[Amended 8-13-1981 by Ord. No. MC-1766; 12-9-1993 by Ord. No.
MC-2963]
All applications for permits for the introduction or increased
use of water shall be made on forms furnished for that purpose by
the Department of Finance and shall be signed by the owner or his
duly authorized agent. Such permits shall be granted upon the condition
and understanding that the City is empowered to shut off or discontinue
water service or supply for any of the reasons set forth in this Part
1 or in any other provisions of this Code, and that if, for any cause,
the supply of water should fail or be restricted or shut off, the
City shall not be held responsible for any damages which may be claimed
of the City as a result thereof.
All houses, dwellings and stores and improvements on land in
the City requiring water from the City water main shall be equipped
with a separate and individual water service line or pipe to be connected
with the City water main in the street in front of or alongside such
lands or premises. Such installation shall be at the expense of the
property owner.
[Amended 8-13-1981 by Ord. No. MC-1766; 1-23-1997 by Ord. No.
MC-3269; 6-12-2018 by Ord. No. MC-5117]
A.
In the event of a property owner discontinuing the use of any service pipe now or hereafter laid, he or his authorized agent shall first obtain a street opening permit from the Division of Capital Improvements and Project Management, pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 735, Streets and Sidewalks. Should the property owner fail to comply with the requirements of this section, having been served with notice, the City may perform the necessary work and cause the costs therefrom to be collected from the property owner. In addition, the property owner may be subject to the penalty provisions of § 840-43 of this Part 1.
[Amended 8-13-1981 by Ord. No. MC-1766]
A.
No plumber or other person shall introduce a ferrule into any water main or form any connection or communication whatever with any such main without first obtaining a permit therefor from the Department of Administration. Such permit shall be in addition to and not in lieu of the street opening permit required under Article VI (§ 735-22 et seq.) of Chapter 735 of this Code.
[Amended 12-9-1993 by Ord. No. MC-2963]
B.
The permit shall set forth (among other things) the size of the ferrule
to be used, and no such plumber or other person shall introduce or
use a ferrule of a larger diameter than is specified in said permit.
The Department of Public Works shall furnish the ferrule (of the size
specified in the permit) and shall cause the opening into said water
main to be drilled and said ferrule to be inserted therein. The permittee
shall pay for the cost of the ferrule and for the insertion thereof
in accordance with the schedule therefor as ascertained and prescribed
by the Director of Public Works, except where the City has previously
detached the ferrule for the purpose of making alterations to the
water main.
[Amended 4-16-2009 by Ord. No. MC-4460]
[Amended 8-13-1981 by Ord. No. MC-1766; 12-9-1993 by Ord. No.
MC-2963; 4-16-2009 by Ord. No. MC-4460]
Whenever an attachment of a water service line or pipe is required
to be made into the water main, at least one day's notice shall be
given to the Department of Public Works or the Department of Administration
prior to breaking the ground for that purpose.
[Amended 8-13-1981 by Ord. No. MC-1766; 4-16-2009 by Ord. No.
MC-4460]
No plumber or other person shall open, close or in any way interfere
with any of the public stopcocks or valve gates in the water main
without first being duly authorized by the Department of Public Works.
[Amended 11-24-1999 by Ord. No. MC-3535; 2-14-2017 by Ord. No. MC-5028]
The property owner supplied with water from any of the City
water mains shall be responsible for the maintenance of the water
service lines and all appurtenances from the street curb to the property/premises
serviced, including, but not limited to, the curb stops. The City
shall maintain responsibility for all service lines that are on the
street side of the curbline.
[Amended 2-14-2017 by Ord. No. MC-5028]
A.
Curb stops or curb cocks used on water service lines or pipes shall
be for the exclusive use of the City, and no person, except authorized
officers or employees of the City or duly authorized licensed plumbers,
shall interfere in any way with them.
B.
The curb stops shall be connected with the service pipe within the
sidewalk at or near the curbline.
C.
All curb stops shall be enclosed and protected by an iron service
extension valve box of a design approved by the Department of Public
Works, and said valve box, as well as the water service pipe, shall
be kept in repair by the owner of the property.
D.
Said valve box shall not be disturbed or displaced by any person
so that the valve stem cannot be reached by a key, nor shall any person
cover a valve box or manhole with dirt, paving or other material.
F.
Any expense incurred by the Department of Public Works in turning
off the water on account of leakage or nonpayment of water rents or
charges or in repairing the curb stops or valve boxes or meter pits
shall be reimbursed by the property owner before the water is turned
on again. Under no circumstances shall a duly licensed plumber part
with the possession of a key for the turning on or off of water except
to an authorized employee of the Department of Public Works.
G.
The owner of the premises shall keep meter pits, curb stops, and
valves in good condition so that such meter pits, curb stops, and
valves are fully accessible for servicing. No landscaping or other
obstructions shall prohibit access to meter pits, curb stops, and
valves.
[Amended 8-13-1981 by Ord. No. MC-1766; 1-23-1997 by Ord. No.
MC-3269]
No person shall make any opening or excavation in any paved street for the purpose of making a connection or repair to any water pipe without first obtaining a permit therefor. Such permit shall be in addition to the street opening permit required under Article VI (§ 735-22 et seq.) of Chapter 735 of this Code.
A.
No person shall, at any time, obstruct the free access to any water
meter, curb stop, curb box, valve, fire hydrant or other fixtures
connected with or to the City water supply system by placing, causing
or permitting thereon or within 10 feet thereof stone, brick, lumber,
dirt or any other material.
B.
The Department of Public Works may give written notice to remove such obstruction, and upon failure to comply with the notice, the City shall cause removal thereof and shall be entitled to collect the costs of such removal from the violator. The collection of such costs shall be in addition to the penalty imposed under § 840-43 of this Part 1.
[Amended 8-13-1981 by Ord. No. MC-1766; 1-23-1997 by Ord. No.
MC-3269; 4-16-2009 by Ord. No. MC-4460]
[Added 8-8-2023 by Ord. No. MC-5462A]
A.
CITY
CONTRACTOR
DEPARTMENT
DWELLING
DWELLING UNIT
LEAD SAFE
LEAD SERVICE LINE
OCCUPANT
OWNER
Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
The City of Camden.
A licensed vendor that contracts with the City of Camden
to replace lead service lines.
The City of Camden's Department of Code Enforcement.
A building or structure or part thereof containing one or
more dwelling units. This chapter shall also apply to buildings and
structures that are not used for residential purposes.
Any room or group of rooms or any thereof located within
a building and forming a single habitable unit with facilities which
are used or designed to be used for living, sleeping, cooking, eating
or bathing.
Any condition that does not allow access or exposure to lead,
in any form, to the extent that adverse human health effects are possible.
The waterline made of lead or lead materials on private property
that leads to the structure or building that is connected to the main
City of Camden waterline.
A person or persons in actual possession of and living in
the building or dwelling unit.
Any person who has legal title to any dwelling, with or without
accompanying actual possession thereof; or, who has equitable title
and is either in actual possession or collects rents therefrom; or
who is executor, executrix, trustee, guardian, or receiver of the
estate or the owner, or as mortgagee or as vendee in possession wither
by virtue of a court order or by agreement or voluntary surrender
of the premises by the person holding legal title, or as collector
of rents has charge, care or control of any dwelling or rooming house.
B.
Lead service lines prohibited. Pursuant to and in accordance with
N.J.S.A. 58:12A-40 et seq., it is hereby established that the existence
of lead or lead material service lines is prohibited in the City of
Camden.
C.
Mandatory replacement of lead service line; exclusion from requirement;
proof required.
(1)
A property owner and/or occupant may be excluded from the mandatory
replacement of its lead service line by providing the Department with
written proof from a licensed and certified plumber that it does not
have a lead service line on its property and/or that the lead service
line was previously removed and replaced.
(2)
The owner of any dwelling, building or structure serviced by
a lead service line is required to replace the lead service line on
their property. The owner and/or occupant may undertake the replacement
of the lead service line on their own provided such replacement is
completed within six months of the effective date of this section.
An extension of time may be granted by the Director of the Department
where the owner and/or occupant can demonstrate, to the Department,
that a good faith effort has been made to comply with this section.
(3)
The owner and/or occupant of any dwelling, building or structure
shall replace their lead service line by any of the following methods:
(a)
Signing up for the lead service line replacement program offered
by the City of Camden and allowing contractors to access the property
to conduct the replacement. The contractor will provide the owner
and/or occupant with a right of entry form for completion. The right
of entry form will provide the contractor with access to the property
to verify the existence of a lead service line and replace said line;
or
(b)
Replacing the lead service line on their own and at their own expense, subject to the timing restrictions set forth in this Subsection C. An owner and/or occupant is required to provide the Department with proof that the lead service line has been replaced. Proof must include, at a minimum, a permit issued by the Department to a licensed plumber authorized to do the work; an invoice from the contractor who completed the work; a copy of the estimate along with any report of the work completed; and an inspection report verifying the removal.
D.
Authorization to access property. Notwithstanding Subsection C above, if an owner of the dwelling, building or structure does not sign up for the lead service line replacement program or does not replace its lead service line prior to the time frame set forth in Subsection C (or within the time frame provided for in an extension) or is inaccessible or otherwise denies access to the property to enable the replacement of the line, then the following procedures shall apply:
(1)
The City shall secure entrance to the property from the owner
or current occupant of the dwelling, building or structure, and the
City shall incur no liability from the owner. The contractor, to the
best of its ability, will provide the owner and/or occupant with a
right of entry form for completion. The right of entry form, which
may be completed by an occupant who is not an owner of the property,
will provide the contractor with access to the property to verify
the existence of a lead service line and replace said line. The City
shall restore the property to its original condition or as close as
possible to its original condition;
(2)
If access is granted by the occupant of the dwelling, building
or structure, then the occupant shall be held harmless and no liability
shall incur to the City or occupant due to the replacement of the
lead service line by the City of Camden; and
(3)
If access is denied by the current occupant or owner, the City
shall commence procedures, including filing a court action, to conduct
the replacement of the lead service line.
E.
Penalty. Noncompliance with the provisions of this section by any
person or corporation, and officers of any corporation, shall be punishable
by a daily fine of at least $250 but not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment
for a term not exceeding 90 days or by a period of community service
not to exceed 90 days.
