§ 28-145. Private fire service protection.

(a)

The fixed monthly charge for special private fire service protection shall be based upon the size of the fire service line connected within the city's water distribution system as follows:

Meter Sizes	Fire Service Fixed Monthly Charges 28-145(a)
(inches)	Effective 10/1/2011	On 10/1/2012 charges shall be adjusted by multiplying the prior year's charge by 6.75%.   *See Note 1 at Sec. 28-76b)(1)	On 10/1/2013, and October 1 of each year thereafter, charges shall be adjusted by multiplying the prior year's charge by 5%.   *See Note 1 at Sec. 28-76(b)(1)
2	$34.06
3	$62.84
4	$103.96
6	$206.75
8	$330.11
10	$474.02
12	$885.20
16	$1,440.29

 

 

(b)

The city shall install fire line connections up to the property line upon application made to the appropriate city department. The property owner is responsible for installation and maintenance of the fire line on his property. The owner shall apply for service and prepay the estimated cost of the installation from the main to the curbline (plus the extension of the properly sized main, if necessary), including labor, materials, valves, street repairs, sidewalk repairs, and such other costs as may be incurred in rendering service. The property owner, his successors in interest, and all tenants on the property shall be subject to the following regulations:

(1)

Use for fire purposes only. This connection is to be used for fire purposes only and is to have no connection whatsoever with any taps that may be used for other than fire purposes and, because of the danger of pollution, shall have no connection with any other source of supply unless a tank or fire pump is installed as a secondary supply. There shall be a backflow prevention assembly installed in each city connection to prevent the water from these secondary supplies running back into the city mains in accordance with chapter 28, article III, and division 2, "Backflow Prevention."

(2)

Tests. The owner shall not draw any water whatever through this connection for any purpose except the extinguishment of fires or for periodic tests of the fire system, which tests shall be made in the presence of a representative of the city.

(3)

Equipment inspection. The city fire inspector and any authorized city representative shall have free access to the building at any reasonable time for the purpose of inspecting any of the equipment.

(4)

Backflow prevention assembly. At the time of installation of the fire line, the owner shall install at owner's sole expense a backflow prevention assembly on owner's property at a location designated by the city fire plans examiner as close as practical to the property line. Such backflow prevention assembly shall be fitted with a detector assembly bypass, on which shall be set a meter, the purpose of which shall be to indicate whether water is being used through this connection and for the further purpose of showing if there is leakage. Whether backflow prevention is required shall be determined by the provisions of chapter 28, article III, division 2 Backflow Prevention and subparagraph (5) below.

(5)

Backflow prevention. At the time of application by the owner for fire service, the fire plans examiner may require an approved backflow prevention assembly to be installed by owner at owner's sole expense on each fire line at or near the property line. American Waterworks Association Manual M-14, as it may be amended from time to time is hereby adopted by reference and applicable provisions of division 2 of this article shall govern the installation of backflow prevention assemblies on fire lines. Nothing herein shall be construed to require backflow prevention on existing fire lines; provided that the fire service was installed prior to May 5, 2014 and adheres to the current Florida Administrative Code governing cross-connection control, however, the public works director or city fire marshal shall have the authority to make a determination whether the owner shall have a backflow prevention assembly installed on an existing fire line to protect the public potable water system.

(6)

Repairs, alterations and relocations. The owner shall be responsible for repairs, alterations or relocations to fire lines and backflow prevention assemblies on fire lines, pay applicable fees, provide certifications and recertifications and meet the provisions of chapter 28, "Water, Wastewater and Stormwater," article III, "Municipal Water Supply System," division 2, "Backflow Prevention." The City of Fort Lauderdale reserves the right to shut off the water supply at any time in case of accident or to make alterations, extensions, connections or repairs, and, if possible, the public works department will attempt to provide a twenty-four (24) hour notice prior to discontinuing service.

(7)

Pressure not guaranteed. The city shall not make any guarantee as to a certain pressure in this pipe or in the main supplying the same, and shall not be, under any circumstances, held liable for loss or damage to the owner for a deficiency or failure in the supply of water, whether occasioned by shutting off of water in case of accident or alterations, extensions, connections or repairs or for any cause whatsoever.

(8)

Resealing valves and connections. When fire line valves or connections are used in case of fire or for any other reason whatsoever, the owner shall immediately notify the public works department and the public works division shall forthwith reseal the used valves or connections.

(c)

Upon the application of the owner or consumer for private fire service, tapping charges shall be paid as follows:

Fire Service Tapping Charges 28-145(c)
	Effective 10/1/2011	On 10/1/2012 charges shall be adjusted by multiplying the prior year's charge by 6.75%.   *See Note 1 at Sec. 28-76(b)(1)	On 10/1/2013, and October 1 of each year thereafter, charges shall be adjusted by multiplying the prior year's charge by 5%.   *See Note 1 at Sec. 28-76(b)(1)
2-inch tap and service	$2,974.34
4-inch tap and service	$7,030.28
6-inch tap and service	$7,841.48
8-inch tap and service	$11,356.62

 

For sizes greater than an eight-inch tap and service, such charges shall be estimated and billed upon a basis of actual cost, including materials, labor, equipment and a percentage allowance for administrative and overhead costs. All tapping and service charges shall be paid in full before the fire service is installed.

(Code 1953, § 45-21; Ord. No. C-77-92, § 1, 7-19-77; Ord. No. C-77-138, § 1, 9-20-77; Ord. No. C-78-23, § 1, 2-21-78; Ord. No. C-81-55, § 3, 7-21-81; Ord. No. C-85-88, § 5, 9-17-85; Ord. No. C-86-75, § 4, 9-16-86; Ord. No. C-87-59, § 4, 9-9-87; Ord. No. C-88-45, § 1, 6-21-88; Ord. No. C-88-54, § 2, 7-19-88; Ord. No. C-89-97, § 4, 9-26-89; Ord. No. C-90-34, § 4, 5-15-90; Ord. No. C-91-63, § 5, 9-19-91; Ord. No. C-92-41, § 5, 9-15-92; Ord. No. C-93-59, § 1, 9-21-93; Ord. No. C-94-34, § 5, 9-20-94; Ord. No. C-95-48, § 5, 9-19-95; Ord. No. C-95-71, § 4, 12-19-95; Ord. No. C-96-51, § 5, 9-17-96; Ord. No. C-97-35, § 5, 9-16-97; Ord. No. C-98-55, § 5, 9-15-98; Ord. No. C-00-61, § 5, 10-17-00; Ord. No. C-01-42, § 5, 9-20-01; Ord. No. C-02-25, § 5, 9-17-02 ; Ord. No. C-03-32, § 5, 9-16-03 ; Ord. No. C-04-047, § 5, 9-21-04 ; Ord. No. C-05-26, § 5, 9-28-05 ; Ord. No. C-06-29, § 5, 9-19-06 ; Ord. No. C-07-89, § 5, 9-18-07 ; Ord. No. C-08-42, § 5, 9-16-08 ; Ord. No. C-09-21, § 6, 7-21-09 ; Ord. No. C-11-21, § 5, 9-20-11 ; Ord. No. C-12-35, § 5, 9-18-12, eff. 10-1-12 ; Ord. No. C-14-25, §§ 17, 18, 5-20-14 ; Ord. No. C-15-17, § 1, 4-21-15 )

State law reference

User fees authorized, F.S. § 166.201.