(A) (1)
A water or sewer connection requested by a potential customer whose property to be served is located within the corporate limits of the Town of Murphy, North Carolina, or by a potential customer whose property to be served adjoins the existing main water line and main sewer line located outside the corporate limits of the Town of Murphy, North Carolina, may be granted on condition that the customer pay the full cost and expense of installing the service line to connect with the Town of Murphy's main water line and/or main sewer line.
(2) (a) Water meters will be placed by the Town of Murphy as near to the customer's property line as is feasible. The Town of Murphy shall operate and maintain its main water lines and lateral water lines to the water meter and the customer shall be responsible for all costs and expenses in the operation and maintenance of the customer's lateral water line from the water meter to the customer's house, building, or other structure.
(b) When a water meter is placed on a customer's property, the customer shall provide a suitable location for placing the water meter which shall be unobstructed and accessible at all times by the Town of Murphy meter reader. The customer shall keep the area around the water meter for at least three feet in all directions at ground level and at least 18 inches above ground level, clear of all plants, structures, and other potential obstructions to the ability of the employees of the Town of Murphy to access and service the water meter. The Town of Murphy will not be responsible for damage to plants, structures, or other obstructions within the area around the water meter required to be kept clear.
(3) The Town of Murphy shall operate and maintain its main sewer lines and that portion of its sewer laterals located under State of North Carolina or Town of Murphy maintained streets up to the edge of the street pavement and the sewer customer shall be responsible for all costs and expenses in the operation and maintenance of the customer's lateral service lines located on the customer's property including lateral service lines located on the customer's property under a sidewalk.
(4) Any sewer customer having a failed sewer lateral must report the failed sewer lateral to the Town of Murphy. The customer having a failed sewer lateral must have the failed sewer lateral inspected by a licensed plumber through the use of a camera, at the customer's expense. The Town of Murphy Public Works Director or his or her designee must be on site during the camera inspection of the failed sewer lateral to evaluate and determine whether the failed sewer lateral is the responsibility of the customer or the responsibility of the Town of Murphy. In the event that the Town of Murphy Public Works Director or his or her designee determines that the failed sewer lateral is the responsibility of the Town of Murphy, the Town of Murphy will reimburse the customer the cost of the camera inspection.
(5) No water or sewer connection will be made to property which does not have an individual cut off valve on the customer's service line.
(Ord. passed 5-10-1982; Am. Ord. passed 3-2-2020; Am. Ord. passed 9-7-2021)
(B) In addition to the required cut-off valve on the customer’s service line, it shall also be required that a backflow prevention valve be installed by the customer on all water service lines. In cases where connections are made to the sewer force main, a backflow prevention valve shall also be installed by the customer. When a water connection or sewer connection is made to any line or service connection (manhole) and the work is performed by any person other than Town of Murphy personnel, each and every connection shall be inspected and approved by the Town of Murphy before the excavation is closed. Anyone violating these rules and conditions shall be subject to having service disconnected or denied.
(Ord. passed 1-8-1990) Penalty, see § 10.99