[Amended in its entirety 3-22-2011]
The Committee on the Department of Public Works shall permit
or make and maintain all such main drains and common sewers as it
adjudges to be necessary for the public convenience or the public
health, through the public streets or through the lands of any person,
and may repair the same whenever it is necessary. All such drains
and sewers shall be the property of the City, but no common sewer
shall be laid until each person whose property abuts on such sewer,
or on the street in which the same is to be laid, has had an opportunity
to be heard in relation thereto, and the Department of Public Works
Commissioner shall notify and hear all owners of land abutting upon
such sewer or streets. Written notices, giving the time and place
for meeting and hearing all parties interested, shall be delivered
upon such owners at least seven days before the hearing by leaving
the same at the last and usual place of abode of the several owners,
unless delivered to such owners in hand or to their tenants or authorized
agents, and if any such owners have no such abode in the City, and
no tenant or authorized agent therein known to the Committee, or if,
being a resident of the City, he/she is not known as such to the Committee,
such notice shall be posted up in some public place in the City seven
days at least before such hearing, or, if such main drain or common
sewer is in a public street or highway, such notice of the time and
place of such hearing may be given by publishing such notice two times
in some newspaper published in the City, the last publication to be
at least seven days before the date of such hearing.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any sewer line or service that services more than one owner.
A.
There shall be a Supervisor of Sewers who shall be under the direct
control of the Commissioner of Public Works and shall report to him/her.
The Supervisor shall have administrative control and be the operational
head of the Sewer Division.
B.
The Supervisor shall be appointed and removed pursuant to Section
19.1(d) of the City Carter.
At the time and place appointed and notified as aforesaid, the
Committee on the Department of Public Works shall meet and hear all
parties interested and if requested shall view the premises. If the
Committee on the Department of Public Works shall adjudge that the
public convenience or the public health requires that such sewer be
constructed, it shall proceed to lay out the same and, if land is
taken for the same, shall determine the boundaries and measurements
thereof and the damages, if any, sustained by any person in his/her
property.
[Amended 11-20-2012]
A.
All betterments for the laying of common sewers shall be assessed
against owners of property pursuant to the General Laws of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts.
B.
All such betterments shall be assessed at 100% of the costs permitted
to be included in a betterment assessment pursuant to the General
Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, unless such formula shall
violate the provisions of any state or federal law or regulation or
the terms of any state or federal grant or the terms of any loan agreement
reached between the City of Taunton and the Water Pollution Abatement
Trust of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts pursuant to MGL c. 29C.
No person shall construct, alter or repair any private drain
or sewer or sewer connection in any public street or way, unless authorized
so to do by the Supervisor of the Sewer Division.
Before entering upon and digging up any street or way for the purpose of constructing, altering or repairing any drain or sewer or making any sewer connection therein, in accordance with the provisions and requirements of Chapter 383, Streets and Sidewalks, Article II, Excavations and Obstructions, the person so entering upon such street or way shall give notice in writing to the Commissioner of Public Works.
No person shall enter his/her drain directly or indirectly into
a common sewer. Also, no person shall enter his particular drain directly
or indirectly into any main drain. This prohibition shall not be waived
unless the Committee on the Department of Public Works finds that
such connection is necessary to public convenience and/or public health.
The application for such entry shall be in writing and in such form
as the Committee on the Department of Public Works may prescribe.
No person shall make any new connection of fixtures, pipes or other
conductors with any drain emptying into a main drain or common sewer
in any other manner than that provided in the permit.
A.
All connections of sewer facilities to the public sewer system shall
be built, repaired, installed and maintained by the owner of the land
that the facilities shall service. In the event of a plugged up or
backed up sewer line, any work required between the public sewer line
and the building shall be the responsibility of the owner of the building
or property. The property owner shall contact a licensed installer
(as hereinafter set forth) for such repairs, installations, maintenance
and cleanup.
B.
The Supervisor of the Sewer Division shall assess the following charges
to owners of property for initial sewer service connection to such
property:
C.
Dedication of receipts. All fees generated and collected under this
section shall be dedicated to sewer improvements and shall be deposited
in a capital improvement fund dedicated for that purpose.
D.
Mandatory backwater valves to be installed on any new building sewer
or sewer lateral installation, alteration, or repair to existing building
sewers or sewer lateral.
[Added 5-31-2011]
(1)
Materials; construction; diameter.
(a)
All bearing parts of backwater valves shall be of corrosion-resistant
material and shall be constructed in such a manner so as to provide
a mechanical seal against backflow. Backwater valves, when fully opened,
shall have an effective opening not less than that of the pipes in
which they are installed.
(2)
Location. Backwater valves shall be installed in a location that
provides easy access for service and repairs. Backwater valves located
outside the foundation wall will require a sign reading "Backwater
Valve Installed" and be located above the main cleanout for the building.
(3)
Correction upon sale or transfer. Except as hereinafter provided,
no person shall sell, transfer, or convey any improved real property
that is connected to the City of Taunton sewer system without first
installing a backwater valve and otherwise fully conforming to this
section.[2]
(4)
Approval. The Plumbing Inspector shall approve all backwater valves
prior to installation.
All private sewers connecting with common sewers shall be installed
in conformance with the sewer rules and regulations on file in the
Sewer Division. They shall be laid to a uniform grade, to be approved
by the City Engineer, and the materials used shall be approved by
the Supervisor of the Sewer Division.
No exhaust from steam engines or blowoff from boilers shall
be allowed to enter or be connected with any main drain or common
sewer without permission in writing from the Committee on the Department
of Public Works.
Whenever any street shall be opened for laying or repairing
of water and/or gas pipes, or for other purposes, the work shall be
executed so as not to obstruct the course, capacity or construction
of an existing or proposed main drain or common sewer, and whenever
such pipes, or any other work of construction, shall be found to exist
in such location as to interfere with a main drain or common sewer,
the person having charge of the same shall, on notice, at once remove,
change or alter such pipes or work of construction in a manner satisfactory
to the Committee on the Department of Public Works, and if such person
refuses or neglects so to do the Committee on the Department of Public
Works may make or cause to be made such removal, change or alteration
at the expense of such person.
The building, cleaning, repairing and maintenance of catch basins
shall be under the supervision of the Committee on the Department
of Public Works and shall be chargeable to the appropriation for that
purpose. The building and maintenance of the pipe from catch basins
to a public drain or common sewer, and trapping the same, shall be
under the supervision of the Committee on the Department of Public
Works and shall be chargeable to the appropriation for sewer maintenance.
The location of all new catch basins shall be under the direction
of the City Engineer. No person shall place or deposit in any catch
basin any liquid, animal, vegetable or solid matter.
The Committee on the Department of Public Works may make and
establish such rates of assessment and annual charges or rents for
the construction, entering, maintenance and operation of the system
of sewerage as it shall deem just and proper, in conformity with the
general and special laws of the commonwealth. It shall, at the time
of delivering to the City Treasurer/Collector for collection any list
of sewer assessments or rental charges, give to the City Auditor a
written statement of the total amount thereof, and it shall forthwith
give to the City Treasurer/Collector and the City Auditor a written
statement in detail of all abatements or cancellations made by it.
All assessments for construction of the sewers shall be held to the
credit of the sewer loan sinking funds.
[Added 11-12-2013]
Chapter 80, § 13B, of the General Laws is accepted
by the City of Taunton. Any person seeking a deferral thereunder must
obtain an application from the Clerk of Committees. The application
shall consist of an application form and a betterment assessment deferral
and recovery agreement and may include additional information and
instructions. The agreement shall contain the provisions set forth
in MGL c. 80, § 13B. The completed application must be filed
with the Clerk of Committees within six months after notice of such
assessment has been sent out by the Treasurer/Collector. The applicant
must fully and accurately complete the application, to include obtaining
the written approval of any mortgagee or other person with an interest
in the property as provided by the statute. For each timely filed
application, the Committee on the Department of Public Works will
determine whether or not an applicant qualifies for deferral. The
Committee may call upon the Assessors to assist it in making the determination,
and the Assessors shall provide such assistance when called upon to
do so. If the applicant qualifies, then the deferral shall be granted
by the Committee, and the members voting in favor thereof shall sign
the agreement. The applicant shall be notified of the Committee's
decision, whether or not the deferral is granted. The Committee shall
provide notice of any deferral granted hereunder to the Treasurer/Collector.
The Committee shall cause the agreement to be recorded at the Registry
of Deeds, with the recording fee being added to the amount owed by
the applicant. The agreement shall constitute a statement of the action
of the Committee for the purposes of MGL c. 80, § 13B. The
interest rate shall be, pursuant to the provisions of MGL c. 80, §§ 13
and 13B(1), the rate applicable to apportioned assessments. Payment
shall become due as provided for by MGL c. 80, § 13B. The
applicant shall cause the Treasurer/Collector to be notified upon
the occurrence of an event that results in the payment becoming due.
Once the debt is paid, the Treasurer/Collector shall cause to be recorded
a renunciation or appropriate release with the Registry of Deeds.
This section is intended to be in accordance with MGL c. 80, § 13B,
and its provisions should be interpreted as such.
A.
There shall be no dumping of trucked septic waste at the Taunton
Wastewater Treatment Plant other than of septic waste collected within
the City of Taunton, the Town of Raynham or the Town of Dighton.
B.
No sewage or effluent shall be accepted from any septic haulers except
upon evidence of prepayment. Evidence of prepayment shall be in such
form as may be designed and approved by the Commissioner of Public
Works from time to time. The charge for the dumping of trucked septic
waste shall be established and changed from time to time by the Committee
on the Department of Public Works.
All new sewers, connections and repairs of all existing sewers
or connections shall be made only by installers licensed to perform
such work in the City. Application forms and qualification requirements
for installers shall be set forth by the Municipal Council Department
of Public Works Committee. An application fee of $150 shall be paid
by each installer at the time of filing his application. Applications
shall be renewed every year.
In an emergency, if a property owner is unable to contact a
licensed installer, the City, within its limited capabilities, may,
but shall not be compelled to, perform the necessary work, for which
the City shall be reimbursed in full. The labor cost reimbursement
shall be based on the actual cost to the City.
Should the City perform services as referred to in § 375-18, such as the installation of new sewer pipe or the repair of old sewer pipe on private property, the City of Taunton shall not be responsible for the replacing of grass, shrubs, damaged driveways or walks.
Sewer cleanout caps in all buildings shall not be covered up
by concrete or debris or otherwise concealed and must be accessible
at all times. The City shall not be responsible for replacement of
paneling that obstructs access to a cleanout cap. No caps of the so-called
"fit all" type shall be installed as a permanent cap. It shall be
the responsibility of the property owner to remove, at his/her expense,
any illegal trap which currently exists on the sewer line in the basement
of his/her house.
[Amended 6-6-2016]
The Department of Public Works Commissioner, Department of Public
Works Supervisor of Sewers, City Engineer and other duly authorized
City employees, bearing proper credentials and/or identification,
shall be permitted to enter all private properties for the purpose
of inspection, observation, testing and/or repair and maintenance
of any sewer line. Aforementioned duly authorized City employees shall
be permitted to enter all private properties through which the City
holds a duly negotiated easement for the purpose of, but not limited
to, inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, repair and/or
maintenance of any portion of the sewage works lying within said easement.
A.
In the event that charges for sewer service are not paid within 30
days after rendition of the bill for such service, such charges shall
be deemed and are hereby declared to be delinquent.
B.
To all such delinquent charges there shall be added an additional
sum as a late charge to be computed as follows: the sum of 15% per
annum compounded monthly on the unpaid balance computed as of the
date due or the flat rate of $5 for each and every thirty-day period
or part thereof that the bill remains unpaid computed as of the date
due, whichever amount is greater.
C.
The rates for minimum quarterly/monthly billing and metered flow
shall be as follows:
[Amended 5-24-2011; 5-10-2016; 12-27-2022]
(1)
The billing rate for each connection shall be according to a fixed
service charge that is based on the size of the meter serving the
connection. The term "quarterly" shall mean no less than 91 days and
no more than 93 days. The quarterly and monthly rates effective on
January 1, 2023, and subsequent quarterly and monthly rates with their
effective dates, shall be according to the following schedules:
|
Fixed Fee (Quarterly)
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Meter Size
|
January 1, 2023 - June 30, 2023 Rate
|
July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024 Rate
|
July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 Rate
|
July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026 Rate
|
July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027 Rate
|
July 1, 2027 - June 30, 2028 Rate
|
|
5/8"
|
$127
|
$132
|
$136
|
$141
|
$146
|
$151
|
|
3/4"
|
$140
|
$145
|
$150
|
$155
|
$161
|
$166
|
|
1"
|
$178
|
$184
|
$191
|
$198
|
$205
|
$212
|
|
1.5"
|
$229
|
$237
|
$245
|
$254
|
$263
|
$272
|
|
2"
|
$369
|
$382
|
$395
|
$409
|
$424
|
$438
|
|
3"
|
$1,400
|
$1,449
|
$1,500
|
$1,553
|
$1,607
|
$1,663
|
|
4"
|
$1,782
|
$1,845
|
$1,909
|
$1,976
|
$2,045
|
$2,117
|
|
6"
|
$2,673
|
$2,767
|
$2,864
|
$2,964
|
$3,068
|
$3,175
|
|
8"
|
$3,692
|
$3,821
|
$3,955
|
$4,093
|
$4,236
|
$4,385
|
|
10"
|
$4,710
|
$4,875
|
$5,046
|
$5,222
|
$5,405
|
$5,594
|
|
Fixed Fee (Monthly)
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Meter Size
|
January 1, 2023 - June 30, 2023 Rate
|
July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024 Rate
|
July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 Rate
|
July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026 Rate
|
July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027 Rate
|
July 1, 2027 - June 30, 2028 Rate
|
|
5/8"
|
$42
|
$44
|
$45
|
$47
|
$49
|
$50
|
|
3/4"
|
$47
|
$48
|
$50
|
$52
|
$54
|
$55
|
|
1"
|
$59
|
$61
|
$64
|
$66
|
$68
|
$71
|
|
1.5"
|
$76
|
$79
|
$82
|
$85
|
$88
|
$91
|
|
2"
|
$123
|
$127
|
$132
|
$136
|
$141
|
$146
|
|
3"
|
$467
|
$483
|
$500
|
$518
|
$536
|
$554
|
|
4"
|
$594
|
$615
|
$636
|
$659
|
$682
|
$706
|
|
6"
|
$891
|
$922
|
$955
|
$988
|
$1,023
|
$1,058
|
|
8"
|
$1,231
|
$1,274
|
$1,318
|
$1,364
|
$1,412
|
$1,462
|
|
10"
|
$1,570
|
$1,625
|
$1,682
|
$1,741
|
$1,802
|
$1,865
|
(2)
Two-tiered billing rates:
(a)
For bills issued after January 1, 2023:
[1]
Step 1: $2.82 per 100 cubic feet for usage of one to 3,000 cubic
feet (quarterly bills); and one to 1,000 cubic feet (monthly bills),
respectively.
[2]
Step 2: $10.02 per 100 cubic feet for the incremental usage
in excess of 3,000 cubic feet (quarterly bills); and 1,000 cubic feet
(monthly bills), respectively.
(b)
For bills issued after July 1, 2023:
[1]
Step 1: $2.91 per 100 cubic feet for usage of one to 3,000 cubic
feet (quarterly bills); and one to 1,000 cubic feet (monthly bills),
respectively.
[2]
Step 2: $10.37 per 100 cubic feet for the incremental usage
in excess of 3,000 cubic feet (quarterly bills); and 1,000 cubic feet
(monthly bills), respectively.
(c)
For bills issued after July 1, 2024:
[1]
Step 1: $3.02 per 100 cubic feet for usage of one to 3,000 cubic
feet (quarterly bills); and one to 1,000 cubic feet (monthly bills),
respectively.
[2]
Step 2: $10.74 per 100 cubic feet for the incremental usage
in excess of 3,000 cubic feet (quarterly bills); and 1,000 cubic feet
(monthly bills), respectively.
(d)
For bills issued after July 1, 2025:
[1]
Step 1: $3.12 per 100 cubic feet for usage of one to 3,000 cubic
feet (quarterly bills); and one to 1,000 cubic feet (monthly bills),
respectively.
[2]
Step 2: $11.11 per 100 cubic feet for the incremental usage
in excess of 3,000 cubic feet (quarterly bills); and 1,000 cubic feet
(monthly bills), respectively.
(e)
For bills issued after July 1, 2026:
[1]
Step 1: $3.23 per 100 cubic feet for usage of one to 3,000 cubic
feet (quarterly bills); and one to 1,000 cubic feet (monthly bills),
respectively.
[2]
Step 2: $11.50 per 100 cubic feet for the incremental usage
in excess of 3,000 cubic feet (quarterly bills); and 1,000 cubic feet
(monthly bills), respectively.
(f)
For bills issued after July 1, 2027:
[1]
Step 1: $3.34 per 100 cubic feet for usage of one to 3,000 cubic
feet (quarterly bills); and one to 1,000 cubic feet (monthly bills),
respectively.
[2]
Step 2: $11.90 per 100 cubic feet for the incremental usage
in excess of 3,000 cubic feet (quarterly bills); and 1,000 cubic feet
(monthly bills), respectively.
[Amended 6-6-2016]
For purposes of these ordinances, all main drains, common sewers,
and catch basins erected and maintained on property under the ownership
and control of the Taunton Housing Authority shall be deemed part
of the Taunton sewer system and shall, upon due acceptance by the
Municipal Council, come under the jurisdiction of the Committee on
the Department of Public Works, the Department of Public Works Commissioner,
and the Department of Public Works Supervisor of Sewers as public
drains and sewers. All building systems and connectors on such Taunton
Housing Authority property shall be deemed private property for purposes
of these ordinances.
