A supply of water for building or other special
purpose, except on a lot or premises already supplied with a metered
water connection, must be specially applied for. All applications
for water for building purposes must be supplied through a meter at
meter rates, must be signed by the owner or his duly authorized agent
and shall be interpreted to mean that the water is to be used from
a builder's hydrant and shall not be introduced into any of the house
fixtures.
[Amended 7-19-1989 by Ord. No. 1989-12; 4-17-1991 by Ord. No. 1991-12; 8-15-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-18; 5-12-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-5; 6-1-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-15]
A. Specifications. All water meters will be according
to the Township's specifications and will become the property of and
under the control of the Township and will be accessible. Initial
cost of the meter and installation will be borne by the owner of the
property.
B. Water service to be metered. Each water service from
a curb stop or meter pit to a property shall be metered. The Township
reserves the right to determine the size and location of the meter.
C. Location. After the applicant has provided a readily
accessible space for the meter, he will provide proper protection
for the meter and have the plumbing arranged to receive the meter
at a convenient point approved by the Township and so positioned as
to meter and control the entire supply. The water meter shall be located
at a point nearest the foundation of the building or where the water
service enters the building. The distance between the meter and the
entry point of the water service shall not be greater than that which
is deemed appropriate by the Township. When a separate meter is installed
for a sprinkler system, it shall be located before the main domestic
meter. The sprinkler system piping shall be a T-connection to the
main water line between where it enters the building and the main
meter. This configuration ensures that the main water meter does not
also register the water measured by the sprinkler meter. In cases
where it is not practical to place the meter within a building, the
customer shall build a brick, concrete or other approved meter box
or manufactured pit inside the property line. The pit or meter box
shall be fitted with a suitable and approved type of iron cover that
will provide adequate access for removal or installation of the water
meter. The Township shall approve the size and dimensions of the pit
or box.
D. Valves. All water meters shall have a working shut-off
valve on both the inlet and outlet side of the meter. This arrangement
will allow the Township to replace or service the meter with the least
amount of disturbance to the plumbing system in the property. It is
the responsibility of the customer to keep the valves in working condition.
Before the Township operates any shut-off valves, the customer shall
be required to sign a waiver acknowledging the work to be done and
the risk in operating a valve that may not be properly maintained
by the customer. The customer has the right to operate their own valves
if they choose not to sign the waiver for the Township. In each case,
the valves that isolate the meter and the valve at the curb stop are
the responsibility of the customer. When a check valve is installed
on the water supply line, a safety pressure relief device must be
inserted at some convenient point in the house piping to relieve excess
pressure due to heating water.
E. Reinstallation costs. The customer shall pay a charge
for the reinstallation or changing of a meter when removed because
of damage in any way due to the negligence of the customer. The charge
shall be equivalent to the cost of a new water meter of the same size.
The customer is responsible to contract for and pay any and all costs
involved in additional plumbing work necessary to allow the Township
to properly install the new meter.
F. Payment for damages. Meters will be maintained by
the Township so far as ordinary wear and tear are concerned, but damage
resulting from freezing, hot water or external causes due to the negligence
of the customer shall be paid for by the customer.
G. Minimum charges. Each meter is installed subject to
a fixed minimum charge in accordance with the adopted rate schedule,
for which certain quantities will be furnished without additional
charge. The minimum charge shall be nonabatable for nonusers of water
and noncumulative against subsequent consumption. In the case of fractional-period
bills covering less than a quarter, minimum charges and allowances
shall be prorated.
H. Notification of defective meter. The customer shall
immediately notify the Township of injury to or a nonworking status
of the meter as soon as known by the customer.
I. Disputed accounts. In the event of a disputed account
involving the accuracy of a meter, the meter will be tested upon request
of the customer in conformity with the provisions of these rules and
regulations. If a test is performed on a disputed meter and the meter
is found to have an error in registration of 4% or more, the bills
will be increased or decreased correspondingly.
J. Testing. When a meter is removed for testing based
upon the request of the customer, the following rules shall apply:
(1) The Township shall, upon a written request of the customer and, if he so desires, in his presence or that of the customer's authorized representative, make a test of the accuracy of his meter. When a customer desires, either personally or through a representative, to witness the testing of a meter, the customer may require the meter to be sealed in his presence before removal, which seal shall not be broken until the test is made in his presence. If the meter so tested shall be found to be accurate within the limits herein specified, a fee, as indicated in Subsection
J(3) below, shall be paid to the Township by the customer requiring the test, but if not found accurate, then the cost thereof shall be borne by the Township. When making the request, the customer shall agree to the basis of payment herein specified. If the customer does not wish to be present for the meter test, the customer must sign a waiver of the right to observe the test.
(2) A report of the meter test shall be made available
to the customer, and the Township shall keep a complete record of
the test.
(3) Fees.
(a)
The amount of the fee shall be $30 for each
water service meter having an outlet not exceeding one inch.
(b)
For water service meters having an outlet in
excess of one inch, the test fee shall be based upon the actual cost
to the Township of having the meter tested by an outside service,
plus an administrative fee of $50.
(c)
There shall be no fee where the meter is removed
for testing as part of the Township's normal maintenance procedures.
K. Failure to provide access to water meter to Township
employees: 1) In the event that the Township is denied access to a
water meter and cannot collect register readings for a period of six
months; or 2) in the event that the Township is denied access to a
water meter thereby preventing replacement of the meter with a current
model over a period of two months from the date a first notice is
sent out by the Township, a notice shall be served upon the customer
stating that the Township shall be provided access to the meter within
10 days of the date of the notice in order to install a new water
meter of the type currently approved by the Township. If the customer
fails to provide access to the meter with the appropriate internal
plumbing necessary to complete a Township water meter installation,
then the water service may be disconnected at the Township’s
discretion for failure to provide
[Amended 4-5-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-8]
L. Plumbing deficiencies. Whenever the Township replaces
a water meter, the plumbing within the customer's property shall be
sufficient to allow the Township to perform the work without causing
damage to the existing plumbing. If the Township determines, in its
sole discretion, that the plumbing in the customer's property is inadequate,
the customer shall have 30 calendar days after receipt of a written
notice to have the plumbing corrected. Inadequacies can result from
inoperable or leaking valves or corroded pipes and fittings. These
examples are intended as illustrative and are not all encompassing
for the purposes of this code.
M. Whenever the Township disconnects water services,
all costs of the disconnection and reconnection shall be borne by
the customer. These costs include, but are not limited to, excavating
and repairs to streets, alleys or sidewalks.
[Amended 7-19-1989 by Ord. No. 1989-12]
For automatic sprinklers or other automatic
fire service devices located inside a building or buildings, a separate
service line will be required, to be used exclusively for fire service.
At the option of the customer, fire hydrants located outside of buildings
may be connected to the fire service line. Each such separate service
line shall be subject to the charges at the rate of $2.25 per sprinkler
head per year. The Township reserves the right to refuse approval
for an application for automatic fire service where, in the judgment
of the Township, such service is not practical.
[Amended 7-19-1989 by Ord. No. 1989-12]
Customers desiring to have their above- or below-ground
swimming pools filled with water from a hydrant in the Township's
water supply system must first apply for a permit from the Water and
Sewer Department. Payment for the volume of water necessary to fill
the pool must be paid in advance at the rate of $2.40 per 1,000 gallons.
The customer may then make arrangements with the Florence Fire District
to fill his swimming pool. Residents of Florence Township who are
not customers of the Water and Sewer Department may follow the same
procedure to have their swimming pools filled by the fire district.
[Added 4-21-2021 by Ord.
No. 2021-11]
A. No person, firm or corporation shall perform a fire flow/pressure
test, which requires the use of potable water, for any building in
the Township without first applying to the Water Utility for a permit,
paying the applicable fee and receiving permit approval to conduct
the test. No testing shall be performed unless a representative of
the Water Department is present.
B. Within four working days following the receipt of a complete permit
application and payment of the associated fee, the Water Superintendent
will issue the permit and schedule appropriate personnel to observe
the test. All costs associated with the test shall be the responsibility
of the permittee. The fee schedule shall be as follows:
(1)
For water mains that are eight inches in diameter or larger:
$1,000 per test.
(2)
For water mains that are less than eight inches: $500 per test.
C. The fees set forth in Subsection
B are based on a maximum test duration of two hours. Tests that exceed two hours duration will result in a bill being issued to the permittee based on $150/hour, or fraction thereof. Testing shall only be conducted Monday through Thursday between the hours of 8:00 to 1:00 p.m. and shall not be permitted during the months of June, July or August, unless approved by the Director of Water and Sewer for special reasons.
D. Any person, firm or corporation that violates the provisions of this
section will be subject to a fine in the amount of $2,000.