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City of Middletown, CT
Middlesex County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (4) Index
[Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Middletown 7-2-2007 by Ord. No. 12-07.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Water Pollution Control Authority — See Ch. 9, Art. I.
Building construction — See Ch. 120.
Housing standards — See Ch. 178.
Sewage disposal systems — See Ch. 245.
Sewers — See Ch. 248.
Stormwater management — See Ch. 258.
Wells — See Ch. 300.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance repealed former Ch. 292, Water, which consisted of Art. I, Water Connection Charges, adopted 8-6-1984, as amended, and Art. II, Use of Hydrants, adopted 4-6-1998, as amended.
This is a chapter pertaining to the use of public water, the installation and connections to the water system within the City of Middletown.
A. 
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
APPLICANT INSTALLED WATER MAIN
Refers to water main installed by the property owner.
CURB STOP
The apparatus that is installed at approximately the property line and controls the flow of water to the property.
DIRECTOR
The Director of the Water and Sewer Department, or his duly authorized representative.
ENGINEER
The Chief Engineer of the Water and Sewer Department, or his duly authorized representative.
NONRESIDENTIAL UNIT
Shall include but not limited to commercial, industrial and institutional units. It also refers to one room in the case of a hotel/motel or a room or suite of rooms designed for institutional residential living.
PERSON
Includes any individual person, party or group of persons associated together in any way, or any corporation or organization.
PH
The logarithm of the reciprocal of the concentration of hydrogen ions in grams per liter of solution.
PROPERTY OWNER or OWNER OF PROPERTY or OWNER
The owner of the property shall be the individual, individuals, or company as listed on the Middletown land records at the time in question.
RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNIT
A room or suite of two or more rooms designed for use by one family for living and sleeping purposes, having one kitchen or kitchenette.
RESIDENTIAL LOT
A quantity of land which conforms to the zoning regulations or is a nonconforming lot under the zoning regulations so that it may be used for residential construction.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The property owner is responsible for all expenses associated with the installation of the service from the curb stop to the building. The City is responsible for the public water main in public roads and the service from the water main to the curb stop.
SERVICE TAP
For nonresidential service taps, it's the responsibility of the contractor to excavate as necessary and provide all necessary materials for tapping the main. City personnel will tap all water mains. For residential service taps the City will provide all materials and excavation equipment to tap the main and install the service up to and including curb stop.
WATER AUTHORITY
The Board of Water Commissioners of the City of Middletown.
WATERCOURSE
A channel in which a flow of water occurs, either continuously or intermittently.
WATER SERVICE
The pipe that connects the house or building to the water main.
B. 
Shall is mandatory; may is permissive.
The following charges for connection to the City water system as adopted by the Water Pollution Control Authority are consented to and established.
A. 
Properties affected. These charges shall apply to all properties located within the City of Middletown used or to be used for residential purposes which have available to them a water main to which connection may be made.
B. 
Residential; nonapplicant installed water main. The following charges shall be paid to the City at the time application is made for connection when the water main was not installed by the applicant:
(1) 
Residential unit charge. A residential unit charge of $1,500 for each residential dwelling unit constructed or to be constructed on the property to be connected.
(2) 
Residential lot charge. A residential lot charge of $500 for each lot on which a structure containing one or more dwelling units is or is to be constructed.
(3) 
Transmission charge. A transmission charge of $250 for each residential unit.
(4) 
Service connection charge. A service connection charge as follows:
(a) 
For three-fourths-inch water service: $750;
(b) 
For one-inch water service: $1,000;
(c) 
For one-and-one-half-inch water service: $1,250;
(d) 
For two-inch water service: $1,500; and
(e) 
For four-inch or larger service: the actual cost of the connection.
(5) 
Outside reader: $25.
C. 
Residential; applicant installed water main. The following charges shall be paid to the City at the time application is made for connection to the City water system when the water main was installed by the applicant:
(1) 
Residential lot charge: none.
(2) 
Transmission charge: a transmission charge of $250 for the residential unit.
(3) 
Service connection charge: A service connection charge as set forth above in § 292-4B4, unless the service connection was previously installed at the expense of the applicant.
(4) 
Outside reader: $25.
D. 
Installment payment plan. At the option of the owner, at the time application is made for connection to the City water system, the connection charges may be paid in installments over a period of five years, with the first installment due at the time application for connection is made. The remaining four installments shall be due annually thereafter with interest at the rate of 8% on the unpaid balance. Any installment may be paid at any time prior to its due date and no interest shall be charged for any installment beyond the date of payment. If the owner elects an installment payment plan, the owner, at the time of application, shall execute a lien in favor of the City securing the unpaid balance, which lien shall be recorded in the Middletown land records. Upon payment in full the lien shall be released by the City. Delinquent payments shall be subject to interest from the due date at the interest and in the manner provided by the General Statutes for delinquent property taxes. Each such lien shall take precedence over all other liens and encumbrances except taxes and may be foreclosed in the same manner as a lien for property taxes.
E. 
When application may be made. An application to connect to the water system may be made at any time after there is a water main available to which a connection may be made.
F. 
Repeal of prior residential charges. These charges shall apply to all applications for connection of residential properties to the water system made after the effective date of this chapter. All prior charges for connecting residential properties to the water system are repealed after the effective date of this chapter.
A. 
Properties affected. These charges shall apply to all properties located within the City of Middletown used or to be used for nonresidential purposes which have available to them a water main to which connection may be made.
B. 
Nonresidential; nonapplicant installed water main. The following charges shall be paid to the City for each connection at the time application is made for connection to the City's water system when the water main was not installed by the applicant:
(1) 
Nonresidential unit charge.
Meter Size
(inches)
Meter Type
Meter Size Ratio
Charge
5/8
Disc or piston
1
$1,000
3/4
Disc or piston
1.5
$1,500
1
Disc or piston
2.5
$2,500
1 1/2
Disc or piston
6.0
$6,000
2
Disc or piston
10.5
$10,500
3
Turbine
23.5
$23,500
4
Turbine
42.0
$42,000
6
Turbine
94.0
$94,000
(2) 
Nonresidential lot charges.
(a) 
A nonresidential lot charge computed by multiplying $500 by a lot charge equivalent. Lot charge equivalents are defined below. The smaller of the lot charge equivalent shall govern, except that the lot charge equivalent shall not be less than two.
(b) 
Lot charge equivalents:
[1] 
Method A: Lot charge equivalent equals gross lot area in square feet divided by 21,780.
[2] 
Method B: Lot charge equivalent equals gross structure (main and accessory buildings) lot coverage in square feet divided by 5,445. [Note: If lot charge equivalent B is used, an additional charge shall be made if the property is later developed to increase the lot coverage.]
[3] 
Method C: Multistoried buildings shall be computed based on gross structure area only.
(3) 
Nonresidential service connection charge. The service connection charge shall be based on the size of water service required as follows:
(a) 
For three-fourths-inch water service: $750;
(b) 
For one-inch water service: $1,000;
(c) 
For one-and-one-half-inch water service: $1,200;
(d) 
For two-inch water service: $1,500; and
(e) 
For four-inch and larger water service: the actual cost of construction.
(4) 
Outside reader charge: $25.
C. 
Nonresidential; applicant installed water main. The following charges shall be paid to the City for each connection at the time application is made for connection to the City water system where the water main was installed by the applicant:
(1) 
Transmission charge. A transmission charge shall be computed by multiplying $250 times the applicable meter size ratio as set forth under § 292-5B(1) above.
(2) 
Service connection charge.
Meter Size
(inches)
Type
Meter Size Ratio
Charge
5/8
Disc or piston
1
$250
3/4
Disc or piston
1.5
$375
1
Disc or piston
2.5
$675
1 1/2
Disc or piston
6.0
$1,500
2
Disc or piston
10.5
$2,625
3
Turbine
23.5
$5,875
4
Turbine
42.0
$10,500
6
Turbine
94.0
$23,500
D. 
Installment payment plan. At the option of the owner, at the time application is made for connection to the City water system, the connection charges may be paid in installments over a period of five years, with the first installment due at the time application for connection is made. The remaining four installments shall be due annually thereafter with interest at the rate of 8% on the unpaid balance. Any installment may be paid at any time prior to its due date and no interest shall be charged for any installment beyond the date of payment. If the owner elects an installment payment plan, the owner, at the time of application, shall execute a lien in favor of the City securing the unpaid balance, which lien shall be recorded in the Middletown land records. Upon payment in full the lien shall be released by the City. Delinquent payments shall be subject to interest from the due date at the interest and in the manner provided by the General Statutes for delinquent property taxes. Each such lien shall take precedence over all other liens and encumbrances except taxes and may be foreclosed in the same manner as a lien for property taxes.
E. 
When application may be made. An application to connect to the water system may be made at any time after there is a water main available to which a connection may be made.
F. 
Repeal of prior nonresidential charges. These charges shall apply to all applications for connection of nonresidential properties to the water system made after the effective date of this chapter. All prior charges for connecting nonresidential properties to the water system are repealed effective after the effective date of this chapter.
A. 
Service pipe taps (taps only, no material or excavation):
Size
(inches)
Cost
1 and under
$150
1 1/2 and 2
$250
6 and 8
$300
Larger than 8
Actual cost plus overhead
B. 
Hydrants (includes labor and materials).
(1) 
New: $4,000.
(2) 
Replacement: $4,000.
(3) 
Damaged: $3,500.
(4) 
Maintenance: $100.
C. 
Meters (frozen, lost or damaged).
Size
(inches)
Cost
5/8
$75
3/4
$100
1
$125
Larger than 1
Actual cost plus overhead
D. 
Lost meter spacers.
Size
(inches)
Cost
5/8
$10
3/4
$15
1
$20
1 1/2
40
2 and larger
$50
E. 
Water service installation inspection fee: $100.
F. 
Reinspection fee for punch list items or bond release or final approval: $100 for each inspection after two visits.
G. 
Scheduled overtime inspection, each service: $200.
H. 
Reinstatements and terminations.
(1) 
Requested shutoff and turn-on for repair: $25.
(2) 
Requested shutoff for demolition: $50.
(3) 
Emergency shutoff or reinstatement for repairs: $75.
(4) 
Nonrelated service call (after hours): $50.
I. 
Backflow prevention inspection fee: $100.
If there is a change of use and the new use requires payment of higher charges than the previous use, the charge for the new use shall be reduced by the amount already paid for the property for connection of the previous use. If there is a change in use and the new use requires a lesser charge than was paid for the previous use, no refund will be made by the City.
The Water Pollution Control Authority shall resolve any dispute as to the amount of charges to be paid for connection of any property to the water system based on the foregoing provisions.
A. 
Hydrant meters shall, at the discretion of the Water and Sewer Department Director, or the Director's designee, be utilized to measure the amount of water to be charged for in lieu of a flat fee for water obtained from a hydrant for purposes other than fire suppression.
B. 
All hydrants which are to be used for a period exceeding five working days shall, at the discretion of the Water and Sewer Department Director, or the Director's designee, be required to have a hydrant meter installed.
C. 
All connections to the hydrant for this purpose shall be approved by the Director, or the Director's designee.
Fees, charges and deposits shall be as follows:
A. 
Flat-rate fee for nonmetered use of a hydrant per day: $10.
B. 
Deposit for any hydrant meter: $250.
C. 
Installation and removal of a hydrant meter sized one inch or less: $50.
D. 
Installation and removal of a hydrant meter sized larger than one inch: $100.
E. 
Relocation of an installed hydrant meter: $50.
F. 
Hydrant meter reading: $25.
Hydrants exist for fire protection purposes. Other uses of hydrants shall, therefore, be secondary, temporary and subject to the following:
A. 
Upon receipt of the required deposit, meters may, at the discretion of the Water and Sewer Department, be temporarily installed on hydrants for construction, irrigation, or other purposes, supply and pressure conditions permitting, by the Department.
B. 
Only Water and Sewer Department personnel shall install, remove, or relocate hydrant meters and operate a hydrant. Contractors and/or other users shall not install, remove, relocate, or tamper with hydrant meters or operate hydrants unless specifically authorized to do so by the Department.
C. 
In areas of vulnerability, hydrant meters may be removed and reinstalled daily at no additional cost to the depositor, if required by the Water and Sewer Department or requested by the depositor and approved by the Department.
D. 
A depositor shall be responsible for protecting from damage or freezing:
(1) 
A hydrant meter which he/she has requested; and
(2) 
The hydrant to which the meter is attached.
E. 
Meters will not be installed during freezing weather conditions unless satisfactory arrangements have been made for frost protections.
F. 
A depositor shall be responsible for any damage or theft sustained to a hydrant meter and appurtenances which have been installed at his/her request.
G. 
Water use recorded by hydrant meters shall be billed monthly.
H. 
Refunds of deposits will be made upon satisfactory return of meters and payment of all outstanding charges.