The following rules and regulations prescribed
by the General Manager for the regulation of public use and consumption
of water supplied by the City are hereby ratified and approved:
A. All requests for water service must be made, in writing.
Each applicant therefor shall file a list of fixtures on the premises
for which the application is made.
B. All taps shall be made by the contractor in accordance
with applicable state and local codes and as in accordance with all
requirements and regulations that the General Manager may deem appropriate.
All the service pipes shall be copper pipe of the best grade and satisfactory
to the Department and shall conform to the Uniform Fire Prevention
and Building Code and applicable regulations governing water supplies.
[Amended 9-5-1996 by Ord. No. 1638; 4-4-2002 by Ord. No.
1716]
C. The water shall be used on the premises named in the
application only and for purposes stated therein.
E. The General Manager shall have the authority to impose
restrictions on the use of water for sprinkling and lawn spraying,
the washing of cars, the filling of swimming pools and for any other
purpose for the purpose of preserving water, at any time he considers
the imposition of such restriction necessary and in the best interests
of the city.
F. No unauthorized person shall open, use or draw water
from or damage, disfigure or interfere in any way with any fire hydrant
in the city.
G. The owner of the premises shall keep the curb box
cover in place and the inside of the box clean at all times.
H. All piping and fixtures must be kept tight and free
from leaks.
I. Leaks in service pipes in the street or on private
property must be repaired by the owner upon notice from the Department
that such leak occurs. If the owner does not repair the service leak
after due notice, the repairs will be made by the Department at the
owner's expense, and the cost of which repairs shall become a lien
against the property and be added to and appear on the next City tax
bill for said property.
[Amended 2-4-1993 by Ord. No. 1584]
J. The General Manager or his duly authorized representative
shall have free access to all parts of the premises to which water
is delivered, at all reasonable hours.
K. The City Council reserves the right to require the
installation of meters on any or all service lines. The cost for said
meter is the responsibility of the property owner.
[Amended 9-5-1996 by Ord. No. 1638]
L. Water rents are from the first day of May to the first
day of November, and from the first day of November to the first day
of May of each year for the preceding six months, and payable on January
1 and July 1 of each year. Service will be discontinued to all premises
for which water rents have not been paid on or before the first day
of August and the first day of February next, following the due dates.
M. Occasional inspections of fixtures will be made wherever
water is furnished through unmetered services. Wherever leaking fixtures
are found, they shall be repaired by the owner within 10 days from
notification of the existence of the leaking fixtures. Whenever the
repairs are not made within the time stated, the repairs may be made
by the Department at the owner's expense, or the service may be discontinued.
N. No water shall be turned on at a premises or off at
a premises, except with permission of the Public Works Department.
Water (and sewer) laterals are the responsibility of the property
owner in all respects, from the City main to said property.
[Amended 9-5-1996 by Ord. No. 1638]
O. Vacancies will be allowed for three months or over,
with no allowances for less than three months. To secure vacancy allowances,
the water must be turned off and on by employees of the department.
P. Whenever it is deemed advisable to set a meter on
any service, the property owner shall provide a suitable and convenient
place to set the same and must provide ample protection from freezing.
Any damage sustained by the meter from freezing, hot water or any
other cause beyond the control of the Department shall be repaired
at the expense of the property owner.
Q. The City Council reserves the right to change the
rules and regulations and the rates for the use of water and other
services from time to time, as conditions warrant.
R. The City Council reserves the right to shut off the
water for alterations, extensions and repairs and to stop and restrict
the supply of water whenever it may be found necessary, and the City
Council shall not be liable, under any circumstances, for the deficiency
or failure in the supply of water, whether occasioned by shutting
off water to make repairs or connections or for any other cause whatever.
S. Permits for all excavations for water, sewer or other utilities must be granted by the General Manager and are defined in Chapter
244, Streets and Sidewalks, of the Code.
[Amended 9-5-1996 by Ord. No. 1638]
T. These rules and regulations shall supersede all rules
and regulations heretofore promulgated for the regulation of public
use and consumption of water supplied by the City and shall take effect
on March 13, 1969.
[Last amended 12-19-2023 by Ord. No. 7-2023]
The following rates to be charged for the use of water supplied
by the City and for service necessary and incidental thereto, as prescribed
by the General Manager, are hereby ratified and approved:
A. Metered rates.
(1) The rate for metered water shall be $4.42 per 1,000 gallons for the
billing period November 1, 2023, through April 30, 2024, and $4.42
per 1,000 gallons for the billing period May 1, 2024, through October
31, 2024.
(a)
The metered rate shall be charged to industrial establishments
of all kinds, to supermarkets, to laundromats, to office buildings
of more than three units, to hotels, motels, public garages, schools,
printing and publishing houses, to greenhouses, photographic shops,
restaurants, car washes, clubs, commercial establishments and for
building purposes.
(b)
Meters will be purchased, installed, upgraded, and maintained
by the owner under the supervision of the City. Further, the City
is authorized to require remote meter gauges in those situations where
it is deemed appropriate and in the best interest of the City.
(c)
The metered rate for industrial and commercial users outside
the corporate limits of the City (out-of-town users) shall be $4.48
per thousand for the billing period November 1, 2023, through April
30, 2024, and $4.48 per thousand for the billing period May 1, 2024,
through October 31, 2024.
(d)
Minimum meter rates for in-town/out-of-town service shall be
$220.60 for the billing period November 1, 2023, through April 30,
2024, and $220.60 for the billing period May 1, 2024, to October 31,
2024.
B. Flat rates.
(1) A flat rate of $200.48 for the billing period November 1, 2023, through
April 30, 2024, and $200.48 for the billing period of May 1, 2024,
through October 31, 2024, will be charged per dwelling unit. A dwelling
unit is one or more rooms with provision for living, cooking, sanitary
and sleeping facilities.
(2) The flat rate for dwelling units outside the corporate limits of
the City of Watervliet shall be $220.60 for the billing period November
1, 2023, through April 30, 2024, and $220.60 for the billing period
May 1, 2024, through October 31, 2024.
(3) Vacant houses and other vacant buildings with water turned off at
the service entry will be charged $100.24 per dwelling unit for the
billing period November 1, 2023, through April 30, 2024, and $100.24
per dwelling unit for the billing period May 1, 2024, through October
31, 2024. If the water is turned on at the service entry during a
billing period, the property will be billed the full rate of $200.48
per dwelling unit per billing period. If the water service has been
turned on at the vacant property, other than by the City of Watervliet
Water Department, during a billing period, the property will be billed
the full rate of $200.48 per dwelling unit per billing period and
will also be charged a penalty of $500.
(4) Vacant units within an owner occupied property may apply for a water
reduction. These units will each be charged $100.24 for the billing
period November 1, 2023, through April 30, 2024, and $100.24 for the
billing period May 1, 2024, through October 31, 2024. If the unit
becomes occupied during a billing period, the property will be billed
the full rate of $200.48 per billing period for that unit. If a unit
that has been granted a reduction is found to be occupied during a
billing period, the property will be billed the full rate of $200.48
per billing period for that unit and will also be charged a penalty
of $500.
(5) Vacant lands (300- Vacant Land property classification code) will
be charged $14.00 for the billing period November 1, 2023, to April
30, 2024, and $14.00 for the billing period May 1, 2024, to October
31, 2024.
C. Any meter not functioning properly will be replaced immediately and
inspected and sealed by the City. If not replaced within 10 work days,
the City will replace the meter and bill the violator for the costs.