Pipe used for hydrant supply and for lines not exceeding 1,100 feet
in length shall be not less than six inches, except six-inch pipe
may be allowed for lines exceeding 600 feet in length up to 1,100
feet, provided that both ends connect to larger independently supplied
pipes. Dead-end pipelines six inches in size shall not exceed 600
feet.
Shall consist of a tee, normally Ring Tite by Ring Tite by flange,
a valve flanged by bell, a valve box and the necessary length of hydrant
branch six-inch pipe between the valve and the hydrant.
Specifications. Hydrants shall be provided with a six-inch base connection,
a barrel length suitable for not less than a five-and-one-half-foot
trench, two two-and-one-half-inch national standard hose outlets and
one five-inch streamer connection (Lee, Massachusetts Fire Department
Standard).
Installation. In general, hydrants shall be installed when waterline
construction is in progress, whether the line is being constructed
by the Department or by a developer, unless economic or practical
reasons make it necessary to postpone the installation.
Use. Except by special permission granted by the Board of Public
Works, hydrants shall be used only by the Lee Fire Department for
the purpose of extinguishing fires.
Private hydrants. Privately owned hydrants located on private property
may be connected to the water system, provided that permission has
been granted by the Board of Public Works. Private hydrants shall
conform to Water Department specifications for hydrants. The purpose
of private hydrants shall be for use in extinguishing fires.
Double houses or apartment buildings may be supplied by one service
line from the main into the building, provided that provision is made
for shutting off water to individual apartments without affecting
water service to any other apartment.
Water meters of approved design shall be installed in all new water
service to commercial and industrial users. All residents shall make
provision for future installation of water meters by providing and
installing a standard spacer with a valve on the Town side and another
valve on the house piping side.
All water mains, regardless of size, that were in existence on March
31, 1946, with the exception of the mains to the Eagle, Columbia,
Centennial and Niagara Mills.
Water mains constructed by developers since March 31, 1946, of which
there is a record of acceptance by the Board of Water Commissioners
or of acceptance by the Town's voters at the Annual Town Meeting.
Water mains constructed by developers since March 31, 1946, of which
there is no record of acceptance in the Water Department's records
shall be considered as privately owned.
All service lines from the connection to the Water Department's
water main shall be considered as owned by the owner of the property
served by such lines.
The valve in a department-owned hydrant branch. The hydrant valve
itself shall be jointly controlled by the Water Department and the
Lee Fire Department. The Water Department shall have control over
private hydrants to the extent that use other than for extinguishing
fires may be stopped or restricted if, in the opinion of the Board
of Public Works, it is necessary to do so.
Only authorized persons shall, at any time, operate any valve in
a department-owned water main or the curb or corporation cock in a
service line connected to a department-owned water main or the valve
in a department-owned branch or hydrant.
The Board of Public Works shall be responsible for the maintenance, repair and replacement of all department-owned water mains as defined in § 249-6A(1), (2) and (3), except as qualified in Article II, § 248-13F. The term "maintenance" shall include thawing of frozen water mains.
The Board of Public Works shall be responsible for the maintenance,
repair and replacement of all department-owned hydrants. The term
"maintenance" shall include flushing, painting and snow removal.
The property owner shall be responsible for the repair, replacement
and thawing out of service lines in their entirety, unless the condition
is caused by the Department.
The property owner or developer or owners in common of a private
water main shall be responsible for the maintenance, repair and replacement
of a privately owned water main. The term "maintenance" shall include
thawing of frozen private water mains.
The property owner shall be responsible to furnish and install a
pressure-reducing or pressure-regulating device to control the pressure
within the piping and sanitary system of his or her property. It is
expected that the private property owner shall determine from the
Water Department the approximate pressure in the street main at the
property location, and the property owner shall then furnish and install
a pressure-reducing or pressure-regulating device if he or she is
of the opinion that such a device is needed to protect the property
piping system and the property itself.
The Board of Public Works shall discontinue water service to customers
that are delinquent in the payment of their water bills. A bill shall
be considered delinquent for water shutoff purposes 30 days after
the next regular bill is rendered. Any consumer in arrears on a previous
billing at the time of an April 1 or an October 1 billing shall have
water service discontinued, after due notice on or after April 30
and on or after October 30. Restoration of water service shall only
occur upon full payment of all arrears.
A property owner desiring to use available water service shall apply
in person at the water office, sign an application form in the presence
of the Registrar and pay fee of $35 for each application.
Each application form shall apply for one three-fourths-inch tap.
The Registrar shall not accept an application for a larger size tap
without the approval by the Board of Public Works.
The Registrar shall refer each signed application form to the Board
of Public Works for approval. No tap shall be made until the Board
of Public Works has approved the application.
Tapping for water service shall preferably be done when the outdoor
temperature is above freezing, but, in case of necessity, tapping
shall be made at any time of the year.
The property owner's signature on the application form shall
be considered as an expressed consent of the property owner to be
bound by the rules and regulations of the Water Department in the
event that the applicant uses water service.
The property owner shall furnish, at his or her expense, all labor
and material for a service line, except that the Water Department
shall furnish and install one three-fourths-inch corporation cock
in the water main and furnish, but not install, one three-fourths-inch
curb cock and one curb box.
The property owner shall locate the curb cock and the curb box at
the property line and shall use Type K copper tubing between the water
main and the curb cock. The use of copper tubing between the curb
cock and the house valve is also recommended by the Board.
As soon as water has been turned on in a new service line, an account
number shall be assigned, in the property owner's name, and a
bill sent for water service. The amount of the bill shall be based
on the facilities to be provided with water service, if available,
or the bill may be a nominal figure determined by the Board of Public
Works for temporary use. Bills sent out between billing periods shall
have the amount prorated for the time water service is supplied.
Employees of the Water Department shall have free access to property
served, at all reasonable times, to ascertain the amount of water
passing through a service, the manner of its use and the possibility
of waste and to shut off water for nonpayment of water charges or
violation of Water Department rules and regulations.
Each property owner shall be charged for the use of the facilities
shown on his or her record card without regard for the frequency or
infrequency of use of any facility.
The charge for a facility shall be in accordance with the Town of
Lee, Massachusetts Table of Rates, unless the Board of Public Works
has authorized a percentage increase or decrease, except that:
The School Department (including St. Mary's School) shall be
charged 5/6 of the amount determined from the Table of Rates, but
any percentage increase or decrease shall be included.
The right-of-way or other valuable considerations or agreements have
been made in the past and may be made in the future between the Board
of Public Works and a property owner to furnish water without a monetary
charge. The names of such property owners are listed in the Water
Department's file under "U" (users not charged for water service
with a monetary charge).
Charges for water service to a new account shall start when water
is turned on in the new service. When complete facilities are not
in use (as when a house is being built), the Board of Public Works
shall determine a temporary charge. When bills, other than those for
temporary charges, are sent out in between billing periods, the charges
shall be prorated.
A 10% discount shall be allowed all consumers charged a flat rate
who pay their bills not later than 15 days after the billing dates
of April 1 and October 1, except that consumers in arrears on previous
billings shall not be allowed any discount on the new bill unless
all arrears and the new bill are paid within a fifteen-day period
of the new bill.
Consumers using metered service shall be billed for the water used,
and no discount for prompt payment shall be allowed. The billing for
metered service may or may not be at the same times as billing for
flat rate users. In the case of meter failure, water charges shall
be based upon previous registration for a like period.
The Board of Public Works may allow an abatement when water service
is not used, as when an apartment is vacated or a house is closed
during the winter months.
The applicant shall sign an abatement form in the presence of the
Registrar. In cases where it is neither possible nor practical for
the applicant to sign the abatement form, the Registrar may fill out
the form, attaching any letter or note of explanation sent in by the
applicant. On all forms the Registrar shall fill in the account number,
the amount to be abated, the period for the abatement and the reason
for the request.
Scope. These instructions shall apply for the construction of water
lines by developers. These general instructions will be supplemented
by specific instructions applying to the individual development.
The builder shall meet with the Board to discuss the plan. The builder
shall have a drawing showing street lines and lot lines in his or
her development.
The builder shall not begin construction of any waterline before
written approval (including any specific instructions) has been received
from the Board.
The builder shall arrange with the Water Department Superintendent
to have Water Department personnel present when connecting to existing
water mains, pressure testing lines and any other critical phase of
construction.
The builder shall notify the Board upon completion of the work and
request the Board to accept the water mains. Upon approval by the
Board, the builder shall be sent a written notice of acceptance. This
notice shall automatically transfer ownership from the builder to
the Water Department, at no cost to the Water Department, of all water
mains and hydrant branches in their entirety.
For a period of one year from the date on the letter of acceptance
the builder shall be responsible for all liabilities, costs and repair
work resulting from poor workmanship and/or the use of improper or
defective material.
Hydrant branches. The number and location of hydrant branches shall be determined by the Board and shall conform in general to Article I, § 248-3 of this chapter.
Pipe for service lines to single-family dwellings between the main
and the curb box at the property line shall be three-fourths-inch
Type K copper tubing.
The remaining service line pipe may be the builder's preference,
but the Board recommends the use of copper tubing from the curb box
to the house valves.
Double houses or apartment buildings may be supplied by one service
line from the main into the building, provided that provision is made
for shutting off water to individual apartments without affecting
water service to any other apartment.
Water mains shall be located only in areas which are, or will become,
Town accepted streets, subject to the Subdivision Regulations of the
Town of Lee.
Where a valve terminates a pipeline, not less than two full lengths
of pipe shall be laid beyond the valve and the end of the pipe closed
with a loose-fitting cap.
A corporation cock shall be installed at the main. A curb cock shall
be installed at the property line. The top of the curb box shall be
flush with the ground surface.
The test shall be a water pressure test not less than 100 pounds
per square inch and not exceeding 150 pounds per square inch at any
point on the portion of the line being tested.