Water service at any time shall be furnished only in accordance with Chapter
173 of the Caroline County Code, which is made as a part of every application, contract, agreement or license entered into between the property owner or customer and the County.
Whenever the property owner desires to have water service discontinued,
the property owner shall so notify the County in writing. Until such
notice is received by the County, the owner shall be responsible for
the payment of all services rendered by the County. A reasonable time
after the receipt of such notice shall be allowed for the County to
take a final reading of any meter or meters and to discontinue water
service.
Water service may be discontinued for any one of the following
reasons:
A. Use of water for purposes other than for consumption on the premises
serviced.
B. Misrepresentation in the application for service.
D. Failure to make repairs requested by the County.
E. Molesting or tampering with County property or seals on meters or
other equipment.
G. Nonpayment of bills when due.
H. Cross-connection of the water service pipes with any other water
supply source.
I. Refusal of reasonable and safe access to the property.
Any County water service or connection may be declared abandoned
for any one of the following reasons:
A. The use or service has been discontinued for a period of two years
or more.
B. The primary structure has remained continuously vacant for a period
of two years or more.
All authorized agents of the County, upon presentation of proper
credentials, shall have the right of access at all reasonable hours
to the premises supplied with County water service, for the purpose
of reading meters, examining fixtures and pipes, observing the manner
of using water and for any other purpose which is proper or necessary
in the maintenance and operation of the water system. As a condition
of service, the property owner shall ensure reasonable and safe access
to the property.
As necessity may arise, in case of main breaks, emergency or
other unavoidable causes, the County shall have the right to temporarily
shut off the water supply or service in order to make the necessary
repairs, connections and improvements. The County will use all reasonable
and practicable measures to notify the customer in advance of such
interruption of service. In any case, the County shall not be liable
for any loss, damage or inconvenience suffered by the property owner
or occupants nor for any claim against the County at any time for
interruption in service, lessening of supply, inadequate pressure,
quality of water or any cause beyond the County's control.
The County shall have the right to reserve a sufficient supply
of water at all times in its storage tanks and/or reservoirs to provide
for fire or any other emergencies and may restrict or regulate the
quantity of water used by its customers in case of scarcity or whenever
the public welfare may require it. Nothing in this chapter shall create
an obligation on the part of the County to supply water, or a given
amount of water, or a specific level of pressure. The County is obligated
only to use reasonable efforts in the provision of water service to
approved systems, and shall not be liable for any failure to provide
water service, or any aspect thereof.
No water will be furnished to any premises where any possibility
exists of the mingling of the water furnished by the County with water
from any other source. The County hereby prohibits any connection
of its water mains to any piping, tank, vat or any other apparatus
containing liquids, chemicals or any other matter which may flow back
or have cross-connection into the County's service mains or any other
water facilities or unit and which may consequently endanger or adversely
affect the water supply.
The presentation or nonpresentation of a bill shall not be held
to be a waiver of any part of this chapter.
All delinquent water-related bills shall be and become liens
upon the premises served, which liens may be collected in the same
manner as the collection of delinquent taxes.