HomeMy Public PortalAboutWater Dept. RegulationsBWD Regulations & Services FINAL 10-20-03.doc
8/17/2016
BREWSTER WATER DEPARTMENT
REGULATIONS & SERVICES
FOREWORD
This publication outlines the rules and regulations regarding functions of
the Water Department. These include the installation of water mains and
services, meters, as well as miscellaneous services. It is intended to define
the obligations of the Water Department to the consumer and vice versa.
GENERAL INFORMATION
OFFICE HOURS:
Office hours daily, except Saturday, Sunday and legal holidays are from
7:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
INFORMATION AND COMPLAINTS:
Information about water services, rates, rules, etc., may be obtained by
calling 508-896-5454. Complaints of a minor nature may be made by
telephone. Major complaints should be made in writing and addressed to:
Town of Brewster Water Department, 1671 Main Street, Brewster
Massachusetts 02631.
Complaints may also be brought to any of the open meetings of the Water
Commissioners held at the Water Department office. Meetings are
normally held at 9:00 A.M. on the first and third Tuesday of each month. All
meetings are posted at the Brewster Town Hall with date, time and
location.
EMERGENCIES:
In case of emergency at times other than the above listed office
hours, a call may be made to the Brewster Police Dispatcher at 508-
896-7011.
All calls will be relayed to a Water Department staff member for
prompt attention.
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SERVICES
METERS:
All services are to be metered except those connected to automatic
sprinkler systems for fire protection.
All meters shall be installed and maintained by the Brewster Water
Department. But, initial cost of the water meter will be charged to the
customer.
AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM:
Water mains for Automatic Sprinkler Systems installed for fire protection
shall be engineered and plans submitted for approval by the Water
Department. All plans for Automatic Sprinkler Systems shall be submitted
to the Water Department along with a design data sheet detailing proposed
cross connection device(s) for approval, prior to installation.
REGULATIONS
1. IDENTIFICATION: All Water Department employees will carry photo
identification. Do not allow anyone unknown to you to enter your premises
on Water Department business, unless properly identified.
2. METER INSTALLATION AND SERVICES: All water meters will be set
and serviced by employees of the Water Department. Seasonal water
meters will be installed and removed by Water Department employees
only. Installation and removals may be arranged on an automatic schedule
or will call basis. All will be scheduled on a two week notifica tion basis.
Automatic schedule require that an automatic seasonal meter form be
completed and submitted to the water department office. Access to the
water meter is required in all cases. A key must be on file a t the water
department office if the meter is in locked premises or the property open all
day on date of install or removal. If you are on an automatic basis and
should need to change either install or removal date on a one-time basis
you may contact the office with this request and the request m ust be
followed up in writing. When requesting a one-time automatic seasonal
basis change you must give the water department a minimum of two week
notification for date change and will be charged the call in fee.
3. REPAIRS
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METER REPAIR: The cost of repairing or replacing water meters
damaged by freezing, hot water, or external causes will be charged to
the property owner.
SERVICE REPAIR: Water services are considered piping and
appurtenances from the water main to the water meter inclusive. The
Water Department warranties the water service for ten years from the
date of installation. Repairs to services over ten years old will be
billed to the customer at the current schedule of fees and charges at
the time of the repair. Repaired parts or sec tions will, again, carry a
ten year warranty.
4. SYSTEM TAMPERING: No person, except as authorized by the
Water Commissioners or the Water Department Superintendent, shall
operate any hydrant, valve, or otherwise tamper with any part of the
Public Water Supply System or appurtenances thereof, under penalty
of the laws of the State of Massachusetts governing Public Water
Systems (Chapter 165, section 11 of the Massachusetts General
Laws).
The sabotage of a public water system, or even the threat of
sabotage, is a federal offense (Title XIV, Section 1432 of the Federal
Safe Drinking Water Act P.L. 99-339).
5. OUTSTANDING NEW SERVICE CHARGES: No person shall have the
right to the use of the Brewster public water supply until proper application for
service has been made, service installed and inspected, as built drawings
submitted by the service installer and all outstanding charges against the
property by the Brewster Water Department have been paid.
6. RESPONSIBILITY FOR PAYMENT: Owners of property will be held
responsible for the payment of water bills. The Water Department will
not bill tenants. Failure of a seller to notify the Water Department of
change of ownership does not relieve the buyer of responsibility for
any charges due to the Water Department. All charges are against the
property and liens may be instituted if necessary. It is the owner’s
responsibility to notify the Water Department of mailing address
changes. There is a charge for a Final Billing for change of ownership
per issuance; this is in addition to water consumption and other related
charges.
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6a. When a large usage is in question an owner may request a tandem test
water meter be set. The test period shall be for a six-month period or 3,000
gallons of usage, which ever is greater. If a meter is found to be out of
tolerance, as set by the American Water Works Association, an abatement
will be made back to the maximum tolerance percentage allowed. The
abatement will be made on the reading period in question, the previous six-
month bill and the test period.
7. LIABILITY: The Water Department shall not, in any way, nor under
any
circumstances, be held liable or responsible to any person or persons
for the loss or damage caused by any excess or deficiency in
pressure, volume or supply of water due to any cause whatsoever.
The Water Department will exercise all reasonable care and diligence
to avoid interruptions and fluctuations in service, but cannot, and
does not, guarantee that such will not occur.
8. SERVICE INSTALLATIONS: Water service, including pipe from
water main to water meter shall be installed as prescribed in
regulations current at the time of installation. All fixtures and fittings
used in said installations shall be the property of the Brewster Water
Department, but please be reminded that the property owner is
responsible for the meters’ protection against freezing or other
damage.
The connection fee, a fully executed application, and an approved
septic plan must be submitted to the Water Department Office, prior
to installation of the water service by an approved contractor.
9. METER ACCESS: Readings must be obtained for each billing
period. Clear access to both the meter and remote reading equipment
must be maintained at all times. When remote reading equipment is not
operating properly or the property is not remoted, a request will be made to
the homeowner for entrance to the meter location. This can be in the form
of a reading card being left at property, letter, telephone call, etc. Failure to
allow access can result in water service shut off. Access must be given to
Water Department personnel during normal business hours, Monday –
Friday between 7:30 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. for reading, repairing or
replacement of the meter. Access may be established by appointment if
requested by the property owner within seven working days of an access
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request by the Brewster Water Department. Failure to comply with an
access request by Brewster Water Department may result in termination of
service.
10. METER TESTING: Upon request by a user for the testing of his water
meter, such test will be conducted under the following conditions: The
water meter will be removed from the property and brought to the
Water Department shop. The user is requested to witness the meter
test. If the meter is found to be inaccurate, a corrected bill will be
issued. If the meter is found to be accurate the user will be charged at
the current one man-hour labor rate for each meter test.
11. TERMINATION OF SERVICE: When a permanent termination of
service is requested by the owner, a final bill will be prorated from t he last
billing date to the date of discontinuance of service and the current meter
removal service fee will be charged. A fee of $100.00 will be charged for
the re-connection of a discontinued service.
12. CONDOMINIUMS: In the case of condominiums, eac h family unit in
the condominium shall be separately metered unless another
arrangement is approved by the Water Commissioners, but in any
event, each family unit will be carried as a separate account on the
Water Department records, and will be billed the same as any
residential account. Regardless of how many meters are actually
installed, a standard system development fee will be charged against
each family unit at the time of application for water service.
13. CROSS CONNECTIONS: Unprotected cross connections are strictly
forbidden in accordance with Chapter 111, section 160A of the
Massachusetts General Laws, and also under 310 CMR 22.22 cross
connections.
(a) No persons shall maintain upon premises they own or occupy, a
physical connection between the distribution system of a public
water supply, the water of which is used for drinking, domestic, or
culinary purposes, and the distribution system of an unapproved
water supply, unless the installation has been reviewed and
approved by the appropriate reviewing authority and permits have
been issued.
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(b) The Brewster Water Department has the authority to terminate any
water service connection to any facility where cross connections
exist without the required backflow prevention devices which have
been approved by the reviewing authority.
14. DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS: The Water Department at all times tries
to avoid causing undue hardship to customers experiencing difficulty in
paying bills but unreasonably overdue accounts can institute late fees
as follows: A late fee will be added to overdue accounts after eight
weeks from date of billing and each eight week period thereafter.
Accounts should be paid prior to 4:00 P.M. on the due date. In
addition, overdue accounts can trigger water liens against the property,
as set by the Town.
15. STOPPED METER: If it is discovered that a meter has stopped
(usually at the time of a regularly scheduled reading), the owner will be
contacted by the Water Department, and a mutually convenient time
established for the meter to be replaced. A bill will then be rendered for
usage based on the average of the past three actual usage readings.
Note: regulation number 9, Meter Access: , above, will apply in this
circumstance.
16. WATER CONSERVATION: Water is our most precious resource. All
owners should make effort to conserve it.
(a) Water Conservation suggestions are available at the Water
Department Office building.
(b) Water Saving Devices are recommended by the Water
Department.
(c) All irrigation systems must incorporate a moisture sensing
device, and appropriate backflow prevention device.
Subdivision Water Main Installations
REGULATIONS
1. Water main plans must be approved by the Brewster Water
Department.
2. The Water Department Superintendent will determine water main
sizes and locations.
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3. All water mains and appurtenances must meet the Brewster Water
Department current specification for material and installation.
4. All gate valve and hydrant locations must be approved by the
Brewster Water Department Superintendent.
5. A Sub-division Tapping Fee must be paid before the water main
installation takes place.
6. Upon the completion of the water main installation, a pressure test of
the installed system must be conducted and approved by the Water
Department Superintendent.
7. Sampling locations for coliform testing will be determined by the
Brewster Water Department.
8. After pressure test and coliform tests are completed and approved by
the Brewster Water Department the water main will be part of the
Brewster Water Department System and will be under complete
control and ownership of the Brewster Water Department.
9. The Contractor and/or Subdivider will guarantee the water main
installation for one year; guarantee to include workmanship and all
pipe, fittings and hydrants.
10. A water inspector will be required at all times during the
installation of the water main and during all necessary tests. The
inspector must be approved by the Brewster Water Department.
11. All lots will be service stubbed to the property line. The service
stub sizes will be determined by the Brewster Water Department.
12. Flushing and sampling new mains (Subdivisions) – will be
done by the Brewster Water Department personnel and charged at
the rate in effect at time work is performed, as established by the
Board of Water Commissioners.