Rules, Rates & Regulations

Water service shall be furnished only to District users upon filing of an application and water users agreement with the Secretary of the District upon a form to be supplied by the District.

The rates as shown in the rate schedule in Section 8 of this ordinance shall be paid by each customer, who has signed a User's Contract, beginning at the time the District makes the service available to the customer.

There shall be a $2,500.00 tap-on-fee, for service to each property in which an application and water user's agreement has been filed prior to the established cutoff date and or completion of the final plans whichever comes first.

The tap-on-fee for services after the established cutoff date or completion of final plans whichever comes first, shall be $2,500.00 for each 1" tap and $5,000.00 for each 2" (two inch) tap

For meters larger than 1 " the tap-on-fee will be the actual cost of installing the meter and appurtenances.

In addition to the above charges a $200.00 deposit stall be made by a rental occupant user to guarantee payment of water bills. The deposit shall be returned to user without interest upon termination of water service and all accounts of that user being paid.

1. Ownership, Installation and Maintenance.The District shall install, own and maintain the complete water system, water mains, and service lines to the property lines or a mutually agreed upon point subject to the Board of Trustees determination that a particular service is economically feasible to install. The District shall furnish, install and maintain a meter and appurtenances including a shutoff valve. The shutoff valve shall be determined by a duly authorized representative of the District. The meter may be located near the shutoff valve or within user's premises as determined by a District representative. The meter and shutoff valve must be located at a point where it is readily accessible.
2. Refusal of Service. The District may at any time refuse additional services to any applicant if in the judgment of the Board of Trustees, the capacity of the system will not permit such use.
3. Liability. All water service supplied by the District shall be upon the express condition that the District shall not be liable or shall any claim be made against it for damages or injury caused by reason of shutting off the water for:
   1. Repair, relocation, or expansion of any part of the system; or
   2. Non-payment; or
   3. Failure of any part of the system; or
   4. For concentration of water for such purposes as firefighting or restricted use of water.
4. Use of Water Users Premises. The District shall reserve the right to use water from the users facilities at any time deemed necessary. No charge shall be made by the user for the use of these facilities and no charge shall be made by the District for the water used by the District.

1. Installing and Maintaining Service Lines. The users shall be responsible for installation and maintenance of service lines between the meter pit and the residence or business. Such service lines must be at least 1" in diameter, and must be installed at a minimum depth of three feet. The user will not connect any service line or any plumbing connect with the service line must meet any requirement of the State of Illinois, Environmental Protection Agency and Illinois Plumbing Code.
2. Provisions for Location of Meter. The user shall permit the meter to be located upon their property.
3. Easements. The user shall give such easements and rights-of-way as necessary to the District and allow access for the purposes of construction, repair, maintenance, meter reading, relocation or expansion of the water system. The necessity shall be determined by the Board of Trustees.
4. Damage to District Property. No user shall tamper, adjust, damage, or in any manner interfere with the new components or operations of the water system owned by the District. The shutoff valve shall be opened only by a duly authorized representative of the District. Penalty for tampering, damaging, or adjusting or in any manner interfering with the components or operation of the system shall payable to the District. If the penalty is not paid within 30 days after the amount is determined, the District shall discontinue the water service. The amount of penalty shall be determined by the Board of Trustees.

   In addition to the penalty the user responsible shall reimburse the District for the actual cost of repairing any damage arising from the user's act. Users shall report any known evidence of tampering, adjusting, damaging, or interference with the operation of the system, owned by the District to Chairperson of the Board of Trustees. Any malicious act or damage to the system that is not appropriately punishable by the foregoing shall be prosecuted through a court of law.

5. Specified Uses of Water. Water purchased from the District may be used for ordinary domestic, industrial or farm use upon the premises of the user provided:
   
   1. No user shall resell or permit the resale of water purchased from the District.
   2. Each dwelling, apartment, business, and farm located outside and separate unit. The user must make application for service for each unit, and the user shall pay the minimum monthly rate and other rates and fees herein established for each unit.

   For purposes of this section the following definitions apply:

   • Dwelling: Single family living unit.
   • Apartment: Single family living unit that may be an individual living unit or part of a multiple family living complex.
   • Business: Business outside and separate from a single family living unit.
   • Farm: Consists of one single family dwelling and all related farm enterprises served by that meter and service line.
6. Cross-Connections
1. Definitions. For the purpose of this subsection the following definitions shall apply:
1. "Backflow" shall mean water of questionable quality, wastes or other contaminates entering a public water supply system due to a reversal of flow.
2. "Cross-connection" shall mean a connection or arrangement of piping or appurtenance through which backflow could occur.
3. "Safe air gap" shall mean the minimum distance of a water inlet or opening above the maximum high water level or overflow rim in a fixture, devise or container to which public water is furnished which shall be at least two times the inside diameter of the water inlet pipe; but shall not be less than one inch and need not be more than 12 inches.
4. "Secondary water supply" shall mean a water supply system maintained in addition to a public water supply or water from a public water supply which in any way has been treated, processed, or exposed to any possible contaminant or stored in other than an approved storage facility.
5. "Submerged inlet" shall mean a water pipe or extension thereto from a public water supply terminating in a tank, vessel, fixture or appliance which may contain water of a questionable quality, waste or other contaminant and which is unprotected against backflow.
6. "Water Utility" shall mean the District.
2. Cross-Connections Prohibited. Cross-connection of public water supply systems and any other water supply system or source including, but not limited to, the following are prohibited:
1. Between a public water supply system and a secondary water supply,
2. By submerged inlet.
3. Between a lawn sprinkling system and the public water supply system.
4. Between a public water supply and Piping which contain sanitary waste or a chemical contaminant.
5. Between a public water supply system and piping immersed in a tank or vessel which may contain a contaminant.
3. Cross-Connection Control Program. The water utility shall develop a comprehensive control program for the elimination and prevention of all cross-connections, and removal of all existing cross-connections and prevention of all future cross-connections.
4. Corrections and Protection Devices. Any user of the water utility water shall obtain written approval from the water utility of any proposed corrective action or protective device before using or installing it. The total time allowed for completion of the necessary corrections shall be contingent upon the degree of hazard involved and include the time required to obtain and install equipment. If the cross-connection has not been removed within the time as hereinafter specified, the water utility shall physically separate the water-system from the on-site piping system in such manner that the two systems cannot be connected by any unauthorized person.
5. Piping Identification. When a secondary water source is used in addition to the water supply, exposed water utility and secondary water piping shall be identified by distinguishing colors or tags and so maintained that each pipe may be traced readily in its entirety. It will be necessary to protect the water utility water supply at the service connection in a manner acceptable to the water utility.
6. Private Water Storage Tanks. A private water storage tank supplied from the water utility supply system shall be deemed a secondary water supply unless it is designed and approved for potable water usage.
7. Elimination of Existing Cross-Connections. Within one year from the effective date of this Section all existing cross-connections to the water utility water supply systems shall be eliminated. The expense of such elimination shall be that of the owner of the property on which such cross-connections exist.
8. Inspection. The water utility or any representative thereof shall have the authority to inspect any premises to determine the presence of any existing cross-connection and to order the elimination of such cross-connections.
9. Discontinuance of Water Service. The water utility shall discontinue water service after a reasonable notice to any person owning any property where a cross-connection in violation of this Code exists or where the user refuses to allow an inspection to determine the presence of a cross-connection. The water may take such other precautionary measures as necessary to eliminate any danger to the contamination of the water utility water supply systems. Water services to such property shall not be restored until such cross-connection has been eliminated.

1. Determination of Who Pays Expansion of Extension. The Board of Trustees shall first determine if an extension of water main is economically feasible based on the estimated cost of the expansion and the numbers of existing potential users that will use water along the expiation. If the extension is economically feasible then the District may install and pay the cost of the extension at the discretion of the Board of Trustees. If the District elects not to pay the cost of extending the water main then the person or persons desiring water services shall install the extension at their own personal expense upon written consent by the Board of Trustees. The District shall not pay for any extensions to an undeveloped area such as the subdivision being developed unless there are sufficient existing residents or businesses to make the extension economically feasible.
2. Requirements if Extension is Installed by Someone Other than the District.
1. The District must approve all plans and specifications for any extensions.
2. Before any extensions are installed, the plans and specifications must be reviewed and approved by the State of Illinois, Environmental Protection Agency.
3. Ownership, right-of-way, and title must be conveyed to the District for all extensions installed by anyone other than the District. The District will maintain the mains thereafter.
4. No extension will be permitted if in the opinion of the Board of Trustees, the system does not have the necessary capacity to serve the proposed expansion.

1. Notice to District. Any user requesting a termination of service shall give written notice to the District ten (10) days prior to the time of such termination of service is desired. The meter shall be read by the District and the user will be billed.
2. Responsibility for Payment of Services Already Consumed. Responsibility for payment for water consumed prior to the date of termination shall be with the property owner as well as the user.
3. Charges for Change. There shall be no charges for transferring the water service to the subsequent user.

1. Date Due. The meters will be read by the District monthly. If weather conditions or other circumstances prevent the reading of meters then each water bill will be estimated by the District. Bills will be mailed by last day of each month and will be due by the 15th day of the following month after mailing. Bills will be made payable to the Curran Gardner Townships Public Water District.
2. Penalties for Late Payments. There will be a ten percent (10%) penalty added to each bill that is unpaid by the end of the business day on the 15th of each month after mailing. Any bills that remain unpaid 30 days after billing, will receive a disconnection to the water supply to the property affected will be shut off by the District and the service will not be restored until the delinquency and penalty is paid in full. The additional $50.00 service fee will be added to cover the cost of restoring service. Bills remaining unpaid 30 days after rendition shall constitute a lien on the real estate to which the service has been rendered. The District office staff is here by authorized and directed to file a notice of such lien in the Office of the County Recorder, Sangamon County, Illinois, and to pursue such legal action as is necessary to collect the delinquent charges.

The following shall be the rates for water supplied by the District: The minimum monthly bill will be payable irrespective of use.

The 2025 District rates are as follows, effective January 1, 2025:

Curran-Gardner Water Rate

Curran-Gardner Water Rate — City Water Light & Power (Without Master Meter)

Curran-Gardner Monthly Water Rate City Water Light & Power (With Master Meter)

Curran-Gardner Monthly Water Rate — South Sangamon Water Commission

Curran-Gardner Monthly Water Rate — Village of Chatham