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.