[Adopted by the Board of Selectmen 6-21-1982 (Ch. 304, Art. I, of the 1995
Code); amended 5-7-2001]
The following rules and regulations are adopted to regulate
use of the public water supply and distribution system in the Town
of Salem, New Hampshire. These rules and regulations shall replace
and supersede all previous rules, regulations and ordinances relating
to the control of the water system in Salem.
All water services not in compliance with these rules and regulations
at the time of adoption shall be brought into compliance as soon as
possible, but not later than the first repair or replacement of that
water service.
[Amended by the Board of Selectmen 1-6-2014]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Includes a meter to register the amounts of water consumed
and the bracket to hold the meter, including a shutoff and check valve.
The owner of record, according to the Town of Salem Tax Assessor's
office, of a parcel of land serviced by the Salem water system.
The shutoff valve located in a waterline at the point the
water connection becomes a water service. Generally located one to
three feet on the public side of the right of way line, but may be
located otherwise in cases of tap sleeve valves, widening or relocated
rights-of-way.
That part of the water distribution system, between the water
main and the service shutoff, installed specifically to provide water
to one adjacent water service.
Any part of the water distribution system which lies in a
public right-of-way or easement installed to provide water to one
or more service connections, public fire hydrants or connections to
other parts of the water distribution system.
The water pipe from the service shutoff into the property
up to the connection to the meter assembly, excluding the meter and
meterhorn assembly.
[Amended by the Board of Selectmen 11-2-2015; 5-15-2017; 4-18-2022]
A.
All property
owners wanting to tie into the water distribution system shall file
an application for service with the Municipal Services Department
— Engineering Division.
B.
At the
time of filing the application for water, an application fee shall
be paid in accordance with the current water rate and fee schedule.
C.
For each
property applying for a new water connection, the owner shall comply
with the following conditions:
(1)
Each
property is allowed only one water service and one water meter for
domestic service.
(2)
Separate
water meters for outside water use (i.e., lawns, swimming pools, gardens,
etc.) are required for residential properties.
(3)
For
commercial properties, all irrigation systems shall be connected to
and serviced by a private well(s) or private water system. Those commercial
properties in the Windham franchise area and receiving water from
the regional water line per the Town of Windham's purchased allotment
shall be exempt.
(4)
Approved
fire service connections for a building sprinkler system are permitted
and do not count as a second connection/meter.
(5)
All
water services and connections shall be made directly to the water
main.
(6)
Permanent
connections to neighboring water services or connections shall not
be allowed.
(7)
The
water service connection shall enter the owner's building at a location
which is and shall remain easily accessible for the installation and
future maintenance of the meter and meter assembly. The location of
the water service connection in the owner's building shall be approved
by the Municipal Services Department.
D.
A commercial property owner may submit a request for a waiver regarding Subsection C(3) above, provided they demonstrate a significant hardship such as insufficient water yield less than 7.5 gallons per minute (gpm), excessive depths greater than 1,000 feet, contamination, the need for additional storage and pumping, and requiring additional permitting. Any request for a waiver will be reviewed by the Municipal Services Department prior to presentation to the Board of Selectmen for consideration or service connection for irrigation purposes. Further, the Board of Selectmen may request a formal engineering analysis to be provided that validates the request, with the cost thereof borne by the petitioner. Alternative methods shall be investigated, and a report of such investigation shall be submitted as part of the request. It shall be the sole discretion of the Board of Selectmen to grant or deny the request. The Board of Selectmen shall not be obligated to grant a waiver if in their opinion a waiver is not warranted.
[Amended by the Board of Selectmen 1-6-2014]
A.
It shall be the responsibility of the owner to install and maintain
the water service from the service shutoff to the inside plumbing,
excluding the meter and meter assembly.
B.
The meter assembly shall be owned and maintained by the Town of Salem.
The owner shall report any damage or malfunction of the meter to the
Town of Salem. The owner shall not in any way tamper with the meter.
The owner shall be subject to the fines outlined below if any seals
on the meter or meter assembly are broken.
C.
There shall be no cross-connections to any other water supply. If
an alternative supply exists, a physical air gap shall be required
between the two supplies so that only the Town water or the alternative
supply may be used at any one time for domestic use.
D.
The owner shall be responsible for the payment of the water bill
and other legitimate charges. All bills rendered by the Town of Salem
are due within 25 days of the billing date. For all accounts that
are delinquent by 50 days or more, the Town may take action to terminate
the water service.
E.
Those owners of facilities with water meters of four-inch or greater sizes shall test such water meters in accordance with § 477-39.
F.
The owner shall allow the Town of Salem and its agents entry to the
premises at all reasonable and/or necessary times for the purpose
of reading, repairing, testing, replacing, and/or disconnecting water
meter(s) on the premises.
A.
All work done on extension to, connection to or extensions of the
water distribution system shall be done in accordance with the most
current construction specifications in the Department of Public Works,
Town Engineer's office.
B.
Tapping the water main and construction of the water connection shall
be done by the Department of Public Works, Water Division. Any variance
allowing the owner to do this work will be at the discretion of the
Director of Public Works.
C.
Whenever work is being done on the water distribution system, the
Department of Public Works, Town Engineer's office, shall be notified
24 hours in advance. The Town Engineer's office shall again be notified
at least one hour prior to backfilling of underground waterworks.
D.
Whenever the installation of utilities includes excavation within
the Town's right-of-way, a road opening permit will be required. Such
applications shall be filed with the Department of Public Works.
A.
The Board of Selectmen, acting through the Town Manager, may impose
fines and/or terminate service for violations of these rules and regulations.
B.
Fines as specified in Subsection C of this section may be imposed for any of the following violations of these rules and regulations:
(1)
Meter tampering. If the meter is tampered with or if in any way the
seal placed on the meter and meter assembly becomes broken.
(2)
Unauthorized entry to the water system. Operation (opening, closing)
of any main line, branch line, service line or other buried shutoff
valve located before (upstream of) an approved meter assembly, as
well as direct taps to the main or any other unmetered line supplied
water by the Salem municipal water system, without the express written
consent of the Water Division.
[Amended by the Board of Selectmen 1-6-2014]
(3)
Unauthorized use of hydrants.
(4)
Use of an alternative water supply cross-connection with the Town
of Salem water supply.
C.
Fines for violation of the provisions of this article, as adopted
by the Board of Selectmen, are on file with the Department of Public
Works and on the Town of Salem website. Fines shall not exceed the
maximum penalty established pursuant to RSA 31:39, III.
[Amended by the Board of Selectmen 1-6-2014[2]]
D.
Any water service may be immediately terminated after a twenty-five-day
written notification for any of the following violations of this article:
(1)
An account for water services rendered which is 50 days delinquent.
(2)
A fine that has not been paid within 25 days of issuance.
(3)
Denial of access to a representative of the Salem Public Works Department,
Water Division, for the purpose of inspecting the water service and/or
repairing the meter and meterhorn assembly and/or reading the meter.
