This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Water Service Ordinance of the City of Auburn, New York."
A. 
It is the intent of the City of Auburn to continue to furnish an adequate supply of pure and wholesome water to the residences and business and industrial establishments in the City of Auburn and its immediate vicinity and also to supply sufficient water with sufficient pressure in its water supply system to adequately protect the buildings in the City from damage or destruction by fire and to permit the residents of the City to have the protected rate of the fire rating organizations on their fire insurance for both their buildings and personal property.
B. 
This chapter is therefore enacted in order that the water supply system shall be properly maintained, improved and extended primarily for the benefit of the water users and taxpayers within the City limits.
This chapter shall be applicable to all property and water users within the City, and the terms of this chapter shall be applicable to all water users outside of the City as terms of a contract in accordance with which water is to be supplied to such outside users.
The rules and regulations set forth in this chapter shall be considered a part of the contract of any person who obtains water from the City, and every such person shall be considered as having expressed his or her consent to be bound thereby.
Every person desiring a supply of water through the City water mains must make application at the office of the Water Department for a service pipe and connection with the City's mains. Such application shall be made in writing upon blank forms furnished by the Water Department and must be signed by the owner of the property or his or her duly authorized agent.
A. 
Responsibility. All service connections with the City mains and service pipes from said mains to approximately two feet back of the curbline, or gutter line where there is no curb, including the stop or curb cock or valve and box for the same, shall be put in and installed only by properly authorized employees of the Water Department acting under the direction of the Superintendent of the Department at the expense of the owner.
B. 
Costs. The owner of the property shall be charged the actual cost of all labor and materials entering into such service connections, plus a reasonable percentage for overhead and use of tools, including also the repaving and maintenance of the roadway until restored to a condition equal to the existing roadbed before the excavation was made.
C. 
Required depth. The owner receiving a permit for the introduction of a water service into his or her premises will be required to cause such service to be placed not less than four feet below the surface of the earth at any place between the water main and the street and the inside of the foundation wall of the building into which the water service is introduced.
D. 
Connection of service pipes to water main. All service pipes from the water main must be connected with the main by a separate pipe of not less than 3/4 inch in diameter.
E. 
Service pipes to be of copper material; exception. All service pipes must be of Type K copper material or equivalent, except service pipes of diameter of four inches or larger may be of ductile or cast-iron pipe.
F. 
All service pipes 25 years or older and not of Type K copper may be required to be replaced by the City at the expense of the owner.
No person shall make any connection with the curb cock or valve, or extend the same to the meter, located either at the curb or within the cellar, except an employee of the Water Department, acting under the direction of the Superintendent, a duly licensed plumber or a person having a special permit from the Water Department.
A. 
Owner's responsibility. The owner of property into which water is introduced by a service pipe shall be required to install and maintain, in perfect order, at his or her own expense, the service pipe from the principal main to the meter on or for his or her premises, including all fixtures therein provided for delivering or supplying water for any purpose.
B. 
Authority of Water Department. In case such service and fixtures are not so kept in repair, the Water Department may make all necessary repairs, and renewals, or parts thereof. The expense of such work, and all materials and labor required, shall be paid to the City by the owner.
The plumber designated and employed by the owner of the premises shall be considered the agent of such owner while employed in the prosecution of the work of introducing water into said premises and not as the agent of the Water Department. The City shall not be responsible for the acts of such plumber.
No person except a duly authorized employee of the Water Department shall open, close or in any way interfere with any valve or gate in any water main, conduit or street pipe.
Any person who has disturbed or displaced a valve box so that the valve stem cannot be reached by a key, or who has covered a valve box or manhole cover of a valve chamber with dirt, paving, plank or other material, shall immediately remove the obstruction or, if necessary, pay the City for the cost of replacing the valve box.
Officers or employees of the Water Department, upon presentation of proper credentials, may enter upon any premises where City water is being supplied or upon any premises when application is made for a permit to connect plumbing with the City water main for the purpose of installing, reading, removing or repairing meters, or for inspecting the plumbing and fixtures of the water service, and all work in connection with such service.
A. 
Generally. The Water Department shall have the right to limit the amount of water furnished to any consumer should circumstances deem to warrant such action, although no limit may be stated in the application or permit for use, or the Water Department may entirely shut off the water supply used for any manufacturing purpose, or for furnishing power, or for lawn sprinkling, at any time, by giving reasonable notice to the consumer of such intended action.
B. 
Repairs; new work. In the case of making or constructing new work, in making repairs or leakage tests, the right is reserved to shut off the water from any consumer, without notice, for as long a period as may be necessary.
Neither the Water Department nor the City shall be liable for any damage which may result to any person or premises from shutting off the water from any main or service, for any purpose whatever, even in cases where no notice is given.
The Water Department shall not be liable for any damage or loss of any name or kind, to property or persons, which may arise from, or be caused by, any change, either increase or decrease, in pressure of water supplied from any cause whatever.
No person shall open any fire hydrant or to draw water therefrom except under the direction of the Water Department or the Fire Department.