A. 
In order to obtain approval to construct or change the size or location of a fire pipe connecting to a public water main, the owner shall submit an application. The application shall be supplemented by a building site plan approved by the City, and by such other permits, plans, specifications, and information as the City may require. Approval of the application shall be subject to the public water system capacity in the public water main as determined by the DPW (or designee). Any application issued shall be void and invalid unless the work authorized by it shall have been commenced within 180 days after issuance; however, for cause shown and upon written request by the property owner, an extension may be granted by the DPW (or designee).
B. 
All costs and expenses incident to the completion of an application and the work authorized pursuant to such application, including but not limited to design, construction, connection, and inspection of a fire pipe shall be borne by the owner.
C. 
Water supplied through a fire pipe shall be for fire protection only, except for annual fire pump tests. Only prior written authorization from the City shall permit any other use of water from a fire pipe. No water used for fire protection/suppression systems shall be taken from a water service pipe.
The property owner shall own the entire fire pipe, extending from the property to the public water main including the control valve at the main. Water mains designated as transmission mains shall not be tapped for a fire pipe, except when approved by the DPW (or designee).
[Amended 4-5-2024]
Fire pipes shall be constructed in accordance with the City's construction standards and the latest versions of the State Plumbing Code, Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code, and National Fire Code.
No fire pipe shall be laid in the same trench with any other public or private facilities, except a water service pipe, nor within 10 feet of a sewer. Any connection of a fire pipe to a public main shall be made in a public way, a City-owned easement, whether recorded or by prescription, or in a private way open to public travel. The City at its sole discretion shall determine the point of connection of the owner's fire pipe to the City's water main.
The owner shall be responsible, at its expense, for installing and disinfecting the fire pipe and appurtenances including an approved backflow prevention device as provided in § 558-5.6 below, tapping and making connection to the public water main designated by the City, and the cutting and capping of existing services and appurtenances to be discontinued. The owner or owner's contractor shall arrange at least 24 hours in advance for an inspection by the City before backfilling the installed fire pipe and appurtenances. The owner or owner's contractor shall not backfill the installation until after receipt of a written inspection certificate from the City. Only the City shall resume water service after inspection and approval of the fire pipe installation. The owner shall provide access to the property for the inspection by the City and shall not conceal the purpose for which the fire pipe is used or to be used.
All fire pipe supply lines shall be equipped with an approved backflow prevention device. A design data sheet including schematics shall be submitted to DPW for review and approval prior to installation. Owners installing new fire pipes shall be responsible, at their expense, for equipping new fire pipes with an approved backflow prevention device. Owners of existing fire pipes without backflow prevention devices shall be responsible, at their expense, for installing approved backflow prevention devices.
The City may require that an owner install a detector meter on a fire pipe for the purpose of monitoring leakage and water use. If metering is required, all expenses for furnishing and installation of the meter shall be borne by the owner. The provisions of Article IV with respect to meter location, right to enter premises, meter testing, meter tampering, and meter replacement or repair shall apply to fire pipe meters.
The City includes within its rates an annual charge related to the provision of water capacity to serve a fire service pipe. Unless otherwise stated in the rate documentation, such annual charge shall not include or be used for maintenance or repair costs to the fire service pipe. Maintenance costs and repair costs are to be borne by the owner of the premises.
The fire pipe shall at all times be kept by the owner of the premises and at its expense in good repair, free of leaks and protected from frost and corrosion. The owner shall be responsible for having a leak in a fire pipe repaired at the owner's expense. Such a leaking fire pipe may be shut off by the City in accordance with the provisions of § 558-5.10. The owner is responsible, at its expense, for thawing a frozen fire pipe.
A. 
No shutoffs of a fire pipe shall occur except in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws c. 148, § 27A. After compliance therewith, the City may shut off a fire pipe without notice in order to prevent the loss of water, to prevent or stop damage to property, or to perform work on a public water main. At the owner's request, the City may shut off water service to a premises in order for the owner to make repairs.
B. 
No discontinuance of a fire pipe shall occur except in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws c. 148, § 27A. An owner may discontinue the owner's fire pipe service to specific premises by notifying the City, in writing, at least three working days before the date on which the fire pipe is to be discontinued. If a fire pipe has been discontinued for a period of one year or more, the City may, at its sole discretion, require the owner to cut and cap, at the owner's expense, the fire pipe(s) from the public water main.
C. 
Only the City shall turn on a fire pipe. After inspection and approval of a newly installed fire pipe and proper installation and testing of approved backflow prevention device, and upon written request by the owner, the City shall turn on the water service. The City may turn on fire service without notice to the owner after performing work on a public water main. When water service to the fire pipe of any premises has been terminated for any reason, it will be turned on by the City only after the conditions, circumstances or practices that caused the fire service termination are corrected.
D. 
If a fire pipe has been discontinued for one year or longer, the service will be turned on by the City at the request of the owner only after the owner submits an application. The application shall be supplemented by building site plans approved by the City and any other such permits, plans, specifications and information as the City may require.
E. 
The owner shall be responsible for obtaining the necessary approvals or permits from other City departments when the fire pipe is shut off, discontinued or resumed for any reason.