[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Water Commissioners of
the Town of Norwell effective 5-1-1980. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
The Water Department will install service piping from the water main
in the street to the property line, furnishing and installing the
corporation cock at the water main and a curb box and shutoff at the
property line. The service piping from the property line to and into
the building shall be installed by the owner, in accordance with the
directions furnished by the Water Department, and under the supervision
of the Water Department.
B.
No installation of work shall be started nor shall any water be used
from a service until an application is signed and approved by the
Water Board.
C.
The meters and meter valve shall be installed and sealed by the Water
Department. Any unmetered service shall be restricted to "for an agreed
period" and at an agreed charge.
(1)
Meter connections. A drain-type service valve and two three-fourths-inch
I.P.S. female fittings, 11 inches apart and on centers, must be installed
near the point of entrance of the service pipe so a meter can be mounted
in a horizontal position. An extra charge will be made if this work
is done incorrectly and requires modification by the Water Department.
D.
Persons contracting for service shall state in the application all
the purposes for which they intend to use water, and no other use
thereof shall be made until a new application is made.
E.
All applications for shutting off and turning on water must be made
in writing. In all cases, when a consumer requests water to be turned
on, arrangements must be made for the consumer to be present when
the water is turned on to avoid any accidental leakage, which would
cause damage to the property, or a waste of water to the Town.
F.
The customer shall keep tight and in good condition all fixtures
and pipes both inside his building and from the property line to the
same and shall protect them from freezing. The user shall report to
the Water Department any unusual condition in connection with the
water system from the property line to and including the meter. The
consumer shall have the responsibility of keeping the street shutoff
located at the way line clear of obstructions, and not allow it to
become buried, in order that this shutoff shall be readily accessible
to the Water Department at all times. The charge for repairing any
street shutoff that is damaged or buried or made unaccessible to the
Water Department may be billed to the consumer, at the discretion
of the Board, for the necessary material and labor to rectify the
condition.
G.
The Water Department may, from time to time, shut off the water for
the purpose of making repairs or changes in the system or for any
other necessary purpose. It may also shut off the water upon failure
of the customer to observe its rules and regulations, or failure to
pay charges within the time agreed. The Town and/or its Water Department
shall not be liable for any damage caused by shutting off of the water
for any variation in pressure, nor shall the customer be entitled
to any rebate by reason thereof.
H.
The Water Commissioners and/or the employees of the Water Department
may enter the premises of a customer at any reasonable time for the
purpose of inspecting pipes, meters, fixtures or attachments used
by the customer or to ascertain whether water is being used unreasonably
or contrary to these rules and regulations.
I.
No persons, except under the supervision of the Water Commissioners
and/or the employees of the Water Department and the Fire Department,
shall open a hydrant or operate any other fixture or valve of the
water system without the written consent of the Water Department.
J.
The owners of the property served shall be liable for all charges
both for the use of water and the installation of services and connections.
The Town of Norwell has accepted the Lien Act in accordance with the
General Laws,[1] and unpaid water consumption charges and any other charges,
when overdue, will be committed to the Assessors as a lien upon the
real estate.
[1]
Editor's Note: See MGL c. 40, §§ 42A to 42F.
K.
All customers and property owners are warned to equip plumbing, pressure
tanks, etc., with proper relief valves and safety appliances. The
Water Department will not be responsible for any damage which may
occur through the variation of water pressure or loss of water supply.
L.
The installation of a domestic water service line must be in land
which is part of the legal lot approved for the dwelling house to
be serviced by the line. Easements for such a line over the land of
others must be approved, in writing, in each case.
M.
The size and type of line must meet with Water Board approval, obtained
prior to installation.
N.
Exceptions to the above requirements can only be obtained by written
request to the Board of Water Commissioners prior to installation.
[Amended 1-1-2001; 1-1-2004; 11-16-2006; 5-4-2017]
Pursuant to the authority provided under MGL c. 41, § 69,
the following rates shall be in effect May 4, 2017:
A.
Quarterly meter/service charge.
|
Meter Size
(inches)
|
Charge
|
|---|---|
|
5/8, 3/4 and 1
|
$15
|
|
1 1/4 and 1 1/2
|
$30
|
|
2 and larger
|
$65
|
B.
Quarterly water usage rates.
|
Gallons of Usage
|
Rate per 1,000 Gallons
|
|---|---|
|
First 15,000
|
$4.85
|
|
15,000 to 25,000
|
$5.85
|
|
25,000 to 50,000
|
$6.95
|
|
Over 50,000 (residential)
|
$9.95
|
D.
New fire service fee. Residential sprinkler service: $2,000; commercial
sprinkler service: $5,000 (includes two-, four-, six- and eight-inch
sprinkler services).
E.
Meter pit fee: one-and-one-half-inch and two-inch pit: $1,500 (required
for services of 400 feet).
F.
Backflow device testing: $70 per device, $70 per survey.
G.
Minimum construction charge for unmetered service not to exceed six
months: $20.
H.
For a service requiring water to be turned off or on at a street
connection, each call: $10.
I.
For the resealing of a meter at the request of a customer for purposes
of renovations, etc.: no charge.
J.
For the filling of swimming pools: $10 per man hour, plus the water
used at the above rates.
K.
For any meter found to be tampered with or removed without Water
Department approval, the customer will be charged an amount equal
to that of the average previous bills as well as a service charge
of $20.
L.
Semiannual sprinkler service fee: $62.50 commencing with first billing
after service has been installed a minimum of six months.
M.
Any installation larger than two inches shall be at the expense of
the applicant, including a meter that meets the standards of the Board
of Water Commissioners.
N.
All bills are payable 30 days from date of mailing. Bills unpaid
after 30 days shall be subject to a penalty of 10% on the unpaid balance.
All bills outstanding after due date shall be a lien upon the real
estate.
O.
In case of nonpayment the Board of Water Commissioners may cause
the supply to be shut off.
P.
Senior citizens shall be given a discount of 10% provided that they
are a minimum of 60 years of age and that they are the resident owner
of the property. This discount shall apply to the minimum charge and
the water usage charge. No discounts shall apply to the water connection
fees.
A.
Installations.
(1)
All developers must meet with the Board of Water Commissioners with
their preliminary plans to discuss a proposed installation.
(2)
Before any installations are started a complete plan of the proposed
work must be submitted and approved by the Board of Water Commissioners
in writing.
(3)
Plan must show location of water mains, main valves, service valves,
and curb boxes.
(4)
A Water Board Supervisor shall be on the premises while mains and
hydrants are being installed and a fee of $10 per hour will be charged
for this supervision.
(5)
Total installation shall be made in accordance with the American
Water Works Association.
(6)
No meters will be installed in garages, breezeways, sheds, manholes,
etc.
(7)
Dead-end water mains will require a special hearing with the Board
of Water Commissioners.
B.
Water mains. Rules and regulations for developers or private installers
of new water mains designed for use as part of the Norwell system
must be in accordance with the following:
(1)
Pipe: cement asbestos or other pipe approved by the Board of Water
Commissioners.
(2)
Pipe bury: four feet six inches minimum to top of pipe.
(3)
Joints, type: rubber ring gasket or joint approved by the Water Department.
(4)
Pipe to be installed in accordance with the specifications of the
manufacturer and/or the American Water Works Association.
C.
Hydrants. A.P. Smith five-inch V.O. Standard Protectop Hydrant, Mueller
and/or Eddy.
D.
Services.
(2)
Connection to main to be made according to the specifications of
the Water Department.
(3)
Curb valve: 3/4 inch with drain. Type must be approved.
(4)
Curb box: three-inch cast-iron, telescopic type, cap to be fastened
by a pentagon headed cap screw.
(5)
House or service valve: 3/4 inch minimum size with drain on house
side. Type must be approved.
(6)
Meter connections: connection and temporary spacer to be furnished
and installed by the Water Department.
(7)
All copper tubing flares must be made by an approved flaring tool.
(8)
Curb boxes must be placed on the property line.
(9)
A service pipe must be installed at a right angle to the water mains.
(10)
All services installed in a development must be installed under
the supervision of the Water Department for which the Town shall be
paid a fee of $10 per hour for the inspection of the installation
of such services. No services can be installed in a development until
approved and a date set for the installation by the Board of Water
Commissioners.
(11)
No service pipe shall be installed under a driveway.
(12)
No service pipe, water main or any part of the water system
can be installed through any part of a sewage disposal system, or
within 20 feet of such system.
E.
Easements. All easements for the installation of water mains in a
development shall be not less than 50 feet in width to be acceptable
to the Board of Water Commissioners.
