits an offence against this Bylaw is liable to a fine and
penalty of not less than Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for each offence, and in default of
payment thereof, forthwith or within such time as the presiding provincial court
judge or justice of the Peace shall direct, the fine imposed shall be recoverable
under the provisions of the Offence Act, R.S.B.C. 1979, Chapter 305 and all
amendments hereto.
PART 10 - Severability
1. If any portion of this Bylaw is held invalid by a Court of competent jurisdiction,
then that invalid portion must be severed and the remainder of this Bylaw must
be deemed to have been adopted without the severed portion.
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 24
PART 11 - Adoption
1. This Bylaw shall come into force and take effect upon the date of final adoption
by the Council of the City of Williams Lake.
READ A FIRST TIME THIS
23rd DAY OF
August
, 2005
READ A SECOND TIME THIS
23rd DAY OF
August
, 2005
READ A THIRD TIME THIS
23rd DAY OF
August
, 2005
RECONSIDERED & ADOPTED THIS
20th DAY OF
September
, 2005
"original signed by"
___________________________________
MAYOR
"original signed by"
____________________________________
CORPORATE OFFICER
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 25
Schedule A
Actual cost of labour including all benefits related thereto, equipment and materials and
an administration fee of ten percent (10%) of the labour, equipment, and materials, with
the estimated cost being deposited with the Collector on application. Where the work
involves the disruption of asphalt or other hard road or sidewalk surface, the costs shall
include the removal and replacement of that surface.
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 26
Schedule B
Connection fee for pre-serviced lot:
Size of Service
Without Meter
3/4
" 20 mm
$402.94
1
" 25 mm
$441.84
1 1/2
" 37 mm
$546.05
2
" 50 mm
$596.08
Water meters may be purchased through the City at City cost plus 10% administration
fee.
BL2409 (27/08/24)
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 27
Schedule C
Water turn-on or water turn-off fee:
1) $50.85 for each water turn-on or turn-off during office hours.
2) All costs associated with water turn-on and turn-offs requested after hours and
weekends, will be charged to the consumer.
BL2409 (27/08/24)
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 28
Schedule D
Special meter reading:
$41.29 per meter read.
BL2409 (27/08/24)
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 29
Schedule E
BL2113 (6/4/10)
Metered Rates
The monthly metered rates shall be either the sum of the Demand Charge as referred to
in Section E.1 and the Commodity Charge as referred to in Section E.2 or the Minimum
Charge as referred to in Section E.3, whichever is the greater.
E.1 Demand Charge:
Commencing January 1, 2025
Size of Service
Amount
3/4
"
20
mm $4.62
1
"
25
mm $8.17
1 1/4
"
32
mm $13.27
1 1/2
"
37
mm $18.34
2
"
50
mm $32.62
3
"
75
mm $73.38
4
"
100 mm $130.46
6
"
150 mm $293.52
8
"
200 mm $521.75
10
"
254 mm $815.24
12
"
356 mm $1,173.93
E.2 Commodity Charge:
Commencing January 1, 2025
Quantity
$/1,000 Igal
$/m3
First 10,000 gallons
(45.46 m3)
$2.58
$0.60
Next 10,000 gallons
(45.46 m3)
$2.79
$0.62
Next 10,000 gallons
(45.46 m3)
$3.10
$0.68
All additional gallons
$3.30
$0.72
BL2409 (27/08/24)
BL2409 (27/08/24)
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 30
E.3
Minimum Charge:
Commencing January 1, 2025
Size of Service
Amount
3/4
" 20
mm $19.57
1
" 25
mm $35.54
1 1/4
" 32
mm $55.60
1 1/2
" 37
mm $80.12
2
" 50
mm $142.52
3
" 75
mm $320.52
4
" 100 mm $569.97
6
" 150 mm $1,282.48
8
" 200 mm $2,279.94
10
" 254 mm $3,562.42
12
" 356 mm $5,129.86
E.4
Properties with identified Secondary Suites will pay, in addition to regular service
fees, a surcharge of 20 percent. This surcharge will commence January 1 of
each calendar year.
BL2131 (3/5/11)
BL2409 (27/08/24)
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 31
Schedule F
BL2113 (6/4/10)
Flat Rate (Commercial)
F.1
The monthly flat rate (commercial) excluding lumber mills shall be:
Commencing January 1, 2025
Size of Service
Amount
3/4
" 20
mm $19.57
1
" 25
mm $35.54
1 1/4
" 32
mm $55.60
1 1/2
" 37
mm $80.12
2
" 50
mm $142.52
3
" 75
mm $320.52
4
" 100 mm $569.97
6
" 150 mm $1,282.48
8
" 200 mm $2,279.94
10
" 254 mm $3,562.42
12
" 356 mm $5,129.86
F.2
The monthly flat rate (commercial) for all lumber mills located within the City
boundaries, and not charged as a metered rate under Schedule E, shall be:
Commencing January 1, 2025
Lumber mills without plywood facilities
$2,537.49
Lumber mills with plywood facilities
$5,074.97
BL2409 (27/08/24)
BL2409 (27/08/24)
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 32
Schedule G
BL2113 (6/4/10)
Flat Rate (Residential)
The monthly flat rate (residential) for each individual dwelling unit commencing January
1, 2025 shall be $26.77.
The monthly flat rate (residential) for each individual dwelling unit outside the City
Boundaries shall be double the rate of any residential dwelling units within the City
Boundaries.
Properties with identified "Secondary Suites" will pay, in addition to regular service fees,
a surcharge of 20 percent. This surcharge will commence January 1 of each calendar
year.
BL2131 (3/5/11)
BL2409 (27/08/24)
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 33
Schedule H
BL2113 (6/4/10)
Demand Charges (Fire Protection Purposes)
The monthly demand charges for fire protection purposes shall be:
Commencing January 1, 2025
Difference in
Size of Service
Amount
1
" 25
mm $4.92
2
" 50
mm $19.66
3
" 75
mm $43.99
4
" 100 mm $78.40
5
" 127 mm $122.15
6
" 150 mm $175.99
7
" 178 mm $239.64
8
" 200 mm $313.11
9
" 229 mm $396.45
10 " 254 mm $489.10
11 " 279 mm $592.06
12 " 356 mm $704.41
BL2409 (27/08/24)
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 34
Schedule I
BL2409 (27/08/24) SCHEDULE REPEALED
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 35
Schedule J
BL2113 (6/5/10)
Large Industrial Tariff #1
Commencing January 1, 2025
Demand Charge
$3,379.41
Consumption Charge
$1.32 per 1,000 IGAL
($0.28 /m3)
Large Industrial Tariff #2
Commencing January 1, 2025
Demand Charge
$11,570.50
Consumption Charge
$1.32 per 1,000 IGAL
($0.28 /m3)
BL2409 (27/08/24)
BL2409 (27/08/24)
BYLAW NO. 1972
PAGE 36
Schedule K
BL2142 (21/2/12)
BL2278 (15/05/18)
K.1
Bulk Water Rate
That a rate of $.01 (one cent) per liter be charged for any persons collecting
water from the Bulk Water Station at the Stampede Grounds. Any persons
wishing to use bulk water from the City's water distribution system shall pay the
rate of $.01 (one cent) per liter for all water used or a minimum $100, whichever
is greater.