The Department shall specify the quality and
shall have exclusive control of supply pipes and service pipes, meters,
corporation and curb cocks, and all pipes and fixtures shall be placed
underground, at least four feet to insure against freezing.
In each building intended to be connected with
the public water supply, there shall be provided a stop and waste
cock, placed as near the front basement or foundation wall as possible
but beyond the water meter position and easily accessible in order
that water may be turned on and off and drained from the pipes in
case of accident or in order to make necessary repairs. Such stops
must be kept in good working condition, must be thoroughly protected
from freezing and must be equal in strength and quality to the curb
cock or valve set by the Department. Provision shall be made for convenient
installation of the water meter in accordance with the standard plans
of the Department.
The Superintendent may, at any time after receiving
the consent of the Mayor and Council, install a meter and charge meter
rates on any service pipes not so equipped, and, in all cases where
meters are to be installed, an inspection of the premises will be
made by the Department to determine the size of meter required, its
proper location and the manner in which it shall be set up and protected.
Meters may be sealed by the Water-Sewer Department and no one except
an authorized employee of the Department shall break or injure such
seals. No person other than authorized employees of the Department
shall change the location of, alter or interfere in any way with any
meter. Meters are and shall remain the property of the Department
and will be at all times under its control. All necessary expenses
of installing, maintaining and caring for meters shall be borne by
the Department, provided that where replacements, repairs, or adjustments
of any meter are rendered necessary by the act, neglect or carelessness
of the owner or occupant of any premises, any expense to the Department
caused thereby shall be charged against and collected from the owner
of the premises.
The owner of any premises where a water meter
is installed will be held responsible for its care and protection
from freezing and from injury to the water meter; in case of its stoppage,
injury, or imperfect working, he shall give immediate notice to office.
All Borough water used on any premises where
a water meter is installed must pass through the water meter. No bypass
or connection between the water meter and main shall be made or maintained.
The accuracy of the water meter on any premises
will be tested by the Department upon written request of the owner
who shall pay in advance a fee to cover the cost of the test. If on
such test the water meter shall be found to register over 3% more
water than actually passes through it, another water meter will be
substituted therefor, and the fee will be repaid to the owner, and
the Superintendent may adjust the water bill for the current billing
period.
When new service pipes are put into any premises,
the curb cock shall be left closed and will thereafter be opened by
the Department only upon request of the owner, which request must
be in writing if Department so requires. Under no circumstances shall
curb cocks be opened or closed by any person not an authorized employee,
except that a plumber having a permit issued by the Department for
that purpose may open a curb cock to test his work. The holder of
a permit to use water for building or any such work shall not open
or close curb cocks or otherwise interfere with same.
Borough water shall be taken and used only through
supply and service pipes established by or under the supervision of
the Department. No connection by which water may pass from one property
to another shall exist, even though the ownership of both properties
may be the same, without the written consent and approval of the Department.
Fire hydrants are provided for the sole purpose
of extinguishing fires and are to be opened and used only by the Water-Sewer
and Fire Departments of the Borough. No person shall in any manner
obstruct or prevent free access to any fire hydrant or place or store
temporarily or otherwise any object, materials, snow, debris or structure
of any kind within a distance of five feet of any hydrant. Any obstruction,
when discovered, may be removed at once by the Department at the expense
of the person responsible for the obstruction.
Owners of property desiring any unusual construction,
alterations or attachments connected with the water supply must submit
plans and specifications for the same to the Superintendent for his
inspection and approval and his determination as to whether the same
are permissible and the terms and conditions under which their use
will be allowed.
Water pipes likely to be exposed to freezing
temperatures must be effectively protected from freezing.
Excessive or unnecessary use or waste of water,
whether caused by carelessness or by defective or leaky plumbing or
fixtures, is strictly prohibited even where the service is metered.
For disregard of or repeated violation of this requirement, the water
may be turned off by the Department. Where the water has been turned
off by the Department for any reason, no person shall turn it on again
without the permission of the Department. When this rule is violated,
the water may be turned off at the main in which case the owner shall,
before it is turned on again, pay in advance the charge of the Department
therefor.
In all cases where plumbing repairs are made
in unoccupied houses, the plumber must on completion of his work leave
the curb cock closed; if he shall fail or neglect to do so, he shall
be liable for all damage occasioned thereby.
No person shall obstruct or interfere with any
curb cock, valve, meter, or fixture belonging to the Department by
placing in, on, or about it, building materials, rubbish, soil, snow
or other hindrances to easy and free access thereto.