A. Service Connections

1. Authority Service Line

The Authority will make connections to its mains, furnish, install and maintain all service lines to and including curb stop and box, which will be placed inside the curb line; or alternatively to a meter pit which shall be located inside the property line, all of which service line shall remain the sole property of the Authority, and shall not be trespassed on or interfered with in any respect. There shall be deposited with the Authority a sum estimated by the Authority to be adequate to defray the cost of installing the connection, accomplishing all surface restoration and paying any and all permit fees. To the extent that the sum deposited shall be determined to be in excess of actual cost, the applicant shall receive a refund, said refund to be paid within thirty days of completion of the installation. In the event that the sum deposited is not sufficient to defray the cost, the additional amount which represents the cost involved shall be required by the applicant.

2. Size and Type of Service Line

The Authority reserves the right to determine the size and kind of service line from the main to the curb stop, or meter pit, and from the curb stop or meter pit to the property to be served. Type K copper, flared, underground-type, shall be used throughout for services up to and including three inches in diameter. For larger services, ductile iron pipe meeting AWWA. standards for Class 150 water pipe shall be furnished and installed.

3. Trenching

(a) No service pipe shall be laid in the same trench with gas pipe, drain or sewer pipe, or any other facility of any public service company, nor within three feet of any open excavation, vault, cesspool, or septic tank; nor shall the location be in conflict with any sidewalk or driveway running at right angles to the front of the building.

(b) Where the renewal of the service line from the main to the curb stop, or meter pit is found to be necessary, the Authority will renew the service in the same location as previously used. If the property owner or customer, for his own convenience, desires the new service at some other location, and agrees to pay all expenses in such relocation, in excess of the cost of laying the service line in the same location as previously used, and cutting off and discontinuing the old service line, the Authority will lay the new service line at the location requested.

4. Customer Maintenance

All connections, service lines and fixtures furnished by the customer, shall be maintained by him in good order, and all valves, meters and appliances furnished and owned by the Authority, and on the property of the Customer, shall be protected properly and cared for by the customer. All leaks in the service or any other pipe or fixture in or upon the premises supplied, must be repaired immediately by the owner or occupant of the premises. The customer shall be responsible for notifying the Authority of the party engaged by said customer to do any maintenance work on the customer's service line, prior to work being commenced, and said party shall not backfill any trench until the work has been inspected and approved by the Authority's representative. Any work not acceptable shall be immediately removed and replaced by work which is acceptable.

5. Single Service Line With Two Or More Customers

Where two or more customers are supplied through a single service line, any violation of the rules of the Authority with respect to either or any of said customers, shall be deemed a violation as to all and unless said violation is corrected after reasonable notice, the Authority may take such action as can be taken for a single customer, except that such action shall not be taken until an innocent customer, who has not violated the Authority's rules has been a reasonable opportunity to attach his pipe to a separately controlled service connection.

B. Water Meters

1. Furnished by Authority

All water meters for premises serviced by this Authority shall be purchased by the customer and shall be of a type approved by the Authority. The Authority shall likewise inspect and approve the installation of said meters. The meters in question upon installation and approval of the Authority will become and remain the property of the Authority, and the customer shall at all times make the same accessible to Authority personnel. Upon pre-payment in advance by the customer, the Authority will arrange for purchase and installation of the meters on behalf of the customer.

2. Location

All meters shall be installed in meter pits in locations approved by the Authority. The meter pit installation shall be in accordance with the Technical Specifications section of these Rules.

3. Responsibility for Damage

Meters will be maintained by the Authority so far as ordinary wear and tear are concerned; but damage resulting from freezing, hot water, or external causes due to negligence of the customer, shall be paid for by the customer.

The customer shall pay a charge for the reinstallation or changing of a meter when removed because of damage in any way due to the negligence of the customer. The charge shall be $25.00 for meters one inch in diameter or smaller, and an additional $5.00 per inch diameter, or fraction thereof, for meters larger than one inch, which charge shall not include testing of the repaired meter.

4. Minimum Charge

Each meter is installed subject to a fixed minimum quarterly charge in accordance with the adopted rate schedule, for which certain quantities of water will be furnished without additional charge. Such minimum shall be non-abatable for non-users of water, and non-cumulative against subsequent consumption. In the case of fractional period bills, covering less than a quarter, minimum charges and allowances shall be prorated.

5. Inoperative Meters

The customer shall immediately notify the Authority of injury to or non-working meter, as soon as known by the customer.

C. Public Fire Service

1. Hydrant Location

Upon written instructions from the duly authorized officials of any municipality supplied by the Authority, the Authority will install a standard fire hydrant, provided that the size of the existing street main and surrounding distribution system and the available pressure at said street main is, in the judgment of the Authority, sufficient to enable the giving of proper service at the fire hydrant, under normal and ordinary conditions. The filing with the Authority of copies of approved subdivision plans, showing fire hydrant locations, shall be considered by the Authority to constitute written instructions from the duly authorized municipal officials. The cost of installation will be born by the municipality or its designated agent.

2. Maintenance

All fire hydrants will be maintained by the Authority.

3. Use

Only persons authorized by the Authority shall take water from any public fire hydrant, except for fire purposes, or for use of the Fire Department in cases of fire. No public fire hydrant shall be used for sprinkling the street, flushing sewers or gutters, or for any other fire purposes, except with the written approval and consent of the Authority.

4. Location Change

Whenever a municipal governing body desires a change in the location of any fire hydrant, the Authority, upon written notice to do so, will make such change at the expense of the municipality.

5. Inspections

Upon written request of a municipal governing body, the Authority will make inspections at convenient times, and at reasonable intervals to determine the condition of the fire hydrants; such inspection to be made by a representative of the Authority, accompanied by an authorized representative of the municipality.

6. Damage to Fire Hydrants

a) No person shall damage, injure or deface or assist in the damaging, injuring or defacing of any fire hydrant.

b) Restitution for repair or replacement of the hydrants will be charged to the person(s) deemed responsible for the damage.

c) Anyone found guilty of violating any provision of this chapter will be subject to a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed ninety (90) days, or both.

d) Proper hydrant wrenches and positive control devices for back-flow prevention or an air gap must be used.

7. Specification

All fire hydrants will be the Kennedy Model K81 as specified in the Technical Specifications section of these rules.

D. Private Fire Hydrant

1. Automatic Devices and Hydrant

For automatic sprinklers or other automatic fire service devices located inside a building or buildings, a separate service line will be required to be used exclusively for fire service. At the option of the customer, fire hydrants located outside of buildings may be connected to the fire service line. Each such separate fire service line shall be subject to the charges set forth in Schedule 3 hereof. The Authority reserves the right to refuse approval for an application for automatic fire service where, in the judgment of the Authority, such service is not practical or appropriate.

2. Private Fire Service - Hydrants

a. Commercial: Hydrants, Automatic Sprinklers and Siamese Connections

1) Fill out and submit WMUA application for service.

(No connection fee).

2) Detector check meter must be installed and approved by WMUA and must be accessible by WMUA personnel after installation. The WMUA reserves the right to require such back-flow prevention, detector check or other suitable devices and appurtenances which, in the opinion of the WMUA Engineer, are required and necessary to prevent any contamination of the WMUA water system or eliminates any possible threat to the public health and welfare, consistent with any other state or local laws. The detector check meter or other approved device shall be supplied and maintained by the customer.

3) Plumbing permit and road opening permits must be obtained by the owner, if required, at the township building.

4) At least forty-eight (48) hours notice must be given, for the WMUA to inspect the tap.

5) When service is completely on line, contact the WMUA office and advise. (609-877-2900).

6) Any and all major repairs to private hydrants, including, but not limited to, replacement of valve seats, excavation or replacement of the hydrant, shall be the responsibility of the individual private owner. Each separate fire service shall be subject to the charge as outlined in the WMUA's rate schedule.

7) For automatic sprinklers or other fire service devices or appurtenances located in or on a building, a separate service line is required to be used exclusively for fire service. At the option of the applicant, private fire hydrants located outside the building(s) on private property, may be connected in the fire service line. Each such separate fire service line shall be subject to the charges as outlined in the WMUA's rate schedule.

E. Residential Fire Service

1. Townhouse and Single Family

a. Provide required size, separate fire only service for each individual unit

b. Install a buffalo-type curb box, the cover shall be a standard size (5") water valve cover marked "FIRE".

c. WMUA will set the required size water meter inside a hot box which shall be secured and the WMUA shall be provided with one key (for meter servicing).

d. Plumber shall supply a level 2 back-flow preventer (dual check valve) on the WMUA's side of the fire service meter. If an anti-freeze system is used, then a level 3 back-flow preventer must be installed (i.e. PRZ by Watts , Model 909 or 009).

NOTE: The WMUA is not certified as an inspector for back-flow preventers. The owner shall be responsible to have the back-flow preventer annually certified and inspected.

e. Plumber shall supply isolation valves on either side of the fire service meter.

f. Maintenance of the fire service from the water main to the building shall be the responsibility of the homeowner (not the WMUA).

g. Tests and maintenance of the fire service system shall be the responsibility of the homeowner.

h. Charges

(1) Meter: shall be according to the WMUA's meter charge schedule.

(2) Billing: shall be according to the WMUA's rate schedule for the appropriate sized domestic service.

2. Condominium

a. Provide a 2" or required size, separate fire-only service.

b. Install a buffalo-type curb box with a standard size cover marked “FIRE SERVICE".

c. WMUA will set a 2" (or required size) water meter in the hot box. Hot box size shall accommodate the WMUA standards for meter spacing requirements. (See standard for space around meter.)

d. Plumber shall supply isolation valves on either side of the meter.

e. Plumber may utilize an anti-freeze system for the condo units as long as a level 3 back-flow preventer is installed (i.e. PRZ by Watts , Model 909, 009). The WMUA is not certified as an inspector for back-flow preventers. The owner shall be responsible to have the back-flow preventer annually certified and inspected.

f. Hot box shall be secured; the WMUA shall be provided with one key (for meter servicing). A remote readout (touch pad) shall be affixed to the exterior of each hot box.

g. Maintenance of the fire service from the water main to the building shall be the responsibility of the owner (not the WMUA).

h. Tests and maintenance of the entire fire service system shall be the responsibility of the owner.

i. Charges

(1) Meter: shall be according to the WMUA meter charge schedule.

(2) Billing: shall be according to the WMUA's rate schedule for the appropriate sized domestic fire service.