These regulations are promulgated by the Town of Hadley Board
of Water Commissioners in accordance with MGL c. 41, § 69B.
The following regulations apply to all consumers of Town water
and govern the relations between the Water Division and its consumers/customers and contractors/developers
who install water systems.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ABANDONMENT
The condition in which water service to a building has been
discontinued at the owner's request for a period of at least
one year and the owner has made no commitment as to possible future
use.
AIR-GAP
The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere
between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying water
to a tank, plumbing fixture or other container and the flood rim of
said vessel. An approved air-gap shall be required by Division standards.
APPLICANT
Any person applying for water service or for a water main
extension, replacement or relocation.
AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLY
Any water supply on or available to the premises other than
the approved public potable water supply overseen by the Town.
BACKFLOW
A.
The reversal of the normal flow of water or other liquids caused
by back pressure or backsiphonage.
B.
The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures, or substances
into the distribution pipes of a potable water system from any source,
other than an approved supply source, caused by the sudden reduction
of pressure in the potable water system.
BUILDING
Any structure used for human occupancy, employment, recreational
or other purposes.
COMBINED SERVICE
Any existing service pipe that is used to provide both water
service and private fire protection service. New installation of combined
service is not permitted.
COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL UNIT
A single commercial or industrial unit, whether rented or
owned by the business or occupant, which has independent ingress and
egress or has common ingress and egress with other units within a
building or structure but with separate commercial or industrial facilities.
Example may include, but are not limited to, stored located in shopping
centers or separate office or condominium units within a single building
or structure.
CONSUMER or CUSTOMER
The individual, firm, corporation or his or its agent as
the party who or which has applied for water service or any individual,
firm, or corporation who or which in fact uses the water service of
the Town of Hadley. The service will be recorded by the Water Division
in the name of the party requesting the service unless otherwise requested
in writing.
CONSUMPTION
The amount of water used, as measured by a meter or as estimated
by the Water Division in accord with its billing.
CONTAMINATION
An impairment of the quality of potable water to a degree
which creates an actual hazard to the public health through poisoning
or the spread of disease.
CROSS-CONNECTION
A.
Any physical or potential connection or arrangement of piping
or fixtures between two separate piping systems, one of which contains
potable water and the other nonpotable water or industrial fluids
of unknown or questionable safety, or steam, gas or chemicals, allowing
flow from one system to the other.
B.
Any physical or potential connection or arrangement of piping
or fixtures between two separate piping systems, one of which contains
potable water and the other nonpotable water or industrial fluids
of unknown or questionable safety, through which, or because of which,
backflow or backsiphonage may occur into the potable water system.
CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL BY CONTAINMENT
The installation of any approved backflow prevention device
at the water service connection to any premises or the installation
of an approved backflow prevention device on the service line leading
to and supplying a portion of a private water system where there are
actual or potential cross-connections which cannot be effectively
eliminated or controlled at the point of cross-connection.
CROSS-CONNECTION, CONTROLLED
A connection between a potable water system and nonpotable
water system with an approved backflow prevention device properly
installed that will continuously afford the protection commensurate
with the degree of hazard.
CURB STOP
The part of the water system, usually located at or near
the owner's property line, where the Town has complete access
and control to shut off the water supply to the premises. Beyond this
point, the water system belongs to and is the responsibility of the
owner.
DESIGN CRITERIA
Standards for design used by the Division for construction
and rehabilitation of public water mains, water service pipes and
fire pipes.
DISCONTINUANCE
The cessation of water service at the premises at the request
of an owner or customer (except that a request for a temporary cessation
for repair does not ordinarily give rise to discontinuance).
DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY
An assembly of two independently operating approved check
valves with tightly closing shutoff valves on each side of the check
valves and properly located test cocks for the routine testing of
the assembly.
EASEMENT
An acquired legal right for the specific use of land owned
and maintained by others.
FIRE FLOW TEST
The measurement of flow from a hydrant performed by the Water
Division or by a licensed testing company in accordance with generally
accepted engineering practices.
FIRE PIPE
The private water piping, control valve and appurtenances
installed solely to furnish water for extinguishing fires.
FIRE PUMP TEST
A means for contractors to conduct a test to determine whether
a fire pump system is functioning properly as required by 310 CMR
22.22:13.08.
HAZARD, DEGREE OF
The term is derived from an evaluation of the potential risk
to public health and the adverse effect of the hazard upon the potable
water system.
HAZARD, HEALTH (HIGH HAZARD)
Any conditions, device or practice in the water supply system
and its operation which could create or, in the judgment of the Division,
may create a danger to the health and well-being of the water user.
HAZARD, PLUMBING (HIGH HAZARD)
A plumbing-type cross-connection in a private potable water
system that has not been properly protected by a vacuum breaker, air-gap
separation or backflow prevention device. Unprotected plumbing-type
cross-connections are considered to be a health hazard.
HAZARD, POLLUTION (LOW HAZARD)
An actual or potential threat to the physical properties
of the water system or to the potability of the public water supply
or the consumers which would constitute a nuisance or be aesthetically
objectionable or could cause damage to the system or its appurtenances
but would not be dangerous to health.
HYDRANT
A device connected to a public water main for the purpose
of extinguishing fires or other authorized purpose.
HYDRANT PERMIT
A written permit granted by the Water Division for the temporary
use of a hydrant.
INDUSTRIAL FLUIDS SYSTEM
Any system containing a fluid or solution which may be chemically,
biologically, or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration
such as would constitute a health, pollution, or plumbing hazard if
introduced into an approved water supply.
LET ON
The opening of a control valve to initiate or restore water
service.
LICENSED DRAINLAYER
An individual licensed by the Town to perform installation
and maintenance of water services.
LUTO NOTICE
Written notification to an owner or customer that a leak
exists in the water service pipe on the owner's property and
that the owner is responsible for repairing the leak.
MAIN
The supply pipe laid in the street from which (structure)
service connections are made.
MASTER METER
A meter used for billing purposes serving a building or group
of buildings.
METER
An instrument for measuring the flow of water.
METER PIT
An underground vault enclosing a meter.
NONPOTABLE WATER
Water which is not safe for human consumption or which is
of questionable quality.
OWNER
A.
A person who, alone or jointly or severally with others, has
the legal title to any premises or has care, charge or control of
any premises as agent, executor, administrator, trustee, lessee or
guardian of the state of the holder of legal title.
B.
The person or persons who own, maintain and control a private
water system.
C.
Also, any person maintaining a cross-connection or owning or
occupying premises on which a cross-connection can or does exist.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, company, partnership, association,
society, corporation, group or any political subdivision of the commonwealth.
PLUMBER
A person licensed as a plumber by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
POINT OF ENTRY DEVICE
A purported water treatment device applied to the drinking
water entering any building for the purpose of reducing contaminants
in the drinking water entering that building.
POLLUTION
The presence of any foreign substance (organic, inorganic
or biological) in water which tends to degrade the water quality so
as to constitute a hazard or to impair the usefulness or quality of
the water to a degree which does not create an actual hazard to the
public health but which does adversely and unreasonably affect such
waters for domestic use.
POTABLE WATER
Water fit for human consumption in conformance with the regulations
of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
PRESSURE VACUUM BREAKER
A device containing one or two independently operating loaded
check valves and an independently operating loaded air inlet valve
located on the discharge side of the check valves.
PRIVATE FIRE PROTECTION
Private water mains, hydrants and appurtenances installed
for the purpose of fire protection at a particular premises.
PUBLIC FIRE PROTECTION
The public water mains, hydrants and appurtenances installed
for the purpose of fire protection in a public way, Town-owned easement
or private way open to public travel.
PUBLIC WATER MAIN
The piping and associated valves, hydrants and appurtenances
installed in a public way, Town-owned easement, or private way open
to public travel for the purpose of supplying water to one or more
customers or for public fire protection.
REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE DEVICE
An assembly of two independently operating check valves with
an automatically operating differential relief valve between the two
check valves, tightly closing shutoff valves on either side of the
check valves, and properly located test cocks for the routine testing
of the device.
RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNIT
A single unit providing complete, independent living facilities
for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living,
sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation.
RESIDENTIAL METER
A meter two inches in size or smaller used to measure the
flow of water to a predominantly residential property.
SERVICE PIPE
The pipe running from the main in the street to include a
curb stop and curb box at or near the property line, a shutoff valve,
meter and meter connection, usually inside the structure.
SHUT OFF
The closing of a control valve to temporarily stop water
service or to terminate water service.
TERMINATION
The cessation of water service pursuant to the Water Division's
billing, termination and appeal regulations or for violation of these
regulations.
USER
Any person who obtains water from a public water main or
private water main supplied by a public water main.
WATER SERVICE
A.
The readiness to supply or actual supplying of water to premises
in which a water service pipe or fire pipe has been installed. "Water
service" may also mean a water service pipe.
B.
The providing of water to customers, whether or not through
an individual meter, as well as fire protection charges for structures,
buildings, or units within a six-hundred-foot radius of a hydrant.
WATER SERVICE PIPE
The connection, piping and associated valves and appurtenances
that extend from a public water main to a building or property for
the purpose of supplying water.
WATER SYSTEM
The water system shall be considered as made up of two parts,
the utility system and the private system:
A.
The utility system shall consist of the source facilities and
the distribution system; it shall include all those components of
the water system under the complete control of the Division, up to
the curb stop where the private system begins.
(1)
The source facilities shall include all components of the water
system utilized in the production, treatment, storage and delivery
of water to the distribution system.
(2)
The distribution system shall include the network of conduits
used for the delivery of water from the source facility to the customer's
system, generally terminating at the curb stop located at the property
line.
B.
The private system shall include those parts of the facilities
beyond the curb stop through which the public potable water is delivered
to points of use.
WATER USED
Any water supplied by the Division or any other water system
to a consumer's water system after it has passed through the
point of delivery and is no longer under the sanitary control of the
water purveyor.
Water service is defined as a tie-in to an existing main line.
A. All applications for introduction of Town water to private premises
or for a change in use of a building to human habitation will be made
at the office of the Water Division by the owner of the property or
by the person to be charged therefor or by his authorized agent. Applications
can be received throughout the year. Due to limited water reserve,
permit approval of such water applications will be dependent upon
having sufficient reserves.
B. All new water service or changes in use of a building to human habitation, whether to new construction or to existing structures, will be required to have a water meter installed, such water meters to meet all the requirements as set forth in §
425-15, Meters. Under this subsection, each building used for human habitation will be required to have its own water meter.
C. No water permit will be issued until a complete and valid building
permit application has been submitted, with complete plans, to the
Building Inspector. The fee for connection charges must be paid prior
to issuance of a building permit.
D. Application for a water line extension shall include a fee of $3 per foot for eight inches and $5 per foot for 12 inches or larger on Town-accepted ways and in new subdivisions, including common driveways that will require either an eight-inch or larger service (see §
425-19).
E. Approved permits will only be good for six months from date signed
by the Water Superintendent on the application.
F. In the case of a commercial application, the Town will require an
engineer's calculations of use to accompany the application,
to ensure that the requested gallons per day (gpd) are appropriate,
except for services of one inch or less, in which case the applicant
must provide a true estimate of daily use.
Owners of the property where water is used will be charged with,
and held responsible for, all water passing through their service
pipe until such time as they notify the Water Division at its office
in the Town Hall in writing that they no longer desire the use of
water, and, in case of the sale of the property, such notice will
give the name of the new owner, if available.
No person will tamper with a water meter or accouterments and no alterations will be made in any of the pipes and fixtures without written authorization of the Water Superintendent. Violators will be subject to a fine as set forth in §
425-19. 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 Superintendent for his inspection and approval or disapproval and for his determination as to whether the same are permissible. The Superintendent will determine the terms, charges, and conditions under which their use will be allowed.
The Town and its agents will have free access at all times to the premises supplied with water service to ascertain the quantity of water used and the manner of its use and to inspect pipes and fittings. When such access has been refused, the water service may be terminated after proper notification in accordance with §
425-16W.
Whenever a fire occurs in the Town, as far as practicable, it
is the duty of consumers to discontinue all use of water for the duration
of the fire.
The Town does not guarantee constant pressure nor uninterrupted
service, nor does it assure the consumer either a full volume of water
or the required pressure necessary to effectively operate hydraulic
elevators, sprinkler systems or other appliances, the same being subject
to all variable conditions that may take place in the use of water
from the Town mains.
No person shall connect a source of water from any source to
any pipe connected to the Town water system. Private water systems
are not to be cross-connected to the Town water system.
Pools shall not be filled during periods of high water demand
and low supply (i.e., after June 1). Filling may be restricted to
low demand periods of the day. The consumer shall be responsible for
ensuring that no leaks or overfilling occurs.
Any violations of these regulations may result in the Superintendent ordering the termination of water service to the violator's premises in accordance with §
425-16W. When water has been terminated for violation of the rules, or other offense, it will not be turned on again until the Division is satisfied that there will not be any further cause of complaint and charges shown in §
425-19 have been paid to cover the cost of shutting off and turning on the water as well as charges up to the date of the termination.
All tests shall be bench tested on the test bench at the Water
Division shop. Although the following description covers the actual
steps in testing a single-inch meter, the only differences for larger
meters are the rates of flow and test quantities used.
A. Clamp the meter securely in the test bench. (Do not tighten more
than necessary to make a watertight connection, as there is a possibility
of distorting the meter housing or extruding the washer into the water
way.)
B. Remove the register-box cover.
C. Open the discharge valve first, then open the inlet valve gradually
and run water to waste until the entrapped air is cleared. This process
also ensures a full discharge line to the tank.
D. Shut off the discharge valve.
E. Check one-hundred-gallon or ten-cubic-foot tank discharge to ensure
that the tank is empty and then close the tank drain valve. (Tank
discharge should be to an open drain so that any possible leakage
of the tank drain valve can also be observed.)
F. Revolve the meter register to set the test hand at the zero mark.
In so doing, revolve the register backward beyond the zero mark and
then reverse its direction to bring the test dial forward to the mark.
This procedure takes up any possible backlash in the gearing.
G. Sealed registers on some magnetic-drive meters require a special
test ring that sets on top of the register box and can be rotated
so that the test hand starts at zero on the test dial.
H. Open the test bench discharge valve as rapidly as prudently possible
to the desired rate for the minimum flow test (1/4 gpm) and continue
the flow at this rate until the meter test hand has made 10 complete
revolutions, then stop the test at the starting mark. Read meter accuracy
from the scale of the calibrated tank or, if the tank is not calibrated,
by weighing the water in the tank.
I. Post the results of this test on the record form used.
J. Repeat procedure for intermediate test (two gpm).
K. Post results on record form.
L. Repeat procedure for maximum test (15 gpm).
M. Post results on record form.
N. After three separate test runs are made, the meter has been fully
tested and may be removed from the test bench after the inlet valve
of the test bench has been closed and pressure has been released by
a partial opening of the discharge valve.
O. Upon conclusion of the final test, the meter should be drained, the
register sealed, and dust caps placed on the meter spuds before the
meter is put in storage.
The public system of wells, distribution lines and storage tanks
was not designed or intended to provide the added capability of unrestricted
irrigation of lawns. Such water withdrawal, particularly during the
growing season, depletes groundwater levels within the associated
recharge zones.
A. All lawn irrigation systems connected to the municipal water system of the Town of Hadley shall be permitted with the Water Division. A fee will be charged for this registration (see §
425-19).
B. All lawn irrigation systems installed on private property shall:
(1) Be set back from Town property lines and roadways in order to avoid
damage to the irrigation system and/or irrigation heads when excavating
water mains or when plowing during the winter season.
(2) Include a backflow prevention device.
(3) Include a moisture meter or similar device to automatically shut
off the system during wet weather.
(4) Be designed so that water does not overspray onto public streets
and drains.
(5) Be designed to apply water during cooler parts of the day and when
water demands are lower (late evening and early morning).
(6) Be designed to apply infrequent (no more than twice per week) but
heavy applications (approximately one inch, but no more than one inch,
per week) of water to encourage deep root growth and drought resistance.
(7) Be adjusted to water at two-hour increments and be on a timer set
to meet periodic odd/even water requirements instituted by the Water
Division.
C. All lawn irrigations systems shall be subject to odd/even water requirements
and other water restrictions as may be imposed under the Town of Hadley
Restriction Bylaw.
D. Failure to comply with the requirements of this section may result
in fines, and continued violation may results in termination of water
service in accordance with these regulations.