As used in these rules, the words and phrases
listed below shall be deemed to have the following meanings:
AGENT
The plumber or any other person designated or employed by
the owner.
APPLICANT
Any person making a request in writing for any service to
be rendered or furnished by the City of Canandaigua.
BUILDER, CONTRACTOR, or REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER
Any person owning or having an interest in a plot or tract
of land or his lawful agent who applies for a supply of water to such
premises which are intended to be sold, conveyed, or leased by said
person to an owner or occupant.
CITY
The municipal government of the City of Canandaigua.
CONSUMER or CUSTOMER
The owner or person legally or equitably responsible for
payment of charges for water or other facilities and services furnished
by the City of Canandaigua.
METER
The device used to measure and indicate the amount of water
used by the customer.
OCCUPANT
The persons actually in possession or control of any premises
or part thereof who is a consumer.
OWNER
The person who has legal or equitable title to any premises,
including a land contract purchaser.
PERMIT
A document granting permission to excavate or perform other
construction work within the City's right-of-way.
PERSON
An individual, firm, association, partnership, or corporation.
PREMISES
A.
A property or location whether or not occupied
by a structure and shall include the entire front footage thereof
abutting on a public street where the water service is requested or
furnished for any part thereof;
B.
A building under one roof owned or leased by
one customer, and occupied as one residence or one place of business;
C.
A combination of buildings owned or leased by
one customer, in one common enclosure, occupied by one family, or
one corporation or firm, as a residence or place of business;
D.
Each unit of a multiple house or building separated
by a solid vertical partition wall, occupied by one family, or one
firm as a residence or place of business;
E.
A building owned or leased by one customer having
a number of apartments, offices, or lofts which are rented to tenants,
and using in common one hall and one or more means of entrance.
PRIVATE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
Water mains, pipes, hydrants, sprinklers, and other facilities
installed on private premises or on a public or private street for
the purpose of private fire protection.
PRIVATE STREET
Any street, avenue, road, or way that is not for any highway
purpose under the jurisdiction of the City, county, town, or State
of New York.
PUBLIC FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
Appropriate production, distribution and storage facilities,
water mains, pipes, hydrants, and other facilities installed in a
street and used for the public protection of premises from fire.
PUBLIC STREET
Any street, avenue, road, or way that is for any highway
purpose under the jurisdiction of the City of Canandaigua, County
of Ontario, Town of Canandaigua, or State of New York, and which is
served by the City's water distribution system.
SERVICE CONNECTION
The facilities and equipment used to supply water to any
premises and which are installed within the limits of the street right-of-way
between the main and the curb box shutoff of the premises to be served.
WATER BUREAU
The Water Bureau of the City of Canandaigua Department of
Public Works.
The rules, regulations, rates, charges, and
fees herein prescribed shall apply to any person who shall be supplied
or whose property shall be supplied with water by the City of Canandaigua
within or outside of the City of Canandaigua or any improvement district
thereof.
[Amended 11-20-1997 by Ord. No. 97-024; 12-12-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-020]
A. All bills are payable in accordance with the terms
of the applicable service classification. If a new service is installed
at any time during the billing period, the reduced period will be
billed as if it were a full billing period. When transfers of service
arise from change of occupancy, the new owner will be billed for the
regular billing period. A reading can be taken as a matter of record
at the time of transfer or closing, however, no final bill will be
sent.
[Amended 1-5-2009 by Ord. No. 2008-025]
B. Meters will be read quarterly or monthly, and customers
will be billed quarterly or monthly, at the City's option.
C. The quantity recorded by the meter shall be considered
the amount of water passing through the meter, which amount shall
be conclusive on both the customer and the City, except as hereinafter
provided.
(1) In cases where it is found that the meter has ceased
to register or has registered inaccurately, the quantity may be determined
by the average registration of the meter in a corresponding period
of the preceding year when in order, except where it appears that
there has been a change in occupancy of the premises, or in the use
of the water, in which case an equitable adjustment shall be made.
(2) In cases where it is found that a reading cannot be
obtained, an estimated bill will be rendered to the customer. The
quantity will be determined by the average registration of the meter
in a corresponding period of the preceding year, except where it appears
that there has been a change of occupancy in the premises or in the
use of water. Where the estimate is in error, an adjusted bill will
be prepared to correct the erroneously estimated bill.
(3) In all cases where a meter is found to be defective,
the City shall, within one week, replace the same by a meter that
has been tested and properly adjusted.
D. Water bills will be sent to the owner of record. The responsibility for payment of the water bill shall rest with the owner of record. Failure to pay shall result in imposition and foreclosure of a lien on the property under the terms of Subsections
I and
J, herein. The customer shall notify the City of any change in ownership or tenancy. No adjustment of bills will be made by the City as between the owners or tenants. No rebate will be given as required in Subsection
G below.
E. All bills are due and payable in net cash when rendered.
In case any water bill or charges provided in and by these rules shall
not be paid with in 20 days following rendering of the bill, such
bill shall be delinquent. The City or its agents may then discontinue
water service, at its option, and if not paid within 60 days after
such bill has become delinquent, the City or its agents shall shut
off water service to the customer, and service will not be reestablished
until such unpaid charges, together with the charge for restoration
of service as elsewhere provided herein, are fully paid. Written notice
of termination of service shall be given to the customer and/or property
owner as reflected in the office of the appropriate Assessor, such
notice to be given not less than 10 days prior to termination of service.
Such notice may be given at any time after a bill has become due and
payable.
F. Late payment penalty. Water rents in an arrears past
20 days of the rendering of the bill shall accrue a penalty of 15%
of said unpaid arrears. A bill shall be considered rendered upon its
mailing by the City.
G. Turnoff and turn-on procedures:
[Amended 5-3-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007; 1-5-2009 by Ord. No.
2008-025]
(1) Any customer may discontinue water service, except where prohibited by the minimum housing standards of §
748-30 of Chapter
748 of the Code of the City of Canandaigua, by giving the City written notice. If the service is turned off during the billing period, the reduced period will be billed as if it were a full billing period. Should there be consumption less than 11,200 gallons at the time of turnoff, a minimum bill and a turnoff charge will be sent. If the reading at the time of turnoff is higher than 11,200 gallons, a bill for the consumption and the turnoff charge will be sent. Any customer may reinstate a water service by giving the City written or verbal notice. Approved rates and charges are established and posted at the Department of Public Works.
(2) If the service is turned on during the billing period,
the reduced period will be billed as if it were a full billing period.
H. Hearing. Any aggrieved customer or occupant who desires a hearing with respect to any bill for water supply or any notice of termination of water supply shall request the same in writing to the City Manager or his designee within 15 days of delivery of the bill or notice. An informal hearing shall be held by the City Manager or his designee within 10 days of receipt of such a request, and the City Manager shall render his determination within five days after such a hearing. No service shall be discontinued pending the determination of such hearing. No determination shall be made to modify any bill unless a preponderance of the evidence shall show that the bill is erroneous either by reason of error in measurement of services or in mathematical calculation, determinations to terminate service will be based upon standards set forth in Subsection
D hereof. Appeal from the determination of the City Manager shall be as available under the provisions of Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules of the State of New York.
I. Creation of lien. Water rents and other assessed fees
and charges shall constitute a lien upon the real property served
by the City, or such part or parts thereof, for which water rents
and fees and charges shall have been established and imposed. The
lien shall be prior and superior to every other lien or claim except
that of an existing tax, assessment or other lawful charge imposed
by or for the state or a political subdivision or district thereof.
[Amended 1-5-2009 by Ord. No. 2008-025]
J. Additional remedy for nonpayment. The City of Canandaigua
may maintain an action:
(1) As upon contract for water rents in arrears, including
penalties and interest; or
(2) To foreclose liens for such water rents; or
(3) To levy water rents in arrears as taxes in the annual
tax rolls, to be collected and enforced in the same manner as provided
for City taxes generally, and as specified in § 452, Subdivision
4, of the General Municipal Law.
[Added 7-13-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-004]
A. Definitions.
As used in this section, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
LEAD SERVICE LINE
A water service line on private property that is constructed
of lead.
WATER SERVICE LINE
The water line on private property that leads to the dwelling,
structure, or building that is connected to the main City of Canandaigua
water line.
B. Lead services lines prohibited. It is hereby established that the
existence of lead service lines or galvanized service lines requiring
replacement is prohibited in the City of Canandaigua.
C. Lead service line replacement or certification prior to property
transfer.
(1)
No person shall transfer to any other person, nor accept from
any other person, the transfer of the title to any dwelling, building,
structure, or premises, unless and until:
(a)
The owner/occupant provides the City Water Department with a
certification of inspection by a plumbing contractor of the absence
of a lead service line or galvanized service line requiring replacement
and/or that the lead service line was previously removed and replaced;
or
(b)
The City Water Department shall have examined and issued a certificate
of inspection that no lead service line or galvanized service line
requiring replacement exists and that no otherwise unlawful or unmetered
water service line connection exists between the dwelling, building,
or structure and the main City water line.
(2)
This Subsection
C shall be applicable only to those transactions in which such premises is transferred by the owner of record, the owner's heirs, assigns, representatives or agents to a bona fide purchaser or purchasers for value and shall not be applicable to involuntary sale proceedings of any kind or to nonsale transfers. This requirement may be waived in the case of transfers of undeveloped premises with no facilities for water services.
D. Mandatory replacement of lead service line. The owner/occupant of any dwelling, building or structure serviced by a lead service line or galvanized service line requiring replacement is required to replace the lead service line on their premises in accordance with Subsection
C.
E. Any lead service lines or galvanized service line requiring replacement
shall be replaced at the expense of the owner/occupant. Replacement
water service lines must be NSF certified for water and be composed
of brass, copper (Type L or K), DI, SS, CPVC, HDPE, PE, PEX or PVC
manufactured to recognized standards for cold water distribution systems
outside buildings.
F. Replacement of lead service lines prior to property transfer.
(1)
In the event that a lead service line or galvanized service
line requiring replacement is discovered upon inspection by the Water
Department, the Water Department shall immediately notify the owner/occupant,
in writing, of the existence of the lead service line.
(2)
The owner/occupant shall provide proof of arrangements with
a plumbing contractor for replacement of the lead service line to
the Water Department within 30 days of the date of the Water Department's
notice letter.
(3)
The owner/occupant shall complete replacement of the lead service
line or galvanized service line requiring replacement within 120 days
of the notice letter and submit proof of completion of such replacement
to the Water Department.
(4)
Upon receiving proof of completion of replacement, the Water
Department shall confirm replacement by inspecting the premises as
provided for herewith and file an inspection report with the Water
Department.
(5)
An extension of time may be granted by the Water Department
where the owner can demonstrate that a good faith effort has been
made to comply with this article and/or that exigent circumstances
prevent compliance.
(6)
No repair of a lead service line or galvanized service line
requiring replacement, or reconnection of a lead service line to the
main City water service line shall be permitted under any circumstance.
G. Authorization to access premises for inspection prior to property
transfer.
(1)
The City shall secure access to the premises from the owner/occupant
for the purpose of inspection for the existence of lead service lines
or galvanized service lines requiring replacement. The City shall
incur no liability from the owner/occupant relating to such inspection.
After such inspection, the City shall restore the premises to its
original condition or as close to its original condition as reasonably
possible; and
(2)
During such inspection, the Water Department shall also inspect the premises to determine the existence of any uses or connections to the City's water or sewer system that may be in violation of this chapter or Chapter
567. If any such violations are discovered, the City shall undertake enforcement action as may be permitted by this chapter or Chapter
567.
(3)
In the event of refusal or failure to provide such access for
an inspection as herein provided, a warrant may be issued by a judge
or acting judge of the City Court upon application by the City Water
Department to allow inspection.