No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter, or disturb any public water main or appurtenance thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the Director.
Each application for water service connection must be made at the office of the Department of Public Works on forms provided for that purpose.
Applications for new water service connections must be obtained from the Department of Public Works at least five working days prior to the proposed connection date.
[Amended 9-21-2022 by Order No. FY 23-035]
Application fees shall be reviewed periodically by the Director and set forth in the City’s Water and Sewer Customer Service Policy.
B.
The application form shall be signed by the owner of the real estate requesting service or by his/her authorized representative. Fees are nonrefundable. Applications may be transferred to a new owner with permission of the Director.
C.
The applications shall state fully, and truly, the extent of water service required, and the purpose for which the water is to be used. The permit application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications, or other information considered pertinent in the judgment of the Director.
D.
Priority development sites. Where the development of a priority development site (PDS), as defined by § 200-2.1 of the Zoning Ordinance, requires a permit hereunder, an application therefor shall be submitted simultaneously with any other permit application(s) required by this Code, including the Zoning Ordinance, relating to the use or development of land, buildings or structures and not otherwise exempted by MGL c. 43D, and a decision thereon shall be rendered no later than 180 days from said date of submission.
[Amended 9-21-2022 by Order No. FY 23-035]
A.
No new service shall be connected between December 1 and April 1, except in the case of a project located on a priority development site (PDS), and no new water service applications will be accepted by the Department after November 15.
B.
In general, new water service connections will not be scheduled on Friday and days immediately preceding or following holidays; July 4, November 11, or the day following when said holidays occur on Sundays or the day preceding if said holidays occur on a Saturday; also the third Monday in April, the last Monday in May, the first Monday in September, and the second Monday in October.
[Amended 4-17-2019 by Order No. FY 19-125]
The Director may reject any application for a new service connection if, in the opinion of the Director, the service connection is likely to reduce the distribution system's pressure, reduce fire flows to less than recommended standards or in any way negatively impact the quantity and quality of water within the distribution system.
No water connections shall be permitted in areas where available pressure in any portion of the building is less than 20 psi, unless the owner, at his/her expense, adds internal holding and boosting capability. If pressure exceeds 80 psi, the owner must install and maintain a pressure-reducing valve at his/her cost. The valve is to be installed after the water meter, and in accordance with the Massachusetts Plumbing Code.
[Amended 9-21-2022 by Order No. FY 23-035]
The owner is responsible for the installation of a new water service line from the main to the owner’s place of use. This work shall include tapping of the main for services over two inches in diameter, installation of the service and associated valves, etc., installation of the water meter, and site restoration. Services two inches and smaller shall be tapped by the City.
[Amended 4-17-2019 by Order No. FY 19-125]
All water services from the main through the meter shall conform to the requirements of the Department in regard to materials used, and manner of installation, and manner of water use.
All provisions of the Massachusetts Plumbing Code shall be observed by the owner and shall be enforced by the Plumbing Inspector.
A separate and independent building water service shall be laid for every primary building. There shall be only one service per building (even if multiple dwelling units exist within the building), and no independent services from the water main shall be provided to accessory buildings (barns, garages, etc.). If an owner desires water service to a barn, garage, etc., the owner may, at his/her own expense, extend service from the primary building to the accessory building. Where appropriate, in the opinion of the Director, units within condominiums may be considered separate and independent and thus be connected with their own independent water service. No services shall be provided to empty lots.
Old building water services may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found, on examination and test by the Director, to meet all requirements of this regulation, and judged to be of adequate size. The applicant is responsible for necessary work to prove that the service is in good condition.
The minimum fill cover of water pipe shall be five feet below final grade between the water main and outer foundation wall.
Service pipes shall not be placed within 10 feet horizontally of a sanitary sewer service, or within five feet horizontally of other utilities except under special conditions and with the approval of the Director.
[Amended 4-17-2019 by Order No. FY 19-125]
All information derived from the Department of Public Works records relating to subsurface and other conditions, natural phenomena, existing pipes, and other structures is from the best sources at present available. All such information is furnished only for the information and convenience of contractors and is not guaranteed. It is agreed and understood that the City of Greenfield does not warrant or guarantee that the subsurface or other conditions, natural phenomena, existing pipes, or other structures encountered during construction will be as indicated in the Department of Public Works records.
[Amended 4-17-2019 by Order No. FY 19-125]
It is agreed further and understood that contractors shall not use or be entitled to use any of the information made available to them or obtained in any examination made by them in any matter as a basis of or grounds for any claim or demand against the City of Greenfield arising from or by reason of any variance which may exist between the information made available, and the actual subsurface or other conditions, natural phenomena, existing pipes or other structures actually encountered during the construction work.
[Amended 9-21-2022 by Order No. FY 23-035]
The owner of a building that is to be demolished or abandoned shall give the Department of Public Works 48 hours' notice of the date on which the owner scheduled to have the water service to the building permanently disconnected at the main. An application to disconnect water service shall be filed with the DPW. The disconnection shall be done by a qualified contractor at the owner’s expense and must be inspected by the DPW prior to backfilling.