[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council
of the Borough of Riverdale 5-4-1981 by Ord. No. 2-81; amended in its entirety 1-20-2003 by Ord. No.
1-2003. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
This chapter shall be known as the "Borough of Riverdale
Water Ordinance." The rules and regulations herein ordained, wherever
applicable, shall be taken to be and considered a part of the contract
with every person supplied with water by the Water and Sewer Department
and shall be bound hereby and by the definitions, terms and conditions
and any supplements hereto and amendments hereof.
[Amended 11-3-2008 by Ord. No. 13-2008]
B.
AGENT
DEPARTMENT
ENGINEER or BOROUGH ENGINEER
MAINS
OWNER
PREMISES
SERVICE PIPE
SUPPLY PIPE
UNIT
WATER RATES
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall
have the meanings indicated:
The occupant, in the absence of instructions from the owner
of any property or premises of his duly authorized agent to the contrary,
of any property or premises, insofar as his relations to the Department
may be concerned, with respect to water uses and existing services.
The Water and Sewer Department of the Borough of Riverdale.
[Amended 11-3-2008 by Ord. No. 13-2008]
The consulting engineer retained by the Borough of Riverdale
as the Water Engineer.
All pipes, other than supply pipes and service pipes, used
for conveying or distributing water in the Borough.
Any person, firm, corporation or association actually owning
any property or premises, which is or can be prospectively supplied
with water, or his duly authorized agent.
A single-family dwelling or an apartment house occupied by
more than one family or a building occupied for industry, business
or other purposes by one or more persons, together with the land appurtenant
thereto and such outbuildings as are used exclusively in connection
therewith or any part of a building with the land appurtenant thereto
when sold as a separate unit.
The pipe extending from the curbstop into privately owned
property or premises for supplying water thereto.
Any pipe connected to the main and extending thence to and
including the curb stop or valve at the curbline of the street.
A room or group of rooms located within a building and leased,
occupied or intended to be leased or occupied as a self-contained
dwelling or commercial entity.
Rates or prices to be charged for water furnished by the
Department to any consumer.
[Amended 11-3-2008 by Ord. No. 13-2008]
All applications for the use of Borough water
from the Borough mains or distribution pipes must be made at the Water
and Sewer Department office, Municipal Building. The applicant shall
state fully where and in what manner the water is to be used and shall
be responsible for all required construction and health permits. The
Mayor and Council reserve the right to accept or reject applications
for water. If an application is rejected, the reasons for the rejection
will be given in writing.
A.
The owner of any building located upon any public
street in the Borough in which a public water supply main is constructed
shall connect to the public water supply main within six months after
notification by the Borough of the availability of the main for connection.
B.
Where, by reason of exceptional topographic conditions
or excessive distance from the building to the water supply main,
or by reason of other extraordinary and exceptional conditions, the
strict application of this section would result in exceptional and
undue hardship upon the owner of a specific piece of property, the
Mayor and Council shall have the power, upon application, to grant
relief from the strict application of this section.
C.
Once a building is connected to the public water supply
system any private (unapproved) water source shall be abandoned.
The permit granted thereupon by the Borough
to the licensed plumber designated, who will be recognized as the
agent of the owner or applicant, shall be for the particular use applied
for and no other, and when, thereafter, any further use of water or
additional fixtures or service pipe is desired, a further application
must be made and a permit obtained.
Water charges begin when a meter is installed
and continue until notice is received giving change of ownership.
All outstanding water rents and other costs must be paid in full before
water service will be supplied.
Application will not be granted to supply two
or more houses or buildings from the same service line. Each building
must have its own service line, except by special permission of the
Mayor and Council. In any case where this special permission is granted
the Borough will not accept ownership of any pipes beyond the point
of connection with the Borough water main. The property owner shall
be responsible for maintenance of all pipes leading to the water main.
[Amended 11-3-2008 by Ord. No. 13-2008]
The setting and removing of meters connected
to the service line may only be done by the Water and Sewer Department
or any person authorized to act in its stead. This section shall not
preclude subconnection by the property owner for internal purposes.
No person shall hinder or refuse to admit any
Borough official, officer, inspector, foreman or other authorized
employee of the Department, upon presentation of a badge or other
credentials to any premises supplied with Borough water, for the purpose
of making inspection thereof, including the examination of the entire
water supply and plumbing system upon such premises.
[Amended 11-3-2008 by Ord. No. 13-2008]
In the event of breakage, failure, irregular
pressure or accident to the Water and Sewer Department system, or
any part thereof, or shutting off for extensions or repairs or other
causes, or in the event of loss of water pressure in the system, the
Borough shall not be liable to said customers for any damages or inconveniences
resulting therefrom.
A.
Each applicant for a service connection to the water
system of the Borough of Riverdale shall pay the current connection
charges at the time the application is made.[1]
[Amended 7-16-2007 by Ord. No. 10-2007; 7-21-2014 by Ord. No. 7-2014; 4-22-2015 by Ord. No.
3-2015]
|
Service
(inches)
|
Adminstrative Charge
|
Meter
|
|---|---|---|
|
3/4
|
$150
|
$300
|
|
1
|
$250
|
$400
|
|
1 1/2
|
$400
|
$650
|
|
2
|
$500
|
$750
|
|
3
|
$1,000
|
$2,500
|
|
4
|
$1,200
|
$3,500
|
|
6
|
$2,100
|
$5,000
|
|
8
|
$2,500
|
$7,000
|
|
12
|
$4,500
|
$10,000
|
B.
In addition to the above charges, the applicant shall
also be liable for the cost of making of a tap in the main, the furnishing
of all materials from the main to and including the curb box, the
water meter, and the installation of the service line from the water
main to and including the curb box. All excavations, street openings,
trenching and backfilling shall be done by the applicant at his own
cost and expense.
C.
The materials used, except the water meter which shall
be purchased from the Borough, shall meet the approval of the Water
Department of the Borough of Riverdale.
[Amended 11-3-2008 by Ord. No. 13-2008; 9-9-2009 by Ord. No.
12-2009]
D.
Where a water connection involves excavation in any
street, either municipal, county or state, the application will not
be accepted until the applicant has secured a street opening permit
from the proper authorities.[2] A change in the size of the water connection shall be
deemed to be a new connection to the water system.
A.
All service pipes shall be laid at least four feet
below the surface of the ground at all points to ensure safety against
frost. Service pipes of one inch, 1 1/2 inches and two inches
shall be annealed Type K copper tubing.
B.
Service pipe for sizes four inches, six inches and
eight inches shall be A.W.W.A. specification Class 52 cement lined
ductile iron.
C.
No service shall be backfilled until inspection and
approved by the Water and Sewer Department.
[Amended 11-3-2008 by Ord. No. 13-2008]
D.
All persons taking water shall keep their own service
pipes, stop cocks and apparatus in good repair and protected from
frost at their own expense and shall protect the meter from frost
and damage at their own expense.
E.
In case of necessity to renew the service from curb
box to meter, all costs for such renewal, including trenching, street
opening, fittings and pipe or tubing, are to be at the property owner's
expense, and all work is to be done by the property owner under the
supervision and inspection of the Water and Sewer Department. Leaks
in service pipes are to be repaired at the property owner's expense.
Where property owner fails to repair such leaks, the Water and Sewer
Department will do so and charge the property owner for any expenses
involved.
[Amended 11-3-2008 by Ord. No. 13-2008]
[Amended 11-3-2008 by Ord. No. 13-2008]
A.
Between each meter and the water main, a stop cock
must be placed on the service pipe within one foot of the meter and
an additional stop cock on the house side of the meter. No water service
lines shall be introduced or used on the premises except that which
passes through the meter. Meters shall be positioned where they may
be readily reached for servicing and reading by the Water and Sewer
Department.
B.
The stop at the curb shall not be used by anyone except
those authorized by the Water and Sewer Department. Should accidents
occur necessitating the shutting off of the water, this shall be done
by means of the stop cock in the service pipe immediately after it
enters the house, which stop shall be a part of the plumbing of every
connection with the mains.
A.
All persons shall keep the curb boxes connected with
their supply pipes in plain sight at all times, on a level with the
top of the ground and free of obstructions. Violations of this section
shall be corrected by the Water and Sewer Department, and the cost
thereof shall be charged to the property owner.
[Amended 11-3-2008 by Ord. No. 13-2008]
B.
The applicant is responsible in preventing damage
to his curb box and shall be billed for any damage done to it.
[Amended 11-3-2008 by Ord. No. 13-2008]
All plumbing and other work from the curb box
to the meter is subject to the inspection and approval of the Water
and Sewer Department or its authorized agent. Such work shall be inspected
and approved before the pipes are covered and the water turned on.
The applicant is to notify the Water and Sewer Department when installation
is ready for inspection.
A.
All service connections shall be metered. If any person
shall use water without a meter, he shall pay for the amount of water
consumed as estimated by the Department, in addition to any penalties
imposed under these rules. The Borough, upon repeated offenses, may
order the water supply to be discontinued and may prefer charges in
accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey.
B.
The location provided by a property owner for a water
meter shall be readily accessible for reading and maintenance purposes
and shall be such as to offer adequate protection against damage to
the meter.
C.
No fixture of any kind from which water might be drawn
shall be placed on the street side of a meter. The meter will not
be installed unless the location and facilities provided for meet
the approval of the Department.
D.
The Department, at its option, shall repair, replace
or exchange water meters and the expense of such repairs, replacements
or exchange, as the case may be, shall be charged to the consumer
except as hereinafter provided. No person, except an employee of the
Department, shall connect, disconnect or repair a water meter.
E.
Failure of a meter to register properly shall be immediately
reported to the Department. Charges for water during the period of
such failures shall be computed on the basis of the average consumption
over a reasonable period prior to failure.
F.
Should the consumer feel that the meter is not registering
properly, the consumer shall file a complaint with the Department,
whereupon the meter will be removed and tested by the Department.
If it is found to register against the consumer by more than 3%, there
will be no charge for removing, repairing and resetting the meter.
If, however, the meter is not found to register against the consumer
by more than 3%, a charge of $50 will be made for the test. The Department
shall have the right to make periodical tests of all meters at no
cost to the consumer. Charges for testing of one-and-one-half-inch
and larger-size meters will be determined on an individual basis per
rates of on-site testing companies. An additional fee of $50 shall
be paid to the Department.
G.
The consumer shall take all proper precautions to
protect the meter from injury, frost and damage from hot water or
steam. The owner of the premises will be held liable for all damage
or loss to the Borough from failure to properly care for and protect
the meter.
H.
All meters shall be standard meters, direct readings
in gallons, and must be purchased from the Borough of Riverdale and
placed under the supervision and to the satisfaction of the Water
and Sewer Department or such persons as the Water and Sewer Department
shall designate so that they can be easily examined and read. The
Borough reserves the right to replace a meter in any building supplied
with water from the mains.
[Amended 11-3-2008 by Ord. No. 13-2008]
I.
Any multifamily dwelling consisting of up to four
units shall have a meter for each and every unit.
A turn-off charge of $20 shall be made for discontinuing
the service. A turn-on charge of $20 shall be made when the service
is restored, but in no event shall water be turned on until all water
charges have been paid. Temporary discontinuance will not require
the removal of the water meter.
[Amended 11-17-2003 by Ord. No. 16-2003; 4-19-2004 by Ord. No.
4-2004; 7-16-2007 by Ord. No. 10-2007; 12-15-2008 by Ord. No.
14-2008[1]; 12-20-2010 by Ord. No. 11-2010]
The following rents, rates and charges are hereby established
for water supplied by the Borough.
A.
Fixed charge.
(1)
The fixed charge established herein shall be payable in four installments
billed quarterly. The fixed charge for all residential meters shall
be $80 per year. Multifamily structures without individual unit meters
shall be billed $80 per year per each individual unit.
(2)
The fixed charge for all nonresidential meters shall be based on
meter size and is established as follows:
[Amended 7-21-2014 by Ord. No. 7-2014; 4-22-2015 by Ord. No. 3-2015]
|
Meter Size
(inches)
|
Fixed Annual Rate
| |
|---|---|---|
|
1 1/2 and 2
|
$400
| |
|
3 and 4
|
$1,232
| |
|
6
|
$1,760
| |
|
8
|
$2,464
| |
|
12
|
$3,520
|
(3)
User fees apply to each meter. Nondwelling and common area meters
are considered nonresidential. Residential use is limited to those
meters servicing a dwelling unit.
B.
Meter charge.
(1)
The
meter charge for any fraction of 1,000 gallons shall be $3.90. Billing
shall occur four times per year on a quarterly basis.
(2)
Those
meters serviced by the Passaic Valley Water Commission Pump House
on Mathews Avenue shall also incur a surcharge of $0.60 per 1,000
gallons for electric charges related to water service.
(3)
The
meter charge for any multifamily complex with more then 20 units which
are not individually metered shall be $3.40 for any fraction of 1,000
gallons. Billing shall occur four times per year on a quarterly basis.
[2]
Editor’s Note: This ordinance also provided that it
take effect 1-1-2014.
C.
All rents, rates and charges not paid within 30 days of billing shall
be subject to an interest charge of 8% per annum.
D.
The water rate for senior citizens (those persons who qualify for
a senior citizen real property tax abatement) shall be $96 per year
in total.
E.
The owner of any house, tenement, building or lot shall be liable
for the payment of any rents, charges and costs for the use of water
by such owner or by the occupier and for the installation purchase
price, repair and testing of any water meter, water service, connections,
appliances or parts, and renewals thereof, heretofore or hereafter
furnished by the Borough. The rent, charges and costs, including interest,
shall be a lien upon such house, tenement, building or lot until paid
in full.
F.
Water shall be shut off from any house, tenement, building or lot
if any required payments are more than 30 days late. Notice of the
Borough's intention to shut off water shall be given to the owner
or occupier of the affected premises at least 15 days prior to shutting
off the water. Notice shall be given to the name and address as it
appears on the account.
G.
Where a water service connection has been permitted for a fire sprinkler
system, the charge shall be $250 per quarter payable as provided above
and subject to the above terms regarding late payment and discontinuance
of water service.
H.
There shall be a charge of $300 per year per hydrant connected to
the public water system.
I.
Bulk water shall be sold at a rate established by contract.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided that it shall
take effect 1-1-2009.
Objections to bills shall be deemed waived unless
made within 10 days of receipt thereof.
If any rents, charges or costs, including interest,
shall remain in arrears, said item shall be a lien upon the real estate
to which the water was furnished and in connection with which the
charges were incurred to the same extent as taxes are a lien upon
real estate in the municipality and shall be collected and enforced
by the same officers and in the same manner as lien for taxes.
[Amended 11-3-2008 by Ord. No. 13-2008]
No person shall obstruct free access to any
public fire hydrant, or open or close or draw water therefrom without
permission in writing from the Water and Sewer Department, except
in case of fire, when the Chief of the Fire Department, his assistants,
officers and members of the Fire Department, shall have free access
to same for the purpose of extinguishing fires.
A.
Water mains and water main extensions shall be laid
only in public streets or in cases where there has been compliance
with the requirements of the ordinances related to roads.
B.
All pipe shall be laid and connected under the supervision
of the Water and Sewer Department and the Borough Engineer, and the
owner or applicant shall purchase and pay for all trenching, backfilling,
pipe, valves, hydrants and fittings.
[Amended 11-3-2008 by Ord. No. 13-2008]
C.
Water mains shall be extended and connected only after
application has been made to the Water and Sewer Department and permission
granted by the Mayor and Council.
[Amended 11-3-2008 by Ord. No. 13-2008]
D.
Each application for a water main or water main extension
shall be accompanied by a plan prepared by a licensed professional
engineer showing the location of the proposed installation or extension.
E.
All fees and deposits pertaining to service lines
to individual buildings shall be applicable where water mains are
extended and shall be borne by the owner or applicant.
F.
All pipe shall be of a diameter designated by the
Department and shall be of Class 52 cement lined ductile iron. In
no case shall the pipe be of a diameter less than eight inches.
G.
Trenching shall be done under the supervision of the
Borough Engineer and shall be a minimum of two feet wide and a minimum
of five feet below the grade of the road, when rough graded. It shall
be clean and shall be free from cave-ins and shall be located at the
direction of said Borough Engineer.
H.
All pipe, before being lowered, must be inspected
by the Borough Engineer, whose acceptance or rejection of same shall
be final.
I.
All new extensions shall be tested under the direction
of the Borough Engineer. Backfilling may be done only after inspection
by the Borough Engineer or his agent.
J.
All construction must meet A.W.W.A. standards, Department
of Environmental Protection standards as well as standards of the
Department (available from the Borough Water Engineer).
A special permit musts be obtained for the supply
of water for building purposes. A fee of $50 shall be charged for
the permit, and water consumed shall be metered and billed at current
water rates in effect.
Whenever the Mayor and Council shall restrict the use of water, no person, party or entity shall use water in violation of the terms of said restrictions and, for such a violation, upon conviction, shall be subject to the provisions of the § 164-27 on penalties and fines provided herein, but without the notice requirements as therein provided.
A.
The Borough will begin a capital improvement program
whereby the pipe coming from the main to the curb box, inclusive,
will be replaced under the following conditions:
(1)
The pipe was installed prior to 1975; building and/or
plumbing permits or certificate of occupancy as proof exceptions:
Should a pipe between the main and the curb box, inclusive, installed
after 1975 burst, the customer would be covered under this capital
improvement program on an emergency basis. This will have no effect
on the other customers already enrolled in the program.
(2)
Upon completion of an application, the Water and Sewer
Department will review and recommend to the Mayor and Council a priority
list based on a first-come-greatest-need basis.
[Amended 11-3-2008 by Ord. No. 13-2008]
(3)
The Borough will provide in the Water and Sewer Department
capital budget the necessary funds to finance not less than 20 applications
per year based on the reimbursement schedule as provided by this section.
[Amended 11-3-2008 by Ord. No. 13-2008]
(4)
The Water and Sewer Department will reimburse each approved customer the cost of the work to be done, however, not to exceed the maximum amount as set forth in Subsection A(5) of this section. After the work has been inspected by the proper Borough officials, reimbursement will be made within 60 days of the final inspection and approval.
[Amended 11-3-2008 by Ord. No. 13-2008]
(5)
This capital improvement program is planned over the
next 20 years. The reimbursement schedule will be as follows:
|
Years
|
Reimbursement per customer
| |
|---|---|---|
|
1997 to 2001
|
$600
| |
|
2002 to 2006
|
$700
| |
|
2007 to 2011
|
$800
| |
|
2012 to 2016
|
$900
|
(6)
All fees and permits are the responsibility of the
customer. The hiring of the contractor and/or plumber will be the
responsibility of the customer. The Water and Sewer Department will
not get involved in the planning, excavating, installing or any other
facet of the project.
[Amended 11-3-2008 by Ord. No. 13-2008]
(a)
The customer's plans submitted to the proper
Borough inspectors must indicate that it meets the technical specification
established by this chapter.
(b)
The contractor and the customer are liable jointly
and severally for all work done, in addition to any damage done to
the Water and Sewer Department's water main, pipes and valves and
any other property owned by the Borough.
(c)
The contractor and the customer will be jointly
and severally responsible for repairing the road to the specifications
of the Borough Engineer or anyone designated by the Borough.
(d)
The Borough and the Water and Sewer Department
will be held harmless for all work done under this program.
B.
A fee in the amount of $50 will be payable upon the
issuance of a plumbing permit. In addition, the permittee shall post
a cash deposit in the amount of $1,500 to be refunded upon satisfactory
completion. This deposit shall guarantee that the workmanship does
not cause damage to Borough property.
C.
An approved customer who does not take out a plumbing
permit under this program by August 1 of the year in which approval
was made will be dropped from the list which will allow another customer
to apply.
(1)
All work under this program must be completed by October
31 of the year in which approval was made.
(2)
Any customer who does not secure a permit and/or does
not complete the work within the time frames established under this
section will not be eligible to apply until the second year after
the original application was made.
(3)
The governing body may grant an extension to a customer
whose work has already begun and is expected to be completed within
two weeks of the deadline.
D.
After the completion of this capital improvement program
and/or the installation of new pipes under this program, the Borough
will assume total responsibility for the system from the water main
to the curb box, inclusive.
Any party, person or entity who shall violate
any of the terms of this chapter shall be subject, upon conviction,
to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days or to a fine not
exceeding $1,000, or both.
