**Definitions, GENERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES** Dauphin Island Water and Sewer Authority: DIWSA, or Authority, is a non-profit public corporation established in accordance with the Constitution of the State of Alabama and governed by Articles 11-88-1 of the Codes of Alabama. Owner: The owner of the property, an agent of the owner, the general contractor for the owner during construction, or renter/lessee of the owner's property. System: Any component, equipment or apparatus from which DIWSA, in general, provides water and or sewer to the community of Dauphin Island. Residential Connections: Any connection to the system that has, as a minimum and for the purpose of a single-family dwelling, one kitchen, one bath and one bedroom, or one permanent trailer site. Multi-Residential Connections: Any connection to the system where multiple singlefamily dwellings are divided or subdivided for the purpose of multiple-family living. This shall include but not be limited to; multiplexes, condos, and permanent trailer sites. Hotel/Motel: Any connection to the system that has, as a minimum and for the purpose of temporary single family dwelling, one bath and one bedroom, but no kitchen. RV/Camper Sites: Any connection to the system that has a designated RV site(s), including water and sewer connection points, and where the intended purpose is for temporary occupancy. Non-Residential Connections: Any connection to the system that is not for the purpose of single-family residency and that is not defined as a Residential/Multi-Residential Connection. In any instance where non-residential connections have the same or similar components of residential connections, the rates and fees for non-residential connections shall apply. Request for Service: All requests for service, water or sewer, must be in writing. Phone requests for service must be followed in writing and received within 5 business days. Request for multi-family, multi-residential, multi-non-residential, hotel/motel, and multi-rv sites, that involves more than eight (8) units, must follow the procedures as outlined in the DIWSA Multi-Family Dwelling Policy, which is available upon request. Tenants and Rental Property: The tenant of any rental property must make a deposit of $100 with DIWSA, per living unit, before service will be placed in the name of the tenant. The deposit will be returned to the depositor, without interest, upon settlement Page 1 of 6
of the final bill. Service, billing and all charges will remain the responsibility of the owner in the absence of a deposit. The tenant of the lease or the rental property will be required to provide a valid ID for photo-copying, in person and at the DIWSA office, for this transaction. Alabama Utility Tax: Purchasers of water from DIWSA are required to pay a State of Alabama utility tax of 4% under the provisions of Act Number 21, Special Session Legislature, 1969 as amended. Payment of Bill: All billing periods are for one month. All accounts are due and payable upon receipt of the statement. Accounts become delinquent if bills are not paid on or before the last business day of the month in which the statement is rendered. Delinquent Accounts: If payment is not received by the last business day of the month in which the statement was rendered, a penalty of 10% will be added to the water and sewer charges. Delinquent accounts are subject to collection procedures that may include discontinuation of service and/or legal action. Water Leaks: Customers are eligible for an adjustment when excessive amounts of water (at least four times the gallons used in any one month during the previous twelve month period) have been registered on their water meter due to a leak beyond the control of the customer. All sewer charges, over a twelve month average are (will be) deleted, and all water charges, above a twelve month average will be halved. Customers are eligible for one leak adjustment in a thirteen month period. Encroachment on the System: Installation or reinstallation of water meters, grinders and other apparatus of the system for providing water and sewer shall not be within 15' of driveways. If at any time the owner widens or enlarges the drive, footprint of the home or structure, parking areas, or in any other manner causes any portion of the water/sewer service to become covered with construction materials, any and all cost for repairs and loss of revenue, current and future, will be the sole responsibility of the owner. During installation, water meters and grinder tanks are positioned and placed in locations as designated and requested by the owner/contractor, and with the intent of being out of harm's way, and any resulting damage to the water or sewer infrastructure by the owner shall result in the cost to repair being borne by the owner. Cost to repair shall be calculated on an individual basis and added to the owner's bill. Water Shut-Off Valves: No connections to the water system will be made until the owner has installed a water shut-off valve. The purpose of this valve is to enable the customer to isolate the unit from the water supply system. Use of the shut off valve at the meter, which is the property of DIWSA, is prohibited. Backflow Preventers: All properties are required to have an approved back-flow preventer. For 3/4" and 1" services, the DIWSA provides the back-flow preventer. For all Page 2 of 6
water services larger than 1", including fire mains, a back-flow preventer is the responsibility of the owner and subject to inspection by DIWSA. Any and all repairs and repair cost for inadequately operating back-flow preventers, is the responsibility of the owner. Please contact our office for a list of approved apparatus. Emergency Water Service Calls: In the event that water service has been interrupted, the owner should first determine, through inspection of the owner's valves and lines that the problem is not in the owner's portion of the line. It is the sole responsibility of the owner to determine if the problem is on their side of the connection to the DIWSA system, prior to notifying DIWSA. When a visit to the premises is made by DIWSA at the request of the owner or his representative, and the trouble is on the customer's side of the connection, a callout fee shall apply: Upon determination that the problem exists at or beyond the service meter, there will be no fee charged by DIWSA for the service call. DIWSA is not responsible for payment or reimbursement of any portion of the owner's cost or expense associated with determining where the problem is located. Sewer Connections to Alternate Water Supplies: No sewer connection shall be made to any dwelling, commercial establishment, or any other type of unit until the unit is served by a water supply that has been constructed and equipped in accordance with the requirements, standards and recommendations of the responsible State and/or County Agency. Proof of acceptability of the water supply, by the Governing agency, must be submitted to the Authority prior to connection to the sewer system. Illegal Connection/Use of System: It is illegal to connect/use any portion of the DIWSA system without first gaining consent from DIWSA. This includes but is not limited to; unauthorized use of hydrants, flush plugs, connections to sewer laterals or water meters, tampering with manholes, lift stations, treatment facilities, water meters and sewer lines, and discharging or causing to be discharged unapproved waste into the system. Those found in violation of this policy will face criminal and civil action. Open Sewer Lines: It is solely the responsibility of the owner to insure the integrity of the entire sewage connection that lies within the owner's property or control. This shall include but not be limited to; the lateral(s), cleanouts, cleanout caps, fittings, etc. In consideration of public health, welfare, and safety, the discharge of sewage from an open connection within the owner's property or control is prohibited. For those found in violation, water and sewer service may be terminated until the connection has been properly restored and any determined penalties have been paid. Sewer lines must be kept intact and free of breaks, cracks or open lines, and that no runoff from the property, rooflines, or parking areas shall be diverted to the sanitary sewer. In any instance where the owner's line is opened or becomes damaged to the Page 3 of 6
point that inflow into the system occurs and surface water, rainwater, sand, debris, or any other objects not permitted by the DIWSA Policy for Sanitary Sewer Use enters the collection system, the owner is subject to penalties as outlined in the Sewer Fee Schedule; Section 8, Open Sewer Line Penalties. Structures Serviced by Grinders: For structures that utilize grinder tanks (grinder systems that are operated and maintained by DIWSA), a monthly fee for maintenance and repair shall apply. The monthly fee does not cover abuse, encroachment on the system, or damage caused by banned items being discharged into the sewer. The Policy for Sanitary Sewer Use can be obtained at the Authority office upon request. For owners who do not wish to pay the grinder maintenance fee, upon agreement between the owner and DIWSA, the owner shall take possession and have sole ownership (including repairs, maintenance and upkeep) of the grinder system. The monthly fee will then be removed from the owner's bill. Grinder Pump Installation: The responsibilities for installation and care of the individual grinder pump system are as follows: a. The electrical line between the house and the pump control panel is the responsibility of the owner; all other electrical lines associated with the pump station are the responsibility of DIWSA. b. The sewer line between the house and the pump basin is the responsibility of the owner, including the penetration of the tank where the owner's line enters the basin; all other plumbing lines associated with the station are the responsibility of DIWSA. c. All other components of the pump station are the responsibility of DIWSA. d. Tampering with any portion of the DIWSA grinder system is illegal. Grinder Abuse: When abuse to a grinder by the owner occurs, including but not limited to; damage to the apparatus, controls, pump or pump basin, and discharge of banned items to the sewer that causes the unit to cease to operate properly, a fee shall be calculated, based on time and material, and applied to the owner's account. A list of banned items is included in DIWSA's Policy for Sanitary Sewer Use, and is available upon request. Grinder Maintenance: For properties, residential and non-residential alike, a charge for normal and routine maintenance and repairs will be added to the monthly bill. This service fee does not serve to offset, in any manner or relation, cost to the owner for grinder abuse. Emergency Sewer Service Calls: In the event of a sewage stoppage, the owner or tenant should first determine through rodding or similar means that the stoppage is not in his portion of the line. It is the sole responsibility of the owner to determine if the Page 4 of 6
blockage is on their side of the connection to the DIWSA system, prior to notifying DIWSA. When a visit to the premises is made by DIWSA, at the request of the owner or his representative, and the trouble is on the customer's side of the connection, a callout fee shall apply. *Upon determination that the stoppage exists beyond the street right-of-way in the DIWSA portion of the line, there will be no fee charged by DIWSA for the service call. DIWSA is not responsible for payment or reimbursement of the owner's cost or expense associated with determining where the blockage is located. *If it is, at any point, determined that grease caused the blockage in any portion of the lateral, whether on right-of-way or private property, then all cost associated with clearing the blockage shall be the responsibility of the owner. Force Maleure: The Board shall at all times use reasonable diligence to provide continuous service but shall not be liable to the customer for any damages or loss caused by failure or interruption of service. The Board is not liable in instances where sewer backups occur due to conditions beyond DIWSA's control, such as power failures, stoppages, root intrusion, vandalism etc..., that cannot be prevented through industry accepted standard maintenance procedures. Should the Board's ability to deliver water or treat sewage be prevented, impaired, curtailed, or delayed by reason of fire, windstorm, strike, riot, civil commotion or act of God, break in lines of water or sewer systems or any other similar cause or reason beyond the control of the Board, it is understood that the Board shall not be liable to any customer for any direct or consequential damages caused by, resulting from, or attributable to any such inability to perform. West End Service: The cost, as determined in the routine functions of DIWSA, to operate, maintain and repair the water distribution and sewer collection systems along portions of the west end of Dauphin Island, is greater than that of the remaining system. Consequently, a charge for the higher cost of operations will be added to the monthly bill of those that lie within the area designated as Lift Stations 1-4 and South Bienville. Offshore/Transported Industrial Waste Discharge: All discharges into the DIWSA sewage collection system must first be approved by DIWSA, and a record of account established. All discharges must meet, on a continual basis, the minimum requirements of waste discharge quality as outlined in the DIWSA, Policy for Sanitary Sewer Use. Anyone found in violation of this policy is subject to criminal and civil penalties. DIWSA has the right to inspect and reject any waste it deems unsuitable for the system. Offshore/Transported waste will be subjected to "bulk waste discharge" fees. Page 5 of 6
Holidays Observed by DIWSA: New Year Day, Mardi Gras, Memorial Day, 4' of July, Labor Day, Thursday and Friday of Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 am to 4pm. Policies and procedures are established for the benefit and welfare of those within the service area. When in the best interest of those we serve, the Board of Directors for DIWSA shall reserve the right to alter or amend, without limit; policies, procedures, rates, fees and all other managed services. For more information concerning; Multi-Dwelling Policy Grinder Abuse Policy Policy for Sanitary Sewer Use Or any other questions you may have Please contact our office during normal business hours General Policies and Procedures Approved: August 2012 Amended: October 16, 2013 Amended: August 19, 2015 Page 6 of 6