5.4. ERMUSR 01-09-2007 Elk River
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway phone: 763.441.2020
Elk River,MN 55330
Fax:763.441.8099
January 2, 2007
To: Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission
Jerry Takle
John Dietz
Jim Tralle
From: Bryan Adams
Subject: Customer Water Valve Replacement
At the December 2006 Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission meeting, Dave Berg,
Water Superintendent brought up the issue of utility staff replacing or repairing main shut-off
valves in customer homes. On occasion, water customers call the utilities for assistance if
the main water shut-off valve in their home develops a leak. This often happens after hours
or on weekends when it is difficult or very expensive to find a plumber to replace this valve.
The utility staff responses to this type of call to locate and turn-off the curb stop so the faulty
water valve can be replaced. Instead of waiting for a plumber to show up, it is quicker for us
to replace the valve while we are there. It is also very good public relations. Unfortunately,
we are taking on some liability if the valve we installed is defective or if our workmanship is
flawed. The customer only pays us or reimburses us for the valve; we have not been billing
labor. We have the following 3 options:
1) Keep our current practice of replacing these valves when asked(6 to 12 times a
year.) Customer reimburses us the valve. We assume the liability for any resulting
property damage.
2) Keep our current practice of replacing these valves but charge for labor and
materials. We assume the liability for any resulting property damage.
3) We revert back to our previous policy of no work on customer owned water
service lines.
Staff is suggesting we are getting to big and the potential liability is too large to continue
replacing customer valves. We should revert back to our previous policy of no work on
customer owned service lines.