[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Rockport 9-11-2023 STM (Ch. 8B of the 1997 Code of By-laws). Amendments noted where applicable.]
The water, sewer and solid waste functions and services, including maintenance of the water supply and distribution, sewers and sewerage systems, shall be performed by the Department of Public Works.
A. 
The Department of Public Works shall have and exercise all of the powers vested in the Town by the federal, state, or local laws, rules and or regulations or special acts pertaining to the water and sewer systems. The DPW Commissioners may appoint such officers, agents and assistants as shall be necessary to accomplish the administration of the water works and sewerage systems.
B. 
The Department of Public Works shall cause to be read all meters used for the purpose of measuring water and/or sewage utilized by the owner at least once in each year, and at more frequent intervals if so directed by the DPW Commissioners. Whenever water service is discontinued at the request of the owner of any premises, or for nonpayment of water and/or sewage bills, or any other reason, it shall forthwith read or cause to be read the water user's meter. The DPW Commissioners, or their designee, shall assess all charges for water supplied by the Town and/or sewage utilized by the owner in accordance with the rates as established from time to time, and the same shall be committed to the Collector, who shall after notice to the persons to whom they are assessed collect the same and pay the proceeds to the Town Treasurer. All charges for water and/or sewage shall be due and payable to the Collector within 30 days of the mailing of a bill to the water and/or sewage user.
C. 
The DPW Commissioners shall hereby be authorized to adopt, issue and administer rules and regulations for the administration and operations of the water and sewer functions and services, water usage and all subjects related to the functioning of the water works and sewerage systems.
[Amended 9-8-2025 FTM by Art. G]
A. 
An application for the use of water, signed by the owner or agent of the premises where such service is desired, must be made at the office of the Department of Public Works or otherwise as provided by the Department. The application shall contain such information as shall be prescribed by the DPW Commissioners.
B. 
Service pipe specifications and installation.
(1) 
Each service pipe shall be of such size and material as the Department of Public Works shall determine with respect to each application. The Department of Public Works shall maintain all water services from street main to curb valve near the property line with a proper service box at no expense to the property owner. A replacement of an existing line with a larger service and all new services shall be at the expense of the property owner.
(2) 
The service pipe from the curb valve may be furnished and installed by any competent person whose work shall be satisfactory to the Department or its inspector. The Department may lay service pipe from curb valve to and through the cellar wall and place a meter valve on the end of the pipe. A Department estimate of the cost of the work to be performed by the Town shall be made and the amount shall be deposited with the Town Treasurer before the work is begun.
C. 
The Department of Public Works shall furnish and install at least 5/8 inch by 3/4 inch meter, approved by the Department, per building. Property owners needing a larger or additional meter may furnish and install such a meter at the property owner's sole expense in accordance with DPW specifications. The Town shall maintain or replace a meter with an existing-size meter at no cost to the property owner (except meters disconnected, lost, tampered with, damaged by the property owner and/or stored per request of the property owner). Should a larger size or additional meter be requested in or outside of an existing building, the property owner shall pay for all related costs. Meters and their appurtenances, including outside meter-reading devices, shall be located by the Department of Public Works, at the discretion of the Department head or the Department head's designee, and shall become the property of the Town after installation.
D. 
When a water taker fails to receive a sufficient supply of water through the water taker's service pipe, the owner shall furnish information satisfactory to the Department of Public Works that the pipe is clear of obstructions within the premises to the curb valve before any opening will be made in the street by said Department.
E. 
The following regulations shall be considered a part of the contract with every person who takes water, and every such person by taking the water shall thereby express that person's assent to be bound thereby. Whenever any regulation is violated, the Department of Public Works may cut off the water to the building or place of such violation, although two or more parties may receive the water and/or sewage utilized through the same pipe and it shall not be let on again except by order of the DPW Commissioners, or their designee, and on the payment of all applicable fees. In case of such violation, said DPW Commissioners shall have the right to retain as liquidated damages for such violation any payment made for the water and/or sewage utilized by the persons committing such violation.
(1) 
Every person taking the water shall, at the person's own expense, keep the pipes within the person's premises in good repair and protected from frost and shall be held liable for all damage which may result from the person's failure to do so.
(2) 
Every person taking the water shall prevent all unnecessary waste of water and shall not conceal the purpose for which the water is used.
(3) 
No alteration shall be made in any of the pipes, meters or appurtenances belonging to the Town except by its agents.
(4) 
No water shall be supplied to a person not entitled to its use under these rules and regulations, except by special permission of the DPW Commissioners.
(5) 
A representative of the Department of Public Works, upon reasonable notice, may enter the premises of any water user to install, repair, or read meters; or to examine pipes and fixtures used and the manner of their use.
Water, sewer, solid waste, cemetery and related rates shall be set by the DPW Commissioners after a public hearing.
A. 
If a meter fails to register, the consumer shall be charged for water and/or sewage upon the basis of the average consumption for a corresponding period as shown by the meter when in order or by estimate.
B. 
A charge may be made for water used through fixtures which that are installed solely for protection against fire.
C. 
The charge for turning on or turning off water shall be set by the DPW Commissioners within such limits as established by law.
D. 
The DPW Commissioners or their designee may make adjustments in the water charges to a consumer to correct an error in billing or usage.
A. 
Transfer station. No person or business using the Town's transfer station and recycling center shall place yard waste, tin or glass containers, aluminum containers, No. 1 and No. 2 plastic containers, newspapers, magazines and corrugated cardboard into the trash trailers.
B. 
Recycling center. The articles excluded from trash trailers referred to above shall be recycled into the proper bin or designated area within the transfer station and recycling center. However, this section shall not prohibit the dumping of mixed waste material, including the aforementioned recyclables, by authorized Department of Public Works employees in the course of assigned duties.