Council adopts ordinance setting rules for culinary water connections outside city limits

The Mount Pleasant City Council on a unanimous vote adopted Ordinance 2025-2, establishing requirements for culinary water connections to city water for properties located outside the city limits but inside the city’s designated buffer zone.

Council member (presenter) summarized the ordinance, saying, “So first thing is if you would like to connect to city culinary water, you have to be within the city buffer zone.” The ordinance requires applicants to accept three conditions before connection: (1) they must be inside the buffer zone; (2) they will be subject to higher base and usage rates the city will set separately; and (3) by agreeing to receive service they agree not to contest annexation should the city later seek to annex the property. The presentation emphasized that rates and impact fees will be set outside the ordinance text.

The ordinance sets construction standards that mirror state drinking-water expectations: new lines must meet Utah Division of Drinking Water standards, utilities staff stated, including a minimum 8-inch diameter main, looped mains (no dead-end extensions) and installation of fire hydrants at intervals of roughly every 500 feet for new mains. The council also requires a mandatory sewer connection for properties seeking culinary water service; if topography prevents a gravity sewer tie, those requests will be considered case-by-case and subject to council approval.

Council discussion highlighted two operational limits: approvals granted by council will expire after one year if the applicant has not made substantial progress on installation, and existing approvals already granted would be subject to the same one-year progress requirement if the ordinance passes. Staff told the council that, based on current water availability and engineering input, the system can support about 2% growth for roughly 20 years at present consumption patterns.

Chair moved the ordinance; the motion was seconded and approved by roll call. The ordinance now becomes city policy, with specific rates and fees to be adopted separately by resolution or administrative action.

The council directed staff to return with the proposed rates, any required annexation paperwork language, and a checklist for applicants that describes engineering and permitting steps. The council also noted that deeded or legally encumbered properties recorded with the county may be treated differently and will be evaluated individually.