A.
Extensions of or changes in the water mains of the
water system may be initiated by the Mayor and Council or the Borough,
or by a proper application from any person. Applications for the extension
of old or the construction of new mains shall be addressed to the
Borough and made upon blank forms prepared by the Borough Clerk, and
all blank spaces thereon intended to be filled in, and the applicant
must subscribe to the conditions thereon.
B.
The Borough will thereupon consider the application
and advise the applicant of its decision. The Borough may prescribe
the terms and conditions upon which the application will be granted
and will require written acceptance or guarantee of such terms and
conditions by the applicant, in the form of a contract, which must
further be confirmed by the Mayor and Council. If the application
is granted, the Mayor and Council will instruct the Borough to proceed
as promptly as practicable with the work upon the terms and conditions
named. Unless otherwise stipulated, all work pertaining to the extension
of or changes in the water mains will be done in accordance with this
chapter at the expense of the applicant.
The water mains and supply pipes of the department
shall be under the exclusive control of the Mayor and Council and
its authorized agents and employees. No other person shall disturb,
tap, change, obstruct access to or otherwise interfere with them in
any way.
A.
All applications for the introduction of Borough water to private premises or for the change of an existing supply shall be made to the Borough Clerk, by the owner of the premises or by his duly authorized agent. The application must be made upon blank forms furnished by the Borough Clerk and the applicant must subscribe to the conditions printed thereon. The application must be accompanied by the tapping fee in full as specified in § 192-10 of this chapter, which fee will be returned if the application is not granted. Upon receipt and approval of this application, the Borough shall issue an order for the installation of a supply pipe and its appurtenances.
B.
No additional connections or alteration to existing
connections will be made for the owner of any premises unless and
until all charges of every nature due the Borough from such owner
or charged against such premises are first paid.
Construction specifications. Service lines must
be constructed according to Borough specifications. The service line
and all valves and appurtenances used in supplying water from the
water main to the owner's premises must be supplied by the owner,
conform to Borough specifications, and must be inspected by the authorized
representative of the Borough before restoration of the ground surrounding
the installation. Special attention is directed to the fact that all
permits, easements and notifications of the planned construction of
the service line to the water system of the Borough, must be carried
out at the owner's own time and expense. This includes the securing
of a road opening permit from local, state or county agencies, where
applicable, and any work, excavation, traffic controls and restoration
shall conform to any ordinances, laws, rules and regulations which
may be imposed by such agencies for this work. Water taps will be
performed by a qualified contractor or licensed plumber with approval
from the Borough. The Borough inspector or an authorized representative
must be present for final inspection. The meter will be installed
immediately.
Upon proper notice at least 48 hours in advance,
the Borough will inspect the installation of the corporation valve
on the water main to allow the owner or contractor to connect the
service line.
Supply and service pipes and all other pipes
or fixtures placed underground must be placed at least four feet below
the surface or finished grade of the ground to ensure against freezing.
Curb stop valves and valve boxes shall be provided and installed by
the owner and shall not be located in sidewalks and driveways. Such
valves and valve boxes shall be installed to a point two feet behind
the property line, edge of pavement or curb, as determined by the
Borough. Such valve shall be under the exclusive control of the Borough
for shutting off or turning on water. Any damage or obstruction of
the valve or valve box shall be reported immediately to the Borough.
A.
In each building intended to be connected with the
public water supply, there shall be provided two valves placed before
and after the meter, as near the front basement or foundation wall
as possible, but before the meter position, and where easily accessible,
another valve of the same type directly after the meter followed by
a check valve, in order that the water may be turned on and off and
drained from the pipe in case of accident and in order to make necessary
repairs. Such valves must be kept in good working order and must be
thoroughly protected from frost.
B.
In addition, reduced pressure backflow prevention
valves or devices shall be installed when, where and as may be required.
A.
Tapping fees for taps, supply pipes and accessories
shall be time and material plus 10% on both items for new houses and
houses already constructed. With each application the following deposit
shall accompany the same, and when the installation is complete the
tapping fee shall be credited against the total cost. Any cost exceeding
the deposit shall be charged to the owner on the next quarterly water
bill.
C.
Fees for renewal of supply pipes shall be time and
material plus 10% of both. The application shall be accompanied by
1/2 of the deposit above prescribed for the appropriate size and shall
be credited against the total cost when the installation is completed.
When special conditions warrant it, an adjustment of the cost of time
and material may be made by the Borough. If an owner refuses to submit
an application for a renewal in cases where there is supply leakage
and waste, the installation shall be made without application and
the cost charged to the owner on the next quarterly bill.
A.
All supply pipes and accessories including the corporation
and curb cocks, the curb box, the meter and the necessary amount of
tubing used between the corporation and curb cocks, shall be furnished
and placed by the Borough or under its supervision and shall remain
the property of the Borough.
B.
Each water service shall have a separate cutoff at
the curb. The service line in the rear of the curb cock, including
the required installation of valves for the water, shall be the responsibility
of the owner and shall be installed and maintained at his expense.
C.
All service line installations are subject to the
Boroughs approval.
D.
Tap charges for new buildings include water for the
construction of each building for a period of three months, except
where the Borough requires a meter to be set earlier for that purpose.
A meter must be set in any event after three months or the water will
be shut off at the curb.
E.
All digging and backfilling from the corporation cock
to the curb cock shall be done by the Borough, except under special
conditions where the Borough authorizes the owner, for an adjusted
tapping fee, to do the digging and backfilling in cases not involving
hard-surface roads. All digging and backfilling in the rear of the
curb cock and box, including the excavation and construction of a
meter pit when required by the Borough, shall be the responsibility
of the owner. No backfilling shall be done until the installation
is approved by the water superintendent or his authorized agent.
F.
Remote outside readers for the meter shall be provided
for easier reading.
Meters shall be placed in pits when so directed
by the Borough, and the design shall be subject to the approval of
the Borough. Water pits shall be at least four by four by four feet,
adequately drained and properly constructed, to permit ready access
to the meter and to protect it against freezing and cave-ins.
A.
Hereafter, only one meter shall be set for each service,
except in those cases where the Borough authorizes the laying of a
multiple service. Multiple services shall be privately owned lines
constructed of two inch copper at the expense of the owner. In such
cases, the owner shall be required to pay the entire cost of the installation,
to construct a meter pit, to install a master meter for the whole
line and individual meters for each service, and to obtain easements
or rights-of-way in forms suitable for recording for the line over
all property involved.
B.
The owner shall protect the Borough against leakage
on the line by using a master meter as a check meter and pay, when
so directed by the Borough, any material difference between the water
consumption registered by the master meter and the total of the amounts
registered by the individual meters prorated either equally or in
proportion to the amounts registered by the individual meter.
C.
The owner shall install at his own expense a copper
tee, P.E. or polyethylene 160 PSI, in the two inch line for each service
to which the individual service line can be attached and run to the
building or the desired location with provision for the installation
by the Borough of a curb cock and curb box at a point designated by
the Borough in each individual service line. The owner shall install
at his own expense a blowoff valve of the size and type approved by
the Borough at the end of the main line in order to permit the flushing
of it and to pay the tapping fee, not less than 50% of the prescribed
fee, for each individual service and to pay the minimum charge for
water on each individual meter unless the water consumed through it
exceeds the minimum amount, in which case the regular rates shall
apply.
D.
Under no circumstances shall more than one service
be permitted on each individual service line, but an extension installed
beyond the meter may be authorized to buildings located on the same
property as long as they are not occupied as family residences.
E.
On a multiple-service two inch line no pumps shall
be installed in individual services nor shall the Borough be held
in any way responsible should the water consumption on such line exceed
the capacity of the two inch line under the Borough water system pressure
existing at that time.
F.
The Borough may authorize the construction of privately
owned cast-iron mains at the expense of the owner to be connected
to the Borough water system. The fees charged will be the prescribed
tapping fees for the individual meters unless covered by contract
approved by the Borough Council. No master meter shall be installed
in a privately owned main unless covered by contract or by the Borough.
On all such mains at least one fire hydrant or a blowoff valve shall
be installed as directed by the Borough in order to permit the flushing
of the mains. Except under special conditions, the installation of
cast-iron mains less than six inches in diameter will not be authorized
or recommended to the Council by the Borough.
When directed by the Borough, existing installations
not in conformity with the provisions of this chapter shall be changed
as follows:
A.
An owner served by a meter not equipped with the required valves shall be required to install them as provided by § 192-9 of this chapter. There should not be more than one connection on a service line.
B.
Where a single-service line furnishes water successively
to one or more owners or where such a line has been tapped so that
other service lines are taken from it to serve one or more owners,
or where both conditions exist, a meter to be known as a "master meter"
shall be installed (unless a suitably located meter which can be used
for this purpose is already in place) by the Borough on the initial
service line or beyond the junction of the tap or taps, or on both,
as directed by the Borough, which may also require all owners to install
at their own expense individual meters on their premises paying an
adjusted tapping fee in each case.
If individual meters are installed at all services
the master meter shall be used to determine the total water consumption.
Master meters will be used for billing. If a discrepancy between the
reading of the master meter and the total of the amounts registered
by the individual meters is sufficient to indicate a leak on the lines
served, the Borough may order the difference prorated equally or adjusted
between the owners and added to the readings of their individual meters.
If the owners decline to install individual meters, the readings registered
by the master meter shall be prorated equally among them. If one or
more individual meters are installed, the excess shall be prorated
between and charged to each owner having an individual meter in the
proportion that the amount registered by his meter bears to the total
amount of water used shall be charged to the unmetered services if
there be more than one as the Borough may direct. Each service shall
pay at least the minimum charge for water unless the amount used exceeds
the minimum, in which case, the prescribed rates shall apply.
If the owners fail to agree on the installation
of a master meter and the individual meters as required and to pay
for the total amount of water used as registered on the master meter,
the water shall be shut off and the Borough is authorized to send
its employees onto the property of the owner and permanently disconnect
the water supply from the Borough system. If the owners desire at
a later date to have the service reinstalled, application for a new
tap accompanied by the prescribed tapping fees shall be made, under
terms to be prescribed by the Borough.
A.
Provision shall be made for the convenient installation
of a meter where it is accessible at all times and particularly not
in a coal bin. Installation will be made in accordance with the specifications
of the Borough, which will be furnished upon application to the Borough
Clerk.
B.
No person other than the authorized employees of the
Borough shall change the location of, alter or interfere in any way
with any meter while in service.
C.
No person or corporation shall permit or allow in
any building any damaged water meter through which water is supplied
to such person or corporation without immediately notifying the Borough
that such meter is damaged.
D.
All Borough water used on any premises where a meter
is installed must pass through the meter. No bypass or connection
between the meter and the main shall be made or maintained by any
person, firm or corporation.
E.
The accuracy of the meter on any premises will be tested by the Borough upon written request of the owner. Fees for such tests shall be as established in Chapter 127, Fees. If on such test the meter shall be found to register over 3% more water than actually passes through it, another meter will be substituted therefor or the one in use repaired, and no fee will be charged, and the Borough will, upon application, adjust the water bill for the current quarter in such a manner as it may think fair and just.
F.
Frozen meters will be removed and repaired by the Borough. Fees for such service shall be as established in Chapter 127.
G.
After the passage of this chapter, no tab meters will
be allowed in the Borough.
A.
Borough water shall be taken and used only through
supply and service pipes established by or under the supervision of
the Borough. The owner of any property shall not permit a connection
to exist by which water may pass from such property to another property,
even though the ownership of both properties may be the same.
B.
Borough water shall not be used for filling cisterns, surface ponds, swimming pools or any container over 5,000 gallons, unless a permit is first obtained from the Borough. Fees for such a permit shall be as established in Chapter 127.
C.
Owners of property desiring any unusual construction,
alteration or attachments connected with the water supply must submit
plans and specifications for the same to the Borough for its inspection
and approval or disapproval, and its determination as to whether the
same are permissible, and the terms and conditions under which their
use will be allowed.
D.
Excessive or unnecessary use or waste of water, whether
caused by carelessness or by defective or leaking plumbing or fixtures,
is strictly prohibited, even where the service is metered. The Mayor
and Council may by resolution limit or prohibit the use of water for
purposes not deemed essential whenever in its judgment it shall be
necessary or prudent to do so to conserve the water supply. For disregard
of or violation of the provisions of this article or of any resolution
of the Mayor and Council as aforesaid the water may be ordered turned
off by the Borough, in addition to other penalties herein provided.
E.
Where the water has been turned off by the Borough for any reason, no person shall turn it on again without the permission of the Borough. In case this rule is violated, the Borough may order that the water be turned off at the curb cock, in which case the owner shall, before it is again turned on pay in advance to the Borough the fee for such service as established in Chapter 127, Fees.
A.
The Borough will endeavor to render bills to the owner
of the premises for water and other Borough charges, but the nonreceipt
of a bill covering such charges will be no excuse for failure to pay
or delay in paying the same. In such cases the owner shall pay the
minimum fee.
B.
All charges for water must be paid within 60 days after the date of the bill therefor. If not so paid, water will be turned off from the premises against which such charge stands. When so turned off, water will not be turned on again until all charges have been paid, together with the fee as established in Chapter 127, Fees.
C.
The owner of any house, tenement, building or lot
shall be liable for the payment of all tapping fees and for the water
used on such premises and for all other water charges, either or all
of which, if not paid, shall be a lien upon such house, tenement,
building or lot until the same shall be paid and satisfied.
D.
If any water rent or rents or other charges shall
remain unpaid and in arrears for six months, the water registrar shall
file with the collector of taxes a statement showing such arrearage,
and the said water rent or rents or other charges shall be collected
and enforced by the collector of taxes and in the same manner as liens
for taxes are enforced and collected.
E.
Payment of all water charges and other accounts due
the Borough shall be made to the water registrar.
F.
Interest at a rate as established by resolution of
the Borough from time to time will be charged on all accounts delinquent
over 60 days.
The fees shall be as established in Chapter 127, Fees.
A.
Except as provided herein, no person, firm or corporation,
except the Fire Department of the Borough shall take any water from
any hydrant of the Borough. Any person, firm or corporation may obtain
written permission to take water from a hydrant or other unmetered
source from the licensed water operator of the Borough or his designee.
The water may only be removed under the supervision of the licensed
water operator or his designee.
All above ground or underground automatic or
manual lawn watering systems that are supplied water from the Chester
Water System must comply with the following conditions concerning
its use:
A.
The systems may only be operated from 5:00 p.m. to
8:00 p.m.
B.
Residences with even house numbers may only operate
the system on even calendar days and residences with odd house numbers
may only operate the system on odd calendar days.
C.
Newly installed sod lawns may be watered more frequently
but only after obtaining written permission from the licensed water
operator of the Borough water system which shall specifically set
forth the additional time the system may be operated.
A.
In the event of damaged, leaking or malfunctioning
water equipment (i.e., water service lines, valves, water meters,
remote meter readouts, etc., and such equipment located on private
property and the property owner's responsibility to maintain, the
Borough will notify said owner in writing of the found defect.
B.
The property owner, upon notification, will have seven
working days to make repairs. If the property owner fails to make
repairs after the seventh day, the Borough of Chester Department of
Public Works will interrupt the water service and enter onto the private
property and make the needed repairs.
C.
The property owner will be charged for all materials,
equipment, usage and labor at the actual costs incurred by the Borough.
Any unpaid repair bills will become a lien against the property.
