[Amended 2-19-2004 by Ord. No. 04-14[1]]
The provisions of this chapter and all other rules and regulations relating to the water supply system of the City of Trenton shall be enforced by the Division of Water and Sewer of the Department of Public Works.
[1]
Editor's Note: Said ordinance provided for the consolidation of the Divisions of Water and Sewer, Sewer and Water Billing under the Department of Public Works and Sewer and Water Billing under the Department of Public Works and amended the terms “Division of Water and Sewer” and “Division of Sewer,” where used in this chapter, to be replaced with “Division of Water and Sewer.”
The officers, agents and employees of the Division of Water and Sewer shall have free access at all reasonable times, and in the event of an emergency at any time, to any premises for the purpose of examining the water service. They shall have the power to reject all pipes and fixtures considered unsuitable for that purpose.
All persons who may be supplied with water from any City water main shall be responsible for keeping their service pipes and all fixtures in good order and repair and protected from frost, at their own expense.
A. 
Installations, removals and repairs at expense of property owners. Any installations, removals or repairs of pipes between the curbline and the water main shall be made by the Division of Water and Sewer without unnecessary waste of water, at the expense of the owner of the property served by the pipes on which they are made, and no claim shall be made against the City by reason of breakage of any supply or service pipe or cocks, or from damage arising from shutting off water to repair any main or making connection with any such main.
B. 
Notice of discontinuance of water service. Should it become necessary to shut off the water from any section of the City for the purpose of making changes or repairs to the water system, the Division of Water and Sewer shall endeavor to give timely notice to the consumer affected and shall, so far as is practicable, prevent inconvenience and damage arising from the making of such repairs, but failure to give notice shall not render the Division of Water and Sewer responsible or liable for damages that may result therefrom, or from any other cause.
C. 
Multiple services. Where water is supplied through one service to several houses, families or persons, the City Council may, at its discretion, either decline to furnish water until separate services are provided, or may continue the multiple supply on the condition that one person shall pay for all consumers on the same service.
D. 
Fixtures. In all occupied premises supplied under the assessed or fixture rate, all fixtures of whatever nature shall be considered as being used and shall be charged for as long as the fixtures shall remain connected with the water pipes.
E. 
Vacated premises. No claim for deduction because of a vacancy of the whole or part of any premises shall be allowed for a period of less than one month. In case of the temporary vacancy of any premises, the water shall be turned off at the curb cock by the Division of Water and Sewer upon request, in writing, by the owner of the premises or his/her authorized agent.
F. 
Supply pipe and service pipe connections. Applications for the introduction of any water supply or service or for the change of any existing water supply or service shall be made at the office of the Division of Water and Sewer by the owner of the premises or by his/her authorized agent. The application must be made upon the blank form furnished for that purpose, and the applicant must subscribe to the conditions thereon, stating fully and truly the various uses to which the water is to be applied. Upon the receipt of such application, the Division shall make or cause to be made an inspection of the premises, and shall proceed with work in accordance with the schedule of price hereinafter mentioned for service work to the curbline.
G. 
Piping to curbline. Supply and service pipes between the main and curb, including curb cock and box, shall be put in only by the Division of Water and Sewer at the expense of the property owner.
H. 
Control of pipes. Supply and service pipes between main and curb are under the exclusive control of the Division of Water and Sewer , and no person other than authorized employees of the Division shall construct, repair or otherwise change or interfere with them in any way except on order of the Division.
I. 
Failure of owner. The refusal or neglect of the owner to equip the premises with connections or fixtures of a character and quality approved by the Division of Water and Sewer shall be sufficient grounds for the refusal of the Division to connect the premises with City water supply, or to turn on the City water supply after such connection has been made.
J. 
Separate pipes required. Separate supply pipes must be laid from the main for each building. No connection by which City water may pass from a building located on one building lot to a separate building located on another shall be made.
K. 
Maximum diameter of connection. No connection larger than one inch shall be made to any main except by special permit authorized by application to the Division of Water and Sewer and at such cost in accordance with schedule prices.
L. 
Repairs. The Division of Water and Sewer shall make all repairs to supply and service pipes between curb and main. Upon notification or discovery of any street leak in supply or service pipe or stop cocks, the Division shall open the street and shut off the water. The Division shall then make repairs to such pipes, including taking up and replacing pavement, where necessary as promptly as practicable. The expense of all such repairs shall be charged and collected from the owners of premises supplied through such connections. When the cost of repairs can be immediately computed, a bill shall be rendered to the owner of the premises, and the water shall not be turned on until such bill shall be paid in full; provided, however, if in the judgment of the Division conditions demand the immediate resumption of the supply, the water may be turned on, and such expense bill shall be paid without delay or the water will be turned off.
M. 
Contractors and builders. Contractors, builders and like persons shall obtain from the Division of Water and Sewer a written permit before using any water for building purposes.
A. 
Permit required. No plumber or other persons shall be allowed to make any increase or extension to service pipes or fixtures by which City water is supplied to consumers, under assessed rate contract, without a written permit from the Division of Water and Sewer.
B. 
Returns. Plumbers shall make full and complete returns to the Division of Water and Sewer in writing, on a blank form furnished for that purpose within 48 hours after the work shall be completed, describing therein all new work placed and all additions, alterations, repairs or connections made, giving in detail the total amount of fixtures found on the premises. Every return must be full and complete in every particular.
C. 
Rules and regulations. No plumber shall leave the stopcock at curbline open nor allow the water to run on premises where new connections have been made with service pipe or when any new extension or attachment has been made in unoccupied premises. In cases where the work is a simple extension or additional attachment in premises where the water is then in use, the plumbers may leave the water on and the owner shall be charged from the date of the completion of the work.
D. 
Failure to perform work properly. Plumbers failing to perform their work, or improperly reporting the same, according to the established rules and regulations, or executing their work unskillfully or to the damage of the City water works, may be debarred from making connections with the City mains.
No person shall take or use City water from premises other than his/her own, and no person shall sell or give away City water from his/her own premises for any purpose, unless same shall have been measured through a meter or by permission of the department first obtained. City water shall not be used for filling cisterns, cesspools or surface ponds unless a written permit is first obtained from the department for which a suitable charge shall be made to be fixed by the Superintendent.
A. 
City fire hydrants. Fire hydrants are provided for the sole purpose of furnishing water for extinguishing fires and are to be opened and used only by the Fire and Water Departments of the City or by such persons as may be specially authorized by the Water Department.
B. 
Fire pump. When it is desired to supply fire pumps with City water, the owners or occupants of the property shall provide a tank or other receptacle into which the water shall be discharged, before going to the pump, and no direct connection with the street mains for this purpose shall be allowed.
A. 
Meters required.
(1) 
It shall be lawful for the Division of Water and Sewer to attach water meters together with the necessary connections to any service pipes wherever it may be deemed by the Superintendent to be advisable to do so. Payment shall be made for the amount of water consumed as indicated by the meter, in accordance with the schedule hereinafter set forth.
(2) 
Only meters which have been furnished or approved by the Division of Water and Sewer shall be installed. All meters shall be set by an authorized employee of the Division of Water and Sewer and any person or persons who shall cause to be removed, or in any way interfere with any water meter or the valves or fittings connected therewith, without permission of the Division shall be guilty of a violation of this chapter. Any damage which any meter may sustain by reason of carelessness of the owner, his/her agents or tenants of the premises, or from neglect of any of them to properly protect the same, including any damage or injury that may result from allowing the meter to become frozen or to be injured by hot water, shall be paid to the Division of Water and Sewer by the owner of the premises and in case such payment is not made, the water may be shut off from such premises and shall not be turned on again until all charges are paid.
(3) 
All City water used on any premises where a meter is installed must pass through the meter. No bypass or connection shall be made or maintained unless covered by a meter.
(4) 
If a meter at any time fails to accurately record the amount of water used, the quantity shall be determined and the charge made, based on the average amount registered during such preceding period of time prior to the date of failure as the Division of Water and Sewer may elect.
(5) 
All meters, except such as are required to be purchased by water users, shall be and remain the property of the City, and may be removed whenever the Division may decide to do so.
B. 
Test of meters.
(1) 
The accuracy of the meter on any premises shall be tested by the Division upon written request of the owner or occupant, who shall pay in advance a fee of $2 to cover the cost of the test. If on such test the meter shall be found to register over 3% more water than actually passes through it, another meter shall be substituted therefor and the fee of $2 shall be repaid to the owner or occupant of the premises, and the Division of Water and Sewer may adjust the water bills for the current quarter in such manner as may be deemed equitable.
(2) 
No person shall interfere with or change location of or remove any water meter. All such work must be done by the Division of Water and Sewer. In case of any irregularity in the operation of a meter, notice must be given at once to the Division of Water and Sewer.
C. 
Properties to be metered. Meters shall be required for the following users of water:
(1) 
All places using steam or hot water for power.
(2) 
Yard hydrants or outside fixtures.
(3) 
Swimming pools, whether public or private.
(4) 
Photography studios.
(5) 
Living stables and public garages.
(6) 
Laundries, including coin-operated laundromats.
(7) 
Soda fountains and drugstores.
(8) 
Hotels and office buildings.
(9) 
Saloons and taverns.
(10) 
Barbershops.
(11) 
Bottling places.
(12) 
Bakeries and confectioneries.
(13) 
Markets.
(14) 
Coal yards.
(15) 
All premises served under schedule C, Suburban Rates, hereinafter set forth.
D. 
Meter orders.
(1) 
When a meter is ordered or a replacement is requested inside of a building, it is a requirement that shutoff valves be installed at each side of the meters at the following distances apart:
(a) 
Three-fourths-inch meter: 18 inches.
(b) 
One-inch meter: 18 inches.
(c) 
One-and-one-half-inch meter: 24 inches.
(d) 
Two-inch meter: 24 inches.
(2) 
When the valves have been affixed, the meter shall be placed as soon as possible after the water user has called the Meter Department informing it of the installation of the valves.
[Amended 2-5-2004 by Ord. No. 04-6]