[Amended 5-2-2007]
The Water Department assumes no liability for conditions which
exist in the consumer’s plumbing or appliances and cause trouble
coincident with or following installation, repairs or flushing to
any part of the facilities belonging to the Water Department.
[Amended 5-2-2007]
The Water Department shall not be responsible for damages caused
by dirty water resulting from the opening or closing of any gate valve,
the use of any hydrant(s), the breaking of any supply line(s) for
normal operation, maintenance, repairs or any other reason.
[Amended 5-2-2007; 8-15-2012]
A. The Water Department will endeavor to give due notice to as many
of the customers affected, as time and character of the work permit,
whenever it may become necessary to shut off the supply to any section
of the Town to make repairs or changes or because of a broken main
or service and will, as far as practical, use every effort to prevent
damage or inconvenience. Failure to give such notice shall not render
the Water Department responsible or liable for any damages that may
result from the shutting off or turning on of the water or any subsequent
conditions arising therefrom.
B. The Water Department reserves the right at any time, without notice,
to shut off the water supply for the purpose of making repairs, extensions
or other reasons, and all consumers having boilers or other appliances
on their premises are hereby warned against the danger of collapse
or damage from these sources and are urged to provide safety devices
as provided for in the Massachusetts Plumbing Code for their protection.
In any event, the Water Department expressly stipulates that it assumes
no liability for damages resulting therefrom.
[Amended 5-2-2007]
The Water Department shall not in any way nor under any circumstances
be liable or responsible to any person or persons for any loss or
damage from any excess or deficiency in the pressure, volume or supply
of water due to any cause whatsoever. The Water Department will undertake
to use all reasonable care and diligence to avoid interruptions and
fluctuations in the service, but cannot and does not guarantee that
such will not occur.
[Amended 1-7-1992]
No physical connection shall be made between the Town water system and any other water supply or source of contamination, except those approved by the DEP as outlined in 310 CMR 22:22. (For further clarification, see Chapter
158, Article
II, Cross-Connection Control.)
[Amended 5-2-2007; 8-15-2012]
A. It is the responsibility of all consumers to ensure that all plumbing,
fixtures, meters and appliances are in good repair and protected from
freezing, at their own expense.
B. All water passing through a meter is charged for, whether it is used
or wasted through leakage.
C. The Water Department assumes no liability for loss or damage to any
plumbing, fixtures, meters, appliances or other property due to freezing.
Any repairs made by the Water Department shall be paid for by the
consumer.
D. Private roads. It is the responsibility of residents and/or owner(s)
to maintain sufficient amount of soil coverage over any water main
on private roads. All water mains and/or services are required to
maintain a minimum of a five-foot depth below finish grade at all
times.
[Amended 1995; 5-2-2007]
No utilities, including but not limited to oil, gas, electric,
cable and/or telephone, shall be placed underground within five (5)
feet horizontally from the water mains or services of the Water Department.
[Amended 1989; 10-17-1989; 1-7-1992; 4-7-1992;
1995; 1-24-1996; 5-2-2007; 8-15-2012]
A. Installation.
(1) All applications forms for a new water service or replacement of
an existing water service shall be made at the Water Department office
by the owner of the property or by an authorized agent. All applications
must contain the full information requested and shall be accompanied
by a plot plan showing the wastewater system, the location of all
underground utilities and the water entry for a new water installation
and shall be submitted for approval by the Water Superintendent and
the Orleans Health Agent.
[Amended 12-15-2021]
(2) All water services must be installed according to the specification
and requirements of the Water Department by an approved contractor.
A current list of approved contractors is available at the Water Department
office or from the Water Department page of the Town's website.
[Amended 12-15-2021]
(3) Applications are subject to the existence of municipal water main
in a street or right-of-way abutting the premises to be served, but
approval of an application shall in no way obligate the Water Department
to extend its mains to provide water to a premises.
[Amended 12-15-2021]
(4) Based on water use data supplied by the builder/contractor, the Water
Department shall determine the size of the service pipe and water
meter.
(5) All water services shall be inspected by the Water Department prior
to backfilling. Any service pipe covered before it has been inspected
will be rejected.
(6) Copies of the specifications and requirements for water service
contractors are available at the Water Department office for a fee
in accordance with the Schedule of Rates and Fees.
[Amended 12-15-2021]
(7) Treatment. No treatment by any unauthorized personnel shall be permitted.
If anyone is found adding any treatment to the Town's water they will
be subject to water service shutoff.
B. Meter pits.
(1) Meter pits shall be allowed only with special permission from the
Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners. If permission is granted,
then the pit must be at a location determined by the Water Superintendent
and must be to the following specifications: four feet in diameter,
six feet deep, and with a heavy-duty metal frost proof cover of 24
inches. Maintenance of the meter pit and cover are the responsibility
of the owner.
(2) It shall be the policy of the Water Department that when a service line is replaced for the purpose of eliminating a meter pit and relocating the water meter into the house, said service line shall not be considered to be in violation of §
196-10F of the Water Department regulations, Areas not serviced by water main, if new service is installed in the same general area as the existing service. However, said service must comply with existing specifications. If the new service is to be relocated to an area not in the same general area of the existing service, then all regulations must be followed.
C. Service repairs.
(1) Water services are considered piping and appurtenances from the water
main to the meter, inclusive. The Orleans Water Department retains
ownership of all public waterworks, including water mains, water services
and water meters within the Town of Orleans. The Water Department
is financially responsible for any repairs of a water service line
from the water main to the curb stop, the shutoff normally located
at the property line. The owner of record is financially responsible
for the repair of the water service line after the curb stop up to
and including the water meter. See Water Service Diagram Appendix
B.
(2) Water service lines between the curb stop and the water meter may
be repaired or replaced at the owner's option by the Water Department
or one of its approved contractors. All costs of material and labor
involved in the repair or replacement if performed by the Water Department
shall be the responsibility of the owner. If the owner elects to retain
an approved contractor, the cost of such shall also be the responsibility
of the owner. A list of approved contractors is available at the Water
Department office.
D. Warranty.
The Water Department warranties any work completed by Water Department
staff for one year from the date of installation or repair. After
one year, any repair of a water service line that the owner is responsible
for will be billed to the owner at the current schedule of rates and
fees and charged after the completion of work. A new one-year warranty
will be put in place for any work completed by the Water Department.
E. Relocation or alteration. Any relocation or alteration of an existing
water service and/or increase in the demand of said service will require
the updating of the service to the water main so as to comply with
the current specifications for water services.
F. Areas not serviced by water main. Any service to an existing or new
building on a road not serviced by a water main will require the installation
of a water main and appurtenances per the specifications and requirements
of the Water Department.
G. Wastewater treatment (including septic) systems.
(1) Water services shall be laid at least 10 feet horizontally from any
existing or proposed wastewater treatment system, including all components
comprising said system, including but not limited to pipe, tank, pit
and stone. Disposal facilities shall be at least 18 inches below water
supply lines.
(2) In the event that the upgrading of a septic system conflicts with
the water services, said water services shall be relocated so as to
maintain the 10 feet separation.
(3) If local conditions prevent the horizontal separation of 10 feet
and the relocation of the water services will not accomplish the separation,
then these cases will be reviewed by the Health Agent and the Water
Superintendent to determine the safest means for the installation.
[Amended 1-7-1992; 9-28-1993; 5-9-2005; 5-2-2007]
B. The Water Department shall be notified by the customer or plumber
two (2) weeks in advance for removals for storage and reinstallations
of water meters for seasonal customers. The Water Department requests
that a key be kept on file in the office. The charge for removal,
storage and reinstallation of a water meter is in accordance with
the Schedule of Rates and Fees. This charge will appear on the winter
billing. An additional charge will be charged if a second turn-off/turn-on
is requested in the same year in accordance with the Schedule of Rates
and Fees.
[Amended 8-15-2012; 12-15-2021]
C. Repairs to water meters due to, but not limited to, freezing, hot
water or other external causes shall be charged to the customer on
the basis of cost of materials, labor and current sales tax on materials.
D. An annual charge will be made on fire sprinkler system lines and
added to the water bill, in accordance with the Schedule of Rates
and Fees.
E. A hydrant service charge will be rendered for taking water, with
permission of the Water Superintendent, from a fire hydrant, along
with a minimum charge for the first thirty thousand (30,000) gallons
of water; over that, a charge will be per one thousand (1,000) gallons,
in accordance with the Schedule of Rates and Fees.
F. Charges for meter setting of new water services is in accordance
with the Schedule of Rates and Fees. In addition, each new customer
coming onto the distribution system is charged a one-time system demand
fee in accordance with the Schedule of Rates and Fees.
G. For installation of an eight-inch water main, the tapping fee for
connecting into the distribution system is in accordance with the
Schedule of Rates and Fees.
H. Backflow device testing fees according to the schedule of rates and
fees will be charged for each test completed and added to the water
bill.
[Added 12-15-2021]
[Amended 9-28-1993; 8-15-2012]
The Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners reserves the right
to review any request for waivers from these regulations and to make
its decision based on the reasons for the request, the fairness of
the request, the interest of the Town (taking into consideration,
when applicable, situations caused by prior regulations no longer
in effect) and any other pertinent information included with the request.
Each request will be evaluated on its own merit and in no way will
be determined to set a precedent for any future request.
These regulations supersede any previous regulations.
[Added 1-6-1993; amended 5-2-2007; 12-15-2021]
The taking or withdrawing of water by anyone other than a Town
employee, acting in their official capacity, is strictly prohibited
without prior approval from the Water Department. The taking or withdrawing
of water from a hydrant must be metered. Any approval from the Water
Department will require that a Water Department employee be present
for the activation of the hydrant. That employee's time will be billed
at the current labor charge in accordance with the Schedule of Rates
and Fees. This charge will be in addition to any other charges for
the water used. Any violation of this regulation will be prosecuted
as allowed under MGL c. 40, § 39G.
[Added 8-15-2012]
All of the provisions of the Water Bylaw set forth in Chapter
158 of the Town Code are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof as if fully set forth herein.