(A) Town Responsibilities:
(1) The town shall run a service line from its distribution line to the property line where the distribution line runs immediately adjacent and parallel to the property to be served, and charge an installation fee in accordance with the fee schedule kept on file in the office of the Town Clerk. The meter will be installed at a mutually agreeable location, clear of obstructions and accessible for reading.
(2) At its discretion, the town shall replace water meters at town expense to insure correct metering of water usage and to avoid improperly functioning or leaking meters. Hookup of the meter from the distribution line to the meter shall be the responsibility of the town.
(3) All premises using the town’s water supply must be equipped with an adequate water meter furnished by the town, but paid for by the consumer. In the case of new construction, before any premises are occupied a water meter shall be installed therein as herein required or application made for such water service. The town, by and through its Town Manager, has the authority to require the installation of meters in a location that will be easy to access and, in the case of a multi-unit structure, shall have the authority to determine if a meter is necessary for each unit or if the multi-unit structure can be served by one meter. In the case of structures that are currently being occupied, the Town Manager shall have the authority to require the installation of meters in a location that will be easy to access and, in the case of a multi-unit structure, shall have the authority to determine if a meter is necessary for each unit or if the multi-unit structure can be served by one meter. The town shall arrange to install meters on premises that are not currently metered either individually by unit or by multi-unit structure and the consumer shall be billed for the cost of the meter installation, said bill to be included within and becoming a part of their water bill.
(4) The town reserves the right to refuse service unless consumer’s lines are installed in such a manner as to prevent cross-connection or backflow. Upon request of the consumer or upon recommendation of the Building Inspector, the town may inspect consumer’s dwelling-side system hook-up for adequacy. A plumbing inspection fee will be collected.
(5) When two or more meters are to be installed on the same premises for different consumers, they shall be closely grouped and clearly identified as to which consumer each applies. Installation fees are charged for each individual meter.
(6) The town shall be responsible for the cost of repair of town-owned waterlines up to individual resident’s meter or where two inch or six inch meters are in use, to the cut off valve and/or meter closest to the outside of the building to which the water is supplied.
(B) Town liability:
(1) The town shall not be liable for damage of any kind resulting from water or use of water on consumer’s premises. The town shall not be responsible for any damage done or resulting from any defect in the piping, fixtures, or appliances on consumer’s premises. The town shall not be responsible for negligence of third persons or forces beyond the control of the town resulting in interruption of service.
(2) The town shall not be liable to consumers for the quantity or quality of water furnished by the county, or for any damage that may result to the consumers from shutting off water main or service, for all purposes whatsoever, even in cases where no notice is given, and all contracts agreements or permits for the use of water purchased by the town from the county, are made expressly subject to the provisions of this section.
(C) Consumer responsibilities:
(1) Consumer’s piping and apparatus shall be installed and maintained in a safe and efficient manner in accordance with town’s ordinances and in full compliance with sanitary regulations of State Board of Health and the North Carolina Standard Plumbing Code.
(2) Consumer shall guarantee proper protection of town’s property placed on consumer’s premises and permit access to it only by town representatives.
(3) On all new construction, and replacements of water meters on improved property, consumer shall furnish and maintain a private cutoff valve on the consumer’s side of the water meter. The town provides curb stops accessible only by special tool on the opposite side of the meter (normally part of the installed meter). Water may be cut off at the town’s side of the meter only by town officials, town staff, qualified county maintenance workers or plumbers licensed to work in the town. Throughout the year, an owner or rental agent may request the town turn the water off or on at a specific meter or cut-off valve. A fee will be assessed for each water turn off/on which is payable at town hall at the time of the request. For disregard of or violation of this section, the water may be turned off by the town.
(4) If replacement in accordance with division (A)(2) above is required, connection of a replacement water meter to the house waterline shall be the financial responsibility of the property owners who according to the current State Plumbing Code may perform their own hookup of the waterline to the meter or may pay a licensed plumber to connect the line to the meter. The Town Building Inspector will check final work but will waive plumbing inspection fee by consumer. No certification of occupancy on new construction or certificate of completion will be issues until inspection is satisfactory.
(5) Replacement of the meter box due to damage by a property owner, renter, or worker employed by the owner will be performed by the town and billed to the property owner at a fee established on the fee schedule kept on file in the office of the Town Clerk.
(D) Consumer Liability: Should a consumer be the cause of any loss or damage to the town’s water system property, or accident/injury to persons performing water system operations or maintenance on consumer’s property, they shall be fully liable and will be considered for action under § 50.04.
(Ord. passed 4-9-98; Am. Ord. passed 9-6-01; Am. Ord. passed 12-12-02; Am. Res. passed 3-1-04; Am. Res. passed 4-14-11)