[Adopted as Ch. 63, Art. II, of the 1967 Code]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CUSTOMER SERVICE PIPE
That portion of the service pipe between the connection at or near the property line and the structures on the premises to be supplied.
CUSTOMER, COMMERCIAL
Any customer engaged in a trade or commerce.
[Amended 8-23-2022 by Ord. No. O-22-10]
CUSTOMER, COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL
Mixed-use property that includes commercial and residential space.
[Added 8-23-2022 by Ord. No. O-22-10]
CUSTOMER, HE, HIM OR HIS
Where applicable in context, includes and refers to any person, persons, firm, agency or corporation, irrespective of gender, who may be an applicant for or a user of water service.
CUSTOMER, INDUSTRIAL
Any customer whose primary business is the creation, fabrication or manufacturing of a product.
[Added 8-23-2022 by Ord. No. O-22-10]
CUSTOMER, PUBLIC AUTHORITY
Property owned by a government agency.
[Added 8-23-2022 by Ord. No. O-22-10]
CUSTOMER, RESIDENTIAL
Property zoned specifically for dwelling for individuals or households and identified as a single-family dwelling unit.
[Added 8-23-2022 by Ord. No. O-22-10]
CUSTOMER, RESIDENTIAL-MULTI
Residential property designed with multiple separate housing units for individuals or households contained in one building or several building within one complex.
[Added 8-23-2022 by Ord. No. O-22-10]
INDIVIDUAL BUILDING
A permanent building which can be sold as a separate building. Determination as to whether or not a building is a separate unit or a multiple unit shall be made on the basis of whether or not there exists a permanent wall-bearing partition and such other pertinent factors as may exist.
INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMER
Any customer whose primary business is the creation, fabrication or manufacturing of a product.
INITIAL SERVICE CONNECTION CHARGE
That charge which is applicable to the first application for water service piping or an application for an enlarged water service piping to an individual building. It is intended to cover those instances where new or enlarged piping is necessary to provide water service at an address.
LATERAL
That portion of the street service connection running from the main across the street to supply water to more than one individual building.
MAIN
A supply pipe, owned and maintained by the Water and Sewer Department, to which street service connections are attached to supply water to one or more customers.
METER
A mechanical device or devices to measure and record the quantity of water supplied to the customer.
NOTICE TO WATER DEPARTMENT
Written notice addressed to the Superintendent, Water and Sewer Department, City Hall, Hagerstown, Maryland, and deposited in the United States Mail postage prepaid or delivered in person to the Superintendent of the Water and Sewer Department.
PRIVATE FIRE CONNECTION
A pipe with appurtenances used to conduct water from the main to the customer's private fire protection system.
PROPERTY LINE
The curbline in all cases where a side walk is established or provided for in front of any lot or property abutting on any street or highway.
SEASONAL SERVICE
One which is used to supply water to customers who are primarily seasonal in operation or who require increased water service for equipment or processes operated only for part of the year.
STANDBY SERVICE
One which is used to supply water to customers for standby or breakdown purposes or to supplement the customer's water supply.
STREET SERVICE CONNECTION
A pipe with appurtenances used to conduct water from the mains to the property line.
STUB
That portion of the street service connection attached to a main or a lateral through which an individual building is served.
TEMPORARY SERVICE
One which is used to supply water to customers for temporary purposes and to housing without permanent foundations.
TURN-ON CHARGE
That charge applicable to the initial turn-on of water service at a customer's billing address when service has been discontinued due to nonpayment of bills.
WATER DEPARTMENT
In context, the City of Hagerstown, Maryland; the Board of Water Commissioners of Hagerstown, Maryland; the Water and Sewer Department of Hagerstown, Maryland; or a combination of one or more thereof, together with their officers, agents and employees.
YEARLY SERVICE
One which is used to supply water to customers who use said supply during 12 months of each year.
Nothing in these rules and regulations shall be construed to impose or place upon the Water and Sewer Department (i.e., upon the City of Hagerstown, Maryland, or upon the Board of Water Commissioners of the City of Hagerstown, Maryland, or upon any agent, servant or employee of said City or said Board of Water Commissioners) any obligation, responsibility or duty to inspect, maintain and/or repair any water piping, apparatus, appliance or equipment, except only such metering facilities, if any, owned by the Water and Sewer Department as may be installed on the customer's premises, on the customer's side of the point of delivery of water to such customer.
No agent, employee or representative of the Water and Sewer Department shall have any right or authority to make any promise, commitment or agreement not expressly authorized by these rules and regulations.
A. 
All contracts for water service shall be subject to all rules and regulations heretofore or hereafter adopted or promulgated by the Board of Water Commissioners and all applicable ordinances of the City of Hagerstown, Maryland, which may be now or hereafter in force.
B. 
All applicants for water service shall sign such application to obtain water service as the Water and Sewer Department may require. A fee shall be charged for each application for water service which shall be due and payable at the time the application is filed. The Council of the City of Hagerstown shall by ordinance fix, establish and adjust the amount of the water service application fee in accordance with the Charter of the City of Hagerstown. All applicants for water service shall sign such form of service contracts as may be acceptable to the Water and Sewer Department.
[Amended 6-17-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-23]
[Amended 7-15-1974]
A. 
Water service shall not be supplied to any customer or customers until the Water and Sewer Department determines from its examination and consideration of the application of said customer that the furnishing of water service to said customer shall be feasible from the standpoint of the Water and Sewer Department.
B. 
Any proposed connections and waterlines connecting to the waterlines of the City shall comply with all existing rules, regulations, ordinances and statutes that may be applicable.
C. 
No connection shall be made to the facilities of the Water and Sewer Department until the initial service connections shall be paid by the customer in accordance with § 238-10.
[Amended 5-27-1969; 7-15-1974; 6-5-1978; 4-17-1990 by Ord. No. 1990-15; 10-16-1990 by Ord. No. 1990-48; 7-21-1992 by Ord. No. 1992-31; 6-21-1994 by Ord. No. 1994-20; 12-22-1998 by Ord. No. 1998-60; 11-23-1999 by Ord. No. 1999-51; 6-27-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-28]
A. 
The initial service connection charge for water service shall be due and payable at the time of application for water service and shall be determined in accordance with the following schedule of fees:
[Amended 5-22-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-18; 3-25-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-10; 7-1-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-24; 9-29-2020 by Ord. No. O-20-28; 8-23-2022 by Ord. No. O-22-10]
Application fee: $50.00
Service Pipe Size
Fee
3/4-inch (5/8-inch meter)
$815.00
1-inch single (3/4-inch meter)
$1,025.00
1-inch double (two 3/4-inch meters)
$1,300.00
1-inch RS Special
$1,610.00
2-inch service
$1,890.00
(1) 
Permits required:
(a) 
Water service connection permit for the approval of all residential and nonresidential service.
(b) 
Allocation increase permit for the approval of all increases in the volume of water above the established allocation due to change in use, redevelopment, or any other cause resulting in the need for additional allocation.
B. 
The fee for all services larger than two-inch shall be based on the cost of materials, labor, equipment and overhead at the time of formal application for service.
C. 
Front-footage charges, where applicable, shall be a minimum of $21 per accessible front foot and shall be considered a part of the service connection fee.
D. 
All necessary trench excavation and repair shall:
(1) 
Be performed by and be the responsibility of the property owner in the following cases:
(a) 
All service connections outside the corporate limits of the City.
(b) 
All service connections inside the corporate limits of the City made in conjunction with street construction and/or subdivisions.
(2) 
Be performed by and be the responsibility of the City in the following cases:
(a) 
All initial service connections two-inch size or smaller, inside the corporate limits of the City, made along existing streets or rights-of-way.
E. 
Length of service extensions shall not exceed the limits as set forth in the rules and regulations of the Water and Sewer Department.
F. 
Charges are based on standard installation specifications for each type of service as established by the Water and Sewer Department. Any variation or change required by the property owner which results in a higher cost shall be performed at the property owner's expense.
G. 
Water benefit charge.
[Amended 3-25-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-10; 7-12-2005 by Ord. No. O-05-19; 4-23-2019 by Ord. No. O-19-04; 8-23-2022 by Ord. No. O-22-10]
(1) 
General.
(a) 
In addition to all other charges, fees and assessments there is hereby established a water benefit charge. A water benefit charge shall be assessed for all properties currently served and new customers requesting water service. The water benefit charge shall be the amount or amounts equal to the product of the allocation established by the City in annual average of the gallons used per day multiplied by the current established benefit charge rate per gallon. The Mayor and Council may establish a different benefit charge for service within the City's corporate boundaries from that established for service outside the City's corporate boundaries. The Mayor and Council of the City of Hagerstown shall, by ordinance, fix, establish and adjust the amount of the minimum benefit charge(s) and the amount of the benefit charge rate(s) per gallon of allocation, in accordance with the Charter of the City of Hagerstown. If, for any reason, the benefit charge is not paid when due, then the outstanding balance owed will constitute a lien on the property served and be collectible in accordance with applicable legal remedies.
(b) 
The water benefit charge is due and payable prior to the approval and issuance of any permits for improvements on a property.
(c) 
Administrative policies for the water benefit charge shall be established by the Water and Sewer Department and shall be available at the Water and Sewer Department and the office of the City Clerk.
(2) 
Residential customers. All individually metered residential properties will have a minimal allocation for service of 200 gallons per day per dwelling unit. This allocation shall not be adjusted except for changes in the number of dwelling units or changes to nonresidential use.
(3) 
Residential and residential-multi customers. All master metered residential and residential-multi properties will have a minimum allocation of 100 gallons per day per dwelling unit. Additional allocation may be purchased for a maximum of 200 gallons per day per unit based on annual average usage per dwelling unit for approved units at the time allocation was established.
(4) 
Nonresidential customers.
(a) 
General. All nonresidential customers shall pay for each gallon of allocation based on the customer's annual average daily usage. Usage shall be averaged for the billing periods in each calendar year. The minimum allocation for all service connections shall be 100 gallons per day.
[1] 
The estimated daily volume of water usage by a customer shall be determined by the Water and Sewer Department from the previous, current and/or anticipated amount of water consumption and other factors considered significant by the Water and Sewer Department and/or from information provided by the applicant or other approved sources.
[2] 
Allocation shall not be increased unless the following requirements are met:
[a] 
Owner shall make application to the Water and Sewer Department in writing a minimum of six months prior to exceeding the established property allocation when a change in process, production, number of units, redevelopment, or any other change in property use that may or shall result in exceeding the established property allocation.
[b] 
Should the annual average daily usage exceed the established allocation by 100 gallons per day or greater and the owner has not made application as required in Subsection G(4)(a)[2][a] to purchase additional allocation, the City has the authority to terminate water service in accordance with § 238-17 of City Code.
[c] 
If the daily average usage exceeds the established allocation and application has not been made for the purchase of additional allocation, the owner will be charged the applicable residential rate per § 238-44B for inside customers and § 238-45B for outside customers.
(b) 
New customers. The water benefit charge shall be levied upon an applicant for water service or a building permit based upon the allocation established with the approval of an application for water service. The initial fee shall be calculated in accordance with the benefit charge administrative policies and this article.
(c) 
Existing customers. The Water and Sewer Department shall notify each nonresidential customer of the proposed allocation for said customer who, on the date of the adoption of this article, is a customer. The allocation assignments for existing nonresidential customers shall be based on previous water use patterns. Unless a customer shall inform the Water and Sewer Department, in writing, within 30 days of receipt of said notification of allocation of his intention to file a written request for an allocation increase, and unless, said customer shall have filed said written request within 90 days of his receipt of said notification of allocation, the proposed allocation shall be the established allocation for the customer, and any subsequent written request by him for an allocation increase shall be subject to a water benefit charge in accordance with the provisions of this article. All written requests for an allocation increase shall be handled in accordance with the provisions of this article and the administrative policies.
(d) 
Modification. If as a result of reviews conducted by the Water and Sewer Department, it is determined that the volume of water usage by a nonresidential customer has been less than the established allocation for said customer by 100 gallons per day or more for at least one year, the Water and Sewer Department may notify the owner or his agent thereof that his established allocation will be reduced to the proposed allocation as determined by the Water and Sewer Department. When notified by the Water and Sewer Department of such decrease, owner or his agent, shall then have a total of 90 days from the date of receipt of said notification to file a request to again increase his established allocation. If the owner or his agent does not file an application for an allocation increase, then the new reduced allocation amount as determined by the Water and Sewer Department shall automatically take effect. If however, the owner exceeds this new determined allocation but stays within his original allocation for three consecutive years, the owner or his agent will not be assessed any additional benefit charge and the established allocation will be increased consistent with the highest annual average usage for the prior three-year period. The approving authority shall have the right to apply any allocation amount that is taken from a customer, or an owner or his agent, to another customer, owner or his agent. If, as a result of reviews conducted by the Water and Sewer Department, it is determined that the volume of water usage by any nonresidential customer shall be greater than the established allocation for said customer by 100 gallons or more for at least one year the Water and Sewer Department may notify said owner of his new established allocation and he shall have the same rights to request a decrease in the allocation as provided in this subsection for a customer whose allocation has been decreased. If the new allocation as finally determined hereunder is higher the owner will be charged at that level of allocation.
(5) 
Transfer of allocation.
(a) 
Transfer of allocation shall only be permitted for properties with purchased allocation. Allocation assigned when the benefit fee rules and regulations were adopted cannot be transferred.
(b) 
Transfer of allocation shall only be permitted when the existing established allocation is 1,500 gallons per day or greater. One thousand gallons per day allocation shall remain with each property. Transfer of allocation is not authorized when the existing allocation is equal to or less than 1,000 gallons per day. Property shall be zoned for commercial or industrial development.
(c) 
Transfer of allocation may be authorized one time for property zoned commercial or industrial. In the event a property is sold, transferred, etc., and allocation was previously transferred, additional allocation transfer shall not be permitted. Transfer of allocation shall be between properties shall be located within the same government jurisdiction (either City or county) and located in the medium range growth area (MRGA).
(d) 
Property redevelopment. Transfer of allocation shall be authorized on properties with two or more parcels or lots within the redevelopment plan provided there is excess established allocation on one or more parcel or lot in the redevelopment plan. Property shall be zoned for commercial or industrial development.
(e) 
Transfer of allocation from properties located inside municipal limits to properties outside municipal limits but within the MRGA may be authorized in accordance when the properties are zoned commercial or industrial.
[1] 
The allocation transfer must comply with § 238-10G(5)(a).
[2] 
The allocation transfer shall only occur when the highest average annual usage for the previous three years remains with the property.
[3] 
Transfer of allocation from properties zoned commercial or industrial located inside municipal limits to properties zoned commercial or industrial zoned located outside municipal limits and within the MRGA, is contingent upon recommendation from the Director of Planning and Code Administration and the Director of Utilities to, and approval by, the Mayor and City Council.
(f) 
Payment of benefit fee differential for outside customers shall be required when allocation is transferred from a municipal property to a property located outside Hagerstown corporate boundaries.
(g) 
All City Code requirements and City policies pertaining to water service remain in full effect.
(6) 
Benefit charge rate. The Mayor and Council of the City of Hagerstown shall by ordinance fix and establish the amount of benefit charge rate per gallon of allocation in accordance with the Charter of the City of Hagerstown. If for any reason the benefit charge is not paid when due, then the outstanding balance owed by the property owner shall constitute a lien on the property served and shall be a collectible in accordance with Article 23(a) of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The benefit charge rate per gallon shall be assessed as follows:
Inside Water Benefit Charges
Benefit Fee
Current
FY20
FY21
FY22
FY23
FY24
Per gallon
$12.50
$12.88
$13.27
$13.67
$14.08
$14.50
Minimum: 200 gallons
$2,500
$2,576
$2,654
$2,734
$2,816
$2,900
Outside Water Benefit Charges
Benefit Fee
Current
FY20
FY21
FY22
FY23
FY24
Per gallon
$12.50
$12.88
$13.27
$13.67
$28.16
$29
Minimum: 200 gallons
$2,500
$2,576
$2,654
$2,734
$5,632
$5,800
Outside benefit charges shall become effective on October 1, 2022.
H. 
All applicable connection fees and front footage charges shall be paid when application is made for service connection.
I. 
Use of funds. The revenues received from the Water and Sewer Department benefit charge are to be used exclusively to fund major capital additions, replacements or improvements to the water treatment plants, transmission system, pumping stations and water storage facilities.
All contracts for water service shall be signed in the true name of the customer desiring such service, and the use of a fictitious name by the prospective customer shall be sufficient reason for the refusal and/or termination of service.
When it may appear to the Water and Sewer Department that the requested water service will be temporary, the Water and Sewer Department may, at its option, either furnish or decline to furnish such service. If the Water and Sewer Department elects to furnish such service, the applicant for service shall pay to the Water and Sewer Department, in advance, the estimated cost of constructing such service, including the cost of all labor, materials and supervision required.
All water piping and equipment on the customer's premises shall be available to the Water and Sewer Department and to all inspectors of the City of Hagerstown, Maryland, who may have jurisdiction over such piping and equipment; provided, however, that the Water and Sewer Department shall not be deemed to have assumed the responsibility to inspect, repair or maintain any piping or equipment on the customer's side of the point of delivery as hereinafter located and defined in these rules and regulations.
A. 
Before water service is connected, or at any time thereafter, the Water and Sewer Department may require evidence satisfactory to itself from any water customer that all bills for water service rendered or to be rendered will be paid promptly, or in lieu thereof, the Water and Sewer Department may require any such water customer to maintain on deposit with the Water and Sewer Department an amount sufficient to pay the estimated bills for all water service to such customer for not more than one billing period plus 30 days. Deposits shall not bear interest. The Water and Sewer Department may discontinue water service without notice to any customer who may fail to make or maintain the deposit required by the Water and Sewer Department. All or any portion of the deposit by a water customer may be applied by the Water and Sewer Department at any time upon any delinquent or unpaid bill owned by such customer.
B. 
Such deposits, as outlined above, shall be refunded at the termination of service after all charges that may be due and payable by the customer have been paid.
C. 
A customer who has made application for water service to a premises shall be held liable for all water service furnished to such premises until such time as the customer properly notifies the Water and Sewer Department to discontinue the service for his account.
D. 
In the event that the Water and Sewer Department is unable to collect all bills for water service rendered at any location by other means, it may require payment from the property owner at such location, as provided by law.
A. 
All bills shall be due and payable when mailed and shall become delinquent 20 days after such date. If any bill rendered by the Water and Sewer Department is not paid within 30 days after the date thereof, the Water and Sewer Department may discontinue water service to such customer after notice. A reconnection charge shall be assessed when service has been discontinued due to nonpayment of bills and shall be payable prior to reconnection of the water service. The charge for reconnection shall be $50 when performed between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and $100 when performed between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. and on weekends and holidays.
[Amended 10-16-1990 by Ord. No. 1990-48; 7-21-1992 by Ord. No. 1992-31; 5-22-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-18; 6-20-2006 by Ord. No. O-06-16; 9-29-2020 by Ord. No. O-20-28]
B. 
Bills and notices to any customer shall be deemed to have been presented and given when deposited in the United States Mail, addressed to the last known address of such customer as shown on records of the Water and Sewer Department, or when delivered in person by a Water and Sewer Department employee. Notices to the Water and Sewer Department shall be given in writing as defined in § 238-5, definition of "notice to Water Department."
C. 
Water service to each customer shall be for the sole use of such customer on the premises described in the service application, and the resale or submetering of water by such customer is prohibited. A separate bill shall be rendered for each meter, and water furnished to the same customer through separate meters shall not be added or cumulated for billing purposes, irrespective of the location of the meters, excepting only when such separate meters are installed on the same premises for the convenience and at the request of the Water and Sewer Department, in which event the water furnished through said meters may be cumulated for billing purposes.
D. 
Payments shall be made at the office of the City Treasurer or at such other conveniently located places as may be designated by the City Treasurer.
E. 
The Water and Sewer Department will not be bound by bills rendered under mistake of fact as to the quantity and nature of water service rendered.
F. 
The Water and Sewer Department shall have the right to read meters and render bills either monthly or quarterly, or for such other period as may be deemed practicable by the Water and Sewer Department, and such bills shall be due and payable as provided in Subsection A of this section.
G. 
In the case of a disputed account involving the accuracy of a meter, such meter may be tested upon the request of the customer, and bills will be adjusted as provided in § 238-36D(1) and (2).
H. 
The minimum charge for each applicable tariff shall be paid whether such quantity of water is used or not, and no credit shall be allowed for any cause unless discontinuance of service has been requested by the customer and water has been shut off by the Water and Sewer Department for the period involved.
I. 
If, for any reason, service is discontinued before the expiration of one month from the commencement of service, a bill for at least the minimum charge for one month will be rendered.
J. 
A late payment charge of 10% will be calculated upon the total charges and applied to the water and wastewater bill or any portion of the bill not paid by the current amount due date. Each subsequent water and wastewater bill not paid in full will be subject to the aforementioned late payment charge on the unpaid balance.
[Added 6-18-2013 by Ord. No. O-13-16]
K. 
A fee of $50 shall be applicable to all water meters pulled per customer's request. A fee of $50 shall be applicable to all water meters reinstalled per customer's request.
[Added 9-29-2020 by Ord. No. O-20-28]
L. 
An account transfer fee shall be assessed for each water account transferred when a property is sold or the owner of record for a property is changed . Special readings or account information must be provided by the City to facilitate the transfer. The transfer fee shall be $50 per each water account transferred.
[Added 9-29-2020 by Ord. No. O-20-28]
M. 
A collection fee of $35 (or the maximum allowed by the Maryland Commercial Law Article, as amended from time to time, if greater) shall be assessed against all dishonored checks not paid within 30 days of notice of dishonor.
[Added 9-29-2020 by Ord. No. O-20-28]
The Water and Sewer Department will not allow its mains or services to be connected on any premises with any service pipe or piping which is connected with any other source of water supply; nor will it allow its mains or service pipes to be in any way connected to any vat, tank or other apparatus which contains or may contain any other liquid or chemicals. The Water and Sewer Department will refuse to give service to any premises having such connections until any and all such existing conditions are terminated.
The Water and Sewer Department shall have the right and privilege to discontinue water service to any customer and/or refuse water service to any customer, whether theretofore served or not, for any reason which, in the sole judgment and direction of the Water and Sewer Department, may be valid or sufficient.
A. 
The Water and Sewer Department shall, on verbal notice of the customer or his agent, turn water on or off for repairs or alterations without in any way affecting the existing application. If such service is rendered, a reasonable charge may be made to cover costs incurred by the Water and Sewer Department for such services.
B. 
Service will be temporarily discontinued upon the written order of the customer without in any way affecting the existing application; provided, however, that the turn-on-charge may be made to cover costs incurred by the Water and Sewer Department for such services.
C. 
Services will be permanently discontinued at the customer's request when proper notification is made to the Water and Sewer Department. Upon receipt of such notification, the Water and Sewer Department shall read the customer's meter, and charges for water service rendered up to and including the time of cutoff shall be computed and will become due and payable immediately.
Employees of the Water and Sewer Department, with proper identification, shall have the right to enter upon the premises of any water customer at any time during ordinary business hours for the purpose of examining, testing, changing and/or moving any water equipment, meters, apparatus and/or piping of the Water and Sewer Department or measuring the customer's water demand.
A. 
The Water and Sewer Department shall have no duty, obligation or responsibility with respect to water piping, appliances, equipment or apparatus on the premises of any water customer other than to provide a water meter and a service connection from the distribution system of the Water and Sewer Department to the point of delivery of water to the customer, which point shall be considered the connection at or near the property line.
B. 
The customer shall notify the Water and Sewer Department immediately of any change or changes in connected load or in water equipment on the customer's premises which might affect water service to such customer or to any other water customer of the Water and Sewer Department, and the Water and Sewer Department shall have no duty, obligation or responsibility arising out of or resulting from the customer's failure to so notify the Water and Sewer Department.
C. 
The Water and Sewer Department shall not be liable for any injury, damage or loss resulting from the use of water on the customer's premises or from the presence, location, maintenance or use of any water piping, fixtures or equipment on the customer's premises.
D. 
If, for the purpose of making repairs, extensions or connections or for any other reason beyond the control of the Water and Sewer Department, it becomes necessary to shut off water in mains, the Water and Sewer Department will not be responsible for any damage occasioned by such shutoff. The Water and Sewer Department will not be responsible for damages caused by turbid water which may be occasioned by cleaning of pipes, reservoirs or standpipes or the opening or closing of any gates or hydrants or any other cause which is not the result of negligence on the part of the Water and Sewer Department.
E. 
In order to maintain proper and sufficient pressures in the distribution system for fire protection and other purposes; the Water and Sewer Department reserves the right, at all times, to determine, limit and regulate, in a reasonable and nondiscriminating manner, the maximum amounts of water a customer may use.
F. 
Nothing shall be attached or fastened to or placed upon any meter, fixture or equipment of the Water and Sewer Department unless prior permission, in writing, shall have been given by the Superintendent of the Water and Sewer Department, and the Water and Sewer Department shall not be liable for any injury, damage or loss arising out of or resulting from any such attachment to its meters, fixtures or equipment.
A. 
Each customer shall pay the Water and Sewer Department for all damage to or destruction of property of the Water and Sewer Department located on or off the customer's premises where such is caused directly or indirectly by the customer's officers, agents or employees, excepting only that resulting from ordinary wear and tear, acts of God and acts of employees of the Water and Sewer Department.
B. 
Each customer shall notify the Water and Sewer Department promptly of any defect in water piping equipment or apparatus of the Water and Sewer Department or of any existing condition which might affect water service to the customer or might be dangerous to persons or property. All such notices and all complaints concerning water service by the Water and Sewer Department shall be made in writing to the Water and Sewer Department at City Hall.
C. 
If any water customer has on his premises any water piping connection apparatus or device which prevents a water meter or meters on such premises from registering or recording properly all water used or to be used or which enables such customer to obtain or use any water without the same having been registered and/or recorded properly by a water meter or meters of the Water and Sewer Department or if any water customer shall fail or refuse to observe, fulfill and comply faithfully with all rules and regulations heretofore or hereafter promulgated by the Water and Sewer Department, the Water and Sewer Department shall have the right to discontinue water service to such customer and to terminate any contract or contracts with such customer immediately and without notice to the customer.
D. 
The Water and Sewer Department may, at its option, refuse to render water service to any water customer whose service has been discontinued until the customer has paid in full for all water theretofore furnished by the Water and Sewer Department to the customer's premises (including all water which has not been registered or recorded properly by a water meter or meters of the Water and Sewer Department) and has paid for all damage to water meters and other equipment, facilities or property of the Water and Sewer Department and until the customer's water piping and service installation shall, at the customer's sole cost, risk and expense, have been placed in such condition as shall be acceptable to the Water and Sewer Department.
A. 
The Water and Sewer Department shall make every reasonable effort to eliminate interruption of service and when such interruption does occur will endeavor to establish service with the shortest possible delay. Whenever the service is interrupted for the purpose of working on the distribution system or the station equipment, all customers affected by such interruption will be notified in advance whenever it is possible to do so.
B. 
The Water and Sewer Department reserves the right to shut off the water in its mains at any time without notice for making repairs, extensions or alterations but will, so far as possible, notify customers of the intent to shut off. It is expressly stipulated by the Water and Sewer Department that no claim shall be made against it and that no person shall be entitled to any damages by reason of the breaking of any pipe or by reason of any other interruption of the supply of water caused by mechanical breakdown or by other causes beyond its control.
C. 
No refunds or proration of charges of private fire protection or hydrant or other minimum rate will be made for interruptions of service unless the interruption is in effect for a continuous period in excess of 10 days.
Whenever a customer requests the location of a water meter to be changed, the Water and Sewer Department may make a reasonable charge to cover the cost of such relocation. No piping work on the customer's side of the point of delivery, as defined in § 238-20A, will be done by the Water and Sewer Department either before or after moving said meter, except that a spool may be installed in place of the old meter location.
The Water and Sewer Department will extend its water mains along any public highways or streets which are laid out in which grades have been established and rough grading completed and which are dedicated to public use within the City, provided that:
A. 
Such extension conforms to the Water and Sewer Department extension policy;
B. 
Each applicant or group of applicants desiring water service shall, as part of the consideration for the Water and Sewer Department extending its water distribution system, execute and deliver, without cost to the Water and Sewer Department, such easements and other rights-of-way as, in the opinion of the Water and Sewer Department, are or may be required at the time the extension is made or may be required in the future to extend the water distribution system to properties located adjacent to the premises to be served by such extension;
C. 
Sufficient funds are available in the current annual budget of the Water and Sewer Department or in other funds available to the Water and Sewer Department, in excess of prior commitments, to defray the Water and Sewer Department's portion of the cost of such extension; and
D. 
Such extension will be in the best interests of the Water and Sewer Department and its existing customers.
The Water and Sewer Department will extend its water mains outside the City in accordance with § 238-24 above, provided, in addition to the limitations in § 238-24, that:
A. 
Further expansion of the water distribution system outside the City limits will be permitted only in areas where the capacity of existing water mains and other water system facilities to which an extension is to be connected is sufficient to accept the new water demand, including adequate supply for fire protection;
B. 
As a prerequisite to any such extension, the Superintendent of the Water and Sewer Department shall have filed with the Board a written opinion that, to his best knowledge and belief, the addition of the customers to be served from such extension will not reduce the supply available to existing customers below satisfactory pressures under fire service conditions;
C. 
Preference shall be given to applicants for water system extensions where such applicants indicate, in writing, their agreement to future annexation to the City at such time as it becomes practicable; and
D. 
All costs of such extensions, including any required reinforcement of the existing system to provide satisfactory service to both the prospective and existing customers, shall be paid by those persons desiring such extensions. The allowance of $100 per customer shall not be made for such extensions outside the City limits.
A. 
The location of the street service connection shall be along that frontage of the customer's property abutting the street in which the main lies or as determined by the Water and Sewer Department. In the event that service is requested at a point not already served by a main of adequate capacity, the Water and Sewer Department shall extend its main as provided in § 238-24 and the Water and Sewer Department extension policy.
B. 
The size of the street service connection shall be determined by the Water and Sewer Department on the basis of information given in the application of the customer.
C. 
All street service connections shall be laid to provide a minimum cover of 36 inches.
D. 
The Water and Sewer Department shall not be obliged to install a street service connection until the initial service connection charge as set forth in § 238-10 hereof has been paid and until the customer's service pipe is installed in accordance with existing Plumbing Codes[1] and the Water and Sewer Department specifications.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 64, Building Construction.
E. 
Any change in the location of an existing service at the request of the customer shall be made at the expense of the customer.
F. 
The Water and Sewer Department will not be required to replace any existing street service connection with a larger size until the customer has paid the initial service connection charge for such larger size of service as set forth in § 238-10 hereof, less the amount of the initial service connection charge applicable for the size of the present service.
Maintenance or alteration of any street service pipe shall be done by the Water and Sewer Department. When such work is necessary for the convenience of the customer, it will be done at the customer's expense.
A. 
The customer's service pipe shall be furnished and installed by the customer at his expense and risk. Pipe shall be of ample strength to withstand the water pressures at the point where located and will conform to the existing Plumbing Codes[1] and the requirements of the Water and Sewer Department in furnishing adequate and safe service.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 64, Building Construction.
B. 
The customer's service pipe shall include the connection to the street service pipe, and all liability for such connection shall be the customer's. If the customer's service pipe is installed prior to the installation of a street service pipe or stub by the Water and Sewer Department, the Water and Sewer Department will, at the customer's request, make the physical connection between those pipes, but in so doing the Water and Sewer Department assumes no liability for said connection.
C. 
The customer's service pipe shall be laid to the property line at a point designated by the Water and Sewer Department before the Water and Sewer Department shall be required to connect such service pipe with the street service connection.
D. 
Service pipe in buildings shall be located in the parts thereof best protected from the frost. In buildings where there are no cellars, the pipe shall be carried up from the center or unexposed part of the building or shall otherwise be installed in such a manner as reasonably to protect said pipe from freezing.
E. 
The customer shall make all changes in his portion of the service pipe required on account of changes of grade, relocation of mains or other causes.
F. 
No attachment to the customer's service pipe shall be made between the meter and the street main.
G. 
Any repairs or maintenance necessary on the customer's service pipe or in any pipe or fixture in or upon the customer's premises, including the connections to the street service, shall be performed by the customer at his expense and risk. Such pipe and fixtures shall be kept and maintained in good condition and free from all leaks, and for failure on the part of the customer to do so, the water supply may be discontinued.
H. 
All customers' service pipes must have placed thereon a cutoff immediately inside the building or foundation wall at the place of entry.
I. 
When it becomes necessary to thaw a frozen service pipe and it cannot be determined where it is frozen and the Water and Sewer Department is requested by the customer to undertake to thaw the same, 1/2 of the cost thereof shall be paid by the customer.
When a water main carrying adequate pressure and capacity is on the opposite side of the street from the premises to be served, the Water and Sewer Department may run one lateral across the street to serve one or more stubs.
A. 
Each separate permanent building, that is, one which can be sold as a separate building, regardless of ownership, shall have its own water service pipe. A permanent wall-bearing partition shall be the basis in determining whether or not a building is a separate unit or a multiple unit. This shall be the basis for running one service or separate services.
B. 
Tourists' courts or establishments consisting of a group of buildings may, at the discretion of the Water and Sewer Department, be served by a single service pipe.
A. 
It shall be expressly understood and agreed by and between the parties receiving private fire service that the Water and Sewer Department does not assume liability as an insurer of property or persons and that the agreement does not contemplate any special service, pressure, capacity or facility, and, further, that all private fire service furnished shall be subject to the ordinary and changing conditions of the Water and Sewer Department, as the same exist from day to day.
B. 
All materials for such private fire protection shall be approved by the Water and Sewer Department, and the services must be provided with suitable valves outside of the building, under the exclusive control of the Water and Sewer Department. The entire cost and expense of installing a private fire service connection shall be borne by the owners of the premises. Said service shall be used exclusively for the extinguishment of fires, and no connection for domestic, commercial or industrial use may be attached to this fire service.
C. 
All sprinkler pipes and other private fire connection pipes on presently installed services shall be so placed as to be readily inspected, and, if concealed or so arranged with other pipes so as to not be readily inspected or if any unauthorized connections are in existence, meters shall be installed on each service at the expense of the customer.
D. 
Customers desiring private fire service must consult, before installation, with the Water and Sewer Department as to the availability of mains, pressure, etc. No private fire service connection will be made on a water main of less than six inches in diameter.
E. 
Annual fee. The annual fee in dollars for fire line service by pipe size shall be as follows:
[Added 12-22-1998 by Ord. No. 1998-60; amended 5-22-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-18; 7-12-2005 by Ord. No. O-05-19; 9-22-2009 by Ord. No. O-09-12; 2-25-2014 by Ord. No. O-14-01; 4-23-2019 by Ord. No. O-19-04[1]]
Annual Inside Fire Line Service Charge
Pipe Size
Current
FY20
FY21
FY22
FY23
FY24
4-inch
$192.44
$198.21
$204.16
$210.28
$216.59
$223.09
6-inch
$432.41
$445.38
$458.74
$472.51
$486.68
$501.28
8-inch
$769.76
$792.85
$816.64
$841.14
$866.37
$892.36
10-inch
$1,202.17
$1,238.24
$1,275.38
$1,313.64
$1,353.05
$1,393.64
12-inch
$1,729.64
$1,781.53
$1,834.98
$1,890.02
$1,946.73
$2,005.13
Annual Outside Fire Line Service Charge
Pipe Size
Current
FY20
FY21
FY22
FY23
FY24
4-inch
$257.36
$265.08
$273.03
$281.22
$289.66
$298.35
6-inch
$576.16
$593.44
$611.24
$629.59
$648.47
$667.93
8-inch
$1,024.80
$1,055.54
$1,087.21
$1,119.83
$1,153.42
$1,188.02
10-inch
$1,602.12
$1,650.19
$1,699.69
$1,750.67
$1,803.20
$1,857.29
12-inch
$2,306.96
$2,376.17
$2,447.46
$2,520.87
$2,596.51
$2,674.40
[1]
Editor’s Note: This ordinance also provided that it shall be effective 30 days after passage, with the increases in rates effective for all bills rendered in the current fiscal year on or after July 1, 2019, and for all bills rendered on or after July 1 of each of the subsequent four fiscal years.
A. 
The entire cost of seasonal, standby and temporary street service connections shall be borne by the customer. Title to such service within the street lines remains in the Water and Sewer Department in consideration of its perpetual upkeep and maintenance. The initial service connection charge shall not apply when temporary water service is rendered through a fire hydrant.
B. 
The entire cost of any special service installation will be defrayed by the applicant.
Permanently assigned house numbers shall be obtained before application for service is accepted and suitably displayed on the property in a visible location before the water service pipe is installed.
A. 
These house numbers should be assigned by the Postmaster of the City of Hagerstown or should conform to the City numbering system; if located outside the City limits, each house shall be properly identified as requested by the Water and Sewer Department.
B. 
No meter is to be set at a house without proper and correct identification.
C. 
If a house number or identification is changed for any reason, the Water and Sewer Department shall be notified of such change.
A. 
All new services shall be metered, except private fire service connections, and the Water and Sewer Department shall have the right to place a meter on an existing service pipe and charge for water service by meter measurements.
B. 
All meters shall be furnished, installed, maintained and removed by the Water and Sewer Department and shall remain its property.
C. 
The Water and Sewer Department shall have the right to determine, on the basis of the customer's stated flow requirements, the size and type of meter to be installed and the location of the same. If flow requirements decrease subsequent to installation and a smaller meter is requested by the customer, the cost of installing such meter shall be borne by the customer.
D. 
Plumbers installing new services and house plumbing in a premises shall determine from the Water and Sewer Department the proposed location of the meter and, if inside the building, shall leave sufficient horizontal space next to the entrance cutoff for the installation of meters as follows:
Size of Meter
Horizontal Space
(inches)
5/8-inch
13 1/2
3/4-inch
16 1/2
1-inch
21
1 1/2-inch
26
2-inch
32
E. 
When a meter is installed at or near the curbline, it shall be placed in a meter box or vault in accordance with the specifications of the Water and Sewer Department as follows:
(1) 
Meters one inch and smaller in yearly services shall be installed in a meter box or tile at the expense of the Water and Sewer Department.
(2) 
Meters larger than one inch shall be placed in a vault which will be furnished and installed at the expense of the customer.
F. 
All meters shall be maintained by the Water and Sewer Department at its expense insofar as ordinary wear is concerned, but damage due to hot water, freezing or other external causes arising out of or caused by the customer's negligence or carelessness shall be paid for by the customer. The meters furnished by the Water and Sewer Department shall remain its property, and the owners of the premises wherein or whereon they are located shall be held responsible for their safekeeping and liable for any damage there resulting from the carelessness of said owner, his agent or tenant and for failure to protect the same against freezing and/or damage by hot water. The Water and Sewer Department may refuse to supply water until such damage is paid.
G. 
Where, at the request of the customer, a change in location of an existing meter is made, the expense thereof, at the option of the Water and Sewer Department, may be billed to the customer.
House piping systems designed to be supplied from separate meters shall not be interconnected. No house piping shall be interconnected to any individual water system.
A. 
Upon the request of any customer, the meter supplying water to the customer making the request will be tested by the Water and Sewer Department. If the meter is found to be accurate within the limits of plus or minus 2%, the customer shall pay a just and reasonable fee for its test to the Water and Sewer Department; provided, however, that if the meter has not been tested during 12 months prior to the request, the Water and Sewer Department will make the test without charge to the customer. The just and reasonable fee to test the meter shall be $50.
[Amended 9-29-2020 by Ord. No. O-20-28]
B. 
The Water and Sewer Department may remove any meter for routine tests, repairs and replacement.
C. 
The tests of the meter requested by the customer may be witnessed by the customer or his duly authorized representative.
D. 
Meters registering fast or slow beyond allowable limits.
(1) 
If, upon test by the Water and Sewer Department, any water meter shall be found to have an average error of more than plus or minus 2%, such meter shall be corrected or replaced, at the option of the Water and Sewer Department, and an appropriate correction or charge in keeping with the percentage of error found upon test of such meter shall be made in the bills or charges for water service measured through said meter during a period of not more than two billing periods prior to the date of such test.
(2) 
If it is found during any period of time that a water meter has failed to register, the customer served through said meter shall be billed by the Water and Sewer Department and shall pay to the City Treasurer a charge for water service delivered during such period of time, which shall be estimated and computed by the Water and Sewer Department on a basis of the water accurately measured during the billing period preceding or succeeding the time when such meter was discovered to have failed to register or before the same was found to be in error and any and all available information pertaining to the proper determination of the customer's usage and load.
No person shall turn the water on or off at any street valve, corporation cock, curb cock or other street connection or disconnect or remove any meter without the consent of the Water and Sewer Department. Penalties provided by law for any such action will be rigidly enforced.
No unauthorized person shall, without written consent of the Water and Sewer Department, open any fire hydrant except for the legitimate purpose of extinguishment of fire.
The installation of fire hydrants within the City shall be made, provided that:
A. 
Each such installation shall be covered by a written recommendation of the Fire Chief and approved by the Board;
B. 
There are funds available in the annual budget or water bond funds for the cost of such installation; and
C. 
The capacity of the lines serving such locations is sufficient to provide a reasonable flow for fire protection purposes. At locations where fire hydrants are needed and such capacity is not available, the Superintendent of the Water and Sewer Department shall submit a written report to the Board which shall detail the system reinforcements needed to make such capacity available and the estimated costs thereof, together with such recommendations as he deems advisable. In the event that the Board finds that it is not feasible to provide the funds necessary for such reinforcements from the current annual budget or other funds available, it shall report such situation to the Mayor and Council for such action as the Mayor and Council may deem appropriate.
It shall be the general policy of the Water and Sewer Department to install fire hydrants only in locations where the capacity of the lines serving such locations is sufficient to provide a reasonable-flow for fire protection purposes. It shall be expressly understood, however, that the City does not assume liability as an insurer of property or persons and that there is no guarantee of any special service, pressure or capacity and, further, service from all fire hydrants shall be subject to the ordinary and changing conditions of the City water system as the same exists from day to day.
Where these rules and regulations are in conflict with any other ordinance of the City, such as the Plumbing Code, Building Code or Fire Prevention Code,[1] such other ordinance now or hereafter adopted shall prevail.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 64, Building Construction, and Ch. 98, Fire Prevention.
It is hereby declared that the sections, subsections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses and all other parts of these rules and regulations, either large or small, are severable and are not matters of mutually essential inducement, it being the purpose of the Board of Water Commissioners of the City of Hagerstown, Maryland, to determine, approve and enact appropriate rules and regulations pertaining to and governing the operation of the Water and Sewer Department of the City of Hagerstown, Maryland, and the furnishing of water to customers of the Water and Sewer Department, in accordance with the Constitution and statutes of the State of Maryland and the Charter of the City of Hagerstown, Maryland; and, if any one or more sections, subsections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or other parts of these rules and regulations shall be, for any reason, adjudged unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not impair, invalidate or affect the remaining portions and provisions of these rules and regulations, and such judgment shall be confined in its operation to the specific provision or provisions so held to be unconstitutional or invalid.
[Amended 9-29-2020 by Ord. No. O-20-28]
Any person violating or failing to comply with any provision of this Chapter 238 shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $ 500.