[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Merrimac as Appendix A of the 2016 General Bylaws. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Added 4-8-2025 ATM by Art. 23]
The Water Department shall furnish and install the service tap from the water main to the property line unless the Director of Public Works or Water Supervisor specifically authorizes another party to do so. That portion of a service connection installed within a public way and terminating at a shutoff shall be considered the property of the Town upon its construction and acceptance. The Water Department shall be responsible for its maintenance.
[Amended 4-8-2025 ATM by Art. 23]
It is the responsibility of a property owner or their contractors to install, at their expense, the water service from the property line to their building(s). The property owner shall be responsible for ensuring that such installation meets the following procedures and specifications. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the Water Department, these procedures and specifications must be complied with as a condition for attachment to the Town's water distribution system. All charges resulting from the installation of a water service will be the responsibility of the property owner and shall be paid prior to the water being turned on. That portion of a service connection not lying within a public way shall remain the property of the property owner, who shall be responsible for its maintenance, provided that nothing in this section shall abrogate the Town's right to repair service pipes and fittings, as set forth herein.
Prior to beginning any service work, a permit shall be obtained from the Water Department. Permit forms can be picked up at the Water Department office. A permit is required for each building service. All fees shall be paid prior to issuance of a service connection permit.
[Amended 4-8-2025 ATM by Art. 23]
A permit shall be obtained from the Director of the Department of Public Works to excavate in any public way in the Town for purposes of constructing a water service line. The location for such service line shall be specified by the Water Department.
Cutting existing street surfaces in public ways shall be done as directed by the Highway Superintendent. In addition to the use of approved material for backfilling around service lines, all fill shall be thoroughly tamped in layers not to exceed eight inches in depth to ensure maximum compaction. The replacement of street surfaces shall be as directed by the Highway Superintendent. No backfilling shall be started until the piping installation has been inspected and approved by the Water Department.
Insurance certificates shall be furnished by the property owner as may be required by the Water Department in order to hold the Town harmless from all claims, demands, suits and actions for or on account of any injuries or damage occasioned by the water service work. Barricades, signs, warning lights and other safety devices shall be furnished and maintained to protect the public from accidents or injuries on account of operations. Wherever, in the opinion of the Chief of Police, it is deemed necessary to direct traffic around excavations, the property owner shall, at their own expense, obtain the services of a police officer at such times as may be designated.
Special conditions relating to the construction site or the water required shall be referred to the Water Department, which will approve all variations in the methods and materials to be used. In general, water service lines will not be approved if installation on private property under paved areas such as sidewalks and driveways, or in exposed locations subject to freezing or possible disturbance. Water services will not be permitted through easements over adjacent property. Multiple services from a single tap in the main will not be permitted.
All material used in water service installation shall meet appropriate AWWA and Water Department specifications. When an item can be shown to be of equivalent quality to the suggested material, the Water Department can approve a substitution. Compression fittings will be required on all stops, couplings and valves. The size of all pipe stops and valves will be required by the Water Department.
A. 
Corporation stop shall be Ford® type F1000. A saddle clamp is required on all taps.
B. 
Curb stop shall be Ford® type Z44-333.
C. 
Curb box shall be a five-foot-extension type with a stationary rod and arch pattern base Mueller® type H-10334.
D. 
Cellar stop shall be a copper service ball valve with a handle and shall be supplied by the Water Department and shall be paid for by the contractor.
E. 
Water meters shall be furnished by the customer and installed by the Water Department. No meter shall be installed in a location subject to freezing or damage.
F. 
Pipe for water service shall be Type "K" soft temper copper tubing, C-130. All copper tubing must be stamped to show type. Water service size to be determined by Water Department. Minimum service size is one inch, but larger service size may be required based on anticipated water demand, elevation of building or length of service. The use of a coupling must be approved by the Water Department.
A. 
Depth of cover for all water service lines and connections shall be a minimum of five feet in all directions. Water service lines must be run in a separate trench at least five feet away from drain lines, electric lines, telephone lines, gas lines, and 10 feet away from sewer lines. Sewer shall be encased in concrete where a water line crosses within 1 1/2 feet.
B. 
Backfilling of trenches around water lines shall be by hand for a depth of one foot using material free of stones, frozen earth, tree limbs, etc. Water lines shall be bedded in material approved by the Water Department. Backfilling from one foot above the water service to finish grade shall be done in layers and thoroughly compacted. No large stones, frozen material or large-diameter material may be used in backfilling trenches.
C. 
Setting curb boxes. All curb boxes shall be set to the finished ground grade and shall be backfilled by hand with fine material and compacted thoroughly. It is the responsibility of the property owner to preserve the top of the curb box at the surface of the ground. Contractor shall confirm curb box is set to finished grade prior to requesting water service be turned on.
D. 
Location of service pipe. The service pipe shall come off the main at a ninety-degree angle and run directly to the front of the building unless otherwise approved in advance by the Water Department. Water services shall not be installed under concrete slabs.
E. 
Meter pits. If the distance from the water main to the meter is over 200 feet, the Water Department may require the property owner to install a meter pit near the property line. This pit must be of a type easily entered with room to read, remove and replace the meter. Provision must be made to prevent meter freeze-up, and the pit must be dry at all times.
F. 
As-builts. As-builts shall be submitted prior to turning on water service.
The Water Service may be used for an electrical ground if the water piping is metallic; otherwise, an alternate grounding means must be used.
[Added 4-8-2025 ATM by Art. 23]
The pipe from the Town property line to the cellar wall, or all pipe beyond the Town property line, including meter pits, is the property of the property owner. All service pipes between the Town property line and the cellar wall, including private ways, may be repaired or relaid by the Water Department when it deems necessary for the protection of the supply or the delivery of satisfactory water service. The cost of such work and materials shall be charged to the property owner.