[Amended 2-19-2004 by Ord. No. 04-14[1]]
The provisions of this chapter and all other
rules and regulations relating to the water supply system of the City
of Trenton shall be enforced by the Division of Water and Sewer of
the Department of Public Works.
[1]
Editor's Note: Said ordinance provided for
the consolidation of the Divisions of Water and Sewer, Sewer and Water
Billing under the Department of Public Works and Sewer and Water Billing
under the Department of Public Works and amended the terms “Division
of Water and Sewer” and “Division of Sewer,” where
used in this chapter, to be replaced with “Division of Water
and Sewer.”
The officers, agents and employees of the Division
of Water and Sewer shall have free access at all reasonable times,
and in the event of an emergency at any time, to any premises for
the purpose of examining the water service. They shall have the power
to reject all pipes and fixtures considered unsuitable for that purpose.
All persons who may be supplied with water from
any City water main shall be responsible for keeping their service
pipes and all fixtures in good order and repair and protected from
frost, at their own expense.
A.
Installations, removals and repairs at expense of
property owners. Any installations, removals or repairs of pipes between
the curbline and the water main shall be made by the Division of Water
and Sewer without unnecessary waste of water, at the expense of the
owner of the property served by the pipes on which they are made,
and no claim shall be made against the City by reason of breakage
of any supply or service pipe or cocks, or from damage arising from
shutting off water to repair any main or making connection with any
such main.
B.
Notice of discontinuance of water service. Should
it become necessary to shut off the water from any section of the
City for the purpose of making changes or repairs to the water system,
the Division of Water and Sewer shall endeavor to give timely notice
to the consumer affected and shall, so far as is practicable, prevent
inconvenience and damage arising from the making of such repairs,
but failure to give notice shall not render the Division of Water
and Sewer responsible or liable for damages that may result therefrom,
or from any other cause.
C.
Multiple services. Where water is supplied through
one service to several houses, families or persons, the City Council
may, at its discretion, either decline to furnish water until separate
services are provided, or may continue the multiple supply on the
condition that one person shall pay for all consumers on the same
service.
D.
Fixtures. In all occupied premises supplied under
the assessed or fixture rate, all fixtures of whatever nature shall
be considered as being used and shall be charged for as long as the
fixtures shall remain connected with the water pipes.
E.
Vacated premises. No claim for deduction because of
a vacancy of the whole or part of any premises shall be allowed for
a period of less than one month. In case of the temporary vacancy
of any premises, the water shall be turned off at the curb cock by
the Division of Water and Sewer upon request, in writing, by the owner
of the premises or his/her authorized agent.
F.
Supply pipe and service pipe connections. Applications
for the introduction of any water supply or service or for the change
of any existing water supply or service shall be made at the office
of the Division of Water and Sewer by the owner of the premises or
by his/her authorized agent. The application must be made upon the
blank form furnished for that purpose, and the applicant must subscribe
to the conditions thereon, stating fully and truly the various uses
to which the water is to be applied. Upon the receipt of such application,
the Division shall make or cause to be made an inspection of the premises,
and shall proceed with work in accordance with the schedule of price
hereinafter mentioned for service work to the curbline.
G.
Piping to curbline. Supply and service pipes between
the main and curb, including curb cock and box, shall be put in only
by the Division of Water and Sewer at the expense of the property
owner.
H.
Control of pipes. Supply and service pipes between
main and curb are under the exclusive control of the Division of Water
and Sewer , and no person other than authorized employees of the Division
shall construct, repair or otherwise change or interfere with them
in any way except on order of the Division.
I.
Failure of owner. The refusal or neglect of the owner
to equip the premises with connections or fixtures of a character
and quality approved by the Division of Water and Sewer shall be sufficient
grounds for the refusal of the Division to connect the premises with
City water supply, or to turn on the City water supply after such
connection has been made.
J.
Separate pipes required. Separate supply pipes must
be laid from the main for each building. No connection by which City
water may pass from a building located on one building lot to a separate
building located on another shall be made.
K.
Maximum diameter of connection. No connection larger
than one inch shall be made to any main except by special permit authorized
by application to the Division of Water and Sewer and at such cost
in accordance with schedule prices.
L.
Repairs. The Division of Water and Sewer shall make
all repairs to supply and service pipes between curb and main. Upon
notification or discovery of any street leak in supply or service
pipe or stop cocks, the Division shall open the street and shut off
the water. The Division shall then make repairs to such pipes, including
taking up and replacing pavement, where necessary as promptly as practicable.
The expense of all such repairs shall be charged and collected from
the owners of premises supplied through such connections. When the
cost of repairs can be immediately computed, a bill shall be rendered
to the owner of the premises, and the water shall not be turned on
until such bill shall be paid in full; provided, however, if in the
judgment of the Division conditions demand the immediate resumption
of the supply, the water may be turned on, and such expense bill shall
be paid without delay or the water will be turned off.
M.
Contractors and builders. Contractors, builders and
like persons shall obtain from the Division of Water and Sewer a written
permit before using any water for building purposes.
A.
Permit required. No plumber or other persons shall
be allowed to make any increase or extension to service pipes or fixtures
by which City water is supplied to consumers, under assessed rate
contract, without a written permit from the Division of Water and
Sewer.
B.
Returns. Plumbers shall make full and complete returns
to the Division of Water and Sewer in writing, on a blank form furnished
for that purpose within 48 hours after the work shall be completed,
describing therein all new work placed and all additions, alterations,
repairs or connections made, giving in detail the total amount of
fixtures found on the premises. Every return must be full and complete
in every particular.
C.
Rules and regulations. No plumber shall leave the
stopcock at curbline open nor allow the water to run on premises where
new connections have been made with service pipe or when any new extension
or attachment has been made in unoccupied premises. In cases where
the work is a simple extension or additional attachment in premises
where the water is then in use, the plumbers may leave the water on
and the owner shall be charged from the date of the completion of
the work.
D.
Failure to perform work properly. Plumbers failing
to perform their work, or improperly reporting the same, according
to the established rules and regulations, or executing their work
unskillfully or to the damage of the City water works, may be debarred
from making connections with the City mains.
No person shall take or use City water from
premises other than his/her own, and no person shall sell or give
away City water from his/her own premises for any purpose, unless
same shall have been measured through a meter or by permission of
the department first obtained. City water shall not be used for filling
cisterns, cesspools or surface ponds unless a written permit is first
obtained from the department for which a suitable charge shall be
made to be fixed by the Superintendent.
A.
City fire hydrants. Fire hydrants are provided for
the sole purpose of furnishing water for extinguishing fires and are
to be opened and used only by the Fire and Water Departments of the
City or by such persons as may be specially authorized by the Water
Department.
B.
Fire pump. When it is desired to supply fire pumps
with City water, the owners or occupants of the property shall provide
a tank or other receptacle into which the water shall be discharged,
before going to the pump, and no direct connection with the street
mains for this purpose shall be allowed.
A.
Meters required.
(1)
It shall be lawful for the Division of Water and Sewer
to attach water meters together with the necessary connections to
any service pipes wherever it may be deemed by the Superintendent
to be advisable to do so. Payment shall be made for the amount of
water consumed as indicated by the meter, in accordance with the schedule
hereinafter set forth.
(2)
Only meters which have been furnished or approved
by the Division of Water and Sewer shall be installed. All meters
shall be set by an authorized employee of the Division of Water and
Sewer and any person or persons who shall cause to be removed, or
in any way interfere with any water meter or the valves or fittings
connected therewith, without permission of the Division shall be guilty
of a violation of this chapter. Any damage which any meter may sustain
by reason of carelessness of the owner, his/her agents or tenants
of the premises, or from neglect of any of them to properly protect
the same, including any damage or injury that may result from allowing
the meter to become frozen or to be injured by hot water, shall be
paid to the Division of Water and Sewer by the owner of the premises
and in case such payment is not made, the water may be shut off from
such premises and shall not be turned on again until all charges are
paid.
(3)
All City water used on any premises where a meter
is installed must pass through the meter. No bypass or connection
shall be made or maintained unless covered by a meter.
(4)
If a meter at any time fails to accurately record
the amount of water used, the quantity shall be determined and the
charge made, based on the average amount registered during such preceding
period of time prior to the date of failure as the Division of Water
and Sewer may elect.
(5)
All meters, except such as are required to be purchased
by water users, shall be and remain the property of the City, and
may be removed whenever the Division may decide to do so.
B.
Test of meters.
(1)
The accuracy of the meter on any premises shall be
tested by the Division upon written request of the owner or occupant,
who shall pay in advance a fee of $2 to cover the cost of the test.
If on such test the meter shall be found to register over 3% more
water than actually passes through it, another meter shall be substituted
therefor and the fee of $2 shall be repaid to the owner or occupant
of the premises, and the Division of Water and Sewer may adjust the
water bills for the current quarter in such manner as may be deemed
equitable.
(2)
No person shall interfere with or change location
of or remove any water meter. All such work must be done by the Division
of Water and Sewer. In case of any irregularity in the operation of
a meter, notice must be given at once to the Division of Water and
Sewer.
C.
Properties to be metered. Meters shall be required
for the following users of water:
(1)
All places using steam or hot water for power.
(2)
Yard hydrants or outside fixtures.
(3)
Swimming pools, whether public or private.
(4)
Photography studios.
(5)
Living stables and public garages.
(6)
Laundries, including coin-operated laundromats.
(7)
Soda fountains and drugstores.
(8)
Hotels and office buildings.
(9)
Saloons and taverns.
(10)
Barbershops.
(11)
Bottling places.
(12)
Bakeries and confectioneries.
(13)
Markets.
(14)
Coal yards.
(15)
All premises served under schedule C, Suburban Rates,
hereinafter set forth.
D.
Meter orders.
(1)
When a meter is ordered or a replacement is requested
inside of a building, it is a requirement that shutoff valves be installed
at each side of the meters at the following distances apart:
(2)
When the valves have been affixed, the meter shall
be placed as soon as possible after the water user has called the
Meter Department informing it of the installation of the valves.
[Amended 2-5-2004 by Ord. No. 04-6]
