[Adopted 11-5-1979 as §§ 30-1 to 30-12 and 30-16 of the 1979 Revised General Ordinances]
[Amended by Ord. No. 6-1990]
A. 
Before the issuance of a construction permit, the builder or owner of the proposed structure shall apply to the Township Division of Water and Sewers within the Department of Public Works for an internal water meter and shall pay the charges hereinafter specified. The builder or owner of the structure may apply to the Township Division of Water and Sewers within the Department of Public Works for a separate water meter to measure the consumption of water for external purposes only and shall pay the charges hereinafter specified. The applicant shall also arrange for the registering on the water records of the Township of the serial number of each water meter supplied, together with the address or location of the structure at which said meter is to be used.
B. 
All meters shall conform to the specifications of the Division of Water and Sewers as to manufacturer, type and units of consumption (cubic feet) and shall allow remote reading by the Township.
C. 
All other sections of Articles I and II of this chapter shall apply to all water meters measuring internal and external consumption.
[Amended by Ord. No. 6-1990]
A. 
The meter shall be set by a plumber licensed to operate in the Township, at the cost of the owner or builder. When the meter is set and connected to the Township water system, the meter shall become the property of the Township.
B. 
The meter shall be set at a location in the building where it is easily accessible to the employees of the Township for reading, inspection and testing. No meter shall be installed in an external pit unless approved by the Superintendent-Water Engineer. The meter, remote wiring and outside reading terminal shall be protected from freezing and other damage. Failure to provide reasonable care for the maintenance of the meter, wiring and outside reading terminal shall be cause to require replacement of said component at the expense of the property owner. Each property owner shall also pay a fee of $100 for the labor of replacement of all water meters and equipment.
[Amended 2-23-2009 by Ord. No. 4-2009]
[Amended by Ord. No. 37-1997; 4-28-2025 by Ord. No. 15-2025]
The charge for a water meter shall be the sum of the cost of the meter and the associated parts thereof to the Township, plus 30% of such cost as compensation for advancing the purchase price of the meter and the associated parts and the storing and handling of same.
[Amended by Ord. No. 22-2002; 4-28-2025 by Ord. No. 15-2025]
The charge for water used during the course of construction of a new building or structure shall be the sum of $50 in cases where the estimated cost of construction, as appears on the application for a construction permit, does not exceed $20,000. Where the estimated cost of construction on said application exceeds $20,000, an additional charge of $1.50 per thousand or fraction thereof shall be made.
All water supplied by the Township for any purpose, except for the use of the Fire Department at fires, shall be measured by meter.
[Amended by Ord. No. 27-1980; Ord. No. 18-1981; Ord. No. 5-1986; Ord. No. 2-1987; Ord. No. 15-1989; Ord. No. 6-1991; Ord. No. 26-1993; Ord. No. 21-1999; Ord. No. 13-2000; Ord. No. 22-2002; 3-7-2005 by Ord. No. 2-2005; 5-21-2007 by Ord. No. 13-2007; 3-23-2009 by Ord. No. 9-2009; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 27-2014; 8-9-2021 by Ord. No. 25-2021; 4-28-2025 by Ord. No. 15-2025]
A. 
The owners of each structure or lot supplied with water shall be liable for the payment of the price or rent of such supply or use according to the following rates per the table below:
Category
2025
2026
2027
Minimum charge: 0 to 500 cubic feet - residential dwelling unit
$26.65
$29.32
$32.25
In excess of 500 cubic feet per 100 cubic feet - residential dwelling unit
$5.76
$6.34
$6.97
In excess of 2,500 cubic feet per 100 cubic feet - residential dwelling unit
$7.02
$7.72
$8.49
Minimum charge: 0 to 500 cubic feet - structure other than a residential dwelling unit or a multi-unit residential structure
$31.46
$34.61
$38.07
In excess of 500 cubic feet per 100 cubic feet - structure other than a residential dwelling unit or a multi-unit residential structure
$6.29
$6.92
$7.61
Lawn irrigation system (lawn sprinklers) with a dedicated meter per 100 cubic feet - any structure type (no sewer charges)
$8.00
$8.79
$9.67
B. 
Fire sprinkler standby charge of $125 per quarter for all buildings equipped with a fire sprinkler system. In addition to the standby charge, all water used in fire sprinkler systems shall be charged according to the rates for structures other than a residential dwelling in the table above. No sewer charges will be made for a fire sprinkler line with a dedicated meter.
C. 
Commencing on January 1, 2028 and annually thereafter, the Superintendent-Water Engineer and Chief Financial Officer shall adjust the rates in this section consistent with the cost-of-living adjustment. This adjustment shall be based on the implicit price deflator for state and local governments for New Jersey and published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis. If the cost-of-living adjustment is less than zero, then no adjustment shall be made.
D. 
The rates set forth herein shall take effect for water consumed as of the next day after the day of the last meter reading prior to the effective date of this section.
[Amended by Ord. No. 27-1980; Ord. No. 5-1987; Ord. No. 24-1987; Ord. No. 5-1991; 4-28-2025 by Ord. No. 15-2025]
A. 
Meters shall be read quarter-annually, and a water bill based upon the aforesaid rates shall be forwarded to the owner of the premises to which the water has been supplied.
B. 
All water bills shall be due and payable within 30 days of the mailing of the bill.
C. 
If the amount of any such bill shall not have been paid within 30 days from the date of the mailing, water service shall be shut off and will not be turned on again until the amount of the bill shall have been paid, together with a turn-on charge of $75 for service during regular hours of the Water and Sewer Department and a charge of $75 plus 1 1/2 of the billing rate of the individual employee for service rendered after regular working hours and on the weekends.
D. 
If the amount of any such bill shall not have been paid within 30 days, there shall be a late fee charged in the amount of 8% per annum simple interest, together with all other applicable fees and charges.
E. 
The turn-on charge shall also be charged for any customer requests to turn off and turn on the water at a property for any reason. The turn-on charge shall be $75 for service during regular hours of the Water and Sewer Department and a charge of $75 plus 1 1/2 of the billing rate of the individual employee for service rendered after regular working hours and on the weekends.
No reductions or allowances in charges for water shall be made for leaks or water wasted through defective fixtures, except in case of incorrect meters, when, for good cause, the Council may make the reduction upon receipt of a report from the Division of Water and Sewers.
[Amended by Ord. No. 23-1987; Ord. No. 22-2002; 4-28-2025 by Ord. No. 15-2025]
A. 
Tests shall be made for the accuracy of a water meter or a meter shall be reread if the user shall make an application to the Superintendent-Water Engineer within 10 days after receipt of the bill.
B. 
A charge of $150 shall be made for taking out, testing and replacing a meter.
C. 
These charges will be due and payable when the meter is replaced; but if the meter is found to be over-registering, no charge shall be made.
[Added by Ord. No. 22-2002; amended 4-28-2025 by Ord. No. 15-2025]
Access to all water meters/equipment must be provided at the request of the Township for reading, testing, inspecting, repairs and upgrades to the reading system. All customers must respond within 30 days of our request. If there has been no response to our request after 30 days, water service shall be shut off and will not be turned on again until the request has been satisfied. A turn-on charge of $75 will then apply during regular hours of the Water Department, plus 1 1/2 of the billing rates of the individual employee for service rendered after regular working hours and weekends.
[Added by Ord. No. 22-2002; amended 4-28-2025 by Ord. No. 15-2025]
A fee for a hydrant flow test shall be the sum of $200 for each test. The person doing the test shall supply all necessary gauges and equipment to perform the test. This test must be approved by the Superintendent of Water and a copy of the report shall be sent to the Division of Water and Sewers. All hydrants and water valves will be operated by Water Department personnel only.
[Amended 6-2-2008 by Ord. No. 18-2008; 4-28-2025 by Ord. No. 15-2025]
No person, except an authorized employee of the Division of Water and Sewers, shall:
A. 
Break or injure the seals of any meter.
B. 
Change the location of, alter or interfere with any meter without first obtaining written approval from the Superintendent-Water Engineer.
C. 
Replacement cost to install a new meter shall be the sum of the cost of the meter and the associated parts and labor thereof to the Township, plus 30% of such cost.
[Amended 4-28-2025 by Ord. No. 15-2025]
A. 
No person shall attach, alter or extend any water pipe or make any alteration in any tapcock or other fixture or do any work calculated to increase the facilities for using Township meter or turn on or off the stopcock on the main or at the curb.
B. 
This section shall not apply to cases of a break when temporary provision may be made by a plumber licensed to operate in the Township. The break may be permanently repaired under the direction of the Supervisor of Water and Sewers.
C. 
For any excavation in which underground water equipment/piping is damaged by an outside party, the Township has the discretion to assess a $500 fee plus charges for the labor, equipment, materials, and lost water with a 30% markup.
[Amended 2-24-2020 by Ord. No. 4-2020]
It shall be unlawful for any person to furnish water to others for any purpose, open any fire hydrants of the Township or turn on water unless a special permit is obtained from the Division of Water and Sewers.
A. 
Persons seeking to open a fire hydrant for any purpose shall be required to obtain, in addition to the special permit, a hydrant meter from the Township of Livingston Division of Water and Sewers.
(1) 
Each applicant upon receipt of the permit shall provide the Township with a surety deposit in the amount of $3,000 to guarantee against damage to the meter or hydrant.
(2) 
Each meter will be billed at a rate of $15 per day, until returned to the Township, plus metered water charges.
(3) 
Surety deposits will be returned to the applicant following satisfactory inspection of the hydrant and meter for damage by Township personnel and payment of all outstanding meter rental and water charges by the applicant.
Any person who violates any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding $500, or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.