[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees
of the Village of Montour Falls as indicated in article histories.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Sewers — See Ch. 117.
[Adopted 1-20-1975 by L.L. No. 1-1975]
A.
BILLING DATE
BILLING PERIOD
COMMERCIAL
CONSUMER
DATE PAID
OWNER
RESIDENTIAL
WATER AND SEWER BILLING NOTICES
Unless this article specifically indicates otherwise,
the meanings of terms used herein shall be as follows:
The date printed upon the consumer's bill.
A monthly/bimonthly period unless otherwise indicated.
[Amended 8-21-1995 by L.L. No. 4-1995]
Any building or structure other than a residential structure.
[Added 4-20-2023 by L.L. No. 3-2023]
Any individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation
or group using water or sewer facilities provided by the Village or
a water or sewer district operated by the Village.
The date received by the Village Clerk or by postmark date
on an envelope sent to the Village Clerk.
The party or parties, individual, firm, company, association,
society, corporation or group designated on the Town and/or Village
assessment roll.
A building consisting of a single-family, two-family, or
multifamily dwelling, with no nonresidential use.
[Added 4-20-2023 by L.L. No. 3-2023]
The monthly/bimonthly bill sent to the consumer by the Village.
[Amended 8-21-1995 by L.L. No. 4-1995]
B.
"Shall" means mandatory action. "May" means permissive
action.
[Amended 10-15-2007 by L.L. No. 7-2007]
All water and/or sewer bills will be sent to
the owner, regardless of who is the consumer.
These rules and regulations shall be a part of the contract with any individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation or group that is supplied with water by the Village of Montour Falls or is provided with sewage facilities in accordance with Chapter 117, Sewers, effective January 6, 1992:
A.
The Village will supply water to consumers and premises
through its existing facilities provided therefor and through existing
facilities as, in the discretion of the Board of Trustees of the Village,
may be desirable or necessary, in accordance with the scheduled rates
and charges on file in the office of the Village Clerk, which schedule
of rates is hereby made a part of these rules and regulations.
B.
The Village undertakes to use reasonable diligence
and care to provide at all times a constant supply of water at adequate
pressure, but assumes no liability for failure of the supply nor for
any damage caused by bursting or breaking of any mains or service
pipe or any attachment of the waterworks of the Village. The Village
reserves the right at any time, without notice, to shut off the water
temporarily for the purpose of making repairs, changes or improvements
to the system. In case of shutdown, reasonable effort will be made
to notify the consumers, but no liability will be assumed for failure
to do so. All consumers having boilers upon their premises depending
upon the pressure in the pipes of the Village are hereby cautioned
against danger of collapse, and all such damage must be borne exclusively
by the consumer.
C.
No persons except Village officers and/or duly authorized
employees of the Village shall do any repair work upon or operate
the mains (including fire protection mains), valves, fire hydrants
(public or private), meters or curb boxes of the Village except in
the case of fire hydrants. Members of organized Fire Departments may
operate them in the performance of their duties or for directed drill.
[Amended 8-21-1995 by L.L. No. 4-1995]
D.
The Village Board reserves the right to amend with
notice these rules and regulations and the scheduled rates and charges
governing the furnishing of water, and a copy of the amended rules
shall be on file at all times in the Montour Falls Village Clerk's
office.
B.
The owner of all houses, buildings or properties used
for human occupancy, employment or recreation or other properties
situated within the Village of Montour Falls and abutting upon any
street or right-of-way in which there is now located or may in the
future be located a public water main of the Village is hereby required
to connect such facilities directly with the proper main waterline
in accordance with the provisions of this article within 90 days after
official notification to do so, provided that said public water is
accessible and available.
A.
For the introduction of water into any premises or
for the extension of any pipe for the conveyance of water, application
must be made to the Village Clerk by the owner of the real property
or his/her duly authorized agent on a form furnished by the Village
Clerk for that purpose. The application must be accompanied by payment
of an installation fee for new hookups as set by the Board of Trustees.
[Amended 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995]
B.
No water service will be connected unless all delinquent
Village real property taxes, penalties and interest on the applicant's
real property are paid in full.
A.
The service connection from the Village water main
to the street right-of-way will be installed by the Village. Included
in the installation is the following equipment: a corporation stop,
service pipe to curb stop, curb stop, curb box and meter.
B.
Title to all services up to one inch from water main
to property and meter and meter installations up to one inch is vested
in and the same shall at all times remain the sole property of the
Village and shall not be trespassed upon or interfered with in any
respect. This property may be removed or changed by the Village at
any time. The Village reserves the right to inspect all meters and
installations in excess of one inch and to require necessary repair
of the same at the property owner's expense. All costs relating to
the installation of service larger than one inch is to be borne by
the property owner.
[Amended 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995]
C.
The necessary labor and materials for completing the
installation from the curb stop to the meter shall be furnished and
paid for by the applicant for water service. The installation of such
materials shall be tested and approved by a representative of the
Village before the trench in which the same shall have been installed
is backfilled. If any defects in workmanship or materials are found
or if the consumer's service pipe has not been installed within the
Village's specifications or requirements, water service will not be
turned on until such defects have been remedied; if water service
has been turned on before discovery of such defects, the service may
be turned off until the defects are remedied.
D.
Each and every premises must have a separate service
pipe. The service line from the curb box or meter to the property
owner's premises shall be laid and maintained by property owner at
his/her own cost. The line shall be of ample size and of standard
weight and quality, and all cutoffs, valves, fixtures and appliances
furnished by the property owner shall be maintained in good order
and condition.
E.
An approved backflow prevention device shall be placed in every service pipe immediately beyond the stops and waste valve in accordance with Article II.
[Amended 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995]
F.
Service pipe must be laid in a separate and distinct
trench by itself, with a four-foot separation from other utilities
with a minimum five-foot cover. Service pipe shall be hand covered
with a minimum six-inch safety cover.
[Amended 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995]
G.
No connections are permitted in a service pipe between
the main in the street and the meter.
H.
The curb stop box shall be adjusted so that the top
is level with the surface of the ground. It must not be covered and
shall always be accessible.
I.
Wherever possible, the water supply pipe shall be
laid in a single piece without joints between stops and fittings.
Services exceeding 100 feet in length shall require a meter pit to
be supplied by the property owner.[1]
[Amended 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection J, dealing
with connections between the corporation stop and meter, which immediately
followed this subsection, was deleted 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995I.
J.
A compression-type stop and waste cock must be placed
in every service pipe immediately inside the building wall and so
situated that the water to the premises can be completely shut off,
draining the meter and system, to enable repairs on meter and to prevent
freezing when not in use.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection L, dealing
with the use of bushings, which immediately followed this subsection,
was deleted 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995I.
K.
Water service pipes in buildings shall be so located
as to be adequately protected against frost.[3]
[Amended 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995]
[3]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection N, dealing
with the use of exposed locations, which immediately followed this
subsection, was deleted 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995.
A.
As security for the payment of water and/or sewer
bills and in accordance with future regulations adopted by the Village,
the Village may require of an applicant for water or sewer services
or any consumer and/or owner to whom the Village may be supplying
water or sewer services a deposit equal to six times the actual or
estimated monthly bill. The deposit required of applicants will be
payable at the time of an application, and deposits required of consumers
and/or owners will be payable upon demand.
B.
When service is discontinued and final bills are paid
or when the owner and/or consumer has established satisfactory credit,
the deposit will be refunded to the person making the deposit.
A.
All premises taking water service and all premises
applying for the same must be accessible and open to the inspection
of Village officers and/or qualified employees of the Village at all
reasonable hours for the purpose of examining material used in such
services, which, if found to be unfit for the purpose, shall be subject
to rejection by the Village.
B.
If at any time a defect appears in any property owner's
line, such defect or damage shall be repaired by the property owner,
subject to the qualifications established by these rules and regulations,
and shall be approved by the Village before backfilling. In case the
property owner fails to make immediate repairs, the Village will shut
off the water.
[Amended 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995]
A.
All new service connections for water shall be through
a meter. Bulk sales of water may be made with the approval of the
Superintendent.
[Amended 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995]
B.
When application for water service has been granted
and the fee paid, the Village will install water service and/or the
sewer lateral for connection by the property owner.
[Amended 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995]
C.
The meter must be set in its permanent position inside
the building wall and beyond the outlet of the stop and waste cock.
[Amended 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995]
D.
The meter, as well as the stop and waste cock and
double-check valve, must not be placed under floors or in similarly
inaccessible locations. Their location must be readily accessible
to Village officers and qualified employees of the Village for the
purpose of reading the meter, inspection and repair.
[Amended 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995]
E.
Meters shall be located so that there are no takeoffs
in front of them.
F.
Meters shall be adequately protected by the consumer
from freezing.
G.
No bypass around the meter is allowed.
H.
The size of the meter to be set in any water service
shall be determined by the Village.
I.
If, in the judgment of the Village, local conditions
require it, the meter will be set outside the building in a special
box at the public right-of-way boundary and at the expenses of the
property owner.
[Amended 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995]
J.
The Village shall furnish all meters up to one inch.
The Village will exchange a meter in good working order for one which
has become defective or inaccurate free of charge, provided that such
defect or inaccuracy is not due to the fault, negligence or carelessness
of the property owner or occupants of the premises or guests present
therein. All meters shall be sealed and shall be subject to the exclusive
control and jurisdiction of the Village.
[Amended 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995]
[Amended 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995]
When requested, the Village may furnish more
than one meter for a single service on the following conditions:
A.
The owner must provide, at his/her own expense, a
suitable header pipe or manifold installed adjacent to and directly
after the stop and waste cock and double-check valve, which is placed
in the water service pipe close to its entrance through the building
wall of the property. This header serves to divide the water into
the requisite number of divisions. Each subdivision will leave the
header with a short nipple, then a stop and waste cock shall be placed
from which the subdivision service shall run to its appointed place.
B.
Each meter will represent a separate account on the
books of the Village, and a separate charge will be made and collected
for each account as if each meter represented a separate property.
C.
The property owner shall, however, be liable for all
unpaid water bills so charged as provided by this article which will
be a lien against the property.
D.
The Village will charge for any additional meter and
the installation of the meter.
[Amended 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995]
The Village shall make all meter repairs up
to one inch, and all persons other than Village officers and qualified
employees of the Village are strictly prohibited from removing the
meter or tampering with it in any way. Notification must be made to
the Superintendent when repairs are to be made to meters in excess
of one inch. Repairs made necessary by the carelessness or negligence
of the owner or occupants of the premises or of guests therein shall
be charged for by the Village at prevailing rates and the owner shall
be liable therefor. Other repairs to meters shall be made without
charge.
[Amended 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995]
No connection between the Village water supply and any other water supply will be permitted, in accordance with Article II.
Property owners vacating premises or having
premises which consumers have vacated must promptly notify the Village,
in writing, that the water may be shut off and the meter read, and
the owners of the premises will be held responsible for the water
rent until such notice is given, and no water will be furnished such
property owner or in a new location until said water rent has been
paid.
A.
A water service, such as sprinkler connections, standpipe
connections and similar non-revenue-producing services, shall not
be installed unless the property owner served by such connection pays
the entire cost of such connection.
B.
A plan of the proposed system must be filed with the
Village Board together with the application for the service. If installation
is acceptable to the Village, the application may be granted. Plans
of any proposed extensions or alterations of a fire-protection system
shall also be filed with the Village for approval by the Board of
Trustees and inspection by the Superintendent.
[Amended 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995]
C.
Each private fire-protection service shall have a
gate valve at the main, a gate at the curb, a detector meter set in
the line immediately after it enters the building and a gate valve
with yoke and rising stem immediately beyond the meter. Should conditions
warrant it, in the judgment of the Village, another gate valve with
yoke and rising stem will be required on the street side of the meter.
All type pipes and fittings will be determined by the Village Board.
D.
All connections for fire-protection service shall
be at least six inches in diameter. If other sizes are required, permits
for such sizes must be approved by the Board of Trustees. It is positively
prohibited to tap any line used for fire-protection purposes for water
to be used for any other purpose. Domestic, commercial and manufacturing
uses shall be from separate and distinct lines.
E.
No person shall be allowed to open any public or private
fire hydrant or fire-protection system or take water from the same
for any purpose, except in case of fire, except an officer of the
Village and/or volunteer firemen in the performance of their duties.
F.
Private fire hydrants shall have the same hose thread
as those of the Village and shall open similarly, to the left or counterclockwise.
G.
All premises being supplied with private fire hydrants
or fire-protection systems shall be accessible and open to inspection
of the Village at all reasonable hours.
A.
Bills for water and sewer rents service shall become
due and payable within 14 days of the billing date.
[Amended 8-21-1995 by L.L. No. 4-1995]
B.
Bills may be paid in person at the Village Hall during
regular business hours or by mail.
C.
All bills must be paid in full. Arrangements for payments
must be approved by the Board of Trustees.
[Amended 8-21-1995 by L.L. No. 4-1995]
D.
Timely payment shall be payment of the bill within
14 days of the billing date.
[Amended 8-21-1995 by L.L. No. 4-1995]
[Amended 8-21-1995 by L.L. No. 4-1995; 1-18-2000 by L.L. No.
1-2000]
A.
Water and sewer service can be denied if there exists
an outstanding balance on a previous account. Water and sewer bills
remaining unpaid more than 30 days after the billing date shall be
overdue. When a bill is overdue more than 60 days, notice shall be
mailed to the property owner by certified mail stating that the water
or sewer service will be terminated if the bill is not paid in full
within 15 days from the date of the mailing of said notice.
B.
In the event that a bill shall become four months
in arrears, a payment agreement shall be required. The payment agreement
shall specify a down payment of 25% of the amount owed or 1/2 of the
average bimonthly bill, whichever is greater. Twenty-five percent
of the balance or one-half of the average bimonthly bill, whichever
is greater, will be due bimonthly along with the current portion of
the bill. If a consumer needs to make an agreement other than this
standard offer, the Village will work with the consumer to come up
with an alternative payment agreement. In making this agreement, the
Village Board will consider the consumer's financial circumstances
and any income limitations he or she may have.
[Amended 10-15-2007 by L.L. No. 7-2007]
C.
At the expiration of the fifteen-day period, the water
or sewer service shall be discontinued unless such bills have been
paid in full. Service will begin new on application only when all
past due bills and penalties have been paid in full.
D.
Water and sewer services will be disconnected upon
failure to work out a payment agreement or failure to make payments
as required under a payment agreement.
E.
Services may be disconnected, for nonpayment purposes,
only between 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. We
will not disconnect service on the day before a holiday, or during
a two-week period which includes Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
F.
If service has been disconnected for nonpayment, the
Village will turn it back on within 24 hours when: the amount due,
plus reconnect fees, has been paid ($25 during normal work hours or
$80 outside of normal work hours); or upon receipt of proof that the
consumer faces a serious threat to health or safety; or upon receipt
of notice of payment from a social service agency that is helping
the consumer.
G.
The Village may require a deposit (which is two times
the estimated average bimonthly bill) from seasonal customers or someone
who requests service for less than one year or if the consumer is
a former customer applying for new service who has previously had
arrears or has an outstanding bill for previous service.
A.
There shall be filed annually, on or before the first
day of May, with the Board of Trustees a statement showing the unpaid
water and sewer bills and penalties with a brief description of the
property upon which the water or sewer service was incurred and the
name of the property owner.
[Amended 8-21-1995 by L.L. No. 4-1995]
B.
Such accounts shall be added to the annual Village
real property tax statements and shall be collected in the same manner
and subject to the same rules, penalties and charges as apply to the
collection of real property taxes of the Village.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 156-19,
Waiver of billing by owner, was repealed 10-15-2007 by L.L. No. 7-2007.
B.
A service charge of $25 ($80 outside normal work hours)
shall be made upon the restoration of service when such service has
been terminated by the failure to pay bills.[2]
[Amended 1-18-2000 by L.L. No. 1-2000]
[2]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection 1, regarding
flat rate charges, which immediately followed this subsection, was
repealed 8-21-1995 by L.L. No. 4-1995.
C.
The termination of water service at the request of
the owner shall be free of charge.
D.
A service charge of $25 shall be made upon the reconnection
of a service line when such service was disconnected (cut off) at
the request of the property owner.
[Added 8-21-1995 by L.L. No. 4-1995]
[Amended 8-21-1995 by L.L. No. 4-1995; 4-30-2021 by L.L. No. 3-2021; 4-28-2022 by L.L. No. 2-2022; 4-20-2023 by L.L. No. 3-2023]
A violation of any of the provisions of this
article is hereby declared to be a violation. The Village Board may
also maintain an action or proceeding in the name of the Village in
a court of competent jurisdiction to compel compliance with or restrain
by injunction the violation of any part of this article as now adopted
or as hereafter amended. The Village Board may also enforce compliance
with this article by shutting off the water supply. Anyone convicted
of a violation under the terms of this article will be subject to
a maximum fine of $250.
[Adopted 8-1-1988 as L.L. No. 2-1988]
A.
The purpose of these regulations is to safeguard potable
water supplies by preventing backflow into public water systems.
B.
The regulations are to be reasonably interpreted.
It is the intent of these regulations to recognize that there are
varying degrees of hazard and to apply the principle that the degree
of protection should be commensurate with the degree of hazard.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
A physical break between a supply pipe and a receiving vessel.
The air gap shall be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe,
measured vertically above the top rim of the vessel, in no case less
than one inch.
A check valve that seats readily and completely. It must
be carefully machined to have free moving parts and assured watertightness.
The face of the closure element and valve seat must be bronze, composition
or other non-corrodible material which will seat tightly under all
prevailing conditions of field use. Pins and bushings shall be of
bronze or other noncorrodible, non-sticking material, machined for
easy, dependable operation. The closure element, e.g., clapper, shall
be internally weighted or otherwise internally equipped to promote
rapid and positive closure in all sizes where this feature is obtainable.
An assembly of at least two independently acting check valves,
including tightly closing shutoff valves on each side of the check
valve assembly and suitable leak-detector drains plus connections
available for testing the watertightness of each check valve. This
device must be approved as a complete assembly.
A device incorporating two or more check valves and an automatically
operating differential relief valve located between the two checks,
two shutoff valves and equipped with necessary appurtenances for testing.
The device shall operate to maintain the pressure in the zone between
the two check valves, less than the pressure on the public water supply
side of the device. At cessation of normal flow, the pressure between
check valves shall be less than the supply pressure. In case of leakage
of either check valve, the differential relief valve shall operate
to maintain this reduced pressure by discharging to the atmosphere.
When the inlet pressure is two pounds per square inch or less, the
relief valve shall open to the atmosphere, thereby providing an air
gap in the device. To be approved, these devices must be readily accessible
for maintenance and testing and installed in a location where no part
of the valve will be submerged. The enclosure must be self-draining,
so that the large amount of water which the relief valve may vent
will be disposed of reliably without submergence of the relief valve.
This device must also be approved as a complete assembly.
Any water supply approved by the New York State Department
of Health.
Any water supply on or available to the premises other than
the approved public water supply.
A loop of pipe rising approximately 35 feet, at its topmost
point, above the highest fixture it supplies.
A person who is examined annually by the water purveyor and
found competent for the testing of backflow prevention devices. He/she
shall be provided with an appropriate identification card which must
be renewed annually. Failure to perform his/her duties competently
and conscientiously will result in prompt withdrawal of his/her certification.
Any unprotected connection between any part of a water system
used or intended to supply water for drinking purposes and any source
or system containing water or substance that is not or cannot be approved
as equally safe, wholesome and potable for human consumption.
A vacuum breaker which is designed so as not to be subjected
to static line pressure.
A vacuum breaker designed to operate under conditions of
static line pressure.
The Village of Montour Falls.
The consumer or a person on the premises charged with the
responsibility of complete knowledge and understanding of the water
supply piping within the premises and for maintaining the consumer's
water system free from cross-connections and other sanitary defects,
as required by regulations and laws.
A.
Each service connection from a public water system
for supplying water to premises having an auxiliary water supply shall
be protected against backflow of water from the premises into the
public water system, unless the auxiliary water supply is approved
as an additional source by the water purveyor and is satisfactory
to the public health agency having jurisdiction with regard to quality
and safety.
B.
Each service connection from a public water system
for supplying water to premises, on which any substance is handled
under pressure in such fashion as to permit entry into the water system,
shall be protected against backflow of the water from the premises
into the public system. This shall include the handling of process
waters and waters originating from the public water supply system
which may have been subject to deterioration in sanitary or chemical
quality.
C.
Each service connection from a public water system
for supplying water to premises on which a substance of unusually
toxic concentration or danger to health is handled in liquid form,
even though it is not under pressure, shall be protected against backflow
of the water from premises into the public system. Examples are plating
factories, using cyanide, and hospitals. This is not intended to apply
to normal household installations.
D.
Backflow prevention devices shall be installed on
the service connection to any premises that have internal cross-connections,
unless such cross-connections are abated to the satisfaction of the
water purveyor. It shall be the responsibility of the water user to
provide and maintain these protective devices, and each one must be
of a type acceptable to the State Health Department.
The protective device required shall depend
on the degree of hazard as tabulated below:
A.
At the service connection to any premises where there
is an auxiliary water supply handled in a separate piping system with
no cross-connection, the public water supply shall be protected by
an approved double-check valve assembly.
B.
At the service connection on any premises on which
there is an auxiliary water supply where cross-connections are known
to exist or where it is unknown if cross-connections exist, the public
water supply system shall be protected by an air-gap separation or
an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device.
C.
At the service connection to any premises on which
a substance that would be objectionable (but not hazardous to health
if introduced into the public water supply) is handled so as to constitute
a cross-connection, the public water supply shall be protected by
an approved double-check valve assembly.
D.
At the service connection to any premises on which
a substance of unusual toxic concentration or danger to health is
or may be handled, but not under pressure, the public water supply
shall be protected by an air-gap separation or an approved reduced
pressure principle backflow prevention device. This device shall be
located as close as practicable to the water meter, and all piping
between the water meter and receiving tanks shall be entirely visible.
E.
At the service connection to any premises on which
any material dangerous to health or toxic substance in toxic concentration
is or may be handled under pressure, the public water supply shall
be protected by an air-gap separation. The air gap shall be located
as close as practicable to the water meter, and all piping between
the water meter and receiving tanks shall be entirely visible. If
these conditions cannot reasonably be met, the public water supply
shall be protected with an approved reduced pressure principle backflow
prevention device, provided that the alternative is acceptable to
the water purveyor.
F.
At the service connection to any sewage treatment
plant or sewage pumping station, the public water supply shall be
protected by an air-gap separation. The air gap shall be located as
close as practicable to the water meter and all piping between the
water meter and receiving tanks shall be entirely visible. If these
conditions cannot be reasonably met, the public water supply shall
be protected with an approved reduced pressure principle backflow
prevention device.
A.
It shall be the duty of the water user on any premises
on account of which backflow protective devices are installed to have
competent inspections made at least once a year or more often in those
instances where successive inspections indicate repeated failure.
These devices shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced at the expense
of the water user whenever they are found to be defective. These tests
shall be performed by a qualified backflow prevention device tester,
and all test results will be provided to the water purveyor within
72 hours after the test is made.
B.
Records of such tests, repairs and overhaul shall
also be kept and made available to the water purveyor and the Local
Health Department upon request.
A.
Whenever the plumbing inspector determines that it
is not practical to protect drinking water systems on premises against
entry of water from a source or piping system or equipment that cannot
be approved as safe or potable for human use, an entirely separate
drinking water system shall be installed to supply water at points
convenient for consumers.
B.
Fire systems. Water systems for fighting fires, derived
from a supply that cannot be approved as safe or potable for human
use or to which chemicals are added, shall, wherever practicable,
be kept wholly separate from drinking water pipelines and equipment.
In cases where the domestic water system is used for both drinking
and fire-fighting purposes, approved backflow prevention devices shall
be installed to protect such individual drinking waterlines as are
not used for fire-fighting purposes.
C.
Process waters. Potable water pipelines connected
to equipment for industrial processes or operations shall be protected
by a suitable backflow prevention device located beyond the last point
from which drinking water may be taken, which device shall be provided
on the feed line to process piping or equipment. In the event that
the particular process liquid is especially corrosive or apt to prevent
reliable action of the backflow prevention device, air-gap separation
shall be provided. These devices shall be tested by the water user
at least once a year or more often in those instances where successive
inspections indicate repeated failure. The devices shall be repaired,
overhauled or replaced whenever they are found to be defective. These
tests must be performed by a qualified backflow prevention device
tester and records of tests, repairs and replacement shall be kept
and made available to the water purveyor and the Health Department
upon request.
D.
Sewage treatment plants and pumping stations. Sewage
pumps shall not have priming connections directly off any drinking
water system. No connections shall exist between the drinking water
system and any other piping, equipment or tank in any sewage treatment
plant or sewage pumping station.
E.
Plumbing connections.
(1)
Where the circumstances are such that there is special
danger to health by the backflow of sewage, as from sewers, toilets,
hospital bedpans and the like, into a drinking system, a dependable
device or devices shall be installed to prevent such backflow.
(2)
The purpose of these regulations is not to transcend
local plumbing regulations, but only to deal with those extraordinary
situations where sewage may be forced or drawn into the drinking water
piping. These regulations do not attempt to eliminate at this time
the hazards of backsiphonage through flushometer valves on all toilets,
but deal with those situations where the likelihood of vacuum conditions
in the drinking water system is definite and there is special danger
to health. Devices suited to the purpose of avoiding backsiphonage
from plumbing fixtures are roof tanks, barometric loops or separate
pressure systems separately piped to supply such fixtures, recognized
approved vacuum or siphon breaker and other backflow protective devices
which have been proven by appropriate tests to be dependable for destroying
the vacuum.
(3)
Inasmuch as many of the serious hazards of this kind
are due to water supply piping which is too small, thereby causing
vacuum conditions when fixtures are flushed or water is drawn from
the system in other ways, it is required that water supply piping
that is too small be enlarged whenever possible.
F.
Pier and dock hydrants. Backflow protection by a suitable
backflow prevention device shall be provided on each drinking water
pierhead outlet used for supplying vessels at piers or waterfronts.
These assemblies must be located where they will prevent the return
of any water from the vessel into the drinking water pipeline or into
another adjacent vessel. This will prevent such practices as connecting
the ship fire-pumping or sanitary pumping system with a dock hydrant
and thereby pumping contaminated water into the drinking water system
and thence to adjacent vessels or back into the public mains.
G.
Marking safe and unsafe waterlines. Where the premises
contain dual or multiple water systems and piping, the exposed portions
of pipelines shall be painted, banded or marked at sufficient intervals
to distinguish clearly which water is safe and which is not safe.
All outlets from secondary or other potentially contaminated systems
shall be posted as being contaminated and unsafe for drinking purposes.
All outlets intended for drinking purposes shall be plainly marked
to indicate that fact.
H.
Water supervisor. The Health Department and the water
purveyor shall be kept informed of the identity of the person responsible
for the water piping on all premises concerned with these regulations.
At each premises where it is necessary in the opinion of the water
purveyor, a water supervisor shall be designated. This water supervisor
shall be responsible for the installation and use of pipelines and
equipment and for the avoidance of cross-connections.
I.
In the event of contamination or pollution of the
drinking water system due to a cross-connection on the premises, the
Local Health Officer, the New York State Department of Health local
office and water purveyor shall be promptly advised by the person
responsible for the water system so that appropriate measures may
be taken to overcome the contamination.
No water service connection to any premises
shall be installed or maintained by the water purveyor, unless the
water supply is protected as required by state regulations and this
rule.
Service of water to any premises may be discontinued
by the water purveyor if a backflow preventive device required by
this rule and regulation is not installed, tested and maintained;
if any defect is found in an installed backflow preventive device;
if it is found that a backflow preventive device has been removed
or bypassed; and/or if unprotected cross-connections exist on the
premises. Service will not be restored until such conditions or defects
are corrected.
Section 156-26G is not retroactive and applies only to the installation of any new or replacement meters.
[Added 8-21-1995 as L.L. No. 4-1995]
Any violation of any provision of this article
shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $250 or imprisonment
for not more than 15 days, or both.
