[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Fishkill
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Sewers — See Ch. 118.
[Adopted 4-6-1981 by L.L. No. 3-1981; amended 9-6-1988 by L.L. No.
12-1988]
[1]
Editor's Note: The current fee schedule for the Beacon Hills,
Glenham and Brinckerhoff Water Districts is on file in the office
of the Town Clerk.
[Amended 3-19-1998 by L.L. No. 2-1998]
The following are the rules and regulations established pursuant
to law by the Town Board of the Town of Fishkill acting as a Board
of Water Commissioners for Beacon Hills, Glenham and Brinckerhoff
Water Districts, and any other existing water districts or future
water districts in said Town of Fishkill, Dutchess County, State of
New York, and said rules and regulations shall apply to all those
within the water districts and/or being supplied water from the water
districts.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
- ACCESS
- Allowing Town of Fishkill agents and employees entry to a
premises, including all buildings and portions of the same which contain
water pipes, meters, remote meters and wire and pipes connected thereto.
Access includes clearing away for the Town's agents and employees
any personal property, debris or obstructions and removing any structural
obstructions, drywall, ceiling partitions or other impediments to
the inspecting, repair or replacement of water meters, pipes, wires
and other appurtenances which the Town maintains.[Added 5-3-2017 by L.L. No. 5-2017]
- DISTRICT MAIN or WATER MAIN or MAIN
- The pipes of the water district systems conveying water along the streets of such districts.
- OWNER or CONSUMER
- The owner or owners of the premises supplied or furnished with water.
- SERVICE PIPE or SERVICE MAIN
- The pipe and attachments of every kind and nature thereto connecting the district main with the house piping. The service pipe or service main is the property of and responsibility of the owner.
A.
All taps shall be made by the official tapper, who shall make the
tap and furnish the corporation cock for same. A curb box of a type
approved by the Town Board shall be installed. The cost of the tap,
corporation cock and curb box shall be paid by the owner to whose
property water is to be supplied.
B.
Only plumbers who have posted an approved bond in the sum of $5,000
to insure the water districts against damage shall be permitted to
install connecting service mains.
C.
No streets shall be opened for the purpose of connecting with water
mains unless a permit to do so shall have been issued by the Town
Clerk of the Town of Fishkill. The fee for such a permit shall be
according to the latest fee schedule established by the Town Board
of the Town of Fishkill. Any person who shall open or cause to be
opened any street for the purpose of connecting or laying water pipe
without said permit shall be guilty of an offense and shall be liable
to a fine of up to $200. Before a permit to open said street shall
be issued, a bond in the amount of $5,000 shall be furnished to the
Town of Fishkill.
D.
All connections to the main and all service mains and connections
shall be of copper. All below-ground piping shall be of Type K copper.
Backfill at connections to the main shall be with clean bank run gravel.
All work must be examined and approved by the superintendent of the
water district or other representative of the Town Board before covering.
E.
Prior to tapping any main, a permit shall be obtained from the Town
Clerk of the Town of Fishkill. The fee for said permit shall be according
to the latest fee schedule as established by the Town Board of the
Town of Fishkill. Anyone who shall tap or shall cause to be tapped
any main shall be guilty of an offense and shall be liable to a fine
of up to $200.
F.
Every water service shall be supplied through a meter. The water
rates, water billing schedule and penalties shall be according to
the latest fee schedule as established by the Town Board of the Town
of Fishkill. If a water bill is not paid after all applicable penalty
periods, then the superintendent of the district shall cause the water
to be turned off to the premises for which the said bill remains unpaid,
after notice not exceeding 10 days. All water rents and other lawful
charges in connection with the water system shall be a lien upon the
real estate where such water is supplied. All penalties for the violation
of any rules and regulations hereafter adopted, if not paid when imposed,
shall constitute a lien upon the real property and premises in like
manner as unpaid water rents. All water rents, penalties and other
lawful charges remaining due and unpaid at the time that the annual
tax roll of the water district is made up shall be included therein
and levied against the real property on which the water shall have
been used and shall be collected with and in the same manner as other
Town taxes with the additional fees, charges and penalties incident
to the collection of such taxes.
G.
Not more than one house or building used as a dwelling shall be supplied
from one tap except by the special permit of the Town Board of the
Town of Fishkill. Every such special permit shall, however, be revocable
at the pleasure of said Board.
H.
Meters.
(1)
All water meters used in the water districts shall be only those
approved and furnished by the districts and remain the property of
the districts unless otherwise agreed to by the Town Board. Any special
meters supplied by the owner and agreed to by the Town Board shall
remain the property of the owner and shall be maintained by the owner.
(2)
All meters shall be set at the expense of the property owner whose
property is receiving water service in such position as to be readily
accessible for reading and repair and shall be fully protected from
frost and other damage at the expense of the property owner. A suitable
stopcock shall be placed on the service pipe on the inlet side of
the meter.
(3)
If a meter is damaged by frost or other faulty installation, then
the cost of a new meter and installation is the responsibility of
the owner. Meters will be tested at the owner's written request. If
the meter is found correct, the owner shall bear the expense of the
test and such expense shall be according to the latest fee schedule
as established by the Town Board. The expense of the test shall become
a part of the water bill. If a meter fails to register correctly,
the owner will be charged the average daily consumption as shown by
the meter when in working order and said meter will be repaired or
replaced at the expense of the water district. Damage caused by a
faulty meter shall be the responsibility of the owner unless the water
district fails to respond to a written notice of said faulty meter
within a reasonable time not to exceed three days from receipt of
notice.
(4)
Where the Town, its contractors, agents, or employees requires that
any meter be inspected, changed, modified, upgraded or otherwise altered
and the Town or the Town's contractor or other designee provides
notice to the property owner that access is required to the property
to read, inspect, alter, modify, maintain or replace any water meter,
and the property owner fails to provide access within the timeframe
set forth in the notice (except in the case of emergency, not less
than five calendar days), the Town shall assess a surcharge to the
property owner for the failure to provide access. Said surcharge shall
be in an amount fixed by resolution of the Town Board from time to
time in its Fee Schedule until such time as the water meter is installed
or the existing meter is made accessible. Said surcharge may be in
an amount up to three times the estimated water usage until such time
as access to the water meter is provided. Said assessment may be waived
by the Town Board for good cause shown. All property owners shall
remain subject to all other remedies and enforcement penalties provided
under this article and other applicable laws.
[Added 5-3-2017 by L.L. No. 5-2017]
I.
Whenever a hot-water boiler or steam boiler is on a meter service
a suitable check valve shall be placed on the service pipe between
the meter and the boiler to prevent the return of hot water through
the meter. A suitable relief valve shall be on the house side of the
check valve.
J.
The Town Board of the Town of Fishkill and all those delegated by
them shall have free access to all parts of any building structure
or premises where water from mains of the districts is being used
or introduced.
K.
All persons receiving water service shall keep their service mains
and water fixtures in good repair and thoroughly protected from frost
and other damage and shall prevent any waste of water. In the event
that repairs are needed to prevent waste of water, any owner who shall
neglect to make such repairs within three days after notice from the
Town Board of the Town of Fishkill shall have the water turned off
at the superintendent's discretion against property where the waste
of water is occurring until such time as necessary repairs are made
to prevent such waste of water.
L.
No water district hydrants shall be opened by any person but the
Town's contractor servicing the water districts or any other duly
authorized person designated by the Town Board of the Town of Fishkill.
A hydrant use permit shall be obtained from the Town Clerk's office
and the proper fee shall be paid according to the current fee schedule.
Nothing in this section shall be construed as applying to a member
of a municipal fire company. Any person violating this section shall
be guilty of an offense and shall be liable for a fine as follows:
first offense, $200; second offense, $300; third offense, $500; and/or
10 days in jail.
[Amended 10-19-1992 by L.L. No. 8-1992]
M.
The Town Board of the Town of Fishkill reserves the right to suspend
the supply of water to any street or streets without notice, when
circumstances require it, and also reserves the right to shut off
the entire supply from any street or streets when necessary for repairs
or extensions. Local notice shall be given for planned shutdowns greater
than four hours in duration.
N.
In all cases where the water has been turned off for nonpayment of
water rates or for violation of any rule or regulation of this article,
it shall not be turned on again until the expense of turning the water
off shall have been paid, together with such penalty that may have
been imposed and rates that may be due. Fees for turning water on
and off shall be according to the latest fee schedule as established
by the Town Board of the Town of Fishkill.
O.
No meter shall be opened, adjusted or interfered with in any way
except by permission of the Town Board of the Town of Fishkill or
the superintendents of the water districts. Any person violating this
section shall be guilty of an offense and shall be liable to a fine
of up to $100.
P.
Any person who shall, without authorization from the Town Board of
the Town of Fishkill, by any means introduce water from the mains
of the water districts into premises where the water service has been
turned off for nonpayment of the meter-rate bill or violation of the
rules and regulations of this article shall be guilty of an offense
and shall be liable for a fine of up to $500.
Q.
Any person who shall obstruct access to any fire hydrant or stopcock
connected to any water main in any street by placing thereon rubbish,
snow or other hindrance shall be guilty of an offense and shall be
liable to a fine of up to $100.
R.
The penalty for the violation of any rules or regulations of this
article, in addition to penalties specifically enumerated herein,
shall be prompt stoppage of water to the premises where the violation
has occurred, and the Town Board of the Town of Fishkill is hereby
authorized to enforce this penalty at its discretion.
S.
No water main shall be tapped for, nor any service main extended
outside the boundaries of, the water district except on special application
therefor filed with the Town Board and a special permit therefor granted
and issued by the Town Board. The Town Board shall impose such conditions
upon the granting of the permit as shall be deemed fitting and proper
by them and shall impose and collect such water rents and charges
for water service as they deem best.
T.
The Town Board of the Town of Fishkill reserves the right to change,
modify, supplement or amend the rules and regulations of this article
and the rates and charges for the use of water from time to time.
The right is also reserved to make such additional rules and regulations
which, to the Town Board, seem best to regulate the water supply and
the proper and efficient administration of the water district and
to make rates and/or contracts for the use of water in special cases.
U.
The Zoning Administrator, or other such public officer(s) as shall
be designated by the Town Board by resolution, shall be empowered
to file accusatory instruments and to issue appearance tickets to
prosecute offenders identified in this section.
[Added 7-19-2000 by L.L. No. 7-2000]
[Adopted 9-2-2015 by L.L.
No. 2-2015]
A.
The purpose of this article is to:
(1)
Safeguard the public potable water supply served by the Town of Fishkill
water districts from potential contamination by preventing backflow
or backsiphonage from the water users' system into the public
water system and to comply with the requirements of the New York State
Sanitary Code, Title 10 of the New York Code of Rules and Regulations,
Part 5, § 5-1.31.
(2)
To promote the elimination or control of existing cross-connections,
actual or potential, between its customers' in-plant potable
water system and nonpotable systems.
(3)
To provide for the maintenance of a continuing program of cross-connection
control which will effectively prevent the contamination or pollution
of all potable water systems by cross-connection.
B.
This is to be accomplished by:
(1)
Requiring an approved air gap, reduced pressure zone device, double-check
valve assembly or an equivalent protective device consistent with
the degree of hazard posed by any service connection;
(2)
Requiring the users of such connections to submit plans for the installation
of protective devices to the water supply operator and town engineer,
as designated by the Town Board, and the Dutchess County Department
of Health and/or New York State Department of Health for approval;
and
(3)
Assuring that all protective devices are tested once upon installation
and at least annually thereafter, records of which will be submitted
by the property owner to, and maintained by, the Town of Fishkill
Building Department. Testing shall be performed by a qualified technician
certified in accordance with New York State Department of Health requirements.
As used in this article only, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
- AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLY
- Any water supply on or available to the premises other than the purveyor's approved public potable water supply.
- BACKFLOW
- The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances, under positive or reduced pressure, in the distribution pipes of a potable water supply from any source other than its intended source.
- BACKFLOW PREVENTER
- A device or means designed to prevent backflow or backsiphonage. Most commonly categorized as air gap, reduced pressure principle device, double-check valve assembly, pressure vacuum breaker, atmospheric vacuum breakers, hose bib vacuum breaker, residential dual check, double-check with intermediate atmospheric vent and a barometric loop.
- BACKPRESSURE
- A condition in which the owner's system pressure is greater than the supplier's system pressure.
- BACKSIPHONAGE
- The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply system from any source other than its intended source caused by the sudden reduction of pressure in the potable water supply system.
- BUILDING INSPECTOR
- The individual, or his or her designee, responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of the law.
- CONTAINMENT
- Cross-connection control resulting in the total isolation of a facility with a potential hazard from the public water supply.
- CONTAMINANT
- A substance that will impair the quality of the water to a degree that it creates a serious health hazard to the public leading to poisoning or the spread of disease.
- CROSS-CONNECTION
- Any actual or potential connection between the public water supply and a source of contamination or pollution.
- DEPARTMENT
- The Town of Fishkill Building Department.
- OWNER
- Any person who has legal title to, or license to operate or habitate in, a property upon which a cross-connection inspection is to be made or upon which a cross-connection is present.
- PERSON
- Any individual, partnership, company, public or private corporation, political subdivision or agency of the State Department, agency or instrumentality or the United States or any other legal entity.
- POLLUTANT
- A foreign substance which, if permitted to get into the public water system, will degrade its quality so as to constitute a moderate hazard or impair the usefulness or quality of the water to a degree which does not create an actual hazard to the public health but which does adversely and unreasonably affect such water for domestic use.
- WATER SERVICE ENTRANCE
- That point in the owner's water system beyond the sanitary control of the Town; generally considered being the outlet end of the water meter and always before any unprotected branch.
- WATER SUPPLY OPERATOR
- The water supply operator vested with the authority and responsibility for the implementation of a cross-connection control program.
A.
Town.
(1)
On new installations, water supply operator, as designated by the
Town Board, with the assistance of an engineer as designated by the
Town Board, will provide on-site evaluation and/or inspection of plans
in order to determine what type of backflow preventer, if any, will
be required. In any case, a minimum of a dual-check valve will be
required in any new commercial construction.
(2)
Any preexisting system that does not contain a backflow prevention
device shall be upgraded so as to comply with the current requirements
of this article and of the New York State Department of Health and
the Dutchess County Department of Health within 120 days following
the service of notice by certified mail to install said device. This
time period may be shortened by the water supply operator upon his
determination that the degree of hazard involved requires prompter
action. Failure or refusal or inability on the part of the customer
to install said device or devices shall constitute a ground for discontinuing
water service to the premises until such device or devices have been
property installed.
(3)
The Building Department shall inform the owner, by letter, of any
failure to comply, by the time of the first reinspection. In the event
that the owner fails to comply with the necessary correction by the
time of the second reinspection, the Building Department will inform
the owner, by letter, that the water service to the owner's premises
will be terminated within a period not to exceed five days. In the
event that the owner informs the water supply operator of extenuating
circumstances as to why the correction has not been made, a time extension
may be granted by the Building Department, but in no case will it
exceed an additional 30 days.
(4)
If the water supply operator determines at any time that a serious
threat to the public health exists, the water service will be terminated
immediately.
B.
Owner.
(1)
The owner shall be responsible for the elimination of or protection
from all cross-connections on his premises.
(2)
For all new buildings requiring a backflow preventer, and for existing
buildings identified by the water supply operator as requiring a backflow
preventer, the owner shall submit an application for approval on the
form prescribed by the Dutchess County Department of Health from time
to time. The application shall be accompanied by a report prepared
and stamped by a New-York-State-licensed engineer or licensed architect.
(3)
The owner, after having been informed by a letter the Building Department,
shall, at his expense, install, maintain and test, or have tested,
where applicable, any and all DCVA and RPZA devices on his premises.
(4)
The owner shall correct any malfunction of the backflow preventer
which is revealed by periodic testing.
(5)
The owner shall inform the water supply operator of any proposed
or modified cross-connections and also any existing cross-connections
of which the owner is aware but have not been found by the water supply
operator.
(6)
The owner shall not install a bypass around any backflow preventer
unless there is a backflow preventer of the same type on the bypass.
Owners who cannot shut down operation for testing of the device(s)
must supply additional devices necessary to allow testing to take
place.
(7)
The owner shall install backflow preventers in a manner approved
by the water supply operator.
(8)
The owner shall install only backflow preventers approved by the
water supply operator and/or the New York State Department of Health.
(9)
Any owner having a private well or other private water source may
be required to install a backflow preventer at the service entrance
if a private water source is maintained, even if it is not cross-connected
to the Town water system.
(10)
The owner shall not install plumbing to provide potable water
for domestic purposes which is on the Town's side of the backflow
preventer.
(11)
The owner shall be responsible for the payment of all fees for
annual testing, retesting in the case that the device fails to operate
correctly, and second reinspections for noncompliance with Town requirements.
C.
Use of existing backflow devices. Any existing backflow preventer
shall be allowed by water supply operator or building inspector to
continue in service unless the degree of hazard is such as to supersede
the effectiveness of the present backflow preventer or result in an
unreasonable risk to the public health. Where the degree of hazard
has increased, the backflow prevention device shall be upgraded as
required by water supply operator or building inspector to provide
a suitable safeguard for the degree of hazard associated with the
current or proposed use.
A.
Categories; rating system; regulation.
(1)
An acceptable backflow prevention device must be installed in every
service connection to a facility. Three categories shall be considered
when determining the degree of hazard posed by a facility and making
the subsequent determination of the type of protection device required.
The Town of Fishkill recognizes the threat to the public water system
arising from cross-connections. All threats will be classified by
degree of hazard and will require the installation of approved reduced
pressure principle backflow prevention devices, "reduce pressure zone
assembly," (RPZA) or "double-check valve assembly" (DCVA). The considerations
are:
(2)
Based on these considerations the water supply operator and/or the
Town Engineer as designated by the Town Board shall rate a facility
as "hazardous," "aesthetically objectionable" or "nonhazardous."
(a)
A hazardous facility must be contained through the use of an
RPZA or properly designed air gap.
(b)
An aesthetically objectionable facility must be contained through
the use of a DCVA, RPZA or air gap.
(c)
Nonhazardous facilities should be protected through an internal
plumbing control program to ensure that plumbing cross-connections
are adequately protected or eliminated; or through the use of a DCVA,
RPZA or air gap.
B.
The water supply operator and/or the Town Engineer as designated
by the Town Board shall determine the type of device required for
each property and facility. In making this determination, the water
supply operator may utilize the Sample List of Facilities Requiring
Backflow Prevention, prepared by the Department of Health and, if
necessary, shall consult with the Dutchess County Department of Health.
C.
Cross-connection control by facility type.
(1)
Hazardous types of facilities which shall require installation of
an approved reduce pressure zone assembly (RPZA) or air gap in the
service connection to the public water distribution system include
but are not limited to:
(a)
Sewage and industrial wastewater treatment plants and pumping
stations and sewer flushers.
(b)
Paper manufacturing or processing, dye plants, petroleum processing,
printing plant, chemical manufacturing or processing, industrial fluid
systems, steam generation, rubber processing and tanneries.
(c)
Canneries, breweries, food processing, milk processing, ice
manufacturing, meat packers, poultry processing and rendering companies.
(d)
Hospitals, clinics, laboratories, veterinary hospitals, mortuaries
and embalmers.
(e)
Metal plating, photo processing, laundries, commercial car washes,
commercial refrigeration systems and dry-cleaning establishments.
(f)
Commercial greenhouses, spraying and irrigation systems using
weedicides, herbicides and exterminators.
(g)
Boiler systems, cooling towers or internal firefighter systems
using conditioners, inhibitors and corrosion control chemicals.
(h)
Residential units with lawn and irrigation systems with chemical
injection.
(i)
Residential units or facilities with service provided by both
the village water distribution system and private well or water supply.
(2)
Aesthetically objectionable types of facilities which shall require
installation of an approved double-check valve, RPZA or air gap in
the service connection of the public water distribution system are
those which include but are not limited to:
(a)
Customer fire-protection loops and fire-storage tanks with no
chemical additives.
(b)
High-temperature potable water.
(c)
Utilization for food-grade dyes.
(d)
Complex plumbing systems in commercial buildings, such as but
not limited to beauty salons, churches, apartment buildings, gas stations,
supermarkets, nursing homes, construction sites and carnivals.
(e)
Residential units with lawn and irrigation systems.
(3)
The above lists are not all-inclusive. The type of backflow prevention
device required for each facility shall be determined by the water
supply operator and/or the Town Engineer as designated by the Town
Board as set forth above.
(4)
Strainers. The Town strongly recommends that all new retrofit installation
of reduced pressure principle devices and double-check valve backflow
preventers include the installation of strainers located immediately
upstream of the backflow device, except on fire lines. The installation
strainers will preclude the fouling of backflow devices due to both
foreseen and unforeseen circumstances occurring to the water supply
system, such as water main repairs, water main breaks, fires, periodic
cleaning and flushing of mains, etc. These occurrences may stir up
debris within the water main that will cause fouling of backflow devices
installed without the benefit of strainers. No strainer is to be used
on a fire line without the approval of the insurance underwriters
having jurisdiction.
A.
The testing of backflow prevention devices shall be performed on
an annual basis by the owner of any system requiring the same, and
the cost of such testing shall be borne by the owner of the system.
The testing procedures shall conform to the requirements of the New
York State Department of Health and the Dutchess County Department
of Health. Test results shall be submitted to the water supply operator
within 30 days of the completion of such testing. Late submissions
of annual test results shall be subject to an administrative processing
fee in the amount of $25.
B.
Any backflow preventer which fails during a periodic test will be
repaired or replaced. When repairs are necessary, upon completion
of the repair the device will be retested at the owner's expense
to ensure correct operation. High-hazard situations will not be allowed
to continue unprotected if the backflow preventer fails the test and
cannot be repaired immediately. In other situations, a compliance
date of not more than 30 days after the test date will be established.
The owner is responsible for spare parts, repair tools or a replacement
device. Parallel installation of two devices is an effective means
of the owner ensuring that uninterrupted water service during testing
or repair of devices and is strongly recommended when the owner desires
such continuity.
C.
Backflow prevention devices will be tested more frequently than specified
above in cases where there is a history of test failures and the water
supply operator feels that due to the degree of hazard involved, additional
testing is warranted. Cost of the additional testing will be borne
by the owner.
A.
The Building Inspector or his or her designee shall enforce this
article and the cross-connection and backflow protection requirements,
specifications, guidelines and facilities classifications of the New
York State Department of Health and the Dutchess County Department
of Health. Specifications, guidelines, facilities, classifications
and other administrative requirements and information which shall
be used to implement the requirements shall be on file in with the
water supply operator.
B.
The Town Board, through its designee, will operate a cross-connection
control program, or include the keeping of necessary records, which
fulfills the requirements of the New York State Health Department's
Cross-Connection Regulations.
C.
The owner shall allow his property to be inspected for possible cross-connections
and shall follow the provisions of the program as set forth by the
Town of Fishkill or its designee.
D.
If the water supply operator requires that the public supply be protected,
the owner shall be responsible for water quality beyond the outlet
end of the containment device and should utilize fixture outlet protection
for that purpose.
The application for approval for the installation of a backflow
preventer shall be accompanied by a fee in the amount of $100.
In addition, and not in lieu of any other penalty set forth
in this chapter, any person who violates any provision of this article
shall be subjected to a fine not to exceed $250 for each day the violation
continues after notice by the Town or its designee. In addition, the
service of water to any premises may be discontinued by the Town if
backflow prevention devices required by this article or regulations
adopted pursuant thereto are not installed, tested and maintained;
if any defects are found in an installed backflow prevention device;
if it is found that the backflow prevention device has been removed
or bypassed; or if an unprotected cross-connection exists on the premises,
and water service shall not be restored until such condition or defect
is corrected.