Every person who shall be supplied with water
by the Department of Water and Wastewater must agree to comply and
must comply with this chapter, and the same shall constitute a part
of the contract existing between such person and the Department of
Water and Wastewater.
A.
Violations.
[Amended 12-27-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-23]
(1)
Failure
to comply with the terms of this chapter shall be a violation as defined
by the Penal Law of the State of New York and shall be punishable
by a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 15 days
for each day of violation, or by both such fine and imprisonment,
or by a penalty of not less than $350 nor more than $1,000 for each
day of violation to be recovered by the City in a civil action.
(2)
A separate
offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which noncompliance
with the terms of this chapter occurs or continues unabated after
the time limit set for abatement of the violation.
(3)
Any
person issued a notice of violation pursuant to any provision of this
chapter shall be subject to an administrative fee of $50, and such
administrative fee shall be charged against the land upon which the
notice of violation was issued as a municipal lien or such administrative
fee shall be added to the tax rolls as an assessment or levied as
a special tax against said property or recovered in a civil suit against
the person to which the notice of violation was issued.
B.
In case any provision of this chapter is not complied
with at any premises or the owner of any premises fails to do any
matter required to be done by the owner in accordance with this chapter
or such owner fails to make any payments of money payable to the City
or Department of Water and Wastewater under or in accordance with
this chapter or any payment of water rents or rates due to the City
or Department of Water and Wastewater for the supply of water, or
otherwise with reference to such premises, the Department of Water
and Wastewater may shut off the water supply from such premises until
such provisions of this chapter are complied with, such matter is
done and such payments are made, and when any water supply is so shut
off, no advance payment made to the City or Department of Water and
Wastewater for the supply of water at such premises or any part of
such payment need be refunded by reason of such shutting off of such
water supply.
C.
Further, if any provision of this chapter is not complied
with by the property owners and water is not shut off and any such
work is done by the Department of Water and Wastewater on any property,
to properly take care of the interest of the Department of Water and
Wastewater, said Department may bill the owner of such property, and
if such bills are not paid, same may become a lien on property and
collection made as provided by § 95 of the Second Class
Cities Law.
Employees of the Department of Water and Wastewater,
upon presentation of their badge, may enter and must be permitted
to 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 water pipes, for the purpose of inspecting the plumbing and
fixtures of the water service and all work in connection with such
service.
A.
Water shall not be allowed to run to prevent freezing
in the service pipes or their attachments or for the purpose of flushing
soil pipes or sewers or for any other purpose on the premises other
than those paid for or indicated in the application for the same and
which are allowed by this chapter. Faucets must be kept properly packed
and all other fixtures in repair, so as to prevent leaks.
B.
The Department of Water and Wastewater may shut off
the supply of water from the premises for failure to comply with this
section and until compliance is had herewith.
No person except an employee of the Department
of Water and Wastewater shall open or 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 a manhole cover of a valve chamber with
dirt, paving, planks or other material shall immediately replace the
valve box and remove the obstruction.
A.
Water may be shut off by the Water and Wastewater
Department from any service or main for the purpose of making or constructing
new work or making repairs in the water system or of enforcement of
payment of moneys or charges due to the City or the Water and Wastewater
Department for water supply and for other matters in accordance with
this chapter. In case of making or constructing new work or in making
repairs, the right is reserved to shut off the water from any consumer
without notice for as long a period as may be necessary.
B.
Except as otherwise stated in this chapter, a two-day
written notice will be given to the owners of the premises, as shown
by the latest assessment rolls of the City, by mail addressed to owner
at such premises before the water is shut off for nonpayment or violation
of rules. It is understood and agreed, however, that, the Water and
Wastewater Department or the City shall not be liable for any damage
which may result to any person or premises from the shutting off of
the water from any main or service for any purpose whatever, even
in cases where no notice is given.
C.
When the water supply has been shut off for a failure
to comply with these rules and regulations, it shall not again be
turned on, except by the Water and Wastewater Department, until compliance
is made with these rules and regulations in the matter and payment
made by the owner of the premises concerned to the City Treasurer
or the Water and Wastewater Department of all expenses incurred by
said Department in so shutting off such water supply. An additional
charge of $200 will be made for shutting off or turning on a water
service. All charges must be paid in advance.
[Amended 12-27-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-23]
D.
Whenever the Water and Wastewater Department is required
to shut down a water main in order to facilitate a new connection
or for a contractor or plumber to make a repair, a charge of $750
is imposed for the shutting off and turning on of the water main.
Such charge shall be paid in advance of the shutdown.
[Amended 12-27-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-23]
The Water and Wastewater Department or its employees
or the City shall not be liable for any damage resulting from the
sudden shutting off of the supply of water from any steam boiler or
from any fixture deriving its supply from the City waterworks.
The City or the Water and Wastewater Department
shall not be liable for any damage or loss of any kind, to property
or persons, which may arise from or be caused by any change in or
increase of water pressure from any cause whatever.
Any plumber wishing to do business in connection
with the City waterworks system must file with the Director of the
Department of Water and Wastewater a bond in the sum of $5,000, executed
by such plumber, with one or more sureties, satisfactory to said Director
of the Department of Water and Wastewater, conditioned to indemnify
and save harmless the City against and from all damages and losses
which may result from the work of said plumber being done carelessly
or imperfectly, in such a way that injury or loss results to persons
or property thereby or by reason of his failing to comply with all
and singular the rules and regulations as they now are or may hereafter
be prescribed by the Director of the Department of Water and Wastewater
or with any ordinances of the Council in relation to making excavation
in public streets or with any provision of the Charter of the City
or the laws of second class cities, and if at any time the Water and
Wastewater Department shall so require, said plumber shall furnish
additional or other sureties to said bond or furnish a new bond. The
Water and Wastewater Department may refuse to recognize or to grant
permits to any plumber who shall have violated any of the provisions
of these rules and regulations. No person shall be deemed a bonded
plumber within the meaning of the provisions of these rules and regulations
unless he is a duly registered plumber holding a certificate of competency
from the Examining Board of Plumbers of the City.
Bonded plumbers will be required to have bonds
renewed annually upon their expiration.
The plumber designated and employed by the owner
of the premises will be considered the agent of such owner while employed
in the execution of the work of introducing water into said premises
and, in no case, as the agent of the Water and Wastewater Department;
neither will said Water and Wastewater Department or the City be responsible
for the acts of such plumber.
All work on connecting the supply pipes and
fixtures shall be done only by the employees of the Water and Wastewater
Department or by plumbers bonded with the Water and Wastewater Department,
as provided hereinafter.
Applications for permits to connect service
or supply pipes with either the City mains or curb connections must
be made, in writing, at the office of the Water and Wastewater Department
by the owner of the premises, or the owner's agent, on blank forms
prepared for that purpose, which application shall specify the particular
uses for which water is required. The owner or owner's agent must
furnish the Water and Wastewater Department with the correct street
or lot number as taken from deed, and the water rent in connection
with such permits must be paid in advance by the building contractor
or owner making application. Water supply connection to the City mains
will not be made or tapped by the Water and Wastewater Department
without receipt for advance payment of water rents, as shown on the
application permit.
Application to the Water and Wastewater Department
must be made for any additional plumbing fixtures, whether the service
is metered or not, and the water rates for any additional fixture
or any desired change in fixtures or use of water shall commence from
the time of issuing or granting of permit and must be paid in advance
by the owner or agent making application for installing such fixtures.
Issuance of a permit for installation of additional plumbing fixtures
will not be made without advance payment of revised fixture charges.
Application must be made for a permit, and such
permit granted, for any desired change in or discontinuance of the
use of any fixture on any water service before any such change or
discontinuance is made. The charge for the use of water from the fixtures
will continue unchanged until the plumber making such change or discontinuance
has returned said permit to the office of the Water and Wastewater
Department and certifies that the change or discontinuance has been
made. In case of neglect of such plumber to promptly return such permit,
he shall pay a fine, for the use of the City, equal to the excess
of charges for supply of water over the amount that would be charged
if such permit were returned in due time, for water from the fixtures
from the time of issuing until the returning of the permit to the
Water and Wastewater Department, and all further such permits may
be refused to the owner until such fine is paid.
[Amended 12-27-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-23]
No person other than a regular employee of the Water and Wastewater Department shall be permitted to tap with any City main or distribution pipe, and any other person or persons who shall tap or make any connection with any City main or distribution pipe shall be subject to the penalty provisions of § 255-2, and the water will be shut off from such unauthorized tap or connection.
[Amended 12-27-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-23]
No tap or connection with any City main shall
be made until there has been paid to the Water and Wastewater Department
the sum of $200.
After receiving a permit for the opening of
any water service trench which requires the insertion of a tap in
the main with which to connect said service, the plumber doing the
work shall notify the Water and Wastewater Department, 24 hours in
advance, of his desire to have the tap inserted in the water main
and shall definitely designate the name of the street and the house
or lot number where the tap is to be inserted, the name of the owner
or applicant and the hour when the trench will be open and ready for
tapping.
A.
All service connections to premises, including fire
service, of larger size than a one-inch tap installed on street mains
where approved for use, shall be not less than four inches nominal
diameter, of a type, material and size made with standard or patented
cut-in fittings and connections as specified and/or approved by the
Department of Water and Wastewater.
[Amended 12-27-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-23]
B.
All such services shall have an approved gate valve
installed in the service line adjacent to the street main, which gate
valve shall be controlled, inspected and maintained by the Department
of Water and Wastewater.
C.
A permit for a cut-in service connection to the main
will be issued upon payment, in advance, of scheduled charges for
the connection cut, at rates established by the Department of Water
and Wastewater for cutting the street main. All materials other than
the street gate box and cover shall be furnished by the owner or contractor
and assembled to the main in an approved manner by a bonded plumber.
The use of unapproved fittings, gate valves or improper installation
at the location shall be cause for cancellation of the permit.
D.
No estimate of the cost of installation or discontinuance
of any connection, other than scheduled charges, under these rules,
given by the Department of Water and Wastewater shall be binding upon
the Department of Water and Wastewater or the City of Schenectady.
E.
An annual charge, for inspection and maintenance service,
of $150 shall be billed to the owner of the premises of the first
days of January, April, July and October of each year for each service
connection of four inches and larger, whether such service is active
or discontinued, unless the gate valve on the street main is physically
removed and the connection to the street main capped or sleeved by
the Department of Water and Wastewater to restore the street main
substantially to its original condition. Requests for discontinuance
of large services shall be made in writing, and costs incurred in
the removal of service will be billed to the owner upon completion
of street main restoration by the Department of Water and Wastewater.
Additional costs, such as defective and worn parts replacement or
reconditioning of a service installation to restore the original operability
of the connection between the street main and premises, exclusive
of service lateral, shall be prepared and billed by the Department
of Water and Wastewater to the owner of the premises, notwithstanding
change of title transfer of property between the installation date
and the date of such repair to the defective connection.
A.
The service must be Type K soft copper tubing or suitable
alternative material as approved by the City, connected with the tap
and extending at right angles with the main to the inside of the property
line of the land or building served and connected with a curb cock.
B.
The service on new installations shall be of one-inch
minimum diameter.
C.
Said service shall have an excess of length of not
less than 18 inches above the length required to connect to the tap
in the main and the curb cock, so as to procure a slack, the greater
part of which shall occur near the tap, which slack may be used up
in case of any settling of the material used in backfilling the trench
without breaking the tap or service. The joints shall be packed compression
type. All workmanship connected with said service shall be approved
satisfactory to the Department of Water and Wastewater.
D.
The corporation cock, curb cock and curb box must
be procured from the Department of Water and Wastewater, and water
will not be turned on for service in which these fittings have been
supplied from any other source.
E.
The service from the curb cock into the premises must
be Type K soft copper (ASTM STD B-88-62) or suitable alternative material
as approved by the City. The above service shall be of one-inch minimum
diameter on new installations.
A.
Just inside the basement or foundation wall of the
building into which the service pipe extends, a stop and waste cock
shall be conveniently located and arranged so that the water may be
drawn back, and all of the pipes within the building shall be emptied
through such stop and waste cock. Said waste cock must be kept open
at all times when the service is not in use.
B.
All of the pipes connected to the service inside the
building shall be laid with an inclination toward the point in the
basement where the stop and waste cock is located and without any
sags or pockets, so that the pipes may be thoroughly emptied when
the waste cock is opened.
In all places where steam boilers or hot-water
tanks are supplied with water from the City water mains, the owner
or consumer must see that the plumber places, and it is hereby required
that there be placed, a suitable safety valve or vacuum valve or other
proper devices to prevent damages from collapse or explosion when
the water is shut off.
In no case, except in that of mills or factories,
shall permission be granted to supply two or more premises from a
single tap, nor shall there be more than one service supply pipe to
any premises without special permission, in writing, from the Director
of the Department of Water and Wastewater.
No person shall supply water, in any manner
or through any fixtures or devices whatever, to the occupants of neighboring
premises of any description except by special written permit from
the Department of Water and Wastewater.
Service pipes will be required to be laid so
as to be no less than five feet below the surface of the earth at
any point outside of the foundation wall of the building into which
the service is to be introduced, and in case the final grade of the
street or sidewalk has been officially determined and established,
then said service pipe shall be laid at a depth of not less than five
feet below said established grade at all points, so that, when the
street and walk are graded, there shall be not less than a five-foot
covering of earth over it at every point.
In no case shall a service pipe be permitted
to be laid in the same trench with a sewer, gas, steam, electrical
or other conduit.
All curb boxes shall be installed back of the
property line.
The Department of Water and Wastewater may require
an inspection to be made by an inspector from said Department of each
service pipe and trench before any backfilling is done and may refuse
to turn on water where backfilling is done before said inspection
is made or where the work does not fulfill the requirements of these
rules and regulations in every particular.
[Amended 12-27-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-23]
The owner of property into which water is introduced
by a service pipe will be required to maintain, in perfect order,
at his own cost and expense, said pipe from the corporation cock or
street main to his own premises, including all fixtures therein provided
for delivering or supplying water for any purpose, and the curb box
must be kept in view and the top thereof even with the sidewalk or
street grade at all times and in a serviceable condition. In case
such service and fixtures are not kept in repair, the water may be
shut off from the premises until the requirements of this section
are complied with, or the Director of the Department of Water and
Wastewater may arrange for the necessary repair to conform to this
section and charge the cost thereof to the owner of the property at
which this section is violated and collect such cost from the owner
of such property and shut off the water from such property until such
charges are paid.
In all premises where water from the City mains
is now supplied by a system of pipes and fixtures for water service
and where the service pipes and fixtures are not of the standard or
pattern prescribed in the rules and regulations of the Department
of Water and Wastewater or where such fixtures and devices for the
prevention of damage to the service or of waste of water, as are prescribed
in said rules and regulations, are lacking from said system, the owners
of said premises shall, at any time when so required by order of the
Department of Water and Wastewater, make such changes in and additions
to said system or fixtures for said water service as shall be necessary
in order to comply with such rules and regulations, and at their own
cost and expense. In case of failure to comply with this section at
any premises, the water may be shut off from such premises until this
section is complied with.
A.
Service pipes in buildings shall be located in the
parts thereof best protected from frost. In buildings where there
are no cellars, 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 or 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 and surrounded by a box packed also
with a nonconducting substance, if necessary, to protect said service
from freezing. Said protection shall be at the expense of the owner,
and in case he neglects to protect his service as aforesaid, the Department
of Water and Wastewater may shut off the water. It shall be the duty
of the plumber to protect from the frost, in compliance with this
section, all work done by him. He will not be released from the responsibility
as to this duty by having the owner of the premises or others protect
such work for him.
[Amended 12-27-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-23]
A.
When,
for any reason, the use of a service is discontinued, such service
shall be shut off at the corporation cock at the main by a licensed
and bonded plumber, and any branch abandoned shall be capped and,
in case this section has not been complied with, such service may
be shut off, and any such branch capped by the Department of Water
and Wastewater and all the expense connected therewith shall be borne
by the owner and chargeable against the property at which such service
was discontinued, regardless of whether or not such owner owned such
property at the time that such service was discontinued. If the owner
refuses to reimburse the Department of Water and Wastewater for services
so rendered, the water may be shut off until payment is made. Any
plumber violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. For
service discontinued at the corporation cock, the homeowner will no
longer incur water and sewer rent.
B.
Any consumer
desiring to discontinue the use of water must notify the Department
of Water and Wastewater and have a licensed and bonded plumber shut
the water off at the curb and submit a written certification to the
Department of Water and Wastewater that the water has been shut off.
No rebate will be made for any period of discontinuance of such use
less than six months from the time of turning off the water by the
bonded plumber. The fact that different portions of premises can be
shut off inside of the same building will not entitle the owner to
rebate. For service discontinued at the curb box, the homeowner continues
to incur water and sewer rents.
Standpipes or pipes for the automatic suppression
of fire in buildings, which fixtures are only intended for such use,
may be attached to the water supply. The Director of the Department
of Water and Wastewater shall approve all materials for such connection.
No charge will be made for the use of water for this purpose. The
entire cost and expense of installing the fire service shall be borne
by the owner of the premises. Under no conditions shall connection
be made with such fire-protection fixtures for the supply of water
for any other purpose. Any person making such a connection or any
owner using water from fire service fixtures for other than purposes
intended shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. There shall be a fee of
$150 for any flow test performed by the City pursuant to this section.
The owners of the premises where pipes are in
service for fire protection only shall maintain such service pipes
their entire length from the street main to the premises, and they
shall be responsible for any damage that may be caused by a leak in
such pipes or the breaking or bursting of such pipes, unless such
damage has been caused through some fault of the Department of Water
and Wastewater.
On streets where water mains are laid on both
sides, property owners shall, upon being notified in writing by the
Department of Water and Wastewater within five days, have a new service
connection made to the main lying on the side of the street nearest
their property and have service from the main on the opposite side
of the street disconnected and the corporation cock shut off at the
main. Any expense incurred in doing this work must be borne by the
property owner.
A.
Persons outside of the City limits desiring a supply
of water through a private main must agree to comply and must comply
with the rules and regulations of the Department of Water and Wastewater
and pay such rates as are prescribed and legally adopted by the City.
B.
The City may refuse any applications for water outside
the City unless the party or parties are already in an organized water
district or unless a new district is formed having officers duly appointed
to properly maintain water mains, collect water rents, payable in
advance each year, and pay same to the City Treasurer.
C.
All plumbing work must be done by properly licensed
and bonded plumbers.
D.
The water rent on any new or additional fixtures installed
must be paid for in advance, and the permit for the same must be filed
with the Department of Water and Wastewater.
E.
The Department of Water and Wastewater reserves the
right, before any outside City connection is made, to require a written
agreement. The breach of which shall permit the City to discontinue
such outside service and to cancel said agreement.
A.
Water will be furnished to builders or contractors
as such for construction purposes, only upon application to the Department
of Water and Wastewater for and receipt of a permit thereof in writing.
B.
If possible, the estimated amount of the work must
be given and payment for such water may be required by the Department
of Water and Wastewater to be made in advance, before a permit is
granted.
C.
Where necessary to make temporary connections with
fire hydrants. Standard hydrant wrenches and reducing caps supplied
by the Department of Water and Wastewater must be used, for which
a deposit equal to 110% of the current replacement cost of all equipment
supplied must be made, which deposit will be refunded if equipment
is returned in good condition.
D.
Permits under this section shall terminate on November
1 each year and may be revoked at any time by the Director of the
Department of Water and Wastewater. Any person who shall be found
guilty of using water or making connections with hydrants contrary
to the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
On all streets where no water mains are laid,
permission may be granted by the Department of Water and Wastewater
to extend a temporary line to serve such premises from a street having
water, with the understanding that the Department of Water and Wastewater
shall stand no expense of installing or be responsible in any way
for any damage resulting from such installation. It is further agreed
that, if City water mains are laid in streets having such temporary
lines, the owner or owners must disconnect these lines by shutting
off the corporation cock at the main and making new connections on
the City main, at no expense to the Department of Water and Wastewater.
A.
Relocation, removal or addition of fire hydrants at
a previously fixed location on an installed street water main, due
to changes in property status or land use, may be made by the Department
of Water and Wastewater consistent with required fire use and flows
in the area. Where such changes are made at property owner's or contractors'
request, a minimum service charge of $200 per location shall be billed
and paid in advance by the petitioner before the Department of Water
and Wastewater will schedule such relocation for completion.
B.
All street hydrants are under control of the Department
of Water and Wastewater. No person shall use a wrench for opening
hydrants for any purpose, except the Fire Department, street-cleaning
employees of the City of Schenectady or a person holding a written
permit signed by the Director of the Department of Water and Wastewater.
C.
Charges for use.
(1)
Contractors requiring water for large construction
purposes may apply for a hydrant use permit, subject to charges for
administration fee, water, connection fittings and maintenance as
required for operation and service. Hydrant wrenches and fittings
for connections and use shall be of a type specified or furnished
with the permit, subject to a deposit charge for materials so furnished
and refunded when materials are returned in good condition.
(2)
Charges shall be as follows:
(a)
Administrative fee: $200.
(b)
Minimum water charge for the first 5,000 gallons
used: $50.
(c)
Refundable deposit upon return of material in
good condition and payment of any water usage which exceeds 5,000
gallons: $1,000.
[Amended 12-27-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-23]
(d)
Water usage over 5,000 gallons will be paid
for at $5 per 1,000 gallons or portion thereof.
(3)
Projects performed for the City of Schenectady on
City of Schenectady property shall be exempt from any of the charges
under this section.
(4)
This shall become effective immediately.
D.
Any person found guilty of violating any provisions of this rule or disturbing or defacing any hydrant, or any part thereof, or taking water therefrom under any circumstances whatever shall be punished as provided in § 255-2 hereof and, in addition, shall pay to the City of Schenectady a penalty equal to the amount of damage done to said hydrant or the cost of restoring the same to its proper and original condition.
Any person placing any obstructions that would
prevent free access to any fire hydrant shall be liable to a fine
of $10 and $5 additional for every two hours such obstruction shall
remain after receiving notice thereof and, in default of payment of
such fine, to imprisonment of one day for every dollar of such fine
remaining unpaid.
No yard hydrant or standpipe will be allowed
in any yard or lot, and any such existing hydrant must be abandoned
upon notification from the Department of Water and Wastewater.
A.
Lawn sprinkling with a hose will be allowed only from
May 1 to November 1 and not to exceed four hours each day, which hours
shall be designated by the Director of the Department of Water and
Wastewater. The Director shall designate, from time to time, the hours
for such sprinkling by a notice published twice in the official newspaper
of the City.
B.
No person will be allowed to sprinkle premises opposite
or adjoining his own nor use the water from the hose attachment or
through the hose for any purpose not authorized by the terms agreed
upon with the Department of Water and Wastewater.
C.
The hose used for sprinkling must have an inside diameter
not exceeding 3/4 of an inch, and the nozzle shall have an orifice
not exceeding 3/16 of an inch, and the use of a leaky or defective
hose is prohibited.
