[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
(now Township Council) of the Township of Greenwich 8-17-1959. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[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.
[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.
Supply pipes and service pipes shall be of such
material and quality as the Water Department may prescribe.
[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.
All Township 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.
[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.
Water pipes likely to be exposed to freezing
temperatures must be effectively protected from freezing.
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.
The use of municipal water for water-cooled
air-conditioning units is strictly prohibited.
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.
Where premises are to be left unoccupied, the
water must be turned off at the stop and waste valve by the owner
or tenant.
The Water Department will endeavor to render
bills for water or other Water Department charges, but nonreceipt
of a bill covering such charges will be no excuse for failure to pay
or delay in paying the same.
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.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or
corporation to interfere with any of the officers or employees of
the Water Department[1] or to obstruct them in carrying out their duties.
[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.
