Draft chapter 90: Water Service System

§ 90.20 Wells Prohibited: Exceptions

The 2026 draft's § 90.20 beside the current code's § 90.19: removed words are struck through, added words underlined.

Comparison with a draft: not adopted. The archive holds no public hearing, ordinance or vote adopting the recodified Code through the October 20, 2026 meeting packet. Until one is adopted, every page here compares the consolidated code with a draft that can still change: the revised draft with the October 6 changes is not in the archive.

A comparison with the August 2026 draft recodification prepared by Iowa Codification for the City. The draft has not been adopted and can still change; the current code (unofficial compilation) governs until a recodified Code is adopted. Matches between sections are made by machine from the texts and are reviewed where uncertain.

Renumbered or moved citations or formatting only

What changed

Privately owned and maintained wells inside the City are prohibited if a City water main abuts the property line by either right-of-way or easement. The City may require owners of existing private wells to connect to a city owned City-owned distribution water main if a City water main abuts the property line by either right-of-way or easement. Such connection shall be made within ninety (90) 90 calendar days after official notice to do so. The owner of the property on which the well or water system is located shall cause all service lines that furnish water to a residence from the well to be permanently cut off. The existing private well may continue to be used for purposes that do not include providing water to the residence, provided that it is not connected by any means to the City water system, and no water from the well is allowed to enter the City sanitary sewer system. However, if required, the existing well must be abandoned as required by state State law. New wells may be sunk if the Council certifies to a property owner that the City is not prepared to provide water service within a reasonable time after the application is made for the service. A property owner may petition the Council for approval of a well constructed and used for non-potable purposes, and the Council may grant such an exception if it finds the well is not intended for residential or commercial use and it is otherwise in the best interest of the City to grant such an exception. The City shall refer all applications for such exceptions to the City Engineer for review and comment. The property owner shall remain liable for meeting all other applicable State and County regulations and laws governing the location and operation of wells.

Word-level comparison of the current text with the draft's; spacing and paragraph breaks come from the documents' text. Footnotes are left out.

Current code

§ 90.19 Wells Prohibited: Exceptions

Privately owned and maintained wells inside the City are prohibited if a City water main abuts the property line by either right-of-way or easement. The City may require owners of existing private wells to connect to a city owned distribution water main if a City water main abuts the property line by either right-of-way or easement. Such connection shall be made within ninety (90) calendar days after official notice to do so. The owner of the property on which the well or water system is located shall cause all service lines that furnish water to a residence from the well to be permanently cut off. The existing private well may continue to be used for purposes that do not include providing water to the residence, provided that it is not connected by any means to the City water system, and no water from the well is allowed to enter the City sanitary sewer system. However, if required, the existing well must be abandoned as required by state law. New wells may be sunk if the Council certifies to a property owner that the City is not prepared to provide water service within a reasonable time after the application is made for the service. A property owner may petition the Council for approval of a well constructed and used for non-potable purposes, and the Council may grant such an exception if it finds the well is not intended for residential or commercial use and it is otherwise in the best interest of the City to grant such an exception. The City shall refer all applications for such exceptions to the City Engineer for review and comment. The property owner shall remain liable for meeting all other applicable State and County regulations and laws governing the location and operation of wells.

Ord. 2015-368 · source page

2026 draft

§ 90.20 Wells Prohibited: Exceptions

Privately owned and maintained wells inside the City are prohibited if a City water main abuts the property line by either right-of-way or easement. The City may require owners of existing private wells to connect to a City-owned distribution water main if a City water main abuts the property line by either right-of-way or easement. Such connection shall be made within 90 calendar days after official notice to do so. The owner of the property on which the well or water system is located shall cause all service lines that furnish water to a residence from the well to be permanently cut off. The existing private well may continue to be used for purposes that do not include providing water to the residence, provided that it is not connected by any means to the City water system, and no water from the well is allowed to enter the City sanitary sewer system. However, if required, the existing well must be abandoned as required by State law. New wells may be sunk if the Council certifies to a property owner that the City is not prepared to provide water service within a reasonable time after the application is made for the service. A property owner may petition the Council for approval of a well constructed and used for non-potable purposes, and the Council may grant such an exception if it finds the well is not intended for residential or commercial use and it is otherwise in the best interest of the City to grant such an exception. The City shall refer all applications for such exceptions to the City Engineer for review and comment. The property owner shall remain liable for meeting all other applicable State and County regulations and laws governing the location and operation of wells.

August 2026 draft · page 192

Back to draft chapter 90 · All changes

Data last updated October 22, 2026. Built from the archive's documents; see how the data is built.