[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee (now Township Council) of the Township of Greenwich 8-17-1959. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Water Department — See Ch. 168.
Sewer use — See Ch. 557.
Water emergencies — See Ch. 671.
[Amended 2-8-2005 by Ord. No. 1-2005]
Extensions and changes in the street mains of the Township shall be exclusively within the jurisdiction of the Township Council, and all work therein will be done at the expense of the Water Department;[1] provided, however, that where new streets are laid out and improved in accordance with Chapter 610, Subdivision of Land and Site Plan Review, the water mains will be installed and the expense thereof borne by the subdivider in accordance with said chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Sections 1 through 6 of this ordinance, covering the creation and organization of the Water Department, were included as a separate chapter; see Ch. 168, Water Department.
[Amended 12-19-1994 by Ord. No. 18-1994]
The water mains of the Water Department are under the exclusive control of the Township and its authorized agents and employees. All other persons are forbidden to disturb, tap, change, obstruct access to or interfere with the water mains in any way, unless permission is granted by the Water Department. All permitted work done on any Township water mains shall meet or exceed the specifications of the Water Department, and shall be subject to inspection by the Water Department.
[Amended 4-20-1970; 12-19-1994 by Ord. No. 18-1994; 2-8-2005 by Ord. No. 1-2005; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 17-2013]
Supply pipes and meters, including curb cocks, shall be the responsibility of the applicant (owner, developer, builder, and/or responsible other entity) to be installed by a licensed plumber; provided, however, that on all new construction of residential units, the builder of said premises shall make application to the Water Department for a new meter, which shall be furnished by the Water Department at no charge, and install said meter at his own expense at such appropriate location as shall be designated by the Water Superintendent or authorized agent. Within 10 days of said installation, the builder shall so notify the Water Department, which shall then inspect the installation. Each multiresident dwelling is required to have multiple supply pipes and meters, unless other arrangements have been made with the Water Department and the Township Council. A dwelling with two or three residences should have a separate supply pipe and meter for each residence. A hotel or large apartment building should have a larger supply pipe with internal distribution to each residential unit, and each unit should have its own meter and shutoff valve.
[Amended 2-8-2005 by Ord. No. 1-2005]
Service pipes and all other pipes or fixtures placed underground must be placed at least three feet below the surface or finished grade of the ground to ensure against freezing, and shall only be installed subject to the approval of the Township Council.
In each building intended to be connected with the public water supply, there shall be provided a stop and waste valve placed as near the front basement or foundation wall as possible, but in front of the meter position and where easily accessible in order that water may be turned on and off and drained from the pipes in case of accident or in order to make necessary repairs. Such stops must be kept in good working condition, must be thoroughly protected from freezing and must be equal in strength and quality to the curb cock or valve set by the Water Department. Provision shall be made for the convenient installation of the meter inside the basement or building proper whenever practicable.
[Amended 10-5-1970; 4-5-1976; 10-2-1978 by Ord. No. 7-1978; 12-19-1994 by Ord. No. 18-1994; 9-5-1995 by Ord. No. 14-1995; 10-2-1995 by Ord. No. 16-1995; 8-21-2000 by Ord. No. 13-2000]
A. 
All applications for the installation of water service to a property shall be made on a printed form furnished for that purpose by the Water Department. The application shall be signed by the owner or developer of the property to be supplied with water or his duly authorized agent. At the time such application is made, the applicant (owner, developer, builder, or person or entity) shall pay a connection charge. The connection charge shall be calculated based upon the equivalent dwelling unit formula. The equivalent dwelling unit is based upon the size of the pipe connected to the water main and upon the annual capitalized value of the Water Distribution and Water Treatment Systems, as set forth in Subsection G. The charge shall be paid on the date of application, and shall include, if pertinent, the prevailing road opening fees charged by the State of New Jersey Department of Transportation or the County of Gloucester, which shall be added to the applicant's calculated connection charge.
B. 
For all connections, the applicant is permitted and encouraged to obtain the necessary road-opening permits without the Township's assistance.
C. 
The installation of the lateral or supply pipe from the water main to and including the curb shutoff shall be the responsibility of the applicant, and shall be installed by a licensed plumber. The Township shall only be responsible for maintenance of the lateral from the main to the street side of the curb shutoff. The installation and maintenance of the lateral from the curb shutoff to the premises served shall be the responsibility of the applicant or owner.
D. 
The lateral installation shall include all road-opening permits, excavation and restoration for a complete installation. The construction materials and installation shall be inspected and approved by a representative of the Water Department, who shall be notified at least 48 hours in advance of construction. For three-fourths-inch connections only, the Township Water Department shall provide the corporation cock, the curb cock, and the curb box. The applicant is responsible for providing the rest of the materials needed for a complete installation.
E. 
For supply lines one inch and larger, the applicant (owner, developer, builder, and/or responsible other entity) shall pay a connection charge using the same formula referenced hereinbefore, payable upon date of the application, and if necessary, shall also pay the prevailing road opening fees charged by the State of New Jersey Department of Transportation or the County of Gloucester, which shall be added to the applicant's calculated connection charge.
F. 
The applicant is responsible for providing the materials needed for a complete installation. All materials and construction methods must meet or exceed the specifications of the Water Department. All construction work on all connections shall be done during normal Township business hours. The Township Council has the right to waive or adjust all fees hereinbefore referenced under special circumstances (such as service and materials supplied by proposed developers for main extensions or replacements in lieu of connection fees or for such other special circumstances that justify waiver or adjustment).
G. 
An owner of improved property shall be charged a minimal connection fee of $1,700 per dwelling unit (DU) for the connection of a dwelling/building to the Greenwich Township public water supply system. Based upon the pipe connection size listed in the table appearing below, an increased connection fee for an equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) shall be paid. A dwelling unit (DU) for water supply connection fee calculation purposes shall mean a room, group of rooms, house or similar structure or facilities occupied or designed for occupancy as separate living quarters by a family or other group of persons living together or by a person living alone. The connection fee for an equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) property, hereafter payable by the owner of an improved property, shall be $1,700 multiplied by the number of equivalent dwelling units constituting such improved property as listed in the following table:
[Amended 10-18-2004 by Ord. No. 16-2004]
Pipe Connection Size
(inches)
Equivalent Dwelling Unit
3/4
1
1
1.35
1 1/2
2
2
2.7
3
4
4
5.3
6
8
8
10.7
10
13.4
12
16
Upon proper application and payment of the service charge hereinbefore provided, the Water Department shall furnish and install a water meter upon the premises described in the application at such place or location on the premises as the Water Department, in its discretion, may deem most suitable under the circumstances. All meters so installed shall be subject to all the provisions, conditions and limitations contained in this chapter, and shall at all times be and remain the property of the Water Department.
[Amended 8-6-1962; 8-5-1968; 4-5-1971; 3-15-1982 by Ord. No. 5-1982; 4-7-1986 by Ord. No. 5-1986; 3-16-1987 by Ord. No. 5-1987; 2-20-1989 by Ord. No. 3-1989; 3-18-1991 by Ord. No. 5-1991; 1-18-1993 by Ord. No. 1-1993; 3-15-1993 by Ord. No. 8-1993; 3-7-1994 by Ord. No. 5-1994; 12-19-1994 by Ord. No. 18-1994; 4-1-1996 by Ord. No. 4-1996; 4-1-1996 by Ord. No. 13-1996; 12-2-1996 by Ord. No. 35-1996; 1-19-1999 by Ord. No. 1-1999; 8-21-2000 by Ord. No. 12-2000; 2-8-2005 by Ord. No. 1-2005; 5-16-2011 by Ord. No. 11-2011; 8-19-2013 by Ord. No. 12-2013]
A. 
Whenever meters have heretofore been installed and water service introduced to any customer or consumer by the Water Department, the quarterly schedule of rates and rentals to be charged for the use and supply of water shall be as follows:
[Amended 5-4-2015 by Ord. No. 7-2015; 5-1-2017 by Ord. No. 5-2017; 5-20-2019 by Ord. No. 6-2019]
(1) 
For each service connection there shall be a charge for every thousand gallons of water used up to and including 12,500 gallons which charge shall be:
(a) 
Effective August billing due October 1, 2019, the rate, per thousand gallons, shall be $8.05.
(b) 
Effective August 2020 billing due October 1, 2020, the rate, per thousand gallons, shall be $8.70.
(c) 
Effective August 2021 billing due October 1, 2021, the rate per thousand gallons shall be $9.40.
(2) 
For each consumer usage between 12,501 gallons up to 25,000 gallons, the charge per thousand gallons which charge shall be:
(a) 
Effective August 2019 billing due October 1, 2019, the rate per thousand gallons shall be $8.95.
(b) 
Effective August 2020 billing due October 1, 2020, the rate per thousand gallons shall be $9.65.
(c) 
Effective August 2021 billing due October 1, 2021, the rate per thousand gallons shall be $10.40.
(3) 
For each consumer usage between 25,001 gallons up to 37,500 gallons, the charge per thousand gallons which charge shall be:
(a) 
Effective August 2019 billing due October 1, 2019, the rate per thousand gallons shall be $9.75.
(b) 
Effective August 2020 billing due October 1, 2020, the rate per thousand gallons shall be $10.50.
(c) 
Effective August 2021 billing due October 1, 2021, the rate per thousand gallons shall be $11.35.
(4) 
For each consumer usage between 37,501 gallons up to 50,000 gallons, the charge per thousand gallons which charge shall be:
(a) 
Effective August 2019 billing due October 1, 2019, the rate per thousand gallons shall be $10.55.
(b) 
Effective August 2020 billing due October 1, 2020, the rate per thousand gallons shall be $11.40.
(c) 
Effective August 2021 billing due October 1, 2021, the rate per thousand gallons shall be $12.30.
(5) 
For each consumer usage between 50,001 gallons up to 100,000 gallons, the charge per thousand gallons which charge shall be:
(a) 
Effective August 2019 billing due October 1, 2019, the rate per thousand gallons shall be $11.30.
(b) 
Effective August 2020 billing due October 1, 2020, the rate per thousand gallons shall be $12.20.
(c) 
Effective August 2021 billing due October 1, 2021, the rate per thousand gallons shall be $13.15.
(6) 
For each consumer usage between 100,001 gallons and over, the charge per thousand gallons which charge shall be:
(a) 
Effective August 2019 billing due October 1, 2019, the rate per thousand gallons shall be $14.10.
(b) 
Effective August 2020 billing due October 1, 2020, the rate per thousand gallons shall be $15.20.
(c) 
Effective August 2021 billing due October 1, 2021, the rate per thousand gallons shall be $16.40.
B. 
Each person eligible for a reduction in rates as permitted by and defined in N.J.S.A. 40A:31-10.1, shall receive a deduction of $25 against their water bill per quarter.
C. 
For all new construction, the quarterly charges shall be prorated for each month or part thereof subsequent to the issuance of the certificate of occupancy.
D. 
Fire protection service rates.
(1) 
All supply pipes connected to the water system for the sole purpose of providing fire protection shall be charged a service charge of $50 per quarter plus $0.75 per sprinkler head per quarter. In addition, any fire hose connection bibs located inside the building, or attached to the inner or outer walls of the premises, shall be charged $25 per connection per quarter.
(2) 
All private fire hydrants connected to the water system for the sole purpose of providing fire protection shall be charged a quarterly private fire hydrant charge of $125 per hydrant per quarter.
[Amended 4-20-1970; 6-6-1988 by Ord. No. 8-1988; 3-18-1996 by Ord. No. 9-1996; 9-16-2019 by Ord. No. 11-2019; 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 12-2020]
The owners of any house, tenement, building or lot shall be liable for the payment of the price or rent as fixed in this chapter for the use of water and for the installation, purchase price, repair and testing of any water meter, water service, connections, appliance or parts, and renewals thereof, furnished or made by the Public Works Department in or upon such house, tenement, building or lot, and the interest and penalties as fixed herein shall be a lien upon such house, tenement, building or lot until the same shall be paid and satisfied. If water rents and service charges are not paid within 10 days of their due date, interest on such payments shall be charged at the rate of 8% per annum on the first $1,500 and 18% per annum on any amount in excess of $1,500 of the delinquency, to be calculated from the date the water rents were due.
[Amended 1-18-1993 by Ord. No. 1-1993; 12-19-1994 by Ord. No. 18-1994]
When any water rent for water furnished, a service charge or any other indebtedness or lawful charge arising out of the supply of water to a consumer is due the Water Department and remains unpaid for a period of over 30 days after mailing or presentation of a proper bill, it shall be the duty of the Water Clerk of the Water Department to cause the supply thereof to such premises to be stopped until such water rent or other charge, together with any penalty which may be due thereon, and the sum of $35 for costs and expenses for turning off and on said water, are paid, which said sum of $35 shall in each and every case be paid to the Township Chief Financial Officer with the rent or other charge so collected. The Water Department shall, in all cases, refuse restoration of water service or service to any new connection until all arrears of water rent, charges for turning on or off water or other charges due by any consumer at any property now or heretofore owned or occupied by him shall also have been paid or until satisfactory arrangement for payment of such unpaid bills have been made.
[Amended 2-8-2005 by Ord. No. 1-2005; 7-15-2013 by Ord. No. 10-2013]
The Township Council shall employ some suitable person to take an accurate reading of all meters serving consumers on a quarterly basis to be rendered on or before the 15th of February, May, August and November, which readings shall be made and collected at least five days prior to the time fixed herein. The Water Department may also order readings to be taken whenever it may, in its judgment, deem necessary.
All water pipes, water fixtures and connections of every description existing upon the property of a customer or consumer shall be subject to inspection at any reasonable hour by any employee of the Water Department, and it shall be lawful for such employee or employees, for the purpose of making such inspection, to enter upon the lands or buildings of any customer, with or without a warrant, for the purposes herein expressed and no other purpose; provided, however, that he shall first display a certificate from the Water Clerk authorizing such inspection. Any customer or consumer who shall hereafter enter into a contract with the Water Department, express or implied, for the supply of water upon his, her or their premises shall be deemed to have accepted this provision as well as the other provisions of this chapter and shall be deemed to have waived any right of action at law or in equity which such customer or consumer might hereafter have against the Water Department or the Township of Greenwich by reason of the entry of a duly authorized employee of the Water Department upon such customer's premises, whether lands or buildings, or both.
Complaints with regard to the character of the service furnished, the reading of the meters or of bills rendered must be made to the Water Clerk in writing, and a record of all complaints shall be kept by said Water Clerk in a book to be supplied for that purpose.
Fire hydrants are provided for the sole purpose of extinguishing fires and are to be opened and used only by the Water and Fire Departments of the Township or by such persons as may be specially authorized by the Water Department. No person, firm or corporation shall in any manner obstruct or prevent free access to any fire hydrant or place or store temporarily or otherwise any object, material, snow, debris or structure of any kind within a distance of 20 feet of any fire hydrant. Any such obstruction, when discovered, may be removed at once by the Water Department at the expense of the person, firm or corporation responsible for the obstruction.
Meters may be sealed by the Water Department and no one except an authorized employee of the Water Department shall break or injure such seals. No person other than the authorized employees of the Water Department shall change the location of, alter or interfere with any meter in any way.
[Amended 4-20-1970; 4-1-1996 by Ord. No. 12-1996]
All necessary expenses of maintaining and caring for 3/4 inch water meters will be borne by the Water Department, provided that where replacements, repairs or adjustments of any meter are rendered necessary by the act, neglect or carelessness of the owner or occupant of any premises, any expense to the Water Department caused thereby shall be charged against and collected from the owner of the premises. All necessary expenses of maintaining and caring for one inch or larger water meters, with the exception of meter reading, will be borne by the owner of the premises.
The owner of any premises where a meter is installed will be held responsible for its care and protection from freezing and from injury or interference by any person or persons. In case of any injury to the meter or in case of its stoppage or imperfect working, the owner shall give immediate notice to the Water Clerk.
[Amended 4-21-1997 by Ord. No. 5-1997]
The accuracy of the meter on any premises shall be tested by the Water Department upon request of the owner with the following conditions: The meter shall be considered good and acceptable if the average accuracy of a high flow, intermediate flow, and a low flow test is plus or minus 1 1/2%. In other words, that is an error of plus or minus 15 gallons out of every 1,000 gallons. If the accuracy of the meter is found to be outside of the acceptable range, the meter shall be replaced immediately by the Water Department, and any overcharges or undercharges shall be promptly credited or billed by the Water and Sewer Clerk. All customers are limited to one meter accuracy test per year. If the meter is found to be within acceptable parameters, the cost of the certified meter accuracy test shall be billed to the customer. If the meter is found to be outside of the acceptable parameters, then the Water Department will accept the cost of the certified meter accuracy test.
[Amended 8-20-1962]
When new service pipes are put into any premises, the curb cock shall be left closed and will thereafter be opened by the Water Department only after a certificate of occupancy has been issued for the premises by the Zoning Administrator and upon the request of the owner, which request must be in writing to the Water Clerk. Under no circumstances shall curb cocks be opened or closed by any person not an authorized employee of the Water Department, except that a plumber having a permit issued by the Water Department for that purpose may open a curb cock to test his work. The holder of a permit to use water for building or any such work, or his agents, shall not open or close curb cocks or otherwise interfere with the same.
The Water Department shall not supply water to any property owner who, when requested, refuses to install a Water Department meter upon the property where water is desired.
It shall be unlawful for more than one building to be supplied with water from the same meter, and it shall be necessary to install separate meters where more than one building is to be supplied, and whenever any consumer or customer shall be the owner of any property containing more than one building, such owner shall pay for the installation of as many meters as there are buildings to be supplied with water. Any building or buildings which are constructed in such a manner as to abut one upon the other, but which are separated by a party wall or walls or which can be defined as twin dwellings or a row of dwellings, shall be considered separate buildings and shall subject the owner thereof to the provisions of this section.
Township water shall be taken and used only through supply and service pipes established by or under the supervision of the Water Department. No connection by which water may pass from one property to another shall exist, even though the ownership of both properties may be the same, without the written consent and approval of the Water Department.
[Amended 2-8-2005 by Ord. No. 1-2005]
Owners of property desiring any unusual construction, alterations or attachments connected with the water supply must submit plans and specifications for the same to the Township Council for its inspection and approval or disapproval, and its determination as to whether the same is permissible, and the terms and conditions under which its use will be allowed shall be final.
The excessive or unnecessary use or waste of water, whether caused by carelessness or by defective or leaky plumbing or fixtures, is strictly prohibited. For disregarding or repeated violations of this requirement, the water may be turned off by the Water Department.
Where the water has been turned off by the Water Department for any reason, no person shall turn it on again without the permission of the Water Department. When this rule is violated, the water may be turned off at the corporation cock at the main, in which case the owner shall, before it is again turned on, pay in advance the charge of the Water Department therefor.
In all cases where plumbing repairs are made in unoccupied houses, the plumber must upon completion of his work leave the curb cock closed; if he shall fail or neglect to do so, he shall be liable for all damages occasioned thereby.
No person or persons shall obstruct or interfere with any curb cock, valve, meter or fixture belonging to the Water Department by placing in, on or about it building materials, rubbish, soil, snow or other hindrances to easy and free access thereto.
Under the laws of the State of New Jersey, all charges for water shall be considered liens upon the premises or property on which the charge is incurred until the charge is paid and satisfied.
Should it become necessary to shut off the water from any section of the Township because of accidents or for the purpose of making changes or repairs, the Water Department will endeavor to give timely notice to the consumers affected thereby, and will, so far as is practicable, use its best efforts to prevent any inconvenience and damage arising from any such cause; however, failure to give such notice will not render the Water Department responsible or liable for damages that may result therefrom or from any other cause.
The Water Clerk may at his discretion shut off the water from the premises of any owner or tenant guilty of violating any of the provisions of this chapter, but he shall give said owner or tenant at least 48 hours' notice before the water is shut off.
Whenever notice is required to be given hereunder, the same shall be given by enclosing a copy thereof in an envelope, with postage prepaid, addressed to the person, firm or corporation to be notified, at the post office or residence address of such person, firm or corporation as the same appears on the books of the Water Department, and mailing the same at the post office in the Township of Greenwich; and such notice, so given, shall be conclusively deemed to have been given at the time of such mailing.
[Amended 10-4-1976]
Any person, firm or corporation failing to comply with or violating or offending against any provision or section of this chapter shall, on conviction of such violation or offense, pay a penalty not exceeding $500 or imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding 90 days, or both, in the discretion of the Municipal Court Judge.