[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of New Paltz 3-12-1969 by L.L. No. 2-1969. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Sewers — See Ch. 113.
Subdivision of land — See Ch. 121.
Water conservation within improvement districts — See Ch. 138.
Water conservation — See Ch. 138A.
Zoning — See Ch. 140.
The sections herein shall be and be known as the "Rules and Regulations of New Paltz Water District."
There is hereby designated in the Town of New Paltz a public official to be known as the "Water Inspector," who shall be appointed by the Town Board and who may be an employee of the Town with other duties assigned to him.
In the absence of the Water Inspector or in the case of his inability to act for any reason, the Supervisor shall have the power, with the consent of the Town Board, to designate a person to act in behalf of the other official and to exercise all the powers conferred upon him by this chapter.
A. 
Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, ordinances or regulations or except as herein otherwise provided, the Water Inspector shall administer and enforce all the provisions of law, ordinances, rules and regulations applicable to the construction, alteration, repair and installation of water service and the location, use, occupancy and maintenance thereof.
B. 
The Town Clerk, together with the Water Inspector, shall receive applications and issue permits for the installation of water service.
C. 
The Water Inspector shall issue all appropriate notices or orders to remove illegal conditions, to require the necessary safeguards during construction and to ensure compliance during the entire course of construction with the requirements of such laws, rules and regulations. He shall make all inspections which are necessary or proper for the carrying out of his duties.
The Town Clerk shall keep permanent official records of all transactions conducted by the Water Inspector, including all applications received, permits and certificates issued, fees charged and collected, inspection reports and notices and orders issued. All such records shall be public records open to public inspection during business hours.
The following rules shall be considered as part of the contract between the Town of New Paltz and every person who takes water supplied by the New Paltz Water District, and every person using this utility shall be bound thereby, and whenever any one of said rules is violated, the right is reserved to cut off the water service with due notice.
All applications for the introduction or supply of water into any premises or for the extension of any pipe for the conveyance of water must be made in writing by the owner of the premises or his duly authorized agent on forms provided for that purpose at the office of the Town Clerk. If more than one service is desired for the same premises, a separate application shall be made for each service. The owner of such premises shall be held responsible and liable for all charges for such service and water consumption charges to said premises, to be collected, in case of default of payment, in the manner provided by the Town Law relating thereto.
Each building or other premises shall be provided with a separate and independent water service from the main; provided, however, that a group of buildings under the same tenant occupancy, use and/or exclusive control may be served by a single principal water service upon permission and terms granted by the Town Board. Where two or more branch water service lines from the main service pipe are used for separate tenants in the same premises, each branch shall be provided by the owner with proper fittings for separate and independent meter installations in the respective branches, and each such branch shall be provided with a compression stop and waste cock ahead of the meter.
All revenues derived from water service and operation of the system shall be applied towards the payment of the purchase of water, cost of operation and maintenance of plant and equipment, extensions and improvements, the payment of the principal and interest, obligations on the outstanding water bonds and the creation of a reserve for extraordinary replacements, extension and improvements of the water system.
A. 
The Town Board shall from time to time determine and fix the rates for water service connection and consumption and shall establish such periods of payment as may be desirable.
B. 
All such rates and terms of payment shall constitute a part of the rules and regulations of the Town Board relating to water service as though fully set forth herein and shall be on file in the office of the Town Clerk.
The Town Board reserves the right to change, by local law, from time to time, the rules and regulations relating to the water supply and the rates for the use of water.
A. 
All water rents, accounts or other charges relating to water service shall be a charge against the owner or agent of the premises connected with the Town water system, and such owner or agent shall be held responsible for all such accounts and charges.
B. 
In default of payment of any such charges within 60 days after becoming due, the water may be cut off such premises without further notice. Any service and consumption charge shall be a lien upon the premises served and shall be collectible as provided by Article 12 of the Town Law.
[Amended 12-30-1987 by L.L. No. 9-1987]
Any building that is to be served by the Town water system must have its plumbing checked by the Water Inspector, and the plumbing shall comply with the plumbing standards of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, latest revision.
A. 
All materials and work shall be subject to the approval of the Water Inspector. No work shall be covered until such inspection and approval shall have been made.
B. 
All inspections shall be promptly recorded by the Water Inspector in the water permit book, and he shall keep a correct plan of such waterline installed to be recorded on the water district maps.
C. 
The Water Inspector must, at all reasonable hours, have free access to all parts of the premises to which water is delivered for the purpose of inspection, examination of fixtures, et cetera, and all persons using water must, at all times, frankly and without concealment, answer all questions put to them relating to its consumption.
In case the proposed waterline passes through premises other than those making connection with the water, no connection will be made until a deed or easement, satisfactory to the Town Board, shall have been secured and filed in the office of the Town Clerk.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 137-16, Plumber's permit, was repealed 5-24-1990 by L.L. No. 9-1990.
Except where water mains cross bridges and except when variations are specifically approved by the Board, all water mains connecting with the Town water system must be lined cast-iron pipe meeting the specifications of the American Water Works Association. All proposed plans and specifications for water mains must be approved by the Town Board and installed under the supervision and inspection of the Water Inspector.
A. 
No person, firm or corporation shall install or permit to be installed any cross-connection, whether permanent or temporary, between the Town water system and any other source of supply of water.
B. 
Upon discovery of violation of this section by any person, firm or corporation, the Town water service to such person, firm or corporation shall forthwith be disconnected and remain disconnected until this section is complied with.
No owner or tenant of any premises supplied with water from the Town mains shall be permitted to furnish water to other consumers, and no multiple-consumer service shall be permitted in the same premises except as provided in § 137-8.
A. 
After the Town water system has been constructed, the installation of all service pipes between the water main and meter shall be at the expense of the owner of the premises served. When the service pipe of Type K soft copper, or such other material as may hereafter be approved as permanent, shall have been installed at the expense of the owner, such installation between the main and curb box shall be considered to be a part of the Town water system and shall be so maintained.
B. 
In the event, however, that larger or different service is requested by the owner or required by reason of the use of the property served, such larger or different service shall be installed at the expense of the owner.
C. 
All abandoned service pipes shall be shut off at the main at the expense of the owner.
D. 
Whenever leaks occur in the service pipes at any point between the main and the meter, they must be repaired immediately by the owner or agent of the premises in accordance with the previous subsections of this section. If repairs are not made within 15 days after notice of such leaks, the Town Board may shut off the water until such repairs are made.
E. 
The Town Board reserves the right to repair any leaking service pipe without notice and charge the expense thereof against the owner of the premises, to be collected in the manner provided by the rules and regulations or the provisions of the Town Law relating thereto.
F. 
All lateral or service pipes for public or private use and all necessary fixtures connected therewith shall be subject to the approval and laid under the supervision of the Water Inspector. Said pipes, et cetera, should be laid not less than four feet deep and must be kept in good repair and protected from the frost by and at the expense of the owner of the premises, as herein outlined.
A. 
All tapping of the Town water mains will be done under the direction of the Water Inspector, and no other person will be allowed to make such taps. The tapping will be done at the expense of the applicant, and the fee therefor fixed by the Board shall be paid in advance. In all cases, an approved stopcock with box and cover shall be put in at the curb or outer edge of the walk, and such curb box shall be set and kept visible and flush with the grade and put as near as practicable to the curb, at the property owner's expense, the whole to be subject to the approval of the Water Inspector.
B. 
In locations where the Town forces do not dig the road for services, notice must be left at the office of the Town Clerk on the day previous to the one on which the tapping will be required, stating the hour when the road will be open at the main and ready for tapping, giving the road number of the location and the name of the person owning or occupying the premises. In case the trench is not ready for tapping the main at the time specified, an extra charge will be made for overtime or lost time as provided in the rates and fees fixed by the Town Board. In cases where it is necessary to excavate a Town road, the appropriate application and bond must be filed with the Town Clerk.
All water service sizes shall be determined by consultation with the Town and shall be governed by its recommendation.
A. 
A minimum of three-fourths-inch diameter for house service will be used.
B. 
For services of 3/4 inch to one inch in diameter, Type K soft copper water tubing is required.
C. 
For services of 1 1/4 inch to two inches in diameter, Type K soft copper tubing or cold-drawn, semiannealed seamless red brass pipe or two-inch cement line, mechanical joint, cast-iron pipe meeting American Water Works Association specifications may be used.
D. 
For services of over two-inch diameter, a minimum of four-inch diameter cast-iron hub and spigot water pipe meeting American Water Works Association specifications with tyton joints shall be used and shall join the main with tapping a sleeve and valve to be installed by the Town Board at the expense of the property owner.
A. 
Where Type K soft copper water tubing is used, heavy flared brass fittings as approved by the American Water Works Association shall be used.
B. 
Where cold-drawn semiannealed seamless red brass pipe is used, extra-heavy red brass fittings having standard iron pipe threading shall be used.
C. 
Where cast-iron pipe, four-inch or larger is used, all fittings must be tyton or mechanical and shall meet specifications of the American Water Works Association.
D. 
Except in cases of emergency and to be consistent with the normal length of pipe sections, no joints will be allowed under the road pavement area between the corporation stop connection and the curb stop connection. All services two inches and under shall be connected to the main with a corporation stop tapped directly into the main or tapped through a tapping saddle.
E. 
All curb shutoffs on copper and brass services will be of the inverted, ground key, roundway type. Curb shutoffs on cast-iron services will be American Water Works Association approved gate valves.
F. 
Curb and valve boxes and manholes providing access to shutoffs shall be of the Town of New Paltz standard.
A compression stop and waste cock must be located inside the building as near as practicable to the wall where the service pipe enters, and the pipe shall be so arranged that the water can be drawn from them whenever there is danger of freezing.
Bypasses and the specified valves shall be provided in connection with large meters, as described in connection with the rules relating to meters and their installation.
After completion of installation and connection, all services shall be shut off at the curb box and disconnected inside, and notice of such completion shall be filed in the office of the Town Clerk on forms provided therefor.
After completion of the work and disconnection as provided in § 137-26, no person shall turn on the water until application by the owner of the premises has been filed in the office of the Town Clerk setting forth the purposes for which the water is to be used and written consent therefor given.
For any service in which any other variety of pipe shall be placed than that specified in §§ 137-21 through 137-27, the Town Board reserves the right to have the water shut off from said premises until such pipe has been installed in accordance with the rules.
Standpipes or pipes for automatic suppression of fires in buildings, which fixtures are intended only for such use, will be permitted to be attached to the Town water supply system, and no charge will be made for the use of water for such purposes. All such pipes must be provided with a suitable valve outside of the building, which shall be under the exclusive control of the Town Board. Also, in the case of standpipes, a valve must be provided, placed at the bottom of the standpipe and at each hose opening, which valve shall be sealed by the Town. In case such seals shall be broken for the extinguishment of any fire, the party breaking the seal shall immediately thereafter notify the Town Clerk, and the valve shall be resealed.
A. 
Service pipes and meters in buildings shall be located in the parts thereof best protected from frost. In buildings where there is no cellar, the pipes shall be carried to the center of the building or to an unexposed part previous to being carried upward.
B. 
In all cases where the service pipe passes through areas of basements having windows, gratings or traps open to the weather, the openings shall be closely covered and the windows and doors closed to the outside air during the cold weather. In all exposed situations, the service pipes and fixtures shall be properly wrapped with felt or other nonconducting substance if necessary to protect said service from freezing. Said protection shall be at the expense of owner, and in case he neglects to protect his service as aforesaid, the Town Board may cut off the water therefrom. It shall be the duty of the plumber to protect from frost all work done by him. He will not be released from the responsibility by having the owner of the premises or others do the work for him.
A. 
All services shall be metered, except as provided under §§ 137-32 and 137-36. Meters will not be placed in coal bins or situations not easily accessible to the meter inspector. Meters must be accessible to the Town employees at all reasonable hours.
B. 
After the meter is attached, any damage which said meter may sustain from freezing or from hot water being forced back through the meter or from any external cause will be repaired by the Town and the cost thereof charged to the owner or agent.
C. 
If meters need attention, the Town Clerk must be notified at once. No person other than Town employees shall be allowed to remove meters for repairs or for any other purpose.
D. 
All persons are forbidden to break meter seals, disconnect or in any way tamper with meters after they have been installed on the premises.
E. 
In case of any changes or additions in piping for the use of distribution of water which is not accounted for by the meter, a proper charge for such unmetered water shall be made, and in default of prompt payment thereof, on notice by the Town Clerk, the water shall be shut off from the premises.
F. 
Where the place provided for installing a meter is unsuitable, the Water Inspector may make such changes as are necessary to locate the meter in a suitable place, and the expense thereof shall be charged to the owner of the premises.
G. 
Every meter shall be provided with a compression stopcock on each side, and on all meters over one inch in diameter a suitable bypass with valves on each side of it and a locked valve on the bypass shall be provided, which installation of bypass and valve shall meet with the approval of the Town Board.
H. 
The Town Board reserves the right to attach or detach meters at any time, whenever it shall deem it expedient, and charge for the quantity of water measured or used. All water passing through a meter will be charged for, whether used or wasted.
A. 
The owner or agent of vacated premises must give notice, in writing, at the office of the Town Clerk that the water may be shut off, and said owner or agent will be held responsible for the water rate until such notice is given. The owner of any such premises shall be held liable for all charges not otherwise satisfied by tenants.
B. 
In any case where the meter has to be removed, except for temporary repairs, the service must be shut off at the curb stop. If the curb stop cannot be operated from the ground surface, it must be dug and repaired at the property owner's expense.
A. 
No person shall open, use, draw water from or in any manner interfere with any hydrant in the Town without authority from the Town Board. This prohibition shall not apply to firemen in the pursuit of their duties. No person shall break, deface, injure, remove or in any manner tamper with any hydrant or any part thereof, and no person shall open any hydrant with any wrench other than standard hydrant wrench.
B. 
No person shall erect or plant any obstruction within 3 1/2 feet of any hydrant or cause any obstruction that will in any way hinder a fire company from hooking onto or operating any hydrant. No obstruction shall be placed so as to obstruct the view of any hydrant for a distance of at least 200 feet up and down the road.
C. 
No person shall paint or in any way change the color from the standard used by the Town Board in painting hydrants.
In case of fraud, misrepresentation on the part of the applicant, abuses in the use of water, violations of any of the rules and regulations relating thereto or nonpayment of rates and charges when due, in addition to the penalties specifically provided by the rules and regulations and the Town Law, the water may be cut off without notice, and the water will not be turned on again unless satisfactory assurance shall be given that no further cause of complaint shall arise, and the payment of such fees as the Town Board may prescribe.
The Town Board reserves the right to shut off the water for alterations, extension and repairs and to stop or restrict the supply of water whenever it may be found necessary, and the Town Board shall not be held liable under any circumstances for a deficiency or failure to supply water, whether occasioned by shutting off water to make repairs, connection, extension or any other cause whatsoever.
[Amended 12-30-1987 by L.L. No. 9-1987]
The Town Board shall determine and fix the rates for water to be used for building or construction or repairs, the volume of water to be estimated upon the basis of the amount required per unit of the square area or cubic content for the various classes of construction involved. Such estimated schedule charge for such service shall be paid in advance. In lieu of a schedule charge for such service, a meter may be installed, in which case a deposit of $100 shall be required as security against damage to such meter, any surplus thereof to be applied toward the consumption charges.
A. 
No person shall install, operate or use any equipment for air conditioning or refrigeration which requires a supply of water from the Town water system without first having procured written permit therefore from the Town Board.
B. 
Application for permit shall be made to the office of the Town Clerk.
[Added 12-30-1987 by L.L. No. 9-1987]
Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a fine not exceeding $250 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 days, or both.