No person other than the Superintendent of Water or persons authorized and employed by him or her shall be permitted to take or make any connection with any street main or distribution pipe.
[Amended 6-2-2008 by Ord. No. 08-28]
A.
Employees of the Water Department, upon presentation of a badge, may enter and must be permitted to enter upon any premises where City water is being supplied, or upon any premises when application is made for a permit to connect plumbing with the water pipes for the purpose of inspecting the plumbing and fixtures of the water service and all work in connection with such service.
B.
The Superintendent of the Water Department and employees of the Water Department shall have authority, within the limits of the law, at all times to enter into any building or place where water is used from service pipes to make examination as to the manner, use and quantity of water used and to maintain, service, replace and update the water meter installed therein.
[Amended 6-2-2008 by Ord. No. 08-28]
Water must not be allowed to run for the purpose of flushing soil or sewers, or for any other purpose on the premises than those paid for or indicated in the application for the same and which are allowed by the rules and regulations set forth in this chapter. Faucets must be kept properly backed and all other fixtures in repair, so as to prevent leaks. The Water Department may shut off the water for failure to comply with this section. Water service shut off shall occur in accordance with the provisions set forth in § 405-52.
No plumber shall part with the possession of a key for turning off or on water except to an employee of the Water Department; and no person, unless specially authorized by the Water Department, shall have or hold such a key in his or her possession.
All of the parts of the water service inside the building and the fixtures and appurtenances connected therewith shall be of such form, character and workmanship as is described in this chapter or may be approved by the Water Department.
The curb cock controlling any service shall not be opened or left open by the plumber or any other person after connecting said service at the curb or elsewhere; or after making any new extension or attachment in unoccupied premises so that water may be supplied to said premises by said service without a formal permit from the Water Department; but in cases where the work is a simple extension or additional attachment in premises where the water is then in use and where a permit has been duly obtained to make the same, then the plumber may leave the water on the premises.
When the plumbing work in any building has been completed and tested, it shall be the duty of the plumber to shut off the water and leave it turned off until a meter has been set. The water will then be turned on by the Water Department.
An injury to service pipes, street mains, hydrants, valve boxes, or other fixtures and any damage that may be caused by leakage or flow of water occasioned by such injury caused by putting in any sewer, drain, or other pipe, or by any excavation, embankment, track laying, paving or other construction, shall be paid by the contractor doing the work, or by the owner of the premises, or the person or corporation for whom such work is being done.
The Water Department will determine the size of the tap to be inserted in any water main under any application and permit.
A.
Plumbers shall not connect two services to one tap; but each house must have one distinct and separate tap and service pipe and each service must be provided with a stop cock and metal extension box outside of the premises connected with the same. Where a larger tap or a branch is required to replace a tap or taps previously made, the tap or taps which are abandoned shall be shut off at the corporation cock, and any branch abandoned shall be capped, at the owner's expense.
B.
Supply pipes shall not be laid across adjoining premises. In no case, except in that of mills and factories, shall permission be granted to supply two or more service supply pipes to any premises without special permission in writing from the Superintendent of Water.
[Amended 6-2-2008 by Ord. No. 08-28]
No service pipe, except those pipes that are approved by the Plumbing Code of New York State, shall be laid in any trench or under any cellar floor, or be covered by earth except beyond the point where the water passes through the meter. The quality, strength and weight of the pipe shall be equal to that used by the Water Department. In case this section is not complied with, water will not be turned on the service by the Water Department until the pipe or fittings shall have been made to comply with this section.
A.
Service pipes will be required to be laid so as to be no less than five feet below the surface of the ground at any point outside of the foundation wall of the building into which the service is to be introduced; and in case final grade of the street or sidewalk has been officially determined and established, then the service shall be laid at a depth of not less than five feet below said established grade at all points so that when the street and walk are graded there shall be not less than a five-foot covering of earth over it at every point; and in no case shall a service be permitted to be laid in the same trench with a sewer, gas, steam, electrical or other conduit.
B.
Whenever the service pipe is extended into the premises from a main passing said premises along any front thereof, it shall be extended at right angles with said main to the inside of the curb line, at which point will be placed a curb cock and curb box. The water mains shall be laid at least 10 feet from a sewage line, and a service connection shall be laid at least four feet from a sewer line.
A.
Owners desiring to introduce water into premises along any front on which water mains have not yet been laid must make application therefor at the Office of the Water Department. In case a permit is granted, the Superintendent of Water will furnish a map or other explicit directions in detail in regard to the point of attachments to the City main, the method of attachment, and the position and depth which said service must occupy in the street; the service must in all other respects comply with the rules and regulations governing service pipes.
B.
In general, when a temporary pipe is laid on a street, alley or highway, it shall be laid in a line corresponding to the contemplated permanent water main. When opposite the premises to be supplied, the service from said pipe shall be laid at right angles to said line of pipe and in a manner as directed. The owner or owners of premises supplied by means of a temporary service of any description shall, whenever a permanent water main is laid in the street, alley or highway upon which said premises abut, cause said temporary service to be discontinued and connection to be made with the permanent main. The expense of making such connection must be borne by the owner of the premises.
C.
Premises on streets on which there is a permanent main and which are now supplied by temporary service lines shall, upon the direction of the Superintendent of Water, abandon such private service lines and make application for connection to the permanent water main as provided in § 405-7.
D.
Should the owner or owners of premises who are so temporarily supplied refuse to make direct connections as specified in this section, the Superintendent of Water will cause said temporary supply to be discontinued.
[Amended 6-2-2008 by Ord. No. 08-28]
A.
Maintenance by owner; failure to maintain. The owner of property into which water is introduced by a service pipe will be required to maintain in perfect order, at his or her own cost and expense, the service pipe from the curb cock to his or her own premises, including all fixtures therein provided for delivering or supplying water for any purpose. The curb box must be kept in view and the top thereof even with the sidewalk or street grade at all times, and in a serviceable condition. In case such service and fixtures are not so kept in repair, the Superintendent of Water shall notify the owner, as shown on the latest assessment roll of the City, of the property in writing by certified mail. Such written notice shall contain the date for completion, at the discretion of the Superintendent of Water, up to but no longer than 12 months from the date the written notice is issued. Failure to comply with such written notice may result in shut off of the water service on the premises until compliance is reached; or the Water Department may make the necessary repairs to conform to this rule and charge the cost thereof to the owner of the property at which this section is violated, and collect such cost from the owner of such property and shut off the water from such property until such charges are paid. Water service shut off shall occur in accordance with the provisions set forth in § 405-52.
B.
Maintenance by Water Department. The Water Department will maintain and repair each service pipe between the water main and the curb cock controlling the service, provided the same is in the roadway of the street; provided also that said service has been installed in full compliance with the rules covering the introduction of the water, and provided that failure of said service or the injury thereof, rendering repairs necessary, does not result from some improper act or omission on the part of the owner to keep or protect the service inward from the curb from injury or from frost; or otherwise from which act or omission injury results to that part of the service in the roadway of the street, in which latter case the owner shall pay the whole cost of the necessary repairs thereto.
Just inside the basement or foundation wall of the building into which the service pipe extends, a stop and waste cock shall be conveniently located and arranged so that water may be drawn back and all of the pipes within the building can be emptied to such stop and waste cock. Said waste cock must be kept open at all times when the service is not in use.
[Amended 6-2-2008 by Ord. No. 08-28]
Service pipes in buildings shall be located in the parts thereof best protected from frost. In buildings where there is no cellar, the pipes shall be carried to the center of the building or to unexposed parts previous to being carried upward. In all cases where the service pipe passes through areas or basements having windows, grating, or traps open to the weather, the openings shall be closely covered and the windows and doors closed to the outside area during the cold weather. In all exposed situations, the service pipes and fixtures shall be properly wrapped with felt or other nonconducting substances and surrounded with a box, packed also with nonconducting substances if necessary to protect such service from frosting. Said protection shall be at the expense of the owner, and in case such owner neglects to protect his or her service as aforesaid, the Water Department may shut off the water therefrom. Water service shut off shall occur in accordance with the provisions set forth in § 405-52.
[Amended 6-2-2008 by Ord. No. 08-28]
In all premises where water from the City mains is now supplied by a system of pipes and fixtures for water service, and where the service pipes and fixtures are not of the standard or pattern prescribed in the rules and regulations of the Water Department; or where such fixtures and devices for the prevention of damage to the service or of waste of water as are prescribed in said rules and regulations are lacking from said system, the owner of said premises shall at any time when so required by order of the Superintendent of Water make such changes in and additions to said system or fixtures for such water service as shall be necessary in order to comply with such rules and regulations, and at their own cost and expense. In case such service and devices are not so kept in accordance with this section, the Superintendent of Water shall notify the owner, as shown on the latest assessment roll of the City, of the property in writing by certified mail. Such written notice shall contain the date for completion, at the discretion of the Superintendent of Water, up to but no longer than 12 months from the date the written notice is issued. In case of failure to comply with this section at any premises, the water may be shut off from such premises until this section is complied with Water service shut off shall occur in accordance with the provisions set forth in § 405-52.
[Amended 12-4-2006 by L.L. No. 2-2006]
If a connection larger than two inches is required, a cast-iron pipe service not less than four inches in diameter shall be used and connection to the street main shall be made with patented or standard fittings. All material shall be furnished by the Water Department. All such services shall have a gate valve placed in the service pipe near the street main, which gate shall be controlled exclusively by the Water Department. Any fees, labor, material and pavement must be paid before work is begun.
A.
Standpipes or pipes for automatic suppression of fire in buildings, which fixtures are only intended for such use, may be attached to the water supply. All material for such connection shall be approved by the Superintendent of Water, and all labor in carrying such services to the curb shall be done by employees of the Water Department. No charge will be made for use of water for this purpose; but all such pipes must be provided with suitable valves outside of the building and under the exclusive control of the Water Department; also in case of standpipes, a valve must be provided and placed at the bottom of the standpipe. No standpipe or other fixture for fire protection will be allowed in premises where water is not taken for other than fire purposes. The Water Department reserves the right to refuse any or all applications for water for merely fire protection uses at its discretion. The entire cost and expense of installing the fire service shall be borne by the owner of the premises. Under no condition shall connection be made with such fire protection fixtures for the supply of water for any other purpose. All persons making such a connection or any owner using water from fire service fixture's for other than purposes intended, shall be liable to a fine of not more than $150 and, in default of payment thereof, to imprisonment of one day for each dollar of such fine remaining unpaid.
B.
In case of an emergency, if the fire service is to be shut off temporarily, a letter from the owner of the property is required in order that the Water Department will assume no responsibility in the shutting off of a fire service.
The owner of the premises on which fire service is located may, upon application to the Water Department, have repairs made to such fire service by the Water Department. All costs for repairs will be assumed by the owner of the premises.
The owners of the premises where pipes are in service for fire protection only shall maintain such service pipes their entire length from the street main into the premises; and they shall be responsible for any damage that may be caused by a leak in such pipe, or the breaking or busting of such pipes, unless such damage has been caused through some fault of the Water Department.
No person shall supply water in any manner or through any fixture or device whatever to the occupants of neighborhood premises of any description except by special written permit from the Superintendent of Water.
[Amended 6-2-2008 by Ord. No. 08-28]
A.
Permit required. In cases where it becomes advisable and necessary to supply water to a number of detached buildings upon a single undivided City lot from an attachment affixed or properly belonging to only one of said buildings, a special permit for the use of the City water may be granted by the Superintendent of Water.
B.
Unauthorized use of water. The owner of the premises will be held responsible for all unauthorized use or waste of water; and in case such unauthorized use or waste is discovered, the permit will be at once revoked and the water shut off without notice; and the same will not be turned on again until all charges for unauthorized use or waste shall have been paid together with the charge as established from time to time by the Superintendent of Water, for turning on the water.
[Amended 6-2-2008 by Ord. No. 08-28]
A.
All municipalities, water districts, persons, firms or corporations outside the City limits desiring a supply of water in a private main must comply with the rules and regulations of the Water Department and must make application therefore to the Superintendent on forms prepared for that purpose, whereupon the Superintendent shall make report thereof to the City Council; and upon the execution of a contract therefore between the applicant and the City when authorized by ordinance of the City Council and approved by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, the Superintendent may arrange for furnishing water to such applicant at rates established by him or her and approved by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment.
B.
Any addition to or connection with such private mains or supply pipes for the purpose of supplying water to other premises shall not be made until a written permit is granted by the owner of said pipes to the party or parties desiring such connection, and a copy thereof filed with the Water Department, and said party or parties agree to comply with the rules and regulations of the Water Department. The Water Department reserves the right to refuse to permit such outside connections and to discontinue the supply of water from same at any time.
C.
All municipalities or outside water districts who have entered into an agreement with the City of Binghamton for the purpose of receiving water shall annually provide the City of Binghamton with detailed service area maps providing all mains and connections that connect to the City mains and served by said agreement. This information must be submitted to the City in electronic format of ArcView or mutually agreed upon GIS compatible formatting. If electronic format is not available, then this information must be submitted on paper. Plans for any proposed changes which may influence water distribution and needs, must be submitted as well. If there is no change from previous submission, a letter stating this will be acceptable. All required information in this section should be submitted to the Superintendent of Water.
[Amended 4-15-1996 by Ord. No. 64-96]
A.
Permit required. Water will be furnished to builders or contractors as such for construction purposes only upon application to the Water Department for and receipt of a permit for each use in writing and personally signed by the Superintendent of Water.
B.
Charges; estimated amount of work; advance payment. Before receiving a permit the applicant shall pay to the Water Department an application fee as set from time to time. The estimated amount and payment for such water will be required by the Water Department to be made in advance before permit is granted.
C.
Hydrant wrenches and connection to hydrants. Where necessary to make temporary connections with fire hydrants, standard hydrant wrenches and reducing caps must be used. All wrenches, reducing caps, fittings, valves, etc., shall be approved by the Water Department and provided by the permittee. An approved backflow preventer must be installed. The type of device shall be determined by the degree of hazard presented. Final determination will be by the Water Superintendent.
D.
Termination, revocation of permit. Permits under this section shall terminate on November 1 of each year, and may be revoked at any time by the Superintendent of Water. Any person who shall be found guilty of using water or making connections with hydrants contrary to the provision of this section shall be punishable as provided in § 405-20.
E.
Supply of water by consumer. No consumer of water will be allowed to furnish City water for building purposes on his or her own or other premises without first paying for the same for said purposes and receiving a permit for such use from the Water Department. In case the builder is required to insert a special service pipe or fixture to enable him or her to procure said water for building purposes, the application for such service must be made by the owner or agent of the property, after which the permit for such use may be issued to the builder on his or her application; and he or she must file an application to have the water turned off at the curb as soon as he or she has finished his or her work.
F.
Issuance of permits. Permits shall be given at the discretion of the Superintendent of Water.
[Amended 6-2-2008 by Ord. No. 08-28]
When for any reason the use of a service is discontinued, such service shall be shut off at the corporation cock at the main and any branch abandoned shall be capped, and in case this section has not been complied with, such service may be so shut off and any such branch capped by the Water Department; and all expense connected therewith shall be borne by the owner and chargeable against the property at which such service was discontinued regardless of whether or not such owner owned such property at the time that such service was discontinued. If the owner refuses to reimburse the City for service so rendered, the water may be shut off until payment is made. Water service shut off shall occur in accordance with the provisions set forth in § 405-52. Any plumber violating this section will be subject to punishment under § 405-20 of this chapter.
[Amended 4-15-1996 by Ord. No. 64-96]
No yard hydrant or standpipe will be allowed in any yard or lot with the exception of providing additional fire protection as required by building and fire codes. An aboveground service, adequately protected from frost and with adequate backflow protection, may be permitted at the Superintendent's discretion, based on special circumstances. Any such existing yard hydrant must be abandoned upon notification of the Water Department.
The City or the Water Department will not be responsible for any accidents or damages that may result through supplying steam boilers directly from the service pipe, and depending upon the pressure from the distributing pipes of the waterworks to fill such boilers under working pressure; nor will the City be responsible for any accidents or damages that may result in consequence of house boilers being unprotected by vacuum or other valves, or the imperfect action of the same, nor for any lack of strength in the boilers or in their appurtenances to withstand the pressure in the distributing mains; neither will the City be responsible for any damage occasioned by reason of the breaking of any cock, valve or of service pipe or appurtenance thereto, nor for any accidents or damages arising from shutting off the water for the repairs of mains, for new work or for any purpose whatever.
The City or the Water Department shall not be liable for any damage or loss of any kind to property or persons which may arise from or be caused by any change in or increase of water pressure from any cause whatever.
[Amended 6-2-2008 by Ord. No. 08-28; 4-6-2011 by Ord. No. 11-10]
A.
Right of City. Water may be shut off by the Water Department from any service or main for the purpose of making or constructing new work or making repairs in the water system, or for enforcement of payment of moneys or charges due to the City for water supply and for other matters in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth in this chapter or in order to enforce compliance with such rules and regulations. In case of making or constructing new work or in making repairs, the right is reserved to shut off the water from any consumer without notice for as long a period as may be necessary.
B.
Notice. In the event of shut off for nonpayment or violation of these rules and regulations, written notice shall be sent, prior to shutoff, by certified mail to the owners of the premises as shown by the latest assessment rolls of said City. Notice shall also be conspicuously posted on the front door of the building. Each notice shall be postmarked and posted not less than fifteen days prior to shut off. The notice shall include the anticipated date the water will be shut off, the reason for the shut off, and it shall notify the property owners and tenants of their right to request a hearing. The City may in its discretion provide additional notice, but failure to do so does not preclude shut off. It is understood and agreed, however, the City is not liable for any damage which may result to any person or premises from the shutting off of the water from any main or service for any purpose whatever, ever in cases where not notice is given.
C.
Right to hearing. Upon receiving a shutoff notice either through the mail or posted on the front door of the building, a property owner or tenant of the premises may request a hearing in writing and sent by certified mail to the City Treasurer not less than five days prior to the shutoff date listed on the notice.
D.
Hearing. The Mayor shall designate a hearing officer who will conduct the hearing and make a decision as to whether the shut off of water at the premises should go forward. The hearing shall be scheduled by the hearing officer within 30 days of the date the City receives the hearing request. Written notice of the hearing date shall be provided to the party requesting the hearing and shall also be provided to the property owner. The hearing officer shall not be bound by the technical rules of evidence. The parties shall have the right to submit relevant evidence, which shall be afforded the appropriate weight by the hearing officer. The hearing officer shall have discretion to make decisions on a case by case basis. The hearing officer shall issue a written decision that must be sent regular class mail within fifteen days from the date of the hearing to the property owner and tenants who appeared at the hearing. In the event that the decision is to move forward with the water shut off, the decision shall provide a date when the Department of Water will shut off the water at the property, and a new shut off date will be posted at the property.
E.
Charge for turning on water; compliance with rules required before service restored. A charge as established from time to time by the Superintendent of Water will be incurred for turning on water. Whenever the water supply has been shut off for a failure to comply with these rules and regulations, it shall not again be turned on, except by the Water Department, until compliance is made with these rules and regulations in the matter and/or payment made by the property owner to the City Treasurer.
[Amended 4-15-1996 by Ord. No. 64-96]
All street hydrants are under control of the Water Department. No person shall use a wrench for opening hydrants except a wrench approved by the Bureau of Water for the purpose. No person, except an authorized agent or employee of the Water Department, or of the Fire Department, or street cleaning employees of the City, or a person holding a written permit signed by the Superintendent of Water, shall disturb any hydrant or any part thereof, or take any water therefrom under any circumstances whatever; and any person found guilty of violating any provision of this section shall be punished as provided in § 405-20 hereof, and in addition thereto such person shall pay to the City a penalty equal to the amount of damage done to said hydrant or the cost of restoring the same to its proper condition.
In case any damage to a street hydrant, or any other water appurtenance, is done by any person having a permit and taking water from said hydrant for construction or other uses, the holder of the permit shall pay such damages and all cost and expenses that may be incurred by reason thereof, on demand, to the City or to the Water Department and in addition thereto his or her permit may be revoked.
No person shall place any obstruction that would prevent free access to any fire hydrant or leave any vehicle standing within 15 feet of any hydrant. A violation of this section will be punished as provided in § 405-20.
If a property owner desires a change in the size, type or location of a hydrant, he or she shall bear the costs without refund.
No hydrants shall be used by volunteer fire companies from districts outside of the City unless arrangements have been made by the Water Department, except in case of emergencies. The water used by such individuals must be paid for at the current rate or by special application to the Superintendent of Water.
[Amended 4-15-1996 by Ord. No. 64-96]
Any purchase of wholesale water in tank facilities shall be taken from hydrants designated by the Water Department and operated by personnel of the Water Department. A wholesale is required. A fee as set from time to time shall be paid prior to issuance of a permit. The permit shall expire November 1 of each year. The permit must be signed by the Water Superintendent. The Water Superintendent must be notified of each load of water taken. Payment will be made for all loads on a weekly basis. Failure to pay weekly charges will prohibit future use. All water will be billed at the current residential rate per 100 cubic feet. All tank facilities shall be equipped with an approved backflow preventer or a permanent air gap to prevent backflow and contamination.
No person except an employee of the Water Department shall open, close, or in any way interfere with any street valve or gate in any water main, conduit or street pipe.
Any person who has disturbed or displaced a valve box so that the valve stem cannot be reached by a key, or who has covered a valve box or manhole cover of a valve chamber with dirt, paving, plank or other material, shall immediately replace the valve box and remove the obstruction and shall be subject to a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $25, or to imprisonment for not less than 10 nor more than 30 days for each offense.