DIVISION 7. - SERVICE CONNECTIONS
Part of the Code of Ordinances of Narragansett, RI.
The text
Sec. 78-156. - Ownership.#
(a)
The utility shall furnish and install for the purpose of connecting its distribution system to the customer's premises, the service pipe from its main to and including the curbstop at or adjacent to the customer's property line, except that developers may make such installation providing the materials and installation are in conformance with the standards of the utility and are subject to inspection and approval. All service lines shall include a curbstop and curb box. This portion of the service line is the property of the utility for repair and maintenance.
(b)
The customer shall be responsible for furnishing and laying the necessary service pipe from the curbstop to the place of consumption in accordance with the standards and requirements of the utility and the plumbing code and shall keep the service line in good repair. The owner shall relocate or reinstall any service pipe not meeting the standards of the utility or this article within 60 days of notification with reasonable allowance for adverse weather conditions. All such installations shall be by licensed plumbers and subject to inspection before backfilling by the town.
(c)
All repairs to and cost of maintenance of water service pipe from curbstop to meter shall be at the expense of the customer. If such pipes are not repaired promptly following written notice of the need of such repair (section 78-49 notwithstanding), the utility reserves the right to discontinue the service without further notice. The water division shall in no event be responsible for maintenance or for damage done by the water escaping from the service pipe or any other pipe or fixture on the outlet side of the curb cock.
(d)
One service connection with separate meters shall be required for each dwelling or commercial building or building unit fronting on a street or highway regardless of ownership.
(e)
If two or more customers are presently supplied with water through one service pipe, under the control of one curbstop, or if any of the parties, so supplied, shall violate its rules or regulations, the water division reserves the right to apply its shutoff regulation to the joint service line, except that such action shall not be taken until the innocent customer who is not in violation of the utility's rules has been given reasonable opportunity, as determined by the town, to attach the service pipe leading to his premises to a separately controlled and metered service connection.
(Code 1986, § 20-151)
Sec. 78-157. - Application.#
(a)
All applications for service connections and use of water shall be made at the office of the water division on the form prescribed and signed by the owner of the premises to be supplied stating fully and truly the various uses to which the water is to be applied. The acceptance by the water division shall constitute the contract between the water division and the applicant, obligating the applicant to pay the rates as established and comply with all the water division's rules and regulations.
(b)
If the application is for a new service connection, the charge for the connection must accompany the application with the name of the owner of record, and proper billing address. The rules and regulations of this division, and subsequent changes, amendments and additions thereto, shall constitute a part of the contract with every customer. Owners of property will be held responsible for payment of all just charges for services furnished to him or to his lessees during ownership, until such time as the water division receives notice in writing of the transfer of his property. Until such notice is received bills will be rendered to the owner of record.
(Code 1986, § 20-152)
Sec. 78-158. - Location.#
The service pipe shall extend to that point on the customer's property line or the street line easiest of access to the utility from its distribution mains and from a point at right angles to the main where practicable in front of the premises to be served. Service pipes shall not cross intervening properties. The approval of the superintendent shall be secured as to the proper location for the service pipe.
(Code 1986, § 20-153)
Sec. 78-159. - Time of installation.#
New service pipe will not normally be laid between December 15 and March 15, except upon written approval of the superintendent, and then only if the applicant agrees to pay the actual cost incurred by the utility, plus a 25 percent surcharge to cover added cost for frozen ground, water conditions, temporary and permanent road repairs.
(Code 1986, § 20-154)
Sec. 78-160. - Size.#
(a)
The size of the service connection shall be as determined by the superintendent, but shall be not less than three-fourths of an inch internal diameter service pipe; minimum 160 pounds test capacity.
(b)
If the premises are to be used for any purpose other than normal domestic single-family use, the owner must file with the water division the type of occupancy in detail with water requirements for the superintendent to determine the required size of service pipe and meter.
(c)
The size of any separate fire service connection shall be as determined by the fire insurance rating agency concerned, but not less than six inches internal diameter of pipe; nor less than eight inches if one or more hydrants are installed. The installation of a combined fire and domestic service connection will not be permitted.
(Code 1986, § 20-155)
Sec. 78-161. - Meter setting and location.#
(a)
Plumbers shall install a meter setting in a horizontal position in the house piping as near to where the service pipe enters the building as practicable. The location of the meter shall be in a protected place. Locations in crawl spaces will require special written approval of the superintendent. Meters located in such unsuitable areas will be relocated within 90 days of the passage of the ordinance from which this section derives, upon written notification to so relocate. Meter shall be located in a place easily accessible for removal, reading and maintenance.
(b)
Plumbers shall furnish and install an approved gate or shutoff valve on the service pipe immediately after entry into the building of the same nominal size as the service pipe and before the meter setting. An approved gate valve shall also be installed immediately following the meter on the house side to act as a backwater valve. All services installed prior to the date of enactment of the ordinance from which this section derives shall be equipped by the owner of the property with such a valve, within 90 days of the passage of the ordinance from which this section derives, provided that the water service supplies any hot water tanks, pressure vessel or other water-using apparatus not equipped with a vacuum breaker.
(c)
In accordance with division 9 of this article, all residential, commercial, industrial and fire services shall have a backflow prevention device installed on the water-service line upon entering the premises at the customer side of the water meter. The type of device and installation method must be approved in writing by the water superintendent and local plumbing inspector.
(Code 1986, § 20-156)
Sec. 78-162. - Turning of water on or off.#
(a)
Only employees of the water division may turn water on and off. Each turn on and turn off will be charged at the prescribed rate as contained in the fee schedule in the town clerk's office.
(b)
For locations where the water meter is physically outside of the building, and no doors/windows, etc., need to be opened to allow access to the meter area, the water division will seasonally set/remove the meter and turn on/turn off the water, provided that:
(1)
A valve exists on the service line at the meter location; and
(2)
The owner or his authorized representative (who has access to the building) is present; or
(3)
A written indemnity agreement is on file with the water division.
(c)
For locations where the water meter is physically inside a building (including a garage, shed, enclosed crawl space, basement, etc., whether or not a separate entrance to the house exists), the water division will seasonally set/remove the meter only if the owner or his authorized representative (who has access to the building) is present. The water division is not authorized to accept keys from any property owner and/or to enter any building as defined above, unless accompanied by the property owner or his representative.
(d)
For seasonal turn-on/turnoff operations that do not involve meter setting or removal, the policy as stated in subsection (b) of this section will apply.
(Code 1986, § 20-157)
Sec. 78-163. - Meter.#
(a)
Installation. All domestic, commercial and industrial water service, except fire protection, will be rendered through meters supplied and installed by the utility. Meters are the property of the water utility. Prior to installation, a certificate of occupancy supplied by the building inspector must be issued and the house plumbing must receive the approval of the plumbing inspector.
(b)
Size.
(1)
The size of the meter installed depending on the accommodation of the number of families or occupancy and use of the premises served, shall be as follows:
Occupancy Service Pipe Size Meter Size
Single-family ¾-inch ⅝-inch
2—4 families, apartments or motels equivalent to 8 bedrooms min. 1-inch 1-inch
5—8 families, apartments or motels equivalent to 16 bedrooms 1½-inch 1½-inch
(2)
Over eight families, apartments or motels equivalent to 16 bedrooms or any commercial, institutional or industrial service shall be as determined by the superintendent upon submission of complete detailed information of occupancy and anticipated water use furnished by the owner.
(c)
Testing.
(1)
Meters will be tested for accuracy upon the written request of a customer, and a charge according to the fee schedule on file in the town clerk's office will be required for testing (except in the case of programmed meter testing by the utility). Tests will be conducted in accordance with the standard specifications for positive displacement type cold water meters of the American Water Works Association.
(2)
If the error is within two percent of the test meter, the customer shall receive a written report. If the meter reads in excess of two percent of the test meter, the customer's bill shall be adjusted accordingly on a percentage basis to represent a credit for the excess reading from the time of the last billing, according to the fee in subsection (c)(1) of this section and shall be refunded. The customer will be furnished a replacement meter meeting the American Water Works Association standard for accuracy.
(3)
The water utility reserves the right to remove and test a meter without cost to the customer, and should such meter fail to register or underregister in excess of two percent, the customer's bill will be as stated in subsection (c)(2) of this section prior to or subsequent to the failure.
(Code 1986, §§ 20-158—20-160)
Sec. 78-164. - Frozen meters; responsibility for cost of repair or replacement.#
All maintenance charges, including thawing of frozen services, shall be paid for by the party owning the service. Any damage to a meter as a result of freezing or for any other cause, shall be the sole responsibility of the customer and the full cost of repair or replacement shall be charged to the customer.
(Code 1986, § 20-161)
Sec. 78-165. - Temporary services.#
(a)
Contractors or developers. Contractors or developers may request service by filing an application stating the required use. If such service is connected to a hydrant a minimum charge will be required for temporary service. This charge will be determined by using the meter size rates. For a permanent connection, the contractor shall be charged the annual minimum charge from the time the service is turned on until the meter is installed for the permanent owner. The applicant shall pay all costs involved in a connection for temporary service.
(b)
Filling tanks or swimming pools If the temporary service is for filling tanks or swimming pools, the charge for water will be at the temporary bulk purchase rate as described within section 78-77(h). Filling of large volume pools or tanks will be only at times designated by the superintendent. The owner shall provide for or pay the cost of providing for any special pumping equipment, pipe or hose connections to fill such tanks or pools. The town assumes no liability as a result of any damage occurring from the failure of or water damage from any tank during or after filling.
(Code 1986, § 20-162)
Sec. 78-166. - Access.#
Authorized agents of the utility with identification shall have the right of access at all reasonable hours to any premises supplied with water from its system for the purpose of reading meters, examining pipes and fixtures, observing the manner of using water and for any other purpose which is necessary and proper in the conduct of the utility's business.
(Code 1986, § 20-163)
Sec. 78-167. - Charges.#
(a)
Applicants will be charged for the installation of service pipe from the main to the property line or, if a clearly defined property line is nonexistent, for a distance of 20 feet from the main, including tapping of the main, corporation stop, pipe, curbstop and curb box, meter, meter installation, roadway repairs/restoration, inspection of service installations and turn-on of service at the actual cost to the water division or for a minimum charge as contained in the fee schedule on file in the town clerk's office for the size of the service connection. Charges for installation during a period of adverse weather conditions will be as provided in section 78-159.
(b)
If developers or contractors install service pipe from the main to the property line and meet all utility standards and inspections, the owner upon application for service will be charged according to the fee schedule on file in the town clerk's office.
(Code 1986, § 20-164)