(A) Consumer list, agreements and applications for service. The names and addresses of consumers who presently receive water and sewer service in the town shall be enrolled by the town as the town’s charter list of utility consumers. By their continued acceptance of water and sewer utility service to their respective living units or premises, all such consumers agree to the provisions of this chapter and the town’s rules and regulations for water and sewer service. Any residential or commercial consumer in the town which has not been established as a consumer of water and sewer service as of the date of this chapter shall first make application to the town on an appropriate form furnished for such purpose and the same must be signed by the owner of the property, agent, tenant or consumer. Upon acceptance by the town, such application form shall become the consumer’s service agreement with the town for the lands and premises of that party.
(B) Unified utility services. Each residential and commercial unit served by the town must receive both water and sewer service, and there shall be no separation of either water service or sewer service to any lands and premises.
(C) No private wells. It shall be unlawful for any person to drill, dig, sink or use a private well for potable water or for irrigation purposes within the town limits.
(D) Connection with system required. All inhabited buildings and structures located within the town limits must be connected with the town’s water and sewer system by the property owner or occupant responsible for such property within 30 days from the time such systems are available.
(E) Consumer’s maintenance responsibility. The town’s ownership and responsibility for the water and sewer system shall extend from the town’s service mains only up to the point of service to the consumer. The consumer shall be responsible for the maintenance of that portion of the water and sewer system beyond the point of service, where town ownership ends, including all portions of the system located on the consumer’s premises. The consumer shall keep all the pipes, fittings, appliances, fixtures and appurtenances used for water and sewer service on his or her premises leak-free, and in good order and repair. The consumer shall not utilize any water or sewer appliance or device which is not properly constructed, controlled and protected, or which may adversely affect water or sewer service, and shall not cause, create or allow to continue any cross-connections or back-flow conditions in the water or sewer pipes and appliances located on his or her premises.
(F) Individual service. The water and sewer service which is ultimately provided to the consumer’s lands and premises shall be used for that individual property only. Consumers shall not extend their water or sewer services to provide service beyond their property for use on other property, nor accept, receive or use water or sewer service to or for their property from the utility service provided to the property of another consumer.
(G) Right of inspection. Pursuant to reasonable notice, any inspector duly appointed and authorized by the town for such purpose shall have the right to enter the premises of the consumers of the town’s water and sewer service, at reasonable times and circumstances, to examine the consumers’ water and sewer service pipes, fittings, appliances, fixtures and appurtenances located on such premises to determine whether the same are leak-free, and in good order and repair.
(H) Interference with the system prohibited. Except for authorized inspectors and agents of the town, and the town’s police and fire officers, no person shall open or interfere with the town’s fire hydrants, lift stations or any valves, connections and appurtenances to the town’s water and sewer system. Any person causing damage or loss to any such property, or to any part of the town’s water and sewer system, whether accidentally or intentionally, shall be liable to the town for the full cost of such repairs or replacements determined to be necessary in the sole discretion of the town, and shall reimburse the town in full upon demand for payment. Anyone intentionally damaging or destroying any property comprising a part of the town’s water and sewer system shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished as provided by § 10.99.
(I) Temporary shutoffs. The town reserves the right to shut off water and sewer service to a consumer on a temporary or intermittent basis whenever necessary to make repairs, modifications or changes to the system. Such service interruptions, or any accidental failure of water or sewer service by the town, shall not be the basis for any liability or claim for damages against the town.
(J) Unnecessary usage or waste of water prohibited. In utilizing the water and sewer services provided by the town’s utility system, the consumers agree to avoid the unnecessary usage or waste of water, and to follow all reasonable and customary conservation practices which are aimed and intended to limit water usage to only that which necessary, efficient and practical.
(Ord. 1-94, passed 6-23-1994) Penalty, see § 10.99