A.
Township water shall not be taken or used for any
purpose other than for domestic use or the supply of manufacturing,
business or public buildings until a special permit shall have been
issued therefor by the Township Engineer.
B.
In all cases where a permit has been issued for the
use of water for building or other construction purposes, the water
shall be metered.
A.
No unauthorized person shall tap, repair, change or
otherwise disturb the mains or change, repair or in any way interfere
with supply pipes or curb cocks or water meter.
B.
Any change in or damage to a water meter which interferes
with its proper registration while such meter is in the premises and
under the control of any tenant or occupant of such premises shall
constitute in evidence a prima facie presumption that such change
or damage to such meter was done by the tenant or occupant.
[Amended 3-16-2009 by Ord. No. 09-23]
A.
Township fire hydrants are to be opened and used only
by the Fire Department and Department of Public Works and Park Maintenance
of the Township or by such persons as may be specifically authorized
by the Township Engineer.
B.
No unauthorized person shall open or use any fire
hydrant.
C.
Authorization for use of a hydrant by persons other
than the Fire Department and Department of Public Works and Park Maintenance
will require an application from the Department of Engineering.
D.
Upon approval of an application for use of a hydrant,
the applicant shall provide a minimum of 24 hours' notice as to when
the hydrant will be used so that a representative of the Engineering
Department and/or Department of Public Works and Park Maintenance
can witness and inspect the use of the hydrant. Failure to provide
adequate notice will result in revocation of the permit. Prior to
discontinued or completion of use by the applicant, the Engineering
Department and/or Department of Public Works and Park Maintenance
shall be notified so as to inspect the hydrant and confirm that there
is no damage to the hydrant or appurtenant pipes or valves. Bonding
will not be released until such time that the hydrant is inspected
by the Engineering Department or Department of Public Works and Park
Maintenance.
E.
Application fees and bonds.
(1)
Fees. The fee for the use of a hydrant shall be $250
per day, which is nonrefundable. The applicant is required to deposit
a fee for a minimum of two days or $500. If the hydrant is used for
a single day, the applicant will be refunded $250. If the applicant
requires the use of the hydrant for more than two days, the applicable
fee shall be provided to the Engineering Department prior to the use
of the hydrant.
(2)
Bond. The applicant shall also provide a performance
bond to the Engineering Department in the amount of $5,000 to cover
any damage that may occur due to the use of the hydrant. Any damage
caused by use of the hydrant by the applicant, including damage to
appurtenant piping and valving, shall be repaired by the applicant
at their expense.
No person shall in any manner obstruct or prevent
free access to any fire hydrant or place or store temporarily or otherwise
any object, material, snow, debris or structure of any kind within
a distance of 15 feet of any fire hydrant. Any such obstructions,
when discovered, shall be removed at once by the Department of Public
Works and Park Maintenance at the expense of the person responsible
for the obstruction.
[Amended 9-18-1967; 8-11-1975; 3-16-1981; 2-28-2022 by Ord. No. 22-8]
A.
No person shall obtain any water supplied by the Township except
through pipes equipped with meters installed or authorized for installation
by the Bloomfield Water Department.
B.
All water meters utilized for the purpose of metering the consumption
of water shall be wireless smart meters as manufactured by Sensus
Technologies or a meter specifically approved for use by the Bloomfield
Water Department and Bloomfield Engineering Department.
C.
Nonconforming or noncompliant water meters are prohibited from being
used to meter the consumption of water. A property, structure, building
or residence that requires water service from the Township of Bloomfield
shall be equipped with a Sensus Technology meter or one specifically
approved by the Bloomfield Water Department and Bloomfield Engineering
Department.
D.
Water meter upgrades.
(1)
From time to time, the Bloomfield Water Department may enact a program
to change or upgrade customer water meters throughout the Bloomfield
water system (water meter upgrade program). Such programs shall be
mandatory and will require all Bloomfield water customers to allow
for the removal and replacement of an outdated or antiquated meter
with a new one.
(2)
In the case of a water meter upgrade program, the Township of Bloomfield
will incur the expenses for the changing of the meter. Such expenses
shall be related directly to the removal and replacement of the outdated
meter. Any modifications determined to be required to the appurtenant
piping or plumbing within a building or structure shall be performed
at the expense of the property owner.
(3)
Upgrading or replacement of an outdated or antiquated water meter
is mandatory. Failure or refusal of a property owner or water customer
to allow for the replacement of a meter within a time frame specified
by the Bloomfield Water Department and Engineering Department will
result in the following actions:
(a)
The antiquated meter will no longer be read for consumption.
Water consumption will be based upon estimates of past water use as
determined by the Bloomfield Water Department. Estimates shall be
final and nonnegotiable.
(b)
Assessments will be applied to the customer water bill at each
billing cycle to compensate for administrative costs related the calculation
of estimates and any other labor, equipment or disputes that may arise
due to the failure to properly upgrade the meter. These assessments
are as follows:
(c)
The assessment specified in Subsection D(3)(b), above, may be waived under a one-time situation wherein the customer or owner schedules and completes the upgrade of the meter within 30 days of receiving the first assessment. Failure to meet this thirty-day period will result in continued assessments with no conditions for a waiver thereafter.
(d)
Upon the sale or transfer of ownership of any dwelling, building
or structure that contains an outdated or antiquated meter, the owner
must allow for the installation of an upgraded meter in order to secure
a certificate of occupancy, a certificate of continued occupancy,
certificate of code compliance, and smoke and carbon monoxide detector
certificates. In this case, the cost of the meter, as well as all
expenses related to labor and materials to upgrade the meter, shall
be borne by the property owner.
[Amended 2-28-2022 by Ord. No. 22-8]
In all cases where meters are to be installed,
such installations shall be performed by a licensed plumber in the
State of New Jersey. This installation shall include the meter, wiring
and mounting of the transmitter box on the exterior of the building
or structure. Once an installation is completed, an inspection of
the premises will be made by the Bloomfield Water Department to initialize
the meter transmitter box and verify that the meter has been installed
properly and is functioning. Failure to have the installation inspected
will result in assessments, penalties and/or liens against the property
due to damages or loss of compensation for water consumed that may
result from an improperly installed or inspected meter or transmitter
box.
[Amended 2-28-2022 by Ord. No. 22-8]
A.
Meters will be sealed by the Township Engineer, their designee or
a representative of the Bloomfield Water Department, and no one except
an authorized employee of the Township shall break or injure such
seals. No person other than the authorized employees of the Township
shall change the location of, alter or interfere in any way with any
meter while it is in service.
B.
Meter tampering. No individual shall tamper with a Township meter.
Examples of tampering are as follows:
(1)
Disconnecting the wiring from the meter to the transmission box located
outside the residence or structure regardless of the fact that the
wiring is then restored by an unauthorized individual.
(2)
Removal of a water meter from the service pipe regardless of the
fact that the meter is then restored by an unauthorized individual.
(3)
Use of materials or devices that interfere with the transmission
of data from the meter to the transmission box.
(4)
Any other evidence determined by the Bloomfield Water Department
that the meter housing or casing was removed or damaged.
(5)
Any other evidence determined by the Bloomfield Water Department
that the meter transmission box housing was removed or damaged.
(6)
Installation of piping or plumbing intended to bypass the meter.
C.
If a property owner either becomes aware or inadvertently causes
damage to a meter or transmission box, the property owner shall immediately
contact the Bloomfield Water Department or Township Engineer and report
such damage. Failure to contact the Township Water Department upon
knowledge of said damage will be considered an attempt to tamper with
the meter or transmission box.
D.
Once a meter has been determined as tampered, either by one of the actions described in § 556-22B above, or as determined through investigation by the Bloomfield Water Department or Bloomfield Engineering Department, the water meter shall be replaced with a new meter. The cost for the meter shall be assessed against the customer's quarterly billing, plus an additional $2,000 administrative surcharge. The Bloomfield Water Department shall also determine and assess the cost of lost or unmetered water and/or other damages that may have occurred due to tampering with the meter.
[Amended 2-28-2022 by Ord. No. 22-8]
No person shall permit or allow in any building or property any unsealed or damaged water meter through which water is supplied to such person without immediately notifying the Township Engineer that such meter is unsealed or damaged. If removal or modification of a meter is required for any type of construction or renovation to a residence or structure, the Bloomfield Water Department or Engineering Department shall be notified, in writing, prior to such disturbance. Failure to provide notice shall be administered in accordance to § 556-22B above.
[Amended 9-18-1967; 8-11-1975; 3-16-1981; 2-28-2022 by Ord. No. 22-8]
A.
All necessary charges and expenses for the initial installation of
all water meters shall be borne by the owner of the premises. Thereafter,
the Township will, at its expense, repair, maintain and replace such
water meters under 1 1/2 inches, except where such repairs, maintenance
and replacement result from negligence or tampering with the meter
on the part of the owner. Where repairs, maintenance or replacement
of water meters result from negligence on the part of the owner, and
for meters over 1 1/2 inches, the necessary expenses for such
repairs, maintenance or replacement shall be borne by the owner and
shall be charged against and collected from the owner of the premises,
including a $500 administrative surcharge. Negligence shall also include
damage to a meter from freezing due to a lack of proper protection
or insulation of the meter. Meters shall not be placed in locations
that may be subject to freezing without proper protection or insulation
from these conditions.
B.
The owner shall, at all times, have the meter readily accessible
to any employees of the Township, and, if he shall fail to do so,
the water supply may be shut off by the Township Engineer. In case
of any injury or damage to the meter or in case of its stoppage or
imperfect working, the owner shall give immediate notice to the Township
Engineer.
C.
No water shall be furnished by the Township through a meter which
is not in good and accurate working order.
[Amended 2-28-2022 by Ord. No. 22-8]
All Township water used on any premises where a meter is installed must pass through the meter. No bypass or connection between the meter and the main shall be made or maintained by any person. Bypassing of a meter will be considered tampering and shall be subject to the fees and assessments described in § 556-22.
[Amended 9-18-1967; 8-11-1975; 3-16-1981; 2-28-2022 by Ord. No. 22-8]
A.
All meter readings shall be considered accurate and final.
B.
If a customer wishes to dispute a meter reading or consumption amount,
the following procedure shall be taken:
(1)
The customer shall submit, in writing, to the Bloomfield Water Department
their intention to dispute the water bill or meter reading. The intent
shall include the following information:
(a)
Name of customer; address, location or address where the meter
is located; water billing account number; period of billing for disputed
consumption amounts.
(b)
The customer shall provide a detailed explanation as to why
the amount or consumption is being disputed, including any unusual
circumstances that may have resulted in an inaccurate reading.
(c)
The customer shall also indicate if they wish to have the disputed
meter tested for accuracy. Any customer requesting a meter to be tested
shall be subject to the following:
[1]
The disputed meter shall be removed for testing and replaced
with a new meter.
[2]
If the disputed meter is found to register over 1.5% more water
across a flow test of 100 gallons for full flow, intermediate flow
and low flow, all costs for testing, removal and installation of a
new meter will be borne by the Bloomfield Water Department.
[3]
If the disputed meter is found to register an amount of water
that is less than 1.5% more water across a flow test of 100 gallons
for full flow, intermediate flow and low flow, all costs for removal
and installation of a new meter will be borne by the customer, including
an additional $500 administrative surcharge.
[4]
Prior to administering the testing of a disputed meter, the customer shall provide a signed acknowledgment to the Bloomfield Water Department of their understanding of the procedures enumerated in Subsection B(1)(c)[2] and [3] above, including the potential costs associated with the testing.
(d)
If a meter is found to be inaccurate as described in this section,
the Township Administrator, upon recommendation by the Township Engineer,
may adjust the water bill for the current quarter in such manner as
they may think fair and just.
[Amended 9-18-1967; 8-11-1975; 3-16-1981; 3-4-2002 by Ord. No. 02-07; 2-5-2007 by Ord. No.
07-04; 2-28-2022 by Ord. No. 22-8]
A.
The following charges shall be collected for supplying
water meters:
|
Size
|
Price
|
|---|---|
|
5/8-inch, remote reading, meter
|
$335
|
|
3/4-inch, remote reading, meter
|
$335
|
|
1-inch, remote reading, meter
|
$400
|
B.
For meters 1 1/2 inches and larger, they shall
be purchased by the owner through an outside vendor and all meters
must be compatible with the Township's remote reading system. Prior
to installation, the owner shall provide the make and model of the
meter being installed as well as a specification sheet for the proposed
meter. No meters shall be installed without written approval of the
Bloomfield Water Department and Township Engineer.
[Amended 2-28-2022 by Ord. No. 22-8]
When new service pipes are put into any premises
by the Township Engineer, the curb stop shall be left closed and will
thereafter be opened by the Department of Public Works only upon order
of the Township Engineer at the request of the owner, which request
must be in writing if the Department so requires. Under no circumstances
shall curb stops be opened or closed by any person not an authorized
employee of the Township.
Where a duplex or semidetached house or other
building shall be divided by sale or otherwise and the divisions thereof
are separately owned, each of such separate divisions shall be connected
with the Township water mains by separate water service pipes and
meters.
