City of Watervliet, NY Part 1 Water Regulations and Rates

[Adopted 4-20-1972 as Div. 1 of Art. II of Ch. 20 of the Code of Ordinances of 1972]

Article I General Provisions

§ 266-1 Regulations for use of water; fees.

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.

D. (Reserved)[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Original Subsection D, which dealt with sprinkler hose connections, was deleted 9-5-1996 by Ord. No. 1638.

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.

§ 266-2 Rates and charges approved.

[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.