[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of
the City of Watertown as Ch. 7 of the 1949 Code. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
[Amended 2-25-1985; 12-1-1986 by L.L. No. 1-1986]
When used in this chapter, unless otherwise
expressly stated, the following words and terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Accepted for use in connection with water service by the
Superintendent.
A person owning and/or occupying real property, who is receiving
water for use thereon from the municipal mains.
The outside control valve on the water service.
That portion of the water service line lying between the
curb stop or outside gate valve and the water meter.
[Amended 3-19-2012 by L.L. No. 1-2012]
There shall be a Department of Water.
[Amended 3-19-2012 by L.L. No. 1-2012[1]]
The service pipe and all required appurtenances from the
street main to the outlets inside the consumer's building, intended
and to be used solely for fire-protection purposes. That portion from
the main to the property line of the consumer shall be known as "main-to-line
fire service" and that portion from the property line to the outlets
shall be known as "line-to-outlet fire service."
An inspector from the Department of Water having such authority
as may be conferred upon him by the Superintendent of the Water Department
in conformity with this chapter.
Any water main owned by the city and supplying or capable
of supplying water to more than one consumer.
That portion of water service from the supplying street main
to the curb stop.
There shall be a Superintendent who shall be in charge of
water, wastewater, and hydroelectric generation.
[Amended 3-19-2012 by L.L. No. 1-2012]
The service pipe and all required appurtenances from the
street main to the first stop cock or valve inside the consumer's
building.
[1]
Editor’s Note: The former definition of "Division of
Water," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 3-19-2012
by L.L. No. 1-2012.
[Amended 2-25-1985; 3-5-2012]
A.
A Department
of Water is hereby created, which shall include all water, wastewater,
and hydroelectric operations.
B.
The head
of such Department, acting under the City Manager, shall be the Superintendent.
C.
The Department,
through its officers and employees, shall be responsible for the enforcement
of the provisions of this chapter and shall have the jurisdiction
and power to take such steps as may be necessary to carry out the
provisions hereof as well as any other orders and regulations of the
City pertaining to waterworks, water supply, water use in the City,
wastewater treatment, and hydroelectric generation.
[Amended 6-1-2009]
No water service shall be laid, enlarged, repaired
or discontinued without authority from the Department. Applications
for permits shall be made on forms furnished by the Department.
[Amended 2-6-1967; 5-30-1980; 12-1-1986 by L.L. No. 1-1986; 9-7-1993; 6-1-2009 by L.L. No. 3-2009]
A.
The consumer shall pay the following charges for the
installation or renewal of main-to-curb-stop service or fire service:
|
Size of Service Pipe
(inches)
|
Charge
| |
|---|---|---|
|
3/4
|
$1,000
| |
|
1
|
$1,100
| |
|
1 1/2
|
$1,500
| |
|
2
|
$2,000
| |
|
Larger than 2
|
Actual cost
|
B.
A tapping charge will be added to the above charges
for main-to-curb-stop service or fire service, whenever a new tap
is required. The consumer shall pay the following tapping charges,
when required:
|
Size of Service Pipe
(inches)
|
Charge
| |
|---|---|---|
|
3/4
|
$75
| |
|
1
|
$100
| |
|
1 1/2
|
$150
| |
|
2
|
$200
| |
|
Larger than 2
|
$100 per inch of tap size
|
C.
When employees of the Department perform this service
for a contractor or developer, the contractor or developer shall be
charged $100 per inch of tap, plus actual costs for labor, equipment,
and materials provided in the performance of this service.
D.
The term
"actual cost," as used in this section, shall mean all reasonable
costs associated with the installation or renewal of the main-to-curb-stop
service or fire service, or the tapping of a water main, including
but not limited to labor, materials, equipment, road repairs, and
curbing repairs.
[Amended 3-5-2012]
The entire cost of installing, maintaining,
repairing and replacing any curb-stop-to-meter service shall be borne
by the consumer. Consumers shall cause leaky or defective curb-to-meter
service to be repaired within a reasonable time after being notified
so to do by the Department. When such repairs are not made as required
by the Department, the furnishing of water through such defective
service will be discontinued and will not be resumed until the repairs
have been completed. Frozen curb-stop-to-meter service shall be thawed
at the consumer's expense.
A.
Meters for all water services within the city, except
fire service, shall be furnished and installed by the Department.
[Amended 3-5-2012]
B.
The consumer shall be responsible for the safeguarding
of the meter.
C.
If so required by the Department, the meter shall
be housed at the expense of the consumer.
[Amended 3-5-2012]
D.
When service is temporarily discontinued, the Department
will, when so requested in writing, remove, store and reset the meter
without expense to the consumer.
[Amended 3-5-2012]
E.
Meters must be in an accessible location for the purpose
of servicing and ascertaining the quantity of water used and the manner
of its use.
[Added 12-1-1986 by L.L. No. 1-1986]
F.
The Department
shall be allowed to install receptacles and related appurtenances
on or inside the consumer’s building, structure, or premises
to accommodate the use of remote-reading-type water meters.
[Added 3-5-2012]
[Amended 3-5-2012]
Meters shall not be interfered with or removed
by any person except an authorized employee of the Department. Seals
placed on meters, valves or other fittings shall not be tampered with
or broken. If a seal is broken, the meter will be removed, tested
and replaced at the expense of the consumer.
[Amended 3-5-2012]
A.
For water
service lines two inches in diameter and smaller, the pipe shall be
type K soft copper water tube.
B.
For water
service lines larger than two inches in diameter, the pipe shall be
cement-lined ductile iron pipe.
C.
Existing service lines may be repaired with the like or similar materials, such as galvanized wrought iron, if approved by the Department. Replacements or renewals of existing service lines shall be made with appropriate materials as outlined in Subsection A or B, above, or as otherwise directed by the Department.
[Amended 3-5-2012]
A.
Service
fittings used on two-inch and smaller service lines shall be cast
of red brass and designed for a minimum working pressure of 200 p.s.i.
All brass service line fittings shall be as specified by the Superintendent
and/or the City Engineer.
B.
Service
fittings used in service lines larger than two inches in diameter
shall be cement-lined, ductile iron and shall be furnished with mechanical
or flanged joints as specified by the Superintendent and/or the City
Engineer.
C.
Service
fittings used in the repair or modification of existing service lines
may be of like or similar material and installed as approved by the
Department.
[Amended 3-28-1955; 3-5-2012]
A.
Pipe used
in connection with the City’s water distribution system, other
than for service lines two inches and smaller, shall be centrifugally
cast ductile iron with cement mortar lining. The pipe shall meet AWWA
(American Water Works Association) specification C151, and the cement
mortar lining shall meet AWWA specification C104.
B.
On bridges
or other structures where conditions dictate that the use of ductile
iron pipe is not practical or appropriate, cement-lined, welded steel
pipe and fittings may be used. Welded steel pipe and fittings shall
meet or exceed the requirements of AWWA specification C200.
C.
All ductile
iron fittings, couplings, etc., shall meet or exceed all applicable
AWWA standard specifications.
A.
Copper pipe used in water service shall be of seamless
copper tubing, American Society For Testing and Materials, Class K
specifications, having uniform thickness and shall withstand an internal
hydrostatic pressure sufficient to subject the material to a fiber
stress of 6,000 pounds per square inch and shall have the following
minimum weights:
B.
Fittings, stops, and valves used in copper pipe service
lines shall be made of brass, with iron pipe threads, conductive compression,
or flared-type ends, especially adapted for use in copper pipe water
service lines or for joining copper pipe and wrought iron pipe or
fittings, and shall meet applicable AWWA standard specifications.
[Amended 3-5-2012]
[Amended 3-5-2012]
PVC pipe and pipe made of polyethylene or other
plastic materials shall not be used for potable water supply water
mains or water service lines, except under special or unusual conditions,
and only by special approval of the Department.
[Amended 3-5-2012]
A.
Wrought iron pipe used in water services shall be
genuine wrought iron pipe, galvanized, having the dimensions and weights
of standard pipe. All such pipe shall comply with the standard specifications
for welded wrought iron pipe of the American Society for Testing and
Materials (serial designation A72-27) and shall have the following
minimum weights:
B.
Fittings for galvanized wrought iron pipe shall be
malleable iron fittings for threaded galvanized wrought iron pipe.
C.
Galvanized
wrought iron pipe and fittings shall be used only in the repair of
existing service lines of like or similar materials, or for adapting
ductile iron service lines for meter installation purposes.
[Amended 3-5-2012]
A.
Brass
fittings with iron pipe thread, conductive compression, or flared
connections shall be used to join copper pipe to wrought iron pipe
or copper pipe to copper pipe. Soldered or sweat connections are not
acceptable for use on any portion of a water service line, or for
making connections to water meters or their appurtenances.
B.
Malleable
iron fittings shall be used in joining iron pipe to iron pipe.
C.
Joints
for ductile iron pipe shall be mechanical, flanged, or push-on as
directed by the Department.
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former §§ 301-15, Caulked
joints, and 301-16, Wiped joints, were repealed 3-5-2012.
[Amended 6-2-1952; 6-16-1952; 11-15-1954; 10-3-1955; 2-6-1967; 4-17-1967; 5-28-1971; 6-27-1983; 6-25-1984; 6-9-1986; 6-22-1987; 6-27-1988; 6-5-1989; 6-18-1990]
The rate for both domestic and industrial metered
water within the City of Watertown shall be as follows:
A.
Meter rates:
(1)
Quarterly meter rates:
|
Usage
|
Rate [per 1,000 cubic feet (7,480 gallons)]
|
|---|---|
|
First 1,200 cubic feet (8,976 gallons)
|
$46.37 per 1,000 cubic feet (7,480 gallons)
|
|
Over 1,200 cubic feet (8,976 gallons)
|
$31.34 per 1,000 cubic feet (7,480 gallons)
|
(2)
Monthly meter rates:
|
Usage
|
Rate [per 1,000 cubic feet (7,480 gallons)]
|
|---|---|
|
First 400 cubic feet (2,992 gallons)
|
$46.37 per 1,000 cubic feet (7,480 gallons)
|
|
Over 400 cubic feet (2,992 gallons)
|
$31.34 per 1,000 cubic feet (7,480 gallons)
|
B.
Minimum charge for City use:
(1)
Quarterly charge for City use:
|
Meter Size
(inches)
|
Cubic Feet
|
Gallons
|
Minimum Charge
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
5/8
|
900
|
6,732
|
$41.73
|
|
3/4
|
1,500
|
11,220
|
$65.04
|
|
1
|
2,700
|
20,196
|
$102.64
|
|
1 1/2
|
5,100
|
38,148
|
$177.84
|
|
2
|
8,400
|
62,832
|
$281.24
|
|
3
|
15,900
|
118,932
|
$516.24
|
|
4
|
26,400
|
197,472
|
$845.22
|
|
6
|
51,900
|
388,212
|
$1,644.20
|
|
8
|
84,000
|
628,320
|
$2,649.97
|
|
10
|
120,000
|
897,600
|
$3,777.94
|
(2)
Monthly charge for City use:
|
Meter Size
(inches)
|
Cubic Feet
|
Gallons
|
Minimum Charge
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
5/8
|
300
|
2,244
|
$13.91
|
|
3/4
|
500
|
3,740
|
$21.68
|
|
1
|
900
|
6,732
|
$34.22
|
|
1 1/2
|
1,700
|
12,716
|
$59.28
|
|
2
|
2,800
|
20,944
|
$93.74
|
|
3
|
5,300
|
39,644
|
$172.08
|
|
4
|
8,800
|
65,824
|
$281.75
|
|
6
|
17,300
|
129,404
|
$548.07
|
|
8
|
28,000
|
209,440
|
$883.33
|
|
10
|
40,000
|
299,200
|
$1,259.32
|
C.
For those customers billed on a monthly basis, the
step rate quantities, water allowance and minimum charge shall be
one-third (1/3) of the quarterly quantities, allowances and charges.
Where quarterly consumption regularly exceeds 25,000 cubic feet, the
consumer shall be billed monthly.
D.
Where water is supplied to premises situated outside
the City and not covered by contract, the rates for both domestic
and industrial metered water shall be as follows:
|
Usage
|
Rate
[per 1,000 cubic feet (7,480 gallons)]
|
|---|---|
|
First 1,200 cubic feet
(8,976 gallons)
|
$55.64
|
|
Over 1,200 cubic feet
(8,976 gallons)
|
$37.62
|
E.
Minimum charge quarterly for outside-City use:
|
Meter Size
(inches)
|
Cubic Feet
|
Gallons
|
Minimum Charge
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
5/8
|
900
|
6,732
|
$50.08
|
|
3/4
|
1,500
|
11,220
|
$78.06
|
|
1
|
2,700
|
20,196
|
$123.17
|
|
1 1/2
|
5,100
|
38,148
|
$213.42
|
|
2
|
8,400
|
62,832
|
$337.50
|
|
3
|
15,900
|
118,932
|
$619.44
|
|
4
|
26,400
|
197,472
|
$1,014.26
|
|
6
|
51,900
|
388,212
|
$1,973.04
|
|
8
|
84,000
|
628,320
|
$3,179.97
|
|
10
|
120,000
|
897,600
|
$4,533.51
|
F.
For those outside the city customers billed on a monthly basis, the water allowances and charges shall be 1/3 of the quarterly allowances and charges. Billing periods shall be determined as in Subsection C.
G.
A penalty of 10% of the total amount shall be added
to any bill which is not paid on or before the 20th day of the month
in which payment is due.
H.
Partial tax exemption rates.
(1)
For those customers who qualify under the partial tax exemption for real property of aged persons and who reside within the City of Watertown, the quarterly basis on which they will be billed for water usage shall be the amount of water actually used by such a property owner. The rates set forth in § 301-17A, B and C shall not apply to these property owners.
(2)
The rates set forth within this subsection shall only apply to that
portion of a residence which is actually inhabited by the elderly
property owner who qualifies for the partial tax exemption of real
property. If other portions of the residence are occupied by nonqualified
rate payers, they shall pay the standard City rates.
(3)
The rate structure for this subsection shall be as follows:
|
Unit
|
Charge
|
|---|---|
|
1
|
$4.65
|
|
2
|
$9.29
|
|
3
|
$13.94
|
|
4
|
$18.58
|
|
5
|
$23.23
|
|
6
|
$27.87
|
|
7
|
$32.52
|
|
8
|
$37.16
|
[9]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided
that it shall take effect 7-1-2008.
[Amended 6-2-1952; 3-5-2012 ]
No water shall be furnished to, or drawn from,
a fire service until a permit therefor has been secured from the Superintendent.
Application for such permit must be accompanied by plans showing the
location of the premises to be supplied, together with the location
of all valves, pipes, hydrants, tanks, sprinkler heads and other appurtenances
on the premises. Such plans will become and remain the property of
the city. Each fire service shall conform to the approved plan upon
which the permit therefor is based, and no deviation therefrom shall
be made without the written permission of the Superintendent. Service
pipe of any fire service shall not exceed in size that of the supplying
main. There shall be installed on each fire service, if directed by
the Superintendent and at the consumer's expense, a detector check-type
or protectus-type of meter, approved as to make by both the National
Board of Fire Underwriters and the Superintendent. Main-to-line fire
service shall be installed by the Department, but the actual cost
and expense of such installation shall be paid by the consumer as
the charge therefor. The entire cost of installing, maintaining and
repairing fire service shall be borne by the consumer. No water shall
be drawn from any fire service for any purpose other than that of
extinguishing fires, except that reasonable use of water therefrom
for fire drills, draining to prevent freezing and other uses necessary
for the preservation of a fire protection system are not prohibited.
When properly sized, a water service line may be used for both fire
and domestic service, subject to the approval of the Department. When
a water service line is used for combined fire and domestic use, separate
valves or shut-offs shall be required to enable the isolation of the
service branches, and approved backflow prevention devices must be
installed in conformance with all governing regulations and approved
by the City’s Code Enforcement Officials and by the Superintendent
or City Engineer.
[Amended 6-2-1952; 11-15-1954; 2-6-1967; 4-17-1967; 6-27-1983; 6-25-1984; 6-9-1986; 6-22-1987; 6-27-1988; 6-5-1989; 6-18-1990; 6-20-2005; 11-6-2006; 6-2-2008; 6-5-2017; 6-4-2018[1]; 6-5-2023[2]; 6-3-2024]
The charge for fire service pipes shall be as
follows:
|
Monthly Charges
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Size of Service
(inches)
|
Inside City
|
Outside City
|
|
2
|
$4.18
|
$8.36
|
|
3
|
$8.48
|
$16.96
|
|
4
|
$12.22
|
$24.44
|
|
6
|
$24.59
|
$49.18
|
|
8
|
$36.59
|
$73.58
|
|
10
|
$49.15
|
$98.30
|
[Amended 12-1-1986 by L.L. No. 1-1986]
A.
Whenever the City Council shall deem it necessary
to extend any water main for the benefit of the property owners abutting
a street in which it is necessary to lay and extend a water main,
the cost of laying such water main shall be paid for in the following
manner:
[Amended 3-19-2012 by L.L. No. 1-2012]
(1)
The cost per foot of installing the water main and
fire service shall be divided into thirds based on the cost of installing
a water main eight inches in diameter.
(2)
The abutting property on each side of the street shall
be charged on a foot-frontage basis at a rate equal to 1/3 of the
total cost per foot of such eight-inch water main.
(3)
A property already served by a water main on an intersecting
street shall:
(a)
If vacant at the time of construction of the
water main, be exempt for a maximum depth of 125 feet, and any balance
of frontage shall be included in the charge.
(4)
After the charges have been made against the property
owners, the balance of the costs, including 1/3 of the total cost
per foot of any exempt corner property and street intersection costs,
shall be paid for by the Water Department.
B.
All charges shall be paid within 90 days of the date
of billing, and if not paid in full within said 90 days, interest
of 1/2 of 1% per month shall be charged to date of payment.
[Amended 6-2-1952; 2-6-1967; 5-30-1980; 12-1-1986 by L.L. No. 1-1986; 4-3-1995 by L.L. No. 3-1995; 6-1-2009 by L.L. No. 4-2009]
In the event that any consumer fails to pay
for water furnished to his account within 30 days following the issuance
of a bill therefor by the Water Department, the Water Department may
cease and refuse to serve such delinquent consumer with water or water
service, and the amount due for water or water service shall be added
to the tax roll as due by said consumer, or the City may sue for such
amount and take judgment therefor on behalf of the City and issue
execution thereon. If the water service is shut off hereunder but
the amount due on any unpaid bill is paid prior to the taking of judgment
as aforesaid, then water will be restored only upon payment of all
costs actually incurred by the City for the collection of such unpaid
bill, together with an added charge of $50 for restoring water service.
In terminating water services to a delinquent consumer, the City shall
follow the notice procedures contained at § 89-b of the
New York Public Service Law, as amended.
[Amended 6-2-1952; 3-5-2012]
Each building or structure that is supplied
with water shall be equipped with suitable full flow valves on the
water service line inside the building or structure. One valve shall
be located on the inlet side of the meter or meters. In addition,
a suitable full flow valve shall be installed on the outlet side of
each meter. The purpose for having valves on each side of the meter
is to afford a means of removing or replacing the meter without requiring
the closing of the curb stop or draining the entire internal water
supply system.
[Amended 6-2-1952; 2-6-1967; 3-5-2012]
A.
Consumers
may discontinue use of water from any service upon prior notification
to the Department in writing or by phone to the business office at
City Hall. Water charges shall be prorated if applicable when the
service is discontinued partway through a billing period. Reinstatement
of water service may be resumed by like notice, and charges shall
be prorated in a like manner. Notification for discontinuance or reinstatement
of water service shall be made during normal business hours, and the
action must be scheduled at least one full business day in advance,
except in emergency or unusual situations. The Department reserves
the right to schedule actions up to 10 days from the date that the
request is received.
B.
Water
service will not be terminated or discontinued under this section
to any premises that is occupied except for a short period of time
for the purpose of repairing the plumbing on the premises.
[Amended 6-2-1952; 3-5-2012]
In the event of breaks or other emergencies,
the Department may shut off the supply of water through the mains.
When possible, notice of such shutoff will be given in advance, but
neither the city nor its instrumentalities, officers or employees
shall be liable for any damage that may result to any persons or premises
by reason of any such shutoff, irrespective of whether notice is given
or not.
[Amended 6-2-1952; 3-5-2012]
The Superintendent, an inspector or any employee
of the Department, when designated by the Superintendent to so do,
may at any reasonable time enter the premises of any consumer or water
user for the purpose of examining the pipes and fixtures or for ascertaining
the quantity of water used and the manner of it use.
[Amended 6-2-1952; 6-1-2009]
A.
Hydrants
or gate valves, either in the street or on public or private property,
shall not be opened, closed, or interfered with in any way by unauthorized
persons, nor shall they be obstructed or purposely damaged in any
manner. Hydrants may be used to supply water in connection with the
construction or repair of local or municipal improvements. Permits
for such use shall be procured from the Department.
B.
Other than for fires and emergency use, water from hydrants shall be taken only through an approved device, preferably a hydrant meter with an appropriate backflow prevention device and supplementary operating valve attached. The approved device shall be attached and removed, and the main hydrant valve will be operated, in such cases only by an employee of the Department or a person who has been specifically authorized by the Department to do so. Charges for water used in this manner will be made at the bulk rate amounts set forth in § 301-28, Bulk water charges.
C.
In addition
to the charges for water consumption, the user shall pay the cost
of setting and removing the hydrant meter or device at the actual
cost to the Department, including, but not limited to, all reasonable
costs of labor, equipment and materials used to perform the service.
The user shall also be responsible for the protection of the hydrant,
meter, and all other equipment and shall pay for any and all repairs
or replacement costs resulting from failure to properly protect this
equipment.
[Amended 6-2-1952; 3-5-2012]
In addition to other penalties provided, the
Department is authorized to refuse to supply water or to furnish water
service to any consumer or water user who has violated any of the
provisions of this chapter.
A.
The charges for water obtained from the bulk fill station at the
Water Treatment Plant, 1707 Huntington Street, or through fire hydrants,
if proper permits have been obtained and authorization has been given
by the Department for such use, or from any other authorized source
within the City, shall be as follows:
B.
There shall be a minimum charge of $8.15 plus a service and processing
fee of $2.50 for each bill sent to a consumer or user of bulk water.
Bills shall normally be sent once per month for each month in which
water is obtained. Payment is due within 30 days from the date of
the invoice. Failure to pay the outstanding balance within 30 days
will result in termination of service. There shall be a fee of $10
to reinstate the bulk-fill-station account after the outstanding balance
has been paid in full.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 301-29,
Restrictions on new extensions of service or increase in supply outside
city limits, added 4-15-1985, was repealed 8-7-2000.
[Added 4-15-1985; amended 6-19-2000]
A.
No water supplied to a property located inside the
corporate limits may be diverted from that location to one outside
the corporate limits of the City of Watertown.
B.
No water supplied to a property located both within the corporate boundaries of the City of Watertown and without the corporate boundaries shall be diverted outside the City of Watertown corporate limits through that property, unless such property shall remain under single ownership under one parcel. If such property shall ever be severed such that the outside portion is in separate ownership, said outside portion shall be subject to the city's outside user rate as set forth in § 301-17, as amended.
[Added 3-5-2012]
Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter 301, or as provided by local, state, or federal statutes, any person, firm, or corporation who violates, disobeys, neglects, refuses to comply with, or resists the enforcement of the provisions of this Chapter 301 shall be subject to a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $250. Each day of continued violation is a separate and distinct offense.
