[1969 Code § 73-2; Ord. No. 478; amended 2-12-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-02]
The water supply and distribution facilities that are part of
the public water supply and distribution system of the Township are
subject to the following conditions:
a.
The Water Department shall be responsible for the public water supply
which includes water storage tanks and the pressure therein, for the
mains by which water is distributed throughout the streets and for
the portion of water service pipes which run from the main to the
service valve and curb box.
b.
The owner of each lot shall be responsible for and shall maintain
the balance of the water connection from building side of service
valve, including the water meter. Water meters, however, shall remain
the property of the Water Department of the Township of Fairfield.
[1969 Code § 73-3]
Within the capacity of the public water supply and storage facilities,
distribution mains may be laid in any existing or future street and
provided with fire hydrants, water service lines to the inner side
of the existing or required future street curbing and other appurtenances
either by the Township, with or without application by the owners
of the properties to be served thereby, and in that event, the cost
thereof may be assessed in whole or in part against the premises benefiting
thereby; or by the owner of any subdivision of land approved by the
Planning Board of the Township at his own cost and expense under an
appropriate contract with the Township suitably guaranteed.
[1969 Code § 73-4; Ord. No. 478; Ord. No. 790; Ord. No. 98-13 § 1; Ord. #2002-14
§ 1; amended 2-12-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-02]
a.
Water service pipes for the transmission of water from the distribution
mains in the street to the building to be served shall by Type K copper
pipe of the dimension appropriate for the service applied for. Alternate
pipe materials may be used only with prior approval by the Township
Engineer. Any unapproved materials incorporated into the work without
the Township Engineer's approval shall be removed and replaced, to
the satisfaction of the Engineer, by the owner and at the owner's
cost and expense. Each such pipe shall be laid at least four feet
below the finished surface of the ground. Beyond the existing or required
future curbline, there shall be installed in every water service pipe
a shutoff cock, operable from the surface of the ground, a curb coupling
and curb box. The shutoff cock shall be in an off position upon installation.
The balance of the water service pipe shall be furnished and installed
by the owner at his own expense. No other pipe shall be laid in the
same trench. No T or other connection shall be made therein ahead
of the water meter herein required. The trench in which the pipe shall
be laid shall not be backfilled until the water service pipe laid
therein and its appurtenances have been inspected and approved by
the Water Department. At the entry of the water service pipe into
the building to be served, a water meter complying with the specifications
contained in the drawing entitled "Water and Sewer Detail" shall be
installed and set by the owner or his licensed plumber ahead of any
T or other connections with the piping in the interior of the building.
The location and placement of the meter shall be subject to the approval
of the Township and must be inspected by a representative of the Township
immediately upon its placement into service.
b.
All water meters shall be furnished by the Township at the following
meter charges:
|
Size
(inches)
|
Charge
|
|---|---|
|
5/8 inch x 3/4 inch
|
$300
|
|
1 inch
|
$400
|
|
1 1/2 inches
|
$700
|
|
2 inches
|
$1,000
|
|
3 inches
|
$2,400
|
|
4 inches
|
$3,750
|
c.
Final meter readings must be requested through the water/sewer billing
department 24 hours in advance of the requested final reading date.
A fee of $10 shall be charged for each final meter reading requested.
[1969 Code § 73-5; Ord. No. 98-13 § 1]
a.
Except as provided in paragraph b below, only the Water Department
or a person or persons in its employ shall tap the main provided for
the distribution of the public water supply, lay and install the water
service pipe from the main to the inner side of the existing or required
future location of the street curbing and supply and install at the
end of the portion of the water service line most remote from the
main an appropriate shutoff cock, coupling and curb box, as specified
in the drawing.
b.
With the approval of the Water Department, a developer who has contracted
with the Township to lay water distribution mains in streets traversing
or bordering the development may, under the supervision of the Water
Department, tap the mains, lay and install water service pipes from
the main to the inner side of the existing or future required location
of street curbing and supply and install an appropriate shutoff cock,
coupling and curb box; but the trench in which each such installation
has been made shall not be backfilled until the Water Department has
inspected and approved the tap, the service line and its appurtenances.
An inspection fee of $25 shall be charged for each tap in the main,
the water service pipe and its appurtenances, and the water shall
not be turned on until the charge has been paid.
[1969 Code § 73-6; Ord. No. 790; Ord. No. 98-13 § 1; Ord. No. 2012-15]
a.
If there is a water distribution main from which a building or buildings to which an application for water service relates which may be supplied with water from the public water supply system, and no water main tap has been made and no water service pipe has been laid to the inner side of the existing or required future location of the street curbing, the Water Department shall, as promptly as may be convenient after the application for service and payment of the charges hereinafter specified, make a tap in the water main of the size applied for and provide, lay and install appropriate water service pipe to the inner side of the existing or required future location of street curbing, a curb stopcock, coupling and curb box, in accordance with the provisions of subsection 18-1.6.
b.
Should there be an existing service, inclusive of tap, service piping and curb stops installed to the property, installed by the Township of Fairfield at the Township's expense, then fees in accordance with subsection 18-1.6 shall apply.
c.
Should there be an existing service, inclusive of tap, service piping and curb stops installed to the property, installed at no expense to the Township of Fairfield, then fees in accordance with subsection 18-1.6 shall be waived.
d.
In addition to the charges referred to herein, a water service inspection
fee of $25 shall be paid to the Water Department upon the filing of
an application for water service.
[1969 Code § 73-7; Ord. No. 478; Ord. No. 790; Ord. No. 98-13 § 1; amended 2-12-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-02]
a.
Except as provided in subsection 18-1.4b the charges payable to the Water Department for tapping a water supply main providing and installing a water service pipe and its appurtenances to and including the curb box shall be those determined from time to time by the Mayor and Council by ordinance. Listed below is the particular schedule of fees and services:
|
Size
(inches)
|
Fee
|
|---|---|
|
3/4-inch diameter
|
$1,000
|
|
1-inch diameter
|
$1,200
|
b.
The flat fee associated with the above sizes shall include only the
making of the tap at the main and the furnishing and installation
of the corporation or tapping sleeve and tapping valve by the Township.
All trench excavation and backfill, pipe installation beyond the corporation
or tapping valve, pavement replacement and all labor associated shall
be the responsibility of the contractor for the applicant. Any local,
County or State roadway opening permits required shall also be obtained
by the contractor or applicant.
[1969 Code § 73-8; Ord. No. 478; Ord. No. 927]
For all water connections applied for with respect to properties
in relation to which no water connection charge has theretofore been
paid, and upon which no assessment has theretofore been levied for
the benefit conferred by the establishment of the water supply system,
there shall also be paid for each water connection applied for, a
water connection charge of $400 for the cost to the Township of providing
its water supply, storage and distribution system for residential
dwellings, and $600 for the cost to the Township of providing its
water supply, storage and distribution systems to industrial and commercial
establishments. For any residential building which shall be classified
as a townhouse or condominium or which shall have multiple individual
owner-occupied units within a main building structure, the water connection
charge shall be paid for each individual owner-occupied unit for which
a Certificate of Occupancy will be issued. These water connection
charges shall be paid at the time a building permit is applied for.
[1969 Code § 73-9]
a.
No water main tap shall be made and no water service pipe shall be installed unless there is an existing building, the owner of which shall have applied for water service, or a building in the course of construction for which a building permit has been issued, the owner of which shall have applied for water service, except as provided in subsection 18-1.4b.
b.
Applications for water service shall be made at the same time as
a building permit is issued.
[1969 Code § 73-10; Ord. No. 478; Ord. No. 98-13 § 1;
amended 2-12-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-02]
a.
No one, except an authorized representative of the Water Department
or of the Fairfield Fire Department, shall open any fire hydrant except
with the prior approval of an authorized representative of the Water
Department.
b.
A fee of $25 per year for fire protection shall be assessed to residential
properties not connected to the Township's water supply where waterlines
exist.
c.
A fee of $50 per quarter, per hydrant, shall be assessed to nonresidential
property owners for the maintenance of any fire hydrant which may
be located upon their property.
d.
A fee of $200 shall be assessed to any person, corporation or entity,
which requests a hydrant flow test for insurance purposes. Said test
shall only be done in the presence of Water Department personnel.
[1969 Code § 73-11; Ord. No. 478; Ord. No. 690; Ord. No. 98-13 § 1; Ord. #2008-14
§ 1; amended 2-12-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-02]
No one, except an authorized representative of the Water Department,
shall shut water off or turn it on at the curb shutoff cock. Should
a representative of the water department be called in for a non-emergent
or customer elected service disruption, then a fee of $200 shall be
charged for each function. This fee shall be charged separately for
turn off/turn on function, unless both functions occur within a two-hour
period.
[1969 Code § 73-12]
No premises using any water from any source other than the public
water supply system shall be connected into the Township water supply
system in any manner contrary to the rules and regulations of the
State Department of Health or any of its agencies.
[1969 Code § 73-13; Ord. No. 478]
a.
No certificate permitting occupancy of any building hereafter constructed
for occupancy by human beings shall be issued unless the building
has been provided with an adequate supply of potable water. A water
service connection to the public water supply system shall be deemed
to provide an adequate supply of potable water. If there is a main
providing a public water supply with which any such building may be
connected which shall lie 100 feet or less from such main, no building
permit shall be issued for such building unless there shall accompany
the application an application for a water service connection to the
main and the fees required hereunder for that connection. No private
water supply system from an individual well shall hereafter be used
for supplying potable water for domestic purposes to a building hereafter
erected if a public water main shall lie within 100 feet of the building
to be served.
b.
When the public water supply system is available to a building or
premises, as set forth herein, the drilling of new wells on an existing
premises to obtain potable water for domestic purposes is not permitted.
The owner of the premises shall thereafter connect to the water supply
system.
c.
The drilling of any type of well in the Township, whether for domestic,
industrial or commercial use, as well as for all other purposes, such
as but not limited to the watering of lawns or gardens and the filling
of pools, etc., is not permitted without first obtaining a permit
from the office of the Health Officer.
[1969 Code § 73-13.1; Ord. No.
927]
Any residential building which shall be classified as a townhouse or condominium or which shall have multiple individual owner-occupied units within a main building structure shall have each owner-occupied unit provided with a separate water meter and water service line to determine the water consumption for each individual owner-occupied unit. The owner of each individual unit shall be responsible for the payment of quarterly water service charges in accordance with subsection 18-2.4. The payment and installation of water meters shall be as per subsection 18-1.3.
[1969 Code § 73-14; Ord. No. 690; Ord. No. 98-13 § 1;
amended 2-12-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-02]
Water meters shall be tested at regular intervals at no cost
to the consumer, as prescribed by the New Jersey State Public Utilities
Commission. If as a result of any test a meter is found to be incorrect
or inaccurate, it shall be promptly repaired to an accurate condition
or an accurate meter shall be substituted at no cost to the consumer.
Any meter tested and found to be inaccurate by not more than 3% shall
be considered accurate. Any consumer claiming his meter to be inaccurate
may require it to be tested by written request to the Water Department.
If upon test the meter shall be found to record the water consumed
accurately or inaccurately by no more than 3%, the consumer shall
be assessed a fee of $150 for the cost of the required test, which
sum, if not paid, shall be added to the next water rent billing.
[1969 Code § 73-15]
No one shall tamper with a water meter and no one shall break
the seal thereon, except authorized personnel of the Water Department.
[1969 Code § 73-16; Ord. No. 434; Ord. No. 478; Ord. No. 491; Ord. No.
624; Ord. No. 690; Ord. No. 877; Ord. No. 882; Ord. No. 98-13 § 1; Ord. No. 2001-03 § 1; Ord. No. 2003-05 § 1; Ord. No. 2005-04 § 1; Ord. No. 2006-01 § 1; Ord. No. 2007-02 § 1; Ord. No. 2007-23 § 1; Ord. No. 2009-07 § 1; Ord. No. 2010-02 § 1; Ord. No. 2011-01; Ord. No. 2012-03; Ord. No. 2012-19; Ord.
No. 2014-01; Ord. No. 2014-03; Ord. No. 2015-02; Ord. No. 2015-04; Ord.
No. 2016-01; Ord. No. 2017-01; Ord. No. 2017-24; amended 5-25-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-04; 1-23-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-02; 2-12-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-02]
b.
Billings for water consumed at each building shall be determined
by the Water Department.
c.
The filing of residential swimming pools located within approximately
300 feet of an available water hydrant shall be performed by the Municipal
Water Department at a flat fee to the owner or occupant in the amount
of $300 payable in advance.
[1969 Code § 73-17; Ord. No. 96-06 § 1; Ord. No. 2002-05 § 2; amended 2-27-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-06]
The Water Department's representative shall be permitted to
enter the premises at least quarterly to read the meter and the Department
shall bill the owner of the property served for the water consumed
from the date water service commenced or from the date of the last
preceding reading, and the bill shall be due upon presentation. In
the event that a bill is not paid by the first day of the month following
the due date, interest shall accrue on the unpaid balance, at the
maximum rate allowed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:14B-41, that being at
a rate of 1.5% per month until the date on which such charge, and
the interest thereon, shall be fully paid to the Township. The water
service charge and penalty shall be a lien upon the premises served
until paid and may be enforced as a lien for delinquent taxes is enforced,
or otherwise be collected as provided by law.
[1969 Code § 73-18]
If the person assigned to reading water meters shall be unable
to gain access to the premises to perform that function, he shall
estimate the consumption as nearly as may be done and bill the owner
for the estimated consumption, subject to adjustment if the actual
consumption shall prove to have more or less than the reader's estimate
thereof.
[1969 Code § 73-19]
The Water Department shall have the right to shut off water
service at the curb if the owner is delinquent for six months or more
in the payment of the water service charges, or if a representative
of the Water Department shall be unable to gain access to the premises
supplied for the purpose of inspecting same.
[1969 Code § 73-19.1; Ord. No.
763]
The Water Department shall have the right to shut off water
service at the curb if the owner is a commercial or industrial user
and is delinquent for 30 days or more in the payment of the water
service charges and/or sewer use charges and/or taxes and/or municipal
charges or if a representative of the Water Department or Sewer Department
shall be unable to gain access to the premises supplied for the purpose
of inspecting same.
[1969 Code § 73-20; Ord. No. 690; Ord. No. 98-13 § 1;
amended 2-12-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-02]
Under no circumstances shall water be taken from any fire hydrant for building construction purposes. Any owner desiring that water from the public water supply system be available for building construction purposes, on a property to which a water service pipe has been laid to or beyond the inner side of the existing or future required location of street curbing may apply for such temporary service. After consideration of the type and size of the building or buildings being constructed, the Water Department shall determine whether the connection desired shall be metered or charged for by a flat fee, which shall not be less than $150 per calendar quarter or part thereof. Upon payment of the flat fee, or the installation of a suitable meter in a pit, the connection may be made to the existing water service pipe or any extension thereof. If a meter is required and installed, it shall be adequately protected from frost or otherwise. If it is damaged, the owner shall be responsible for the repair or replacement thereof. Metered water shall be paid for at the rates specified in subsection 18-2.4.
[1969 Code § 73-21]
No person shall obstruct access of an authorized representative
of the Water Department to the water meter, to the curb shutoff valve
or to any fire hydrant.
[1969 Code § 73-22]
In case of prolonged scarcity of water from any cause, the Department
reserves the right, upon public notice, to have the use of water for
lawn or garden sprinkling, air-conditioning purposes or swimming pools
suspended or restricted.
[1969 Code § 73-23]
The Water Department of the Township shall have no liability
for failure of its water supply or for the pressure thereof.
[1969 Code § 73-24]
If the regulations of the County or State highway department
shall prohibit the excavation of a trench for the laying of a water
service connection, the applicant for water service, at his own expense,
shall comply with the requirements of the agency responsible for the
highway as to how the water service connection shall be made.
[1969 Code § 73-25; Ord. No. 690; Ord. No. 756]
When, in the judgment of the Water Department, it is practical,
private fire service connections may be allowed for sprinkler systems
on approved property, for which a flat or metered rate, at the option
of the Water Department, shall be charged, subject to special contract
and special rules and regulations governing such service as may be
determined by the Department. Unless and until modified by the Mayor
and Council, by resolution, a charge of $115 per quarter shall be
made for each such sprinkler system connection, and if the flat quarterly
charge or the metered charge for the water used therein shall not
be paid within 30 days of presentation, the Water Department may shut
off the water supply.
[1969 Code § 73-26; Ord. No. 478; New]
Any person who shall violate subsections 18-1.4, 18-1.5, 18-1.9, 18-1.10, 18-1.11, 18-1.12, 18-2.3, 18-2.9 and 18-3.1 of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be liable to the penalty stated in Chapter 1, Section 1-5. Each day any violation shall exist shall be regarded as a separate violation.
[1969 Code § 74-1; Ord. No. 642]
The Mayor of the Township be and is hereby authorized, empowered
and directed, at such time or times and from time to time as the Mayor
shall deem necessary and desirable, to formally proclaim that an emergency
then exists in the potable water resources of the water system of
the Township requiring the taking of such measures for the conversion
of water and the prevention of waste as are hereinafter specified.
[1969 Code § 74-2; Ord. No. 642]
The proclamation may include therein such regulations for the
use of water as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this
section, and such regulations may be amended, supplemented and revised
or repealed from time to time by the Mayor by subsequent proclamation.
The regulations may prohibit the use of water from the municipal supply
for any and all purposes not necessary to the health, safety and general
welfare of the public; may allocate and prorate the available water
supply; may reduce and conserve consumption by consumers of such water;
and may provide for the prevention of waste for the period of the
duration of the emergency.
[1969 Code § 74-3; Ord. No. 644]
The Mayor may, upon the formal proclamation of a water emergency,
promulgate regulations concerning the use of water from private water
supplies and sources, including private wells, for the period of the
duration of the emergency.
[1969 Code § 74-4; Ord. No. 642]
The proclamation shall immediately be filed in the office of
the Township Clerk and shall be duly published once in one of the
official newspapers of the Township, and, upon the making of the proclamation
of emergency, the publication thereof and the filing of the same in
the office of the Township Clerk, such proclamation and regulations
shall be conclusive upon all consumers of water in the Township and
it shall be the duty of the consumers to take notice thereof and comply
therewith.
[1969 Code § 74-5; Ord. No. 642]
The Township Clerk shall also forthwith give notice of the proclamation
to the various departments of the Township to refrain from street
and gutter flushing, hydrant flushing, fire hose testing and other
similar practices, except as the practices are deemed necessary in
the interests of public health or safety and until the emergency is
declared by the Mayor to no longer exist.
[1969 Code § 74-6; Ord. No. 642]
During the existence of the emergency, it shall be unlawful
to permit and maintain, in any building or on private property, any
plumbing system which shall have water leaks of any nature, kind or
description, and all consumers shall use all reasonable means to repair
and maintain the plumbing system free from any and all leaks. If,
following tests and inspections by Water Department employees, leaks
in a building plumbing system are reported to the consumer, the plumbing
system shall be forthwith repaired and the leaks shall be eliminated
within 36 hours after the report.
[1969 Code § 74-7; Ord. No. 642]
During the existence of the emergency, it shall be unlawful
to use water from the potable water system of the Township for lawns,
gardens, shrubbery or other outside sprinkling, spraying or watering
or for car washing or for swimming pools or other similar outside
or outdoor use.
[1969 Code § 74-8; Ord. No. 642]
It shall be unlawful for any consumer or his tenant, licensee
or occupant of any building in the Township, during the existence
of the emergency, to violate any potable water rationing, regulation
or restriction which may be promulgated by proclamation as aforesaid.
[1969 Code § 74-9; Ord. No. 642]
a.
During the existence of the emergency, any person or persons, firm
or corporation violating any provision of this section shall, upon
conviction thereof, be liable to a fine or penalty not exceeding $50
for the first conviction and, for a second or subsequent conviction,
a fine or penalty not to exceed $200, in the discretion of the Municipal
Judge.
b.
If a violation of this section, or the violation of any regulations
set forth in the emergency proclamation of the Mayor or under the
authority hereof, shall continue for more than 24 consecutive hours,
then such violation shall, after the period of 24 hours, be taken
and construed to be a separate and new offense and shall be subject
to the separate penalties hereinbefore specified.
[1969 Code § 74-10; Ord. No. 642]
The Water Department of the Township, in the event of the conviction
of any consumer, tenant, licensee or occupant as herein provided,
shall immediately reduce the potable water supply to the premises
on which the violation shall have occurred, during the duration of
the emergency, to the daily minimum, which shall be established by
the local Board of Health as necessary to safeguard the health of
the occupant of the premises where the violations shall occur.
[1969 Code § 74-11; Ord. No. 642]
The Water Department of the Township shall, immediately upon
the issuance of the emergency proclamation by the Mayor as herein
provided, give notice, by posting in public places in the Township
or by house-to-house calls by its duly authorized representatives,
of such proclamation to consumers, tenants, owners, licensees or occupants,
but the notice herein directed to be given shall not be deemed or
construed to be requisite to prosecution for violation of any of the
provisions hereof.
