[Ord. of 4-20-1983; Ord. No. 92-7, §§ 1 — 5, 3-18-1992; Ord. No. 09-10, §§ 1, 2, 3-4-2009]
(a)
The official schedule of water rates for the Town is set from time
to time by the Council and is on file in the Town Clerk's office.
(b)
The water bill shall be due and payable on the date stated therein
and all water bills remaining unpaid 31 days thereafter shall carry
until collected, a penalty of 12% upon the unpaid amount and the current
penalty charge for each billing period.
(c)
Any customer using an average of 100,000 gallons or more per month
will be billed monthly. All other customers shall be billed at such
time or times as determined by the finance director.
(d)
Water usage rate increases. Commencing with the billing period to
be issued in March 2009, a $20 per billing period fee for recovery
of debt reduction will be instituted until September 2014. Commencing
with the billing period after September 2014 and each successive billing
period thereafter, there shall be a $10 per billing period fee for
recovery of debt reduction until such time that the debt is paid in
full, but no later than September 30, 2019.
[Amended 7-15-2015 by Ord. No. 15-12]
[Ord. of 2-20-1991, §§ 1,
2]
(a)
There is established a water service tie-in fee for any and all buildings
that tie in to any water line in the Town after the effective date
of the ordinance from which this section derives.
(b)
The water service tie-in fee shall be as established from time to
time by the Town Council and is on file in the Town Clerk's office
and shall be paid at the time of the application for the water service.
The fee shall be in addition to a meter deposit.
[Added 3-20-2019 by Ord.
No. 19-05]
(a)
Property owners are responsible for water bills.
(1)
To ensure proper issuance of bills, the property owner shall
notify the Town of Cumberland Water Department of any changes in mailing
address within 30 days of any changes by either calling or written
request. Failure to receive a bill does not relieve the property owner
from the obligation of its payment or the payment of late fees and
interest. Water service charges associated with a rental property
are the sole responsibility of the property owner even if the tenant
is being billed for usage.
(2)
Property owners shall be responsible for the water line servicing
their property from the shut off at the curb to their residence/property,
including the shut off before the meter. The water meter is the property
of the Town of Cumberland Water Department and the property owner
shall grant access to the Town of Cumberland Water Department to read,
service and/or replace the water meter. Failure to grant access to
the water meter within 21 days of a request made by the Town of Cumberland
Water Department will result in termination of water service as outlined
in the termination of service and charges section of this section.
(b)
Responsibility of water charges.
(1)
Property owners shall be responsible for all charges incurred
for water service until written notice has been given to the Town
of Cumberland Water Department by the owner to discontinue water service
to the property.
(c)
Termination of service and charges.
(1)
Water bills that remain unpaid for 60 days after the payment
due date will be eligible for termination of service to the property.
At that time, a notice of termination of service shall be posted at
the property for a period of seven days prior to the termination of
service. Properties to which water service is terminated for nonpayment
of past due balances, water service will not be reactivated until
the past due amounts, as well as a $100 shut off fee, have been paid
in their entirety to the Town of Cumberland Water Department.
(d)
Payment agreement.
(1)
Customers and property owners who are unable to pay the past
due balance in full may request a payment agreement. Payment agreements
shall require that the past due amount be paid in full within 12 months,
as well as payment in full of any current bill on or before the due
date. The Finance Subcommittee of the Town Council may grant a term
of payment greater than 12 months, based upon evidence provided by
the customer of the inability to pay within 12 months.
[Ord. of 8-19-1981, § 5]
The superintendent of the water department or his agent shall be the enforcement officer of this division. The enforcement officer authorized to issue summons to be served upon any violator of the water restrictions established pursuant to §§ 40-54 and 40-55, which summons shall direct such person to appear before the district court of the fifth division.
[Ord. of 8-19-1981, § 6]
(a)
Any person who is convicted of violating any of the prohibitions
contained in this division or who is convicted of violating any of
the rules and regulations prescribed pursuant to § 10-55
shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $20 for the first offense
and a fine not exceeding $50 for any offense thereafter and within
the same emergency period or imprisonment not exceeding 10 days in
the adult correctional institution.
(b)
Each day that a carwash business is conducted in violation of § 10-54
shall constitute a separate and distinct offense, and each incident
of violation as to all other prohibitions contained in § 10-54
and which may be prescribed in accordance with § 10-55 shall
constitute a separate and distinct offense.
[Ord. of 8-19-1981, § 1]
A water emergency shall exist whenever it has been determined
by the Mayor, after consultation with the enforcement officer, that
the water resources available to the Town have become dangerously
depleted. Such emergency is deemed to continue to exist until the
Mayor, after consultation with the enforcement officer, determines
that there is an adequate supply of water available to the Town from
the available water resources.
[Ord. of 8-19-1981, § 2]
Whenever a water emergency exists pursuant to this division,
the use of water shall be prohibited for the following purposes:
(1)
The washing or flushing of sidewalks.
(2)
The watering of lawns, shrubs and other vegetation, except as otherwise
provided by rules and regulations under § 10-55.
(3)
The washing of motor vehicles and railroad and transportation rolling
stock.
(4)
The filling of private and public wading pools and swimming pools.
(5)
The operation of a carwash business.
[Ord. of 8-19-1981, § 3]
During the continuance of a water emergency, the Mayor may prescribe
and enforce rules and regulations designed to reduce consumption and
to prevent waste in those areas of water use not prohibited under
the provisions of § 10-54. He may also prohibit the use
of water for any purpose not necessary to the health, safety and welfare
of the public. In addition, the Mayor, when necessitated by the continuing
depletion of water resources, may allocate and prorate use of the
available water supply so that those uses most closely related to
the safety and health of the public may best be served.
[Ord. of 8-19-1981, § 4]
(a)
Whenever a water emergency exists pursuant to this division, all
prohibitions upon water consumption pursuant to § 10-54
and all rules and regulations prescribed by the Mayor pursuant to § 10-55
shall be advertised forthwith at least once in the Evening Times and
the Woonsocket Call.
