•  
  •  

Chapter 725: ELECTRICITY

Cross Reference — As to rates and charges, see ch. 705.

Section 725.010.  Turn on of Service Requires Permission of Mayor. [CC 1984 §114.010]

No person except the Mayor or persons working under his/her orders shall attach any wire to the primary or secondary lines, install any such lines, or turn on the electrical service to any building, residence, dwelling house or premises of any kind whatever; and no person shall in any manner take or use service furnished by the electric plant without first applying therefor and receiving a permit to do so. 

Section 725.020.  Installation of Electric Service. [CC 1984 §114.020; Ord. No. 834 §1, 10-22-2002]

Each customer of electrical service shall be required to furnish, install and maintain all from the connections above the weather head in. The City will only supply and maintain the meter. The customer must provide the weather head, conduit (approved PVC), wiring, meter base, ground and pole (if extra pole is needed on private property to service building, business, dwelling, etc.). City crew will install extra pole and charge the customer the cost of said pole. City of La Plata Electrical Supervisor will put together a list of approved wire, conduit, weather head, meter base, ground, etc., and will furnish a drawing of correct installation per each installation. 

Section 725.025.  Installation Of Security Light(s). [Ord. No. 13-04, 3-12-2013]

Customers requesting the installation of a new security light(s) or the modification, relocation, or replacement of an existing system shall be responsible for the cost of all material and additional pole(s) necessary to accomplish the work. The City reserves the right to recover a percentage of the labor cost for any installations requiring two or more poles as determined by a case-by-case review. The City will provide the customer an installation cost estimate for review and acceptance. The City shall provide all equipment, material, and supplies for security light(s) projects. 

Section 725.030.  Expenses and Responsibility for Electrical Installations. [CC 1984 §114.030; Ord. No. 834 §2, 10-22-2002]

All expenses necessary for either work or material to wire any building or premises of any kind, including but not limited to all fixtures for light, cooking, heat, power, signs and appliances and for the maintenance and repair of all such wiring and other equipment, shall be borne and paid for by the owner or occupant of such building or premises, and all such wiring and the connecting of all fixtures, stoves, motors, signs and appliances must be done in accordance with the rules and requirements of the Electrical Code of the City in effect at the time such work is performed. The size, number and location of all meters necessary for any building or premises of any kind is to be determined by the Mayor and/or Electrical Supervisor and may be removed by the City at any time for any cause. It shall be the duty of the owner or occupant of the building or premises to provide space for and to protect all such poles, wires and wire holders on such premises from injury or damage of any kind. All service lines and meters shall be located where most convenient for the service to be furnished and the locating and installing of all such lines and meters shall be determined and performed under the direction and general supervision of the Mayor and/or Electrical Supervisor. Access shall be provided for and maintained for City crews to read electrical meters. Nothing in this rule shall be construed to mean the City shall furnish, install or maintain any underground service to any building, dwelling house or premises of any kind whatsoever unless underground construction is in the best interest of the City as determined and documented by the Board of Aldermen. 

Section 725.040.  Tampering With Meters, Switches, Wiring, Etc., Prohibited. [CC 1984 §114.040]

Electric meter shall be kept sealed and service shall be cut off from any house, building or premises where seals or the meter or wiring shows traces of having been tampered with. Any person who shall connect or disconnect or in any way molest or tamper with any electric wire in the City without authority from the Mayor, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Where the identity of the person who has molested a seal, a meter or a wire is not otherwise proven, the consumer to whom the electric service is being furnished through such meter or wire shall be held responsible. 

Section 725.050.  Interference With System Prohibited. [CC 1984 §114.050; Ord. No. 10-987 §1, 4-13-2011] 

 A.    No person shall hitch or tie any horse or any other animal or in any manner; attach any placard, notice, bill or advertisement of any kind whatsoever, to any pole, standard, wire, fixture, transformer or property of any kind whatsoever, belonging to the City electrical system. 
 B.    No person shall erect, build, place or install, or plant, grow or permit to grow, or cause to be built or place any pole, wire, building of any kind, tree, shrub, vine or undergrowth, or anything of any kind whatever that shall touch or interfere with any wire or other equipment belonging to the City electric plant, or over any part of any street, alley, sidewalk, or parkway in the City so as to in any manner interfere with the electric service and where any such obstruction to the operation or building of any line necessary or convenient for the transmission of electricity of the electric plant is found, it may be removed by employees of the City with as little damage to property as necessary. 
 C.    The Electrical Supervisor may trim trees or bushes, if the trees and/or bushes are into the electrical lines, and the Supervisor believes trimming will keep limbs or bushes from causing any additional damage. 
 E.    No person shall in any way hinder, prevent or obstruct the operation of the City's electric plant or any part thereof.   

Chapter 730: WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM - RULES AND REGULATIONS

Section 730.010.  General. [Ord. No. 864, 2-10-2004]

These rules and regulations have been adopted to govern the water services furnished by the owner in a uniform manner for the benefit of the owner and its water users and are subject to change as herein provided without notice to any water users or any other person. All such changes must be approved by the State Director of the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, so long as the owner has unpaid obligations which are held or insured by the United States of America. Any amendment or change to the rules and regulations shall be effective on the date such amendment or change is passed by the owner, as herein provided, or on such other date as the owner may by resolution designate. Such amendment or change shall be ineffective only if not approved by the USDA, Rural Development, as herein before provided, but in the event such approval is given by the USDA, Rural Development, said approval shall be retroactive to the date of such change or amendment, as provided herein or as otherwise provided by resolution of the owner. If any portion of these rules and regulations shall be declared invalid by competent authority, such invalidity shall not effect the validity of the remaining portion. 

Section 730.020.  Definitions. [Ord. No. 864, 2-10-2004]

The following expressions, words and terms, when used herein, shall have the meanings stated below: 

APPLICANT — Any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, the Federal or State Government or any unit, agency, political corporation or subdivision of either the Federal or State Government or other agency applying for a water user's agreement.  

LANDOWNER — Any person owning property served by the water system of the owner or who has a leasehold interest therein with more than a year to run. The term "landowner" shall also include life tenants but the owner may at its discretion require remaindermen to enter into any agreement required with the property owner under these rules and regulations; and the remaindermen shall be bound by these rules and regulations in all respects.  

OWNER — City of La Plata.  

POINT OF DELIVERY — The point of delivery shall be at the meter, unless otherwise specified in the water user's agreement or in any other agreement where it shall be mentioned.  

SERVICE — When used in connection with the supplying of water, shall mean the availability for use by the water user of water, subject to the provisions of these rules and regulations. Service shall be considered as available when the owner maintains the water supply at a minimum of twenty (20) p.s.i. pressure at the point of delivery with the service line static, in readiness for the water user's use, regardless of whether the water user makes use of it.  

STATE DIRECTOR — The State Director of the USDA, Rural Development for Missouri or his successor.  

USER — Any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, the Federal or State Government, or any unit, agency, political corporation or subdivision of either the Federal or State Government, or other agency receiving water and waste services, or to whom water services are made available from the owner's facilities pursuant to a written water user's agreement.  

WATER SERVICE — A water service shall consist of facilities for supplying water to one (1) residence or business establishment located on land within the jurisdiction of the owner.  

WATER USER'S AGREEMENT — The written contract between the water user and the owner pursuant to which water service is supplied or made available.  

Section 730.030.  Rate Schedule. [Ord. No. 864, 2-10-2004] 

 A.    Rate schedules for water and water service are fixed by the owner. The rate schedule is subject to change by action of the owner, with the approval of the State Director of the USDA, Rural Development, so long as the owner has unpaid obligations which are held or insured by the United States of America. If a provision of the rules and regulations conflicts with the provision of the rate schedule, the provision of the rate schedule shall prevail. If the total amount of revenue and income derived from the collection of the water rates is insufficient to meet the payment of the costs of operation, maintenance, depreciation, necessary extensions and enlargements, and payment of the principal and interest on any general and special obligation bonds, then outstanding with their attendant obligations pursuant to the obligation bonds, then outstanding with their attendant obligations pursuant to the terms of the bonds and the authorizing resolutions, the owner shall increase the water rates for the first (1st) month thereafter in an amount sufficient to meet these costs and obligations. 
 B.    The owner may require, at its discretion, for meters to be ready by the water users and readings reported to the owner.   

Section 730.040.  Applications. [Ord. No. 864, 2-10-2004]

Applicants for a water user's agreement shall make application to the owner. Such applications shall be in writing and the owner shall prescribe the form of such application. 

Section 730.050.  Service. [Ord. No. 864, 2-10-2004] 

 A.    Readiness To Accept.  Before installing a service extension and providing water, the owner may require the applicant to pipe his home and be in readiness to accept the service. 
 B.    Service For Sole Use Of The Water User. The standard water service connection is for the sole use of the water user and does not permit the extension of pipes to transfer water from one property to any other consumer nor will the user share, resell or submeter water to any other consumer. If an emergency or specific situation should make such an arrangement advisable, it shall be done only on specific written permission of the owner for the duration of the emergency. No more than one (1) residence shall be served by one (1) water service connection. A farm containing one (1) residence and other buildings for use in the farming operation shall be considered as one (1) residence and the water user may use water from one (1) meter for all such buildings; provided, that in the event that a farm contains two (2) or more residences, a meter shall be required for each residence, unless the owner shall find such to be an unusual hardship upon the water user, in which case a special agreement may be made concerning such additional residence and the rules for a multiple-unit dwelling as set forth in these rules and regulations shall be applied to determine the rate for such farm containing two (2) residences. 
 C.   Hardship Agreements. The owner may enter into a special agreement whereby a right of entry is granted to the owner to read a meter placed on private property for remotely located residences or remotely located water uses, where the location of the meter as provided in these rules and regulations would, in the owner's opinion, cause undue hardship and expense on the water user. Such special agreements must be written and no water user or applicant for water service shall have any right to force the owner to enter into such a special agreement, but such agreements must be entered into solely at the discretion of the owner. The owner may in the alternative apply the multiple-unit residence rule stated in these rules and regulations. 
 D.   Continuity Of Service. The owner will make all reasonable efforts to supply continuous, uninterrupted service. However, it shall have the right to interrupt service for the purpose of making repairs, connections, extensions or for other necessary work. Efforts will be made to notify water users whenever possible who may be affected by such interruptions, but the owner will not accept responsibility for losses which might occur due to such necessary interruptions. The owner does not accept responsibility and shall not be liable for losses which might occur due to interruptions to service for any cause and does not accept responsibility for losses due to failure to the owner to notify any water user of any such interruption. 
 E.     Services. The owner will install all water service pipes from its mains to the meters on property abutting the right-of-way along which the main is installed insofar as its current financial responsibilities, obligations and conditions will permit and, insofar as adequate water pressure is available at the point of delivery requested by the applicant or water user. The service pipe shall not be less than three quarters (¾) inch in size and the owner will also install and pay for the owner's main connection, meter and meter setting. The meter will be set at the point on the water user's premises designated by the owner. The charge for services to be made by the owner shall be that amount specified in these rules and regulations or as otherwise provided by the owner, but in no event shall it be less than the cost to the owner. 
 F.     Right To Inspect. Representatives of the owner shall have the right at all reasonable hours to enter upon the water user's premises to read and test meters, inspect piping and to perform other duties for the maintenance and operation of service or to remove its meters and equipment upon discontinuance of service by the water user. 
 G.    Piping Work To Be Inspected. All piping work in connection with pipe and services connected with the owner's main shall be submitted to the inspection of the owner before such underground work is covered up. Whenever the owner determines that a job of plumbing is obviously defective, although not in direct violation, the owner may require that it be corrected before the water will be turned on. The owner may prescribe the type of materials and the standard of workmanship to be followed in enforcing this Section. 
 H.    Intercepting Tank Required For Large Customers. Service pipes shall not be connected to the suction side of pumps. The supply for use of a character requiring a large quantity of water within a short period will not be permitted except through intercepting or intermediate storage tanks. 
 I.      Check Valves, Flush Valves And Vacuum Breakers. Water users having boilers or hot water systems connected with mains of the owner must have a check valve in the supply pipe to the boilers and hot water heating systems, together with a release valve at some point between the check valve and the heating system. All water users are hereby cautioned against danger of collapse of boilers since it is sometimes necessary to shut off the supply of water without notice and, for this reason, a vacuum valve should be installed in the steam lines to prevent collapse in case the water supply is interrupted. The owner, however, will not be responsible for accidents or damages resulting from the imperfect action or failure of said valves. 
 J.    Cross-Connections And Interconnections. 
  1.       The owner will not allow to be made any physical connection in its water supply system to that of any other pipe system or equipment, where such other pipe system or equipment in any manner receives all or any part of its supply of water directly or indirectly from wells, streams or any source other than that of the water system of the owner. 
  2.       No other interconnection or cross-connection, as defined below, shall be permitted. The making, causing or permitting of the installation or existence of any interconnection or cross-connection shall constitute a violation of the rules and regulations of the owner and such prohibited connection shall be removed forthwith in a manner acceptable to the owner and the duly constituted public health officials. 
  3.       Failure to do so within two (2) days from and after date of notification by the owner may result in discontinuance of water service without further notice. 
  4.       When used in these rules and regulations, the following words and phrases shall have the meaning herein provided. 
           a.  Cross-connection: A cross-connection is any pipe, valve or other arrangement or device connecting the pipe lines of the owner or facilities directly or indirectly connected therewith to and with pipes or fixtures supplied with water from any source other than the lines of the owner directly connected. 
           b. Interconnection: An interconnection is a plumbing arrangement, other than a cross-connection, by which contamination might be admitted or drawn into the distribution system of the owner, or into lines connected therewith, which are used for the conveyance of potable water.
           c. The owner shall have the right at all hours to enter upon water user's premises for the purpose of inspection and enforcement of this provision.     
 K.    Applicants Having Excessive Requirements. In the event of an applicant whose water requirements are bound to exceed the owner's ability to supply it from existing physical assets without adversely affecting service to other water users, the owner will not be obligated to render such service, unless and until suitable financing is provided by the applicant to cover the additional physical assets. The owner has no obligation to reimburse the applicant for physical assets provided. 
 L.     Customer's Duty Regarding Service Lines. 
  1.       The water's user's service pipe and all connections and fixtures attached thereto shall be subject to the inspection of the owner before the water will be turned on, if the owner so elects, and all properties receiving a supply of water and all service pipes, meters and fixtures, including any and all fixtures within any improvements or buildings on said properties, shall at all reasonable hours be subject to inspection by any duly authorized employee or agent of the owner. 
  2.       All service pipes shall be laid at all points at least forty-two (42) inches below the surface of the ground and shall be placed on firm and continuous earth so as to give unyielding and permanent support. They shall not be laid in sewer ditches. It shall be installed in the trench at least eighteen (18) inches in a horizontal direction, in undisturbed earth, from any other trench wherein are laid gas pipe, sewer pipe or for other facility public or private. Such service line shall not pass through premises other than that to be supplied unless the owner shall so agree in writing. 
  3.       Water user shall, at his own cost and expense, make all changes in the service pipe required or rendered necessary on account of changes in the street grades, relocation of mains or other causes. 
  4.       No fixture shall be attached to, or any branch made in, the service pipe between the main of the owner and the meter. 
  5.       Any repairs or maintenance necessary to the service pipe or any pipe or fixture in or upon the water user's premises shall be performed by the water user at his sole expense and risk. 
  6.       Service pipes must be kept and maintained in good condition and free from all leaks, and for failure to do so the water supply may be discontinued. 
  7.       The owner shall in no event be liable for any damage done or inconvenience caused by reason of any break, leak or defect in, or by water escaping from service pipes, or from fixtures on the premises of the owner or water user. The water user shall be billed in the usual manner for the cost of all such water according to the rate schedule of the owner as provided for in these rules and regulations.   
 M.    No One But Owner's Employee May Turn Water Off Or On. No one but an employee or a person authorized by the owner shall turn on water or shut off water to any water user or to any property, except in the case of escaping water. 
 N.    Water Users Requiring Uninterrupted Supply. 
  1.       The owner will endeavor to give reasonable service but does not guarantee a sufficient or uniform pressure or an uninterrupted supply of water, and water users are cautioned to provide sufficient storage of water where an absolutely uninterrupted supply must be assured, such as for steam boilers, hot water heating systems, gas engines, etc. 
  2.       Fixtures or devices taking a supply of water directly from the service pipes, depending upon the hydraulic pressure of the pipe system of the owner for supplying same under working pressure, would do so at the risk of the parties making such attachments, as the owner will not be responsible for any accidents or damages to which such fixtures or devices are subject.     

Section 730.060.  Fire Hydrants. [Ord. No. 864, 2-10-2004] 

 A.    Private fire hydrants may be installed by a written agreement with the owner, provided that the owner shall take into account all possible costs to the owner and charge an equitable price therefore, all cost factors considered. Public fire hydrants may be installed by special agreement with the State, a municipality, political subdivision or political corporation and the owner shall take into consideration the same factors when entering such a contract. 
 B.    In the event that the owner undertakes to furnish fire hydrants as a part of the service to the water users of the owner, than all water users of the owner shall be furnished with substantially the same degree of benefit from such hydrants and in the event that this is impossible, then those receiving a higher degree of benefit shall pay an additional charge above the rates for water herein provided for which shall be for such additional benefit. Such rates shall be equitable to all water users and shall depend upon cost studies made by the owner's employees or consultants.   

Section 730.070.  Meters. [Ord. No. 864, 2-10-2004] 

 A.    Meters Furnished By Owner. Meters will be furnished, installed, owned, inspected, tested and kept in proper operating condition by the owner without cost to the water user, except that such water user shall pay a connection fee, as set forth in these rules and regulations, which shall not be refundable. The complete record of tests and histories of meters will be kept if deemed necessary by the owner. Meter tests will be made according to methods of the American Waterworks Association by the owner as often as deemed necessary by the owner. 
 B.    Meter Accuracy. Service meter errors which do not exceed two percent (2%) fast or slow shall be considered as being within the allowable limits of accuracy for billing purposes. The percentage of error will be considered as that arrived at by taking the average of the error at full load and that at ten percent (10%) load, unless a water user's rate of usage is known to be practically constant, in which case the error at such constant use will be used. 
 C.    Meter Location. Meters shall be set in an accessible place on the outside of buildings, except where otherwise directed by the owner. All meters shall be set horizontally and never connected into a vertical pipe. Meters outside of the buildings shall be placed in meter boxes furnished and installed by the owner. 
 D.    Requested Meter Tests. Meter tests requested by water users shall be performed per Section 700.080 of the owner's City Code. 
 E.     Water User's Responsibility. The water user shall be responsible for any damage to the meter installed for his service for any cause other than normal wear and tear.   

Section 730.080.  Water User's Bills. [Ord. No. 864, 2-10-2004] 

 A.    All user/customer's utility bills will be calculated and mailed to or otherwise delivered to the customer on or before the fifth (5th) day of each month and are due and payable in full on or before the twentieth (20th) day of each month. Payments not received on or before the twentieth (20th) day of such month shall be deemed delinquent and shall bear a late payment penalty equal to ten percent (10%) of the utility bill. Notice of such delinquency shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to the customer and shall inform the customer that failure to pay the utility bill and delinquency by 12:00 P.M. (Noon) on the last business day of the month will result in disconnection of utility services. 
 B.    All bills for service charges furnished by the owner may be estimated when, by reason of defect in or failure to read the appropriate meter or for any other reason, the monthly bill of the user or customer cannot be accurately determined. The City Collector shall make such estimate, considering the average consumption of the user over the previous twelve (12) month's period, considering the relative use of such utility service within the City as a whole for the period of time in question, and considering such other factors as the City Collector may deem appropriate. Such estimated bills shall be due and payable as are all other bills rendered under this Section. 
 C.   Bills may be submitted on a monthly, bimonthly or quarterly basis as the owner may provide and direct in its actions establishing a rate schedule.   

Section 730.090.  Discontinuance of Water Service. [Ord. No. 864, 2-10-2004] 

 A.    All utility bills not paid by 12:00 P.M. (Noon) on the last business day of the month shall result in disconnection of utility services. Such disconnection shall be made without the necessity of notice to the water user. All utility deposits previously made by the customer will be applied to the amount owing, including penalties, and shall not prejudice the City's right to collect any balance otherwise payable to the City. Prior to reconnection and restoration of utility service after disconnection, the customer shall deposit a sum equal to all delinquent amounts then due, including penalties, together with reconnect charges and a new utility deposit. Customers voluntarily disconnecting utility services shall pay a reconnection fee upon re-establishing utility service. Any damage resulting to the water user or any property of the water user or the landowner of the property occupied by the water user shall not be the responsibility of the owner, its agents or employees. The owner, its agents and employees shall not be liable to the water user or the landowner of any property used, held, occupied, rented or leased by the water user for any such damage when disconnection is made according to these rules and regulations, and it shall be immaterial that no notice of such disconnection was given to the water user or to said property owner. 
 B.    The following reconnection charges shall be charged for each utility in case of a delinquent account: 
  1.       Reconnect during working hours twenty-five dollars ($25.00). 
  2.       Reconnect after normal working hours thirty-seven dollars fifty cents ($37.50), plus City worker call out fee.   
 C.    Except in the case of failure of the water user to pay the bill owed the owner for water service as set forth in these rules and regulations, the owner will not discontinue the service of any water user for violation of any rule or regulation of the owner without written notice of at least two (2) days mailed to such customer at his address as shown upon the owner's records, or personally delivered to the water user or a member of the household advising the water user what rule has been violated for which service will be discontinued if the violation is permitted to continue. Provided however, that where misrepresentation of use of water is detected, or where the owner's regulating or measuring equipment has been tampered with, or where a dangerous condition is found to exist on the water user's premises, service may be shut off without notice in advance. Subject to the foregoing provisions, service rendered under any application, contract or agreement may be discontinued by the owner for any of the following reasons: 
  1.       For willful or indifferent waste of water due to any cause. 
  2.       For failure to protect from injury or damage the meter and connections, or for failure to protect and maintain the service pipe or fixtures on the property of the water user (or the property occupied by the water user) in a condition satisfactory to the owner. 
  3.       For molesting or tampering by the water user or others, with the knowledge of the water user, with any meter, connections, service, pipe, curb cock, seal, valve or any other appliance of the owner's controlling or regulating the water user's water supply. 
  4.       For failure to provide the owner's employees free and reasonable access to the property supplied or for obstructing the way of ingress to the meter or other appliances controlling or regulating the water user's water supply. 
  5.       For non-payment of any account for meter or service maintenance or for any other fee or charge accruing under these rules and regulations, the rate schedule of the owner. 
  6.       In case of vacancy of the premises. 
  7.       For violation of any rules and regulations of the owner. 
  8.       For any practice or act prohibited by the Missouri Division of Health. 
  9.       For failure to allow any owner's employee, officer, agent or representative the right to inspect the water user's premises for any purpose set forth in these rules and regulations.   
 D.    The discontinuance of the supply of water to a property for any reason shall not prevent the owner from pursuing any lawful remedy by action at law or otherwise for the collection of monies due from the water user or property owner. 
 E.     Water will not be turned on to any property unless there is at least one (1) adult person therein at such time to see that all water outlets in the premises are closed to prevent damage by escaping water. 
 F.     Only an employee, officer or agent of the owner may turn on water and all applicants and water users are expressly forbidden to do so.   

Section 730.100.  Agreements With Governmental and Public Bodies. [Ord. No. 864, 2-10-2004]

The owner may make specific water service contracts with the United States of America and its agencies, the State of Missouri and its agencies, school districts and municipal corporations, and all other political subdivisions of the State of Missouri and of the United States of America differing from stipulations set out in the rate schedule and rules and regulations. Such contracts must receive written approval by the State Director before being placed in effect. 

Section 730.110.  Future Connections. [Ord. No. 864, 2-10-2004]

In making a future connection to an applicant for water service after the completion of the original water system of the owner, the owner shall charge a fee at least equal to the cost to the owner for said connection and such fee may be adjusted, taking into consideration the average cost for the entire system to each water user, at the discretion of the owner, but said fee shall in no event be less than thirty dollars ($30.00). 

Section 730.120.  Main Extensions. [Ord. No. 864, 2-10-2004] 

 A.    Extensions of water mains and lines shall be made by the owner upon written application on a form approved by the owner. If said application is approved, the main or line shall be extended provided that: 
  1.       Applicant pays all construction, engineering and legal expense of such extension. Said payment shall be made in advance to the owner or, at the discretion of the owner, may be placed in a special escrow account. If the cost and expense of such construction is not ascertainable, the cost thereof shall be estimated and said amount shall be paid the owner or put in a special escrow account and applicant shall agree to pay any additional costs incurred for such extension. 
  2.       Before granting to an applicant the right to make such extension or before entering into an agreement therefore, the owner shall first determine that the extension will not materially affect in an adverse manner the service rendered to any existing customers of the owner. In the event the owner determines, based upon information furnished by its employees and consultants, that such extension would have a material adverse effect upon existing water users of the owner, then the owner shall not permit such extension. 
  3.       In the event the applicant desires to perform the construction, the applicant shall pay all engineering, legal and administrative costs incurred by the owner incident to the approval of the plans and specifications for construction of the improvements, the perfecting of all rights-of-way and other costs incident to the construction.
  4.       The construction and materials shall be inspected by a qualified inspector furnished by the owner. The cost of this inspector shall be borne by the applicant.