A.
Supply and pressure. The water department does not undertake to supply
any uninterrupted or fixed pressure. In the case of accident or for
other reasons, the water department may shut off the water in the
mains and may restrict the use of water whenever the public welfare
may require it. All customers requiring an uninterrupted supply or
a uniform pressure of water for steam boilers, hot water or other
apparatus, or for any other purpose, are cautioned to provide their
own means of providing such service.
B.
Sprinkling. The charge for water service under Service Classification
No. 1 includes the use of water for sprinkling, swimming or wading
pools. There may be times when it may be necessary to restrict the
use of this service to certain definite periods or to prohibit it
entirely. In this event, every endeavor will be made to notify customers
in advance by public notice.
C.
Quality of water. The water department does not undertake to supply
any uniform quality of water for special purposes, such as swimming
pools, bleaching or dyeing plants, or laundries. Customers requiring
water of special quality, or water free from discoloration at all
times, are required to provide their own means of filtering the water,
or provide such other protection as may be deemed necessary for the
purposes required.
D.
Liability of water department. The water department will not be liable
for any injury, casualty or damage resulting in any way from the supply
or use of water service or from the presence or operation of the water
department's structures, equipment, pipes, appliances or devices on
the customer's premises, or from the use of any equipment or materials
installed in conformity with the water department's requirements or
recommendations, except injuries or damages resulting from the negligence
of the water department.
E.
Adequacy of customer's facilities. Neither by inspection nor nonrejection,
nor in any other way, does the water department give any warranty,
expressed or implied, as to the adequacy, safety or characteristics
of any structures, equipment, pipes, appliances or devices owned,
installed or maintained by the customer, or leased by the customer
from third parties.
F.
Cross-connection to other sources prohibited. No pipe or fixtures
connected with the mains of the water department shall be connected
with pipes or fixtures supplied with water from any other source nor
any apparatus which may endanger the quality of the water department's
water supply.
G.
Interference with water department's property prohibited. No unauthorized
person shall maliciously, willfully or negligently break, damage,
destroy, uncover, deface, or tamper with any structure, appurtenance,
or equipment which is part of the waterworks system. Any person violating
this provision shall be subject to immediate arrest under charge of
disorderly conduct.
H.
Frost prevention. Extension of pipe line facilities are not normally
made when the ground, in which such pipes and connections are required
to be laid, shall be frozen or shall otherwise present serious obstacles
to laying the same.
I.
Discontinuance of service for violation of rules. Service may be
discontinued for any one of the following reasons:
(1)
Use of water other than represented in application or through branch
connections on the street side of the meter or place reserved therefor.
(2)
Willful waste or use of water through improper and imperfect pipes,
or by any other means.
(3)
Nonpayment of bills for water services rendered by the water department
in accordance with these rules and regulations.
(4)
Cross-connecting pipes carrying water supplied by the water department
with any other source of supply or with any apparatus which may endanger
the quality of the water department's water supply.
(5)
Refusal of reasonable access to the property for the purposes of
inspecting fixtures or piping or for reading, repairing, testing or
removing meters.
(6)
Sub-metering or reselling water.
(7)
Failure to maintain, in good order, connecting pipes, connections,
or fixtures owned by the customer.
(8)
Failure or neglect to connect to a new service pipe installed in
front of a customer's premises, previously supplied by a private connecting
pipe.
(9)
Failure to properly construct and maintain meter pits or vaults.
(10)
In case of vacancy of premises.
J.
Restoration of service charge. When water service has been discontinued on written order of the customer or for nonpayment of bills or for violation of these rules and service is again desired by the same customer, including seasonal customers, an additional charge in accordance with § 348-19C shall be made.
K.
Authority of agents or employees. No agent or employee of the water
department shall have authority to bind it by any promise, agreement,
or representation not provided in these rules and regulations, or
in any way inconsistent therewith.
L.
Change in rules and regulations for water service.
The territory served by the water department of the City of
Plattsburgh includes the area within the corporate limits of the City
and the areas adjacent thereto in which the City now or in the future
provides water service.
A.
Written applications required. All applications for the use of water
must be made in writing to the office of the water department at the
business office. If the premises to be supplied has no service pipe
connection to the water main, application must be made to the water
department for the tapping of the main and installation of the service
pipe from main to the curbing. No person shall use water without first
signing and filing with the department an application for service.
B.
Examination of premises. The acceptance of applications for service
is subject to an examination of the premises to be supplied.
C.
Application not accepted from customers in arrears. No agreement
will be entered into by the water department of the City of Plattsburgh
with any applicant for water service until all arrears and charges,
including liens on the property served which have been levied against
the property for water service at any premises now or heretofore owned
or occupied by him in the territory supplied by the water department
of the City, shall have been paid.
D.
Shut-off of joint service. Where two or more premises are supplied
through one service pipe under the control of one curb stop, the water
department reserves the right to shut off the joint service line if
any of the parties so supplied shall violate any of the water department's
rules. Such action shall not be taken until any innocent customer
who is not in violation of these rules has been given reasonable opportunity
to connect to a separately controlled service connection.
A.
A separate application must be made and a separate service installed
for each premises. The word "premises" as used herein shall be restricted
to the following:
(1)
A building under one roof owned or leased by one customer and occupied
as one residence or one place of business; or
(2)
A combination of buildings owned or leased by one customer, in one
common enclosure occupied by one family as a residence or one corporation
or firm as a place of business; or
(3)
Each unit of a multiple house or building separated by a solid vertical
partition wall occupied by one family as a residence or one firm as
a place of business; or
(4)
A building owned or leased by one customer and having a number of
apartments, offices, or lofts which are rented to tenants using in
common one hall and one or more means of entrance; or
(5)
A building two or more stories high under one roof owned or leased
by one customer and having an individual entrance for the ground floor
occupants and one for the occupants of the upper floors; or
(6)
A combination of buildings, such as a garden-type apartment, owned
by one customer, in one common enclosure, none of the individual buildings
of which is adapted to separate ownership; or
(7)
A public building; or
(8)
A single plot, such as a park or playground.
B.
Service pipe materials. The entire service pipe shall be copper tubing
or other pipe of strength and quality approved by the water department.
The minimum diameter of the service pipe shall be 3/4 inch. For services
two inches or larger in diameter, cast iron, or other pipe of strength
and quality approved by the water department shall be used.[1]
C.
Minimum depth of service pipes. Minimum depth of service pipes from
main to premises shall be five feet below the surface of the ground.
Where covering over mains is less than five feet, the connection shall
be made on the side of the main and the service pipe shall in no case
have less covering than the main.
D.
Installation of services.
(1)
The water department, upon proper application, will tap the main
and provide the corporation cock for the services of one inch or less.
For connections larger than one inch, the applicant shall deposit
with the department the estimated cost of the service installation
from the main (including the main tapping sleeve and valve and the
corporation cock). For services of one inch or less, the applicant
shall deposit with the department the estimated cost of the service
installation from the main to the curb box (exclusive of the main
tapping and the corporation cock). The size of the service pipe and
the materials to be used shall be determined by the water department.
Upon completion of said installation and after all costs have been
determined, the excess of deposit over the actual cost of installation
shall be refunded to the applicant forthwith.
(2)
That portion of the service line beyond the curb box which is installed
by the applicant at his expense must be approved by the water department
before the trench is backfilled.
(3)
No attachment to such pipe or any branch thereof shall be made between
the meter and the main.
E.
Leakage from customer's facilities. Whenever leakage occurs on pipes
and facilities owned by the customer, the customer shall make the
necessary repairs without delay. If the customer fails to make said
repairs, the water department reserves the right to discontinue the
supply until such time as the leak is repaired and all costs incurred
by the water department are paid.
[Added 7-7-1994]
A.
It is the intent of the City to permit the use of materials that
have been tested and certified by licensed or accredited testing laboratories
as meeting industry standards for their intended use.
B.
Any material approved for use must meet the standards of any governmental
agency having jurisdiction to approve the use of the material.
C.
The City department having jurisdiction to approve the use of material
shall maintain a list of materials approved for certain uses or applications
which shall be kept on file in the department office and the office
of the City Clerk and shall be available to the public upon request
and payment of any charge for copying. If the City official with authority
to approve the use of materials declines to approve the use of a material
that is certified and generally accepted in the industry, he shall
state his reasons for declining to approve the use of such material.
D.
The City Planner, or an engineer designated by the Mayor, shall have
the authority to approve the type of materials and method of installation
in the construction of public water and sewer improvements, the construction
of private lines or laterals in public streets, and the connection
of water and sewer laterals to public water and sewer mains. Before
approving the use of any new material he shall consult with the Superintendent
of Water and Sewer regarding his recommendations for material specifications
or method of installation. Any plans or specifications required to
be submitted and approved as a condition of permitting a private property
owner to connect a water or sewer lateral to a public water or sewer
main may be approved by the City Planner, or an engineer designate
by the Mayor, or the Superintendent of Water and Sewer.
[Amended 8-17-2017 by L.L. No. 3-2017]
E.
The Building Inspector shall have the authority to approve the type
of materials and method of installation in the construction of water
and sewer lines on private property. Before approving the use of any
new material, he shall consult with the City Planner, or an engineer
designated by the Mayor, and Superintendent of Water and Sewer regarding
their recommendations for material specifications or method of installation.
[Amended 8-17-2017 by L.L. No. 3-2017]
A.
Installation of fire hydrants.
(1)
Fire hydrants are installed by the water department on its system
for purposes of fire protection only, at locations specified by fire
department authorities.
(2)
Hydrants may not be used for street sprinkling, flushing of streets
and sewers, catch basins, stormwater drains, demonstrations, or for
filling swimming or wading pools or areas set aside for ice skating,
without the written permission of the water department.
B.
Where it is necessary to use hydrants for any purpose other than
for public fire protection in an emergency or where no other source
of water supply is available, a special permit is required, issued
by the water department, under restrictions imposed in the interest
of the public. The applicant for such permit shall notify the local
fire department of the intended use of a hydrant before using it and
keep the permit card with him when the hydrant is in use. The fire
department should inform the water department promptly of any hydrant
which has been used, or which is leaking, or in need of attention,
so that such hydrants may be placed in readiness for instant operation.
This is particularly important during the winter months.
C.
Charges. Charges for public fire protection are made in accordance
with Service Classification No. 3.
A.
Upon request by applicant who is not a real estate developer.
(1)
Upon application in proper form to the water department of the City
of Plattsburgh, the water department will extend its facilities to
service said applicant's premises provided he deposits with the water
department the estimated cost of extending its facilities to said
premises. Said estimated cost will include the total installation
cost of a main from the nearest existing main or the water department,
appropriate to the service requested, and will include the cost of
the service connection necessary to provide water service to the property
line of the applicant's premises.
(2)
Upon completion of the installation, and when all necessary and proper
costs associated therewith have been determined, the applicant will
be refunded the difference between the estimated cost thereof and
the actual cost, if any. In the event that the estimated cost deposited
by the applicant is less than the actual cost, the applicant shall
forthwith deposit the amount necessary to cover the actual costs incurred
by the water department.
(3)
The amount so deposited by the applicant with the water department
is refundable under the following conditions:
(a)
When and as any house abutting on the main lines of this extension,
has a service connection made to this extension and the said house
is occupied by a bona fide owner or responsible tenant, who is under
contract with the water department for the present use of its service,
the water department agrees to refund to the applicant an amount equal
to its estimated charge for five years' service to such house.
(b)
The water department agrees to refund to the applicant any unrefunded
balance of the deposit, when and as, within 10 years from the date
of the completion of this extension, the annual revenue derived from
premises directly abutting and connected to the said extension, as
described above, shall equal or exceed 15% of the original deposit
(or adjusted deposit, if an adjustment has been made due to the difference
between the actual and estimated cost). The applicant further agrees
that:
[1]
The total amount of all refunds, as herein set forth, shall
not exceed the deposit.
[2]
No interest shall be paid on the deposit or refunds as herein
provided for.
[3]
The right to receive further refund ceases 10 years from the
date of the completion of this extension.
[4]
The right to receive refunds is personal to the applicant and
unassignable either as collateral security or otherwise.
[5]
This extension shall stand as a unit in the distribution system
of the water department, and that the water department shall have
the right to make any further extensions from any point of said extension,
and the applicant shall not by reason thereof be entitled to any refunds
in addition to those herein provided for.
[6]
This extension shall be made in accordance with the rules and
regulations and schedule of rates of the water department as from
time to time are published and effective.
B.
Upon application by real estate developers. The water department
will extend its facilities into an area under development by a real
estate developer or into streets or other ways used for highway purposes,
where the distribution system of the department does not presently
extend provided that said applicant executes an agreement with the
water department which provides as follows:
(1)
To provide any easements and rights-of-way which the water department
considers necessary.
(2)
To deposit with the water department the estimated total cost of
the proposed extension, including service connections and fire hydrants
(when so ordered by the Plattsburgh fire department or fire districts).
(3)
Upon completion of said extension, if the actual cost is less than
the estimated cost deposited with the water department, the difference,
if any, will be refunded to the applicant.
(4)
The applicant will connect the buildings under construction by him
to the said extension and service connections upon completion thereof
for the purpose of receiving regular water service therefrom.
(5)
The ownership of this extension and service connections to the property
line is vested in the water department of the City of Plattsburgh,
and the extension becomes part of the distribution system of the water
department.
(6)
This extension shall stand as a unit in the distribution system of
the water department, and that the water department shall have the
right to make any further extensions from any point of said extension.
(7)
This extension shall be made in accordance with the rules and regulations
and schedule of rates of the water department as from time to time
are published and effective.
(8)
Should the water department for any reason fail or be unable to furnish,
lay and connect said extension as herein provided, it shall not be
liable to the applicant for more than the amount deposited with the
water department.
