[Amended 10-21-2002 by L.L. No. 18-2002]
The rules, regulations and provisions enumerated in this chapter shall be deemed to be a part of the contract with any person who takes water supplied by the Village of Potsdam, and every such person taking the water shall be deemed to have expressed his consent to be bound thereby. Whenever any rule, regulation or provision is violated, the right is reserved to cut off the water without notice, and the person whose water is thus cut off shall forfeit all payments made, and the water shall not be turned on again until the violation is cured and all unpaid rents and charges are paid, together with a reinstatement charge as established by the Board of Trustees. In case the violation of any rule, regulation or provision is discovered prior to turning on the water, then the water shall not be turned on until the rule, regulation or provision is fully complied with.
A. 
No person shall have a new service pipe installed or shall begin the installation of new pipes and fixtures for the initial introduction and use of water upon any premises without having first obtained the written permission of the Meter Department. All building permits shall indicate meter location and compliance.
B. 
A separate and independent water service shall be provided for every building; except that, where one building stands at the rear of another on an interior lot and no private water service is available or can be constructed to the rear building through an adjoining alley, court, yard or driveway, the waterline from the front building may, and only with the express written authorization from the Superintendent of Public Works, be extended to the rear building.
[Added 10-21-2002 by L.L. No. 18-2002]
A. 
Every service pipe must be provided with a standard stopcock made accessible by an iron box with cover, such stopcock and box to be located inside the street curbline. Another stopcock with waste must be attached to the same horizontal service pipe inside the cellar wall.
B. 
Unless otherwise provided by Village Board resolution, all work connecting and laying the service pipe from the street main to and including the placing of the stopcock and iron box inside the curbline and the opening of the street and all subsequent repairs shall be done by the Village only. The charges for all such work shall be established by the Board of Trustees and shall be chargeable to the owner of the property. Failure to pay charges will result in a lien being filed against such property.
C. 
Every service pipe and outdoor fixture must be laid not less than five feet underground and must be kept in good repair and protected from frost at the expense of the owner.
If for any reason the water supply upon any premises needs to be shut off, it may be done by any person at the stopcock in the cellar; but no plumber or other private person shall, at any time or for any purpose, except to prevent premises from being flooded or other similar emergency, shut off or turn on the water at the stopcock in the street. The shutting off or turning on of water to any service system, public or private, at the stopcock in the street shall be done by the Village only and by order of the Meter Department.
Every leak occurring in a service system from a curb box to the inside fixtures must be immediately closed and repaired by the property owner, at his expense. The Village will assume all responsibility for any leaks in the street main or the service from the main to the curb box, including the curb box.
A. 
No person shall open a hydrant, public or private, for any purpose whatsoever, except by order of the Superintendent of Public Works and as otherwise hereinafter provided.
B. 
Officers of the Fire Department or anyone under their direction may cause hydrants to be opened for fire-protection purposes.
C. 
The Administrator and Superintendent of Public Works may cause hydrants to be opened for any municipal purpose.
D. 
The Chief or an Assistant Chief of the Fire Department shall notify the Superintendent of Public Works whenever any hydrant has been used by the Fire Department so that the Superintendent of the Water Department may examine the same to assure its reliability.
A. 
This Village shall not be liable for any failure or insufficiency in the water supply, whether caused by accident, inadequate source or otherwise.
B. 
The Village shall have the right, without notice to water users, to shut off entirely the supply of water in particular mains or in the entire water distribution system, if necessary, for making of repairs, alterations or extensions of the water distribution systems and also to restrict the use of water as to quantity or to certain hours of the day.
A. 
No telephone, telegraph, electric light or other pole shall be placed in front of a hydrant nor within eight feet of either side of a hydrant, except by the written permission of the Superintendent of Public Works, with a copy filed in the office of the Village Clerk.
B. 
No building materials or other obstruction shall be placed in front or within 10 feet of either side of a hydrant.
A. 
Whenever an owner or his duly authorized representative is about to commence construction or improvement of premises upon which there is no water service, he may apply to the Meter Department for installation of a service pipe and water meter.
B. 
The Meter Department may install a service pipe for such purpose or purposes upon the payment of the estimated additional expense, if any, for providing the temporary water supply as well as the amount required by § 173-3 herein, for installation of a permanent water service.
C. 
In the event that it is impractical to install a meter for such temporary service, the owner or his representative shall pay an estimated charge for consumption of water, which shall be determined by the Meter Department, and a minimum deposit of $10 therefor shall be made in addition to any other charges or payments. The Meter Department may require a larger deposit which, in its opinion, shall equal the estimated consumption of water.
D. 
A refund or written application may be made where the charge of the actual consumption of water is less than the deposit. Such a refund shall be audited and paid in the same manner as other claims or bills upon certification by the Meter Department that the same is just and equitable.
A. 
Meters required.
[Amended 2-3-1997 by L.L. No. 1-1997]
(1) 
Water meters shall be installed on all premises using municipal water, except as provided in § 173-9. Such meters shall be 5/8 inch or 3/4 inch, at the discretion of the Meter Department, and one shall be purchased for each water account at the expense of the Village. The installation thereof shall be by and at the expense of the property owner, such installation to be done in accordance with the plans and specifications of said Meter Department.
(2) 
Property owners may request separate meters for each area within buildings where it is desired to provide for separate water/sewer/garbage billings for each area. Such areas may be two-family dwellings, multiple dwellings or business or office spaces, or any combination of such areas when contained within a single building, or mobile home parks.
B. 
Use of larger meters.
(1) 
Any user of municipal water who may desire a meter larger than 3/4 inch shall make application for said meter to the Meter Department, who will determine the size and style or type of meter to best serve the property.
(2) 
If permission for the installation of a meter larger than 3/4 inch is granted, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) 
The tapping of the main and the providing of the tapping gate shall be by the Village. The applicant shall be charged the rates established by the Board of Trustees for said tap.
(b) 
The applicant or his agent shall be responsible for all excavations, installations of the service line and meter and protection of the public during said excavation and installation.
(c) 
The applicant shall provide the service line and meter at his own expense.
C. 
Installation of meters.
(1) 
The service connection and the plumbing in the building to be served shall be so arranged so that the meter can and shall be placed in a horizontal position not more than three feet from the point at which the service enters the building.
(2) 
A suitable stop and waste valve or gate valve shall be installed by the owner between the point where the service enters the building and the meter. The shutoff valve shall at all times be within clear view of the meter.
(3) 
Prior to the installation of the meter, the owner shall construct and install, at his own expense and in accordance with the plans and specifications approved by the Board of Trustees, all pipes and fittings for the installation of the meter.
(4) 
On application of the owner, the Village shall furnish the meter mounting device for use by said owner in preparing his waterline for the installation of the meter. The charges for such materials shall be determined, from time to time, by resolution by the Board of Trustees.
(5) 
Where meters are installed at a point other than in a building, the owner shall furnish, at his own expense, a suitable meter pit in accordance with the plans and specifications approved by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Potsdam.
(6) 
No outlets shall be attached to the waterline below the meter connection, except such connection as is commonly referred to as a "built-in bypass."
(7) 
Built-in bypass installations are permitted for three-inch and larger meters upon written approval of the Meter Department.
(8) 
No person other than an authorized Village employee shall break a seal on a water meter without written permission of the Meter Department or make any change in or to a meter or location.
(9) 
When multiple meters are installed in a single building, it shall be the property owner's responsibility to:
[Added 2-3-1997 by L.L. No. 1-1997]
(a) 
Provide all plumbing separation services in the building and to assure there are no cross-connections between the separated systems.
(b) 
Locate meters and remove meter reader devices at locations approved by the Superintendent of Public Works.
(c) 
Notify the Village when there is a change in the number of areas being occupied and separately metered.
(10) 
The Village may, with sufficient reason, require a property owner to revert to a single meter and bill.
[Added 2-3-1997 by L.L. No. 1-1997]
(11) 
If multiple metering results in a need for additional or larger water supply line(s) to the premises, the cost of such line(s) will be the responsibility of the property owner.
[Added 2-3-1997 by L.L. No. 1-1997]
D. 
Repair of water meters.
(1) 
Where repairs to five-eighths-inch and three-fourths-inch water meters are required due to normal wear and tear, the Village shall be responsible.
(2) 
Where repairs to five-eighths-inch and three-fourths-inch water meters are required due to any other cause, the owner or consumer shall be responsible, but in no event shall the owner or consumer be responsible for more than the cost of a new meter of the same size.
(3) 
All other water meters shall be repaired or replaced by the owner or consumer at his own expense.
[Added 10-21-2002 by L.L. No. 18-2002]
Property owners with property located outside the boundaries of the Village of Potsdam and who desire water service from the Village of Potsdam shall be required to petition for annexation, and the property must be duly annexed into the Village as a condition of obtaining municipal water services. When a property owner wishes to obtain water service only to a portion of a parcel of property, the owner must request annexation for the entire parcel or subdivide the parcel. Only that portion annexed may receive municipal water services.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 173-11, Adjustment of charges, added 12-3-1964 by L.L. No. 11-1984, as amended, was repealed 8-18-1997 by L.L. No. 8-1997.