EVEN-numbered houses shall water on even number calender days.
ODD-numbered houses shall water on odd number calender days.
ONE SPRINKLER ONLY per residence.
EXCESSIVE SPRINKLING on driveways and sidewalks is not permitted.
OPEN HOSE use for watering is not permitted at any time.
UNDERGROUND SPRINKLERS must be operated during dark hours (dusk to dawn) on their day.
Regulation infractions may result in water being turned off, and a turn-on fee of $65.00 being imposed.

Why does Rutland Waterworks have year-round watering regulations?
Approximately 85% of our peak water demands are used outside the home. Control of peak water demands through the continuance of even/odd day water regulations allow the system to meet normal demands without very expensive system expansion. Please respect these regulations.

Bylaws to govern the District’s policy covering the connection of underground sprinkling systems to the District’s water supply contain the following requirements.

1. INSPECTION AND APPROVAL: The District must be advised by the owner of the serviced property when an underground sprinkler system is installed so the installation can be inspected and approved by a District official.

2. CONNECTIONS: All connections to underground sprinkling systems shall be made behind the meter, thus ensuring that all water used is metered. In those areas of the District that are not metered the connection for an underground system shall be made behind the shut-off valve in the building on the property being serviced by that connection.

3. BACKFLOW PREVENTION: All underground sprinkling systems connected to the District’s supply shall be equipped with an approved backflow prevention device installed on the downstream side of the meter and/or shut-off valve. The current minimum requirement is a District-approved double check valve backflow assembly.

4. VOLUME: If the present volume of water to a connection is found to be insufficient to operate an underground sprinkling system properly, therefore requiring a larger size connection, the owner of the property must make formal application to the District and pay the current price of such a connection.

5. RATE OF FLOW: No underground sprinkling system shall be so designed as to use in excess of 10 gallons per minute per lateral, unless authorization in writing is received from the Board of Trustees.

6. BOOSTER PUMP: The installation of a pump or other device designed to increase the volume of water supply to a sprinkling system is prohibited unless permission to install such a device is granted by the Board of Trustees.

7. TIMERS: An automatic timing device designed to shut off flow to the system automatically must be incorporated into the underground system.

8. SPRINKLING REGULATIONS: All property owners operating underground sprinkling systems must adhere to sprinkling regulations which may be laid down from time to time by the Board of Trustees of the Rutland Waterworks District.

Backflow Prevention is a Health regulation and protects users from backflow contamination.

1. No person shall connect, cause to be connected, or allow to remain connected any piping, fixture, fitting, container, appliance, or cross-connection that could cause or allow the potable water, the service, or a private water system to become contaminated, degraded, or polluted in any way and under any condition, including but not limited to backflow caused by backpressure or backsiphonage as a result of the disruption of the water supply from the water system, unless an approved backflow prevention assembly has been installed and tested in accordance with this Bylaw.

2. Where the District determines that there exists a connection or cross-connection prohibited by the bylaw, the District or Plumbing Inspector may give written notice to the consumer to correct the connection or cross-connection at the expense of the consumer within the time specified in the notice.

3. A consumer to whom notice has been given under this section shall correct the connection or cross-connection by installing an approved backflow prevention assembly in accordance with the latest CSA manual for the selection, installation, maintenance, and field testing of backflow prevention assemblies.

4. Every consumer shall, upon the installation of an approved backflow prevention assembly and annually thereafter, or more often as required by the District, arrange for the inspection and testing of the assembly by a certified Cross Connection Control Tester. The results of all inspections and testing, including the date of installation and type, model and size of the backflow prevention assembly, shall be submitted to the District within 30 days of such inspection and testing.

5. A new service connection shall not be turned on at the curb-stop until the consumer’s water service has been inspected by the Plumbing Inspector to the satisfaction of the District for connections and cross-connections prohibited by this Bylaw. This shall not prohibit the use of a water service for construction purposes for a limited time, provided the District is satisfied that adequate provision is made to prevent backflow into the Rutland waterworks system.

6. All consumers shall permit the District staff or a City of Kelowna Plumbing Inspector to enter their premises at all reasonable times in order to carry out inspections and surveys of the premises to determine compliance with this Bylaw.

7. Where the District determines that a connection or cross-connection prohibited by this bylaw places a consumer or any other person at immediate risk, or if the consumer fails to correct the connection or cross-connection as required by this Bylaw, the Trustees may order the disconnection of the supply of water without notice until such time the connection or cross-connection is corrected, and the person pays to the District the applicable turn-on fee.

8. Any person who disobeys or fails to comply with any provision of this Bylaw shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($2000.00), or to imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both. If the offence is of a continuing nature, the person shall be liable to a fine not exceeding FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500.00) for each day the offence is continued.

Servicing Qualifications

All properties within the boundaries of the Rutland Waterworks District are entitled to water service, providing they meet the following requirements:

District acceptance of an application to the District providing accurate details of the servicing requirements

Capital cost charges paid in accordance with the current bylaws at the time of the development application or subsequent redevelopment

The property owner(s) agreement to abide by all the bylaws of the District

All other charges paid in full

Suspension of Service
Water service can be suspended at any time if the District deems their has been a breach in the provisions of the servicing agreement. Examples of breaches in servicing requirements are faulty or incorrect plumbing, hazardous connections, lack of payment of taxes or tolls, violation of sprinkling regulations, etc. Charges associated with the servicing suspension process include:

Administration charges (starting at $20.00)
Turn-on fees (currently at $65.00)
Interest charges
Servicing Costs
Upon acceptance of an application to the District for a new or upgraded water service, the District processes the application as follows:

An estimate is made based on the information provided in the application. On larger service requirements an engineering retainer is also required so a study can determine the adequacy of fire flows and flow characteristics.
An up-front deposit is collected based on 85% of the estimated service costs. The balance of the servicing costs are adjusted based on the final installation costs.
All right-of-ways, permits, and inspections as well as final payment in full must be completed before permanent water service is established.
Servicing Regulations
There are several servicing regulations established in the District bylaws and policies. The customer is encouraged to contact the Rutland Waterworks District office for information on current regulations.

The majority of services in the Rutland Water District are equipped with water meters. The meter is installed behind the main shut-off valve (and pressure-reducing valve) in the building. Many meters have remote-read devices that allow consumption reading without entering the building. Plumbing that bypasses the water from going through the meter is strictly prohibited. Inspection of plumbing by District officials is a condition of the servicing agreement. If you wish clarification on the "Right to Inspect", please contact the District office.
How Does The Meter Work?
The majority of meters in service in the District are displacement meters. This means that only water that goes through the meter can make the meter record. This type of meter will not over-record due to the nature of its construction.

Noisy meters are attended to by the District's technicians at no charge to the customer. Often water noise is mistakenly attributed to the meter when in fact it is caused by undersized or old restricted plumbing within the building.

Non-Metered Buildings
Some areas of the Rutland Waterworks District are not presently on meters. These areas were taken over by the District and it is not a requirement to install a meter in an existing building. If the building is renovated or reconstructed, it is mandatory to install a meter at the owner's expense (Bylaw 158).