Any address where you can regularly be reached – such as your home or business address.

State law recognizes that the primary parties to the water supply transaction are the City, as supplier, and the property benefited by water service availability.

Minn. Stat. 444.075, s.3(e), authorizes the City to charge the owner and to certify unpaid charges against the property served as a tax. Minn. Stat. 325E.025, s.2, distinguishes other types of utility services (such as electrical, gas, propane, and telephone) from water utilities, recognizing that water utilities provide a unique benefit to the property and are essential to human habitation. In fact, the law prohibits owners from renting out any premises without a connection to the water system. Gas, electric, propane, and phone utilities provide a benefit primarily to the end user – accordingly, the landlord is not responsible for their payment and unpaid charges cannot be assessed against the property.

In providing both services, the City must protect the public health, safety and welfare. It does more than provide water to make building habitable, it also must protect the water supply. Like streets, the water system is part of the City’s infrastructure that has to be maintained and kept safe. The water bill reflects these other duties too.