All water services and meters installed in the
Borough are subject to the approval of the Borough.
The installation of water meters shall be made
in accordance with the specifications of the Borough, which shall
be furnished upon application to the Borough Clerk.
[Amended 6-13-1985 by Ord. No. 17-85; 11-14-1991 by Ord. No. 22-91; 9-11-2008 by Ord. No.
23-08]
The property owner shall be responsible for all damages to water meters caused by freezing, accidents and/or negligence. The Borough of Rockaway will, in its discretion, replace any such damaged meters. The charge to replace a water meter because of accidents, weather conditions, and/or negligence shall be as provided in Chapter
A263, Fees.
Water services to individual families shall
have separate shutoffs at the curb, the installation of which shall
be the responsibility of the owner.
[Amended 10-13-2022 by Ord. No. 20-22]
A. Only one
primary meter shall be set for indoor use per water service.
B. Secondary meters shall be installed at the expense of the property owner and shall be used for nonpotable water only. Permitted uses include, but are not limited to, irrigation systems, filling swimming pools, and washing cars. An application for a second meter must be filed with the Water Clerk and fees shall be as provided in Chapter
A263, Fees.
All water meters shall be sealed at all times
with copper wire and seal.
Water meters shall be installed in locations
which are accessible at all times and particularly not in coal bins.
[Amended 6-13-1985 by Ord. No. 17-85; 11-14-1991 by Ord. No. 22-91]
The accuracy of the water meter on any premises shall be tested by the Borough upon written request of the owner, who shall pay a fee as provided in Chapter
A263, Fees, to cover the cost of the test. If, on such test, the meter shall be found to register over 3% more water than actually passes through it, another meter will be substituted therefor or the one in use will be repaired and no fee will be charged, and the Borough will, upon application, adjust the water bill for the current quarter in such a manner as it may think fair and just.
No person other than the authorized employees
of the Borough shall change the location of, alter or interfere in
any way with any meter while in service.
[Amended 6-8-2006 by Ord. No. 10-06]
Any water meter requested to be installed by
a consumer larger than the standard 5/8-inch meter may be installed,
provided:
A. The type, design, and make shall be as prescribed
by the Borough; and
B. The cost of the meter and installation of the same
shall be solely the responsibility of the consumer; and
C. Once installed, the meter shall be the property of
the Borough and shall be subject to the rules, regulations and requirements
promulgated by the Borough.
[Amended 8-8-2013 by Ord. No. 15-13]
All Borough water used on any premises must
pass through a meter. No bypass or connection between the meter and
the main shall be made or maintained by any person.
[Amended 5-10-2007 by Ord. No. 07-07; 9-13-2007 by Ord. No. 16-07]
No person shall permit or allow in any building
any damaged water meter through which water is supplied to such person
without immediately notifying the Public Works/Public Utilities Committee
that such meter is damaged.
[Added 11-20-1979 by Ord. No. 31-79; amended 5-10-2007 by Ord. No. 07-07; 9-13-2007 by Ord. No. 16-07]
A. Each property owner within the Borough of Rockaway
serviced by the municipal water system of the Borough of Rockaway
shall provide a proper and safe condition for the installation of
water meters and/or the replacement of the same within such buildings.
Where it is determined that an unsafe condition exists, which the
installation of a water meter or removal of an existing water meter
might cause either damage or personal injury, or both, the Superintendent
of Public Works shall notify the property owner, in writing, of such
unsafe condition, and the property owner shall have 30 days from the
date of said notification to provide the necessary repairs to the
plumbing system of the buildings so as to allow the installation of
the water meter in a safe and proper condition. In the event that
the property owner shall, after notice and after the expiration of
the period specified in said notice and as provided herein, fail to
make the necessary repairs to the plumbing system, the Borough of
Rockaway may proceed to have said repairs made so as to allow for
the installation of the water meter in a safe and proper manner and
shall charge the cost of the same to said property owner as a part
of the water bill rendered to said property owner pursuant to local
ordinances and state law.
B. In the event that the property owner shall dispute
the findings of the Superintendent of Public Works, the property owner
may appeal the directive of the Superintendent of Public Works to
make the necessary repairs by filing a written application of appeal
to the Public Works/Public Utilities Committee of the Mayor and Council.
The Public Works/Public Utilities Committee, upon receipt of such
appeal, shall hold a hearing in which the property owner and Public
Works/Public Utilities Committee and any additional witnesses may
be present to present evidence to said Committee. The Committee shall
make a final determination with respect to the plumbing condition
of the residence and its suitability for water meter installation,
which decision of the Public Works/Public Utilities Committee shall
be binding upon all parties to such appeal. The cost of the obligation
to make repairs to the individual property shall be the responsibility
of the owner of said property pursuant to this section.