(a) Rules and Regulations Part of Contract. The following rules and regulations are to be considered a part of the contract between the City waterworks and all users of water.
(b) Inspections. Members or employees of the Water Division are hereby authorized to enter and have free access, at all reasonable times, to any premises supplied with water, where it is necessary to ascertain the condition of any pipes or fixtures attached to the waterworks.
(c) Connection to Waterworks; Application; Effect. All property owners in the City Trenton desirous of water service shall connect to the City of Trenton waterworks system. Private wells will not be permitted within City limits. No property owner desiring the supply of water shall fail to make application to the Division for the service pipe and connections with the mains. Such application shall be made in writing and must be signed by the owner of the property or his duly authorized agent, with the distinct understanding that the applicant agrees to abide by the Rules and Regulations heretofore or hereafter adopted by the Division, and that the property is to be held liable for all water rates accrued or which will accrue against it. The turning on of water at any premises means that the applicant has agreed to comply with the rules and regulations.
(Ord. 833. Passed 5-20-69.)
(d) Financial Responsibility. The owner of private property that is served by the waterworks system, as well as the lessee or tenant of the premises, shall be liable jointly or severally to the City for all the charges herein levied. All unpaid accounts for water shall be a lien against the property furnished, and if water rent is not paid when due, the water shall be turned off at the curb cock, and before service is resumed, patrons shall pay a resumption fee of ninety dollars ($90) prior to 3:00 p.m. on the business day in which water service reconnection is desired, and shall pay the amount of all water rent due.
(Ord. 14-94. Passed 8-4-94; Ord. 07-2014. Passed 5-15-14.)
(e) Taking Water for Private Use. No person shall take water for private use from any public building, public or private watering trough or fountain, hydrant, draw cock or hose pipe, except for fire purposes, or in any way take water for private use which is supplied by the waterworks, without first paying for the same, and receiving a permit from the Service Director. In case any damage to a street hydrant is done by a permittee while taking water, the permittee shall pay such damages and expenses as may be incurred.
(f) Discontinuance and Resumption of Service. No property owner wishing to discontinue the use of water shall fail to give proper notice thereof to the Finance Director or pay the full rate for the current term. No rebates shall be allowed for vacancy for a period less than three months, and the water must be turned off at the curb. In the event that a non-delinquent property owner or user requests their water to be turned on or off for short-term emergencies or plumbing services, there shall be no charge for such a service.
(g) Refunds. No refund of water rent shall be allowed by reason of removal, disuse, diminished use or vacant premises, unless notice thereof is left at the office of the Finance Director at the time such change takes place. Amounts of less than three dollars ($3.00) will not be refunded or collected. (Adopting Ordinance)
(h) Fire Alarms. Upon the alarm of fire, all sprinkling and other unnecessary uses of water shall be stopped immediately and remain so until the fire is out. No person shall violate this subsection.
(i) Tampering With, Defacing or Injuring Waterworks System. No person shall remove the cover of any public or private cock, meter box, or valve box, or place any dirt, stones or other obstructions in such boxes, or commit any act tending to obstruct the use thereof, or shall in any manner deface or injure any hydrant, building, machinery, pipe, apparatus, tools or fixtures of the waterworks.
(j) Responsibility of City. The Division does not guarantee the water delivered as to quality, purity or temperature, these all being subject to the variable conditions that may arise in the operations and maintenance of the waterworks, nor does it guarantee any fixed pressure or continuous supply, but it shall, in case of an accident that causes a shortage or causes the water to be shut off, endeavor to notify consumers affected thereby. In case no notice can be given, the Division shall in no manner be held responsible for any consequences of such shut off. Those using steam boilers and receiving their supply direct from the mains should have a tank large enough to hold an ample supply for emergency cases. (Ord. 833. Passed 5-20-69.)
(k) Inspection and Maintenance of Service Lines. Service lines shall be laid not less than three and one-half feet below the finished grade and at right angles to the main. Before being backfilled they must be inspected by the Director. Service lines shall be maintained by the property owner or consumer from the curb box to and including all property. Whenever a break or leak occurs in a service line of property, the owner of the property shall have it repaired immediately.
(l) Services Required in Advance of Street Improvements. Where services are required by an ordinance in advance of street improvements, the Division shall lay the services at the expense of the property owners and if such cost is not paid immediately, it must be added to the street improvement assessment. The cost of the same shall be figured from the center of the street and the cost of services mentioned in Section 1044.02(b) shall not apply.
(m) Connections to Service Lines Previously Installed. Where service lines have been previously installed, application shall be made to the Finance Director for a permit to connect to the curb stop. If any holder of a permit, in making an attachment, does not properly replace the curb box, or carelessly injures the curb box or any of its parts, or other property of the waterworks, he shall be charged with the expense of such repairs, the same to be made by the Division. Upon his failure to report such damage or pay such charges, he shall be refused further permits until such damages are paid.
(n) Installation of Service Lines from Curb Stop to Cellar. Service lines from the curb stop to the cellar shall be laid at least three and one-half feet below the finished grade and must be Type K copper tubing or an approved equivalent not less than three-quarters of an inch inside diameter. Plumbers may turn water on to test their work, but must shut it off immediately after such a test. Only in case of emergency, no person except employees of the waterworks shall turn on or shut off any curb stop, without first receiving permission. Plumbers shall not loan their curb wrenches to anyone for this purpose. Before backfilling any ditch, inspection for depth and leaks must be made by the Director. (Adopting Ordinance)
(o) Stop and Waste Cock Required. All service pipes shall be provided with an improve stop and waste cock where they enter the building, easily accessible and so installed that the water can be shut off and drained from the pipes and meter.
(p) Meters Required. Meters shall be installed on all services, the size and kind to be determined by the Division. Master meters are required for duplex, triplex, quadplex, an multi- family units. Individual shut offs for each unit will be required. Those charges are to be payable monthly by the owner of the property.
(q) Furnishing and Maintenance of Meters. Meters shall be furnished by the Division at cost to the consumer. The consumer shall be responsible for all damages caused by abuse or freeze-up. The Division shall absorb the cost of repairs from normal wear.
(r) Installation and Protection of Meters. Meters shall be installed in such a manner and place that will make them readily accessible for reading. They must not be connected directly to the stop and waste cock. Where a meter is used in connection with a steam or hot water boiler, or under any other conditions where it is exposed to back pressure of steam or hot water, it should be protected by a swinging check valve placed between the outlets of the meter and the boiler or heater so supplied.
(s) Meter Reading; Estimated Charges; Termination of Service for Non-access. The meter reader shall read meters on a monthly, bi-monthly or other schedule as determined by the City Manager and Finance Director. In any month a meter is not read, an estimated charge shall be made based upon a percentage of the most recent reading, as determined by the City Manager and Finance Director. If the meter reader is unable to procure a reading after two calls because of the meter being out of order or because he does not have access to it, an estimated charge may be made, based upon Finance Department evaluation of the account. Should free access to the meter not be given within a reasonable time, the water may be shut off until such access is provided for.
(t) Broken or Tampered-with Meter. If the Division finds that a meter seal has been broke or any by-pass inserted and there is evidence that the meter has been tampered with, the water shall be shut off at the curb and shall not be turned on again until the consumer or owner of the premises pays for the estimated quantity of water that has been used and not registered, plus the cost to restore the meter to proper working order and any other necessary expense.
(u) State Laws Applicable. The criminal laws of the State provide severe penalties for tampering with water meters, meter seals, etc., and any person making a connection on a service line between the water meter and the street mains, or installing a by-pass around the meter shall be prosecuted according to the laws of the State. Any plumber or person guilty of violating any such laws, shall also be refused further permits.
(v) Testing of Meters. When the Division is requested to test any meter for accuracy and such test shows that the meter reads within the legal limits (2% fast or 3% slow) the consumer shall bear the cost of five dollars ($5.00) for such service.
(w) Alteration of Rules and Regulations. The Division reserves the right to alter or amend these rules and regulations, waive, or defer additional fees, and to change the rates for the use of water, and to make special rates or contracts in any or all cases.
(Ord. 833. Passed 5-20-69; Ord. 14-2004. Passed 5-20-04; Ord. 16-2005. Passed 6-2-05; Ord. 11-2012. Passed 5-17-12; Ord. 11-2023. Passed 8-17-23.)