[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Chatham 8-7-1929. Sections 105-2C, 105-3B and C, 105-4A, B, D, E, F, G, H, J, K,
L, M and N and 105-5D, E and I amended at time of adoption of Code;
see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Sewers — See Ch. 83.
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Chatham, New York, has
approved and duly adopted the following rules and regulations, and
said rules and regulations, shall be a part of the contract with any
person, firm and corporation who is supplied with water or whose property
is supplied with water by the system of the water works of the Village
of Chatham, New York, and every such person, firm and corporation
taking water or whose property is supplied with water from such system
shall agree to be bound hereby.
A.
Any person desiring the introduction of a service or supply pipe
into his premises or additional pipes or fixtures or a discontinuance
of any particular use of the water or any alteration of any pipes
or fixtures, other than the repairing of a leak or the replacing of
a fixture with another beyond the point where the water passes through
the meter, must make application at the office of the Village Clerk
on a blank form for that purpose, stating fully the fixtures or alterations
wanted and for what purpose they are to be used and the reason for
wishing a service or supply pipe and the necessity thereof.
B.
When application is duly made as designated above, a permit will
be issued to set a meter upon payment of the price of meter or upon
agreement to pay quarterly for the rent of the meter, provided that
it is to cover all fixtures or outlets on the service pipe except
fire protection.
A.
The introduction of service pipes into premises must be at the owners'
expense from the curbline of the street, and they will be required
to extend said service at right angles with the main pipe its entire
length.
B.
A separate tap is required for each building supplied with water.
The Board of Trustees will determine the size of the tap to be inserted
in any water main and the material, form and size of the curb box
to be used under any application and permit. Service pipes will be
required to be laid not less than five feet below the surface of the
earth at any point, to the inside of the foundation wall of the building
into which the water service is introduced. Service pipes must not
be laid any deeper than approved by the Board of Trustees.[1]
C.
The owner of property into which water is introduced by a service
pipe will be required to maintain in perfect order, at his own expense,
said service pipe from the curb to his premises, including all fixtures
therein provided for delivering or supplying water for any purposes,
and in case such services of fixtures are not so kept in repair, the
Board of Trustees may order the supply shut off.[2]
D.
Owners of premises must assume all liability of damage from leakage
of a service pipe.
A.
No person, firm or corporation, unless authorized by the Board of
Trustees, shall make any attachment to or any connection with the
pipes of the village waterworks system or make any addition to or
alteration of any tap, pipe, cock or other fixtures connected with
pipes supplying water to consumers from said system unless authorized
so to do by the Board of Trustees.[1]
B.
In all premises where water from the village mains is now supplied
by a system of pipes and fixtures for water service and where the
service pipes and fixtures are not of the standard or pattern prescribed
in these rules and regulations or where necessary fixtures and devices
for the prevention of damage to the service or of waste of water are
lacking from said system, the owner or owners of said premises shall
at any time, when so required by order of the Board of Trustees, make
such changes in and additions to said fixtures and service as required
by the Board of Trustees. Upon the refusal of any person to comply
with these rules, the water shall be shut off from premises.[2]
C.
Water must not be allowed to run to prevent freezing in the service
pipes or their attachments or for the purpose of flushing soil pipes
or sewers or for cooling purposes or for power purposes or for sprinkling
or washing vehicles or for furnishing other persons, firms or corporations
or to brick or stone masons or plasterers or for any purposes not
indicated in the application or permit for the same, nor for any purposes
not allowed by these rules, unless the supply shall be through a meter.
Any person violating the provisions of this rule will be required
to use a meter; otherwise, the water shall be shut off.
D.
The Board of Trustees reserves the right to limit the amount of water
furnished to any consumer should circumstances seem to warrant such
action, although no limit may be stated in the application or permit
for use, or said Board of Trustees may order the supply of water entirely
shut off, which water is used for any manufacturing purpose or for
furnishing power or for washing vehicles or for lawn sprinkling in
case of fire or drought or at any time.[3]
E.
In case of making or constructing new work or in making repairs,
the right is reserved by the Board of Trustees to shut off the water
from any customers, without notice, for as long a period as may be
necessary.[4]
F.
It is understood and agreed that the Village of Chatham, New York
and its Board of Trustees shall not be liable for any damage which
may result to any person, firm and corporation or premises or property
from the shutoff of the water from any main or service for any purpose
whatever, even in cases where no notice is given.[5]
G.
The Village of Chatham and the Board of Trustees thereof shall not
be liable for any damage or loss of any name or kind to property,
persons, firms and corporations which may arise from, or be caused
by any change in or increase of water pressure from any cause whatever
or for any damage resulting from any steam boiler or other fixture
deriving its supply from the village waterworks system; but it is
intended that suitable notice of such shutting off shall be given
to the consumers in all cases when the same is practicable.[6]
H.
The owner of any premises which are supplied with water shall be
charged for meters, fixtures and all appliances connected with such
water service and for all expenses, repairs and damages to the same
and for penalties imposed for violation of any ordinances of the Board
of Trustees by such owner or tenant, and if said sums for any reason
cannot be collected from said owner and the water shall have been
turned off on account of such nonpayment, no application of water
service for such premises shall be granted by the Board of Trustees,
notwithstanding that said premises may have changed ownership, until
such charges, sums and penalties shall have been paid in full to the
village.[7]
I.
No permit will be issued for an introduction of yard hydrants, sprinklers,
lawn boxes, hose bibs or attachments or any device for washing vehicles
or closets unless the service is metered or a permit is issued at
the same time for placing the meter on such service.
J.
The Board of Trustees refuses to supply water to premises where the
plumbing has not been done in a proper manner or where the same is
out of repair or where the same is in a condition which will result
in the waste of water. The Board of Trustees and the Superintendent
of said water system, or their duly authorized agent for that purpose,
must at all reasonable hours be allowed access to all parts of any
premises supplied with water or having water pipes therein for the
purpose of examining pipes and fixtures and the quantity of water
used and the manner of use.[8]
[8]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Former Subsection 11, which immediately followed this subsection and imposed an additional fee to turn on water service which has been shut off, was deleted at the time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
K.
Notwithstanding any inconsistent provisions of this chapter or regulation
enacted by the Village Trustees or any regulation passed by said Board
of Trustees, the Board of Trustees shall bill and send bills for water
to the owner or owners of the premises supplied, and said owner or
owners shall be responsible to the Board of Trustees for all water
used and supplied to the premises, and said owner or owners shall
be responsible for the payment of said bills. All water bills shall
be due and payable on presentation, and, if not paid within a period
of 30 days after presentation, the amount due shall become and be
a lien on the real property upon which, or in connection with which,
the water is used.
[Amended 3-21-1961[9]]
L.
No deduction will be made from the rates on account of any fixtures
or supplies not being used. In case of their nonuse or a discontinuance
of the service pipes of such fixtures or supply is desired, report
of the same must be made to the Board of Trustees and, upon report
of the same, further charge for their use will cease at the end of
the next quarter.[10]
M.
The Board of Trustees reserves the right to order a meter to be placed
on any service pipe at the expense of the owner of the premises whenever
it is deemed expedient so to do and, thereafter, to charge meter rates
for water used. All water passing through a meter will be charged
for, whether used or wasted.[11]
N.
A meter can only be obtained at the office of the Board of Trustees.
Where a meter is used, it shall be placed to cover all the service
and all fixtures and must be in a position where it can be conveniently
read.[12]
O.
When a meter is out for repairs or fails to register accurately,
the consumer will be charged an estimate in accordance with the amount
used in a corresponding period of the previous year, unless more fixtures
have been added or it is known that more water is used, when an amount
will be added for such extra use.
P.
In every
case in which a meter is installed or replaced on or after April 1,
2024, such meter shall be a remote-read meter, from which authorized
Village personnel are able to obtain meter readings by remote device
and without requiring access to the premises interior.
[Added 3-11-2024 by L.L. No. 4-2024[13]]
[13]
Editor's Note: This local law shall take effect 4-1-2024.
Q.
Except for a temporary period of repair pursuant to Subsection O of this section as may be authorized by the Board of Trustees, any premises that is not metered in compliance with this section shall have water service to such premises shut off until compliance is achieved.
[Added 3-11-2024 by L.L. No. 4-2024[14]]
[14]
Editor's Note: This local law shall take effect 4-1-2024.
[Amended 12-4-1929; 6-5-1962; 9-10-1963; 12-13-1966; 9-12-1974 by L.L. No. 2-1974; 1-3-1977 by L.L. No. 1-1977; 7-10-1980 by L.L. No.
2-1980; 5-14-1981 by L.L. No. 1-1981]
A.
Water shall be furnished by the Village of Chatham at such rates
as may be established from time to time by resolution of the Board
of Trustees of the village and shall be billed quarterly March 1,
June 1, September 1 and December 1 of each year.
[Amended 9-9-2019 by L.L. No. 1-2019]
B.
All water bills shall be payable as of the billing date of such bill.
If any such bill is not paid in full by the due date indicated on
such bill, a penalty of 2% of the original bill amount shall be added
to said bill. The due date shall be not less than 30 days after the
billing date.
[Amended 2-24-2020 by L.L. No. 1-2020]
C.
All water bills remaining unpaid 60 days after presentation will
result in the discontinuance of the water service following written
notice. Such water service shall not be restored until the bill, all
penalties and service and administration charges shall have been paid
in full.
D.
A nonreturnable charge per meter as set forth from time to time by
resolution of the Board of Trustees shall be made for each application
for water services.
[Amended 5-11-1989 by L.L. No. 2-1989]
E.
A charge per meter as set forth from time to time by resolution of
the Board of Trustees will be made for the turning on of water service
and for the shutting off of water service.
[Amended 5-11-1989 by L.L. No. 2-1989]
F.
Water rates to consumers outside of the corporate limits of the Village
of Chatham shall be at rates separately established by resolution
of the Board of Trustees of the village and may be at rates which
are greater than the water rates within the village corporate limits.
In addition, water bills for non-village consumers may include such
sums as are necessary to pay the cost of any repairs and capital improvements
to the water mains located outside of the village limits which furnish
water to the non-village consumer.
G.
The consumer shall be responsible for any damage to water meters
on the serviced premises caused by freezing, tampering or negligence,
such damages to be computed by the Village of Chatham on a time-and-material
basis.
H.
Any evidence of tampering to a water meter will authorize the immediate
discontinuance of water service to such premises.
I.
Charges, determined by the Board of Trustees, will be made for tapping
a water main within the boundaries of the village to the curb, where
it is necessary to carry water pipe or pipes from the water main to
the curb and where it is necessary to remove the pavement on any street
or highway. All tapping charges shall be paid in advance. The preceding
tapping charges are for a maximum of a single one-inch connection.
Oversized pipe or special specifications will require additional charges
for labor and materials. Applications for tapping are available at
the Village Clerk's office.
[Amended 5-11-1989 by L.L. No. 2-1989]
