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ARTICLE 911
Water Regulations
911.01 Definitions.
911.02 Application for new service.
911.03 Service connections.
911.04 Customer's service line.
911.05 Discontinuance of service.
911.06 Restoration of service.
911.07 Water used for building purposes.
911.08 Meters.
911.09 Fire service.
911.10 Main extensions.
911.11 Damage to system and theft of water.
911.12 Water conservation contingency plan.
911.13 Water use standards for certain plumbing
fixtures.
911.14 Cross connection control and backflow
prevention.
911.99 Penalty.
CROSS REFERENCES
Water supply - See 3rd Class §3501-3572
(53 P.S. §38501-38572)
Water and sewer assessment - See S.U. and P.S. Art. 905
Rates and charges - See S.U. & P.S. Art. 913
911.01 DEFINITIONS.
The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this
Article shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Section,
except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning.
(a) Applicant. Any party applying for water service or a
water main extension.
(b) Bureau of Water. A Bureau of the Department of Water
and Sewer Resources, City of Bethlehem Pennsylvania.
(c) City. The City of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
(d) City Service Line. The line through which water is transmitted
from the water main to the curb line.
(e) Corporation Stop. An outside shutoff valve on the water
main.
(f) Cross Connection. A link or channel between pipes carrying
City water and pipes, carrying water from other sources, e.g.,
wells, streams, etc.
(g) Curb Stop. An outside shutoff valve on the water service
(h) Customer. A party contracting with the City for service.
(i) Customer Service Line. The line through which water
is transmitted from curb line to user.
(j) Fire Flow Test. The flowing of water in a sprinkler system,
standpipe system or fire hydrant for testing performance of
it. (Ord. 3568. Passed 9/7/93.)
(k) Fire Line. A water line installed exclusively for fire
protection in a building or to a fire hydrant installed
on private property.
(1) Improved Property. Any property upon which a dwelling,
capable of human habitation, has been constructed.
(m) Landlord. A customer who owns a rental property.
(n) Meter. A device used for the purpose of measuring water
consumption including exterior remote reading device and wiring.
(o) User. Anyone who creates a demand for water and engages
in the consumption thereof.
(p) Water Main. Line through which water is transmitted throughout
the distribution system.
(q) Water Service. The City service line, the meter, and
meter setting. (Ord. 3025 §1. Passed 10/15/85.)
911.02 APPLICATION FOR NEW SERVICE.
(a) Water will be furnished upon written application by a
person or persons desiring introduction of water service to
a property or properties upon approval of such application
by the City. Forms for all applications are available at the
Department of Water and Sewer Resources, 10 East Church Street,
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
(b) New water service will not be provided outside the City's
franchised water service area, as approved by the
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, unless the following
conditions are met:
(1) The official approval of the Pennsylvania Public Utility
Commission must be obtained prior to granting approval to
above-mentioned service request, provided PUC approval is
necessary.
(2) The water service application must have the approval
of Bethlehem City Council, upon the recommendation of the
Water and Sewer Resources Department. The Department will
only make such a recommendation if it can be proven that the
City would benefit from the expansion of its distribution
system, and that such expansion, in
fact, would not be detrimental to the City's ability to provide
adequate service to its existing customers.
911.03 SERVICE CONNECTIONS.
(a) City's Service Line. Upon proper application, the City
will install and maintain a service line from the main to
the curb line.
(b) Size and Kind of Service Line. The City reserves the
right to determine the size and kind of the service line,
from the main to the curb line and also from the curb line
to the user to be served. Normally, 3/4" size lines will
be furnished to serve single dwellings unless a larger size
has been applied for and approved by the Bureau of Water.
The pipe from the curb line to the user shall be furnished,
installed and maintained by the owner of the property.
(c) Separate Trench. No service pipe shall be laid in the
same trench with drain or sewer pipe, or any other facility
of another public service company, nor within three feet of
any open excavation or walk unless an
exception is granted by the Bureau of Water. When installed
in the same trench with sewer, the service line
must be shelved at least 18" above the invert of the
drain, sewer line or other facility. In addition, an 18-
inch horizontal separation must be maintained.
(d) Independent Connection for Each Building. Each separate
building and single dwelling shall be provided with an independent
connection from the main. However, single garages and apartments
on the same lot may be supplied from a single service connection,
with the approval of the Bureau of Water. Every meter shall
have its own curb stop. (Ord. 3025 §1. Passed 10/15/85.)
(e) Requirement to Connect to Water Supply System. Any improved
property on which water is used for human
consumption, which abuts the water supply system of the City,
shall connect to the water supply system of the
City within 90 days of a notice by the City to the owner of
the improved property to connect. Such notice to
connect may be given or served at any time after a water service
main is in place that can deliver water to the
improved property. Such notice shall be given or served upon
the owner by the Director of Water and Sewer
Resources by certified mail or in person as authorized by
the Director. (Ord. 3431 - Passed 9/3/91.)
911.04 CUSTOMER'S SERVICE LINE.
The customer's service line is the line through which water
is transmitted from the curb line to the user location and
which provides water service for the owner or tenant of any
property being served with City water.
In the case of any rental property, the landlord shall be
responsible for adhering to all City rules and regulations,
including payment of all water bills.
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
City and on the property of the customer shall be protected
properly by said customer. All leaks in the customer service
line or any other pipe or fixture, in or upon the premises
supplied, must be repaired immediately by the customer. On
failure to make such repairs with reasonable dispatch, the
City, upon five (5) days notice, will discontinue service.
Service lines from the curb line to the user shall be laid
at a depth of not less than four (4') feet. Materials and
installation shall be in accordance with City specifications.
The City shall in no event be responsible for maintaining
any portion of the customer service line, or for any damage
done by water escaping there from, or from lines or fixtures
on customer's property.
The City may require a deposit to cover the cost of City
service line in subdivisions or any property programmed for
future development. Deposit shall be returned at such time
as connection to improved property is made and billing for
water service commences.
Where renewal of the City service line is found to be necessary,
the City will renew said City service line in the same location
and the same size. If the customer, for his own convenience,
desires the new City service line at some other location or
in a larger size, such relocation and increased size will
be made by the City, provided the customer pays for the excess
cost involved in complying with customer's request.
If the renewal of the City service line is predicated on
a customer request, renewal will be accomplished only if the
customer service line is renewed prior to the renewal of the
City service line and only if the City service line has not
been renewed already. (Ord. 3025 §1. Passed 10/15/85.)
911.05 DISCONTINUANCE OF SERVICE.
(a) By Customer. All agreements covering service for water
shall continue in force unless and until reasonable
notice is given of a desire to terminate the service. Water
will be turned off from any premises upon the
request of the customer without in any way affecting the existing
agreements for service. Reasonable notice is
construed, as a minimum of one working day advance notification
of time the turn-off is desired.
In the case of a rental property, the City will not terminate
water service to said property simply to
accommodate the wishes of an owner who desires to use said
shut-off as a means to evict his tenants.
(b) By City. Service may be discontinued after the City
has served the user with the ten (10) day notice, for any
of
the following reasons:
(1) For the use of water for any other property or purpose
other than that described in the
application;
(2) For willful waste of water through improper orimperfect
pipes, fixtures or otherwise, such as leaks in pipes and fixtures;
(3) For tampering with any service line, curb stop, meter,
or meter setting;
(4) In case of abandonment of the premises;
(5) For nonpayment of any charges accruing under the service;
(6) For refusal of reasonable access to the property for
purposes of inspecting, reading, maintaining or removing meters;
(7) For making or refusing to remove any cross connections;
(8) For not complying with mandatory water conservation rules
and regulations imposed by the City during times of limited
water supply;
(9) For violation of any of the rules and regulations governing
the use of water.
(c) Discontinuing Service. Where service is discontinued
by the City as in 911.05(b) a discontinuance of service
charge of thirty-five ($35.00) dollars will be assessed.
(d) Turning On-Off Without Authority. The customer shall
not turn the water on or off at any corporation stop or curb
stop, or disconnect or remove the meter, or permit its disconnection
and removal.
(e) Emergency Turn-Off. As necessity may arise in case of
breakdown, emergency, or for any other unavoidable cause,
the City shall have the right to cut off the water supply
temporarily in order to make necessary repairs connections,
etc. The City will use all reasonable and practical measures
to notify the customer or user of such discontinuance of service.
In such case, the City shall not be liable for any damage
or inconvenience suffered by the customer or user or any claim
against it at any time for interruption of service, lessening
of the supply, inadequate pressure, poor quality of water,
or for any causes beyond its control. When a supply of water
is to be temporarily cut off, notice will be given when practicable,
to all customers or users affected.
(f) Reserve Supply. The City shall have the right, at all
times, to issue restrictions on the unlimited use of water.
Such restrictions will be issued whenever the public welfare
may require it, for example, to reserve a sufficient supply
of water at all times in the City's reservoirs to provide
for fire and other emergencies, or any cogent reason.
(g) Drought Contingency Plan. In order to prepare the users
in the service area for periods of limited water
supply in times of drought, the city shall have the right
to develop a Drought Contingency Plan. The goal of this
plan shall be to help the water supply system to match the
demand in the service area with the dwindling supply.
(Ord. 3025 §1. Passed 10/15/85.)
911.06 RESTORATION OF SERVICE.
(a) Change of Ownership. Upon change of ownership of the
property, continuation of the water service is contingent
upon submission of a new application by the succeeding owner.
The City shall have the right to discontinue
water service until such application has been made and turn-on
fee paid.
A new customer shall not be responsible for a previous customer's
back billing or delinquent accounts.
(b) Restoral of Service. Service will be restored when the
conditions under which such service was discontinued are corrected,
and all back billings for service including the discontinuance
of service charge and the restoral
charge of thirty-five ($35.00) dollars each are paid. (Ord.
3025 §1. Passed 10/15/85.) No discontinuance of
service charge or restoral charge will be assessed when service
is discontinued by the City as in 911.05(e) -
Emergency Turn-Off.
911.07 WATER USED FOR BUILDING PURPOSES.
(a) Building Water Charge
1) Out-of-City. If water is required for building purposes,
a charge shall be made at the time application is made for
water service. This charge will be one quarterly minimum water
billing based on the size of the City service line servicing
the facility.
2) In City. For in-City construction the above charge shall
be levied at the time of building permit application.
3) Restriction. Water for building purposes will be used
only for actual construction of the building and shall not
be used to facilitate landscaping or other purposes. (Ord.
3025 §1. Passes 10/15/85.)
911.08 METERS.
(a) Installation and Meter Size. The City will furnish and
maintain all meters necessary to the furnishing of its water
service. If customer desires additional meters for any reason
for his convenience in recording use, such meters shall be
furnished by the customer at his expense. City will install
meters ranging in size from 5/8 inch to
and including one (1) inch meters. In the case of meters larger
than one (1) inch in size, the customer must
provide, at his expense, all the plumbing required for the
meter setup. The City will then provide the meter.
The meter also includes any exterior remote reading device
and wiring. Should the customer determine, due to
a change in use, that a larger meter size is needed, such
meter shall be provided by the City, provided customer
agrees to increased customer charge and customer agrees to
pay for the excess cost of the larger size meter.
(b) All Services to be Metered. All new services shall be
metered services. The City reserves the right to approve the
size and the location of the meter and any exterior remote
reading device.
Water may not be introduced into an occupied premises without
first installing a meter, following approval of
application for service (See Section 911.07 for Water Used
for Building Purposes).
(c) Location. The meter will be set after customer has had
the plumbing arranged to receive the meter at a
convenient point approved by the City so as to measure all
the water being supplied. Protection for the meter
shall be provided by the customer. Availability of access
to the meter shall be maintained at all times.
Relocation of the meter for customer's convenience shall be
at the customer's expense.
The exterior remote reading device is to be installed a minimum
of four (4) feet and a maximum of five (5) feet off the ground
at a location to be determined by the City. Protection of
the exterior remote reading device shall be provided by the
customer. No vegetation may be planted or allowed to remain
in front of the remote reading device. Availability of safe,
unrestricted and unobstructed access to the remote reading
device shall be maintained by the customer at all times. The
customer may not tamper with or alter the remote reading device
in any way.
The meter and backflow prevention device shall be installed
within the customer's premises at a location that provides
for convenient access for future maintenance. Customer shall
reconfigure their internal piping to accommodate installation
of these devices, if necessary. If adequate space is not available
within the customer premises, the customer shall enlarge or
reconfigure it. If this is not possible, customer shall provide
an approved above grade enclosure located outside of the customer's
premises to house these devices. Below grade vaults shall
not be permitted.
If the meter or backflow prevention device is upgraded or
replaced, the customer shall provide adequate space within
their premises for the new devices. Customer shall also be
responsible for reconfiguration of their internal piping to
accommodate installation of the new devices. If adequate space
is not available within the customer premises, the customer
shall enlarge or reconfigure it. If this is not possible,
customer shall provide an approved above grade enclosure located
outside of the customer's premises to house these devices.
Below grade vaults shall not be permitted.
(d) Bypasses. Bypasses, valves, check valves, backflow preventers,
and pressure reducing valves, etc. as
specified in the City Standard must be installed according
to the meter size and location. No bypasses shall be installed
around meters unless approved by the Bureau of Water. Such
approval will be withheld unless the bypass is metered.
(e) Responsibility for Damage. Meters will be maintained by
the City so far as ordinary wear and tear are concerned, but
damage due to freezing, hot water or external causes due to
negligence of the customer, shall be paid for by the customer.
The charge for the reinstallation and changing of a meter
when removed because damaged in any way due to the
negligence of customer, shall be actual cost of removing,
replacing, repairing and testing.
(f) Customer Charge. Every meter is installed subject to
a monthly or quarterly charge in accordance with the rates
thereof for which no quantity of water will be allowed without
additional charge. Such customer charge shall be
payable whether or not the customer uses any water. In cases
of fractional bills covering less than the monthly
or quarterly customer charge, the charge shall be prorated,
such as when ownership of a property changes.
(g) Notification of City of Non-Working Meter. The customer
shall notify the City of damage to or the non-working of
the meter as soon as it comes to his attention.
(h) Registration Conclusive. No adjustment of amount registered
is permitted for any reason except malfunction
of meter, or upon a positive showing by the customer in instances
of excessive usage that the usage resulted from
circumstances beyond his ability to control.
(i) Disputed Account. In case of a disputed account involving
accuracy of a meter, such meter will be tested upon the request
of the customer in conformity with the following rules:
(1) Customer shall request in writing the testing of the
meter.
(2) Meter shall be sealed in the presence of the customer
before removal to the meter shop.
(3) Seal shall be broken and meter tested in the presence
of the customer or his authorized agent.
(j) Adjustment of Bills for Meter Error.
(1) Fast Meters - If, upon test of any meter, the meter
is found to have an error of more than four (4%) percent fast,
the City shall refund to the customer the overcharge, based
upon the corrected meter reading for a period equal to one-half
the time elapsed since the last previous test, but not to
exceed twelve (12) months. If the period of registration error
can be definitely fixed, the overcharge shall be computed
for such period, but not to exceed three (3) years. This meter
will not be returned to service until certified as accurate.
(2) Slow Meters - If, upon test of any meter, the meter
is found to have an error of more than four (4%) percent slow,
the City may render a bill for the water consumed, but not
covered by bills previously rendered, for a period equal to
one-half of the time elapsed since the last previous test,
but not to exceed twelve (12) months. If the period of registration
error can be definitely fixed, the charge may be computed
for such a period, but not
to exceed three (3) years. This meter will not be returned
to service until certified as accurate.
(3) Non-Registering of Meters - If a meter is found not to
have been registering for any period, the City shall compute
the water used by taking the average of the water used for
the nearest meter reading period preceding and the meter reading
period immediately following the date when the meter was found
to be not registering, which amount shall be assumed to be
the amount of water used by the customer during the billing
period in which the meter was found not to have registered.
Exceptions will be made to this rule only where the facts
clearly show that the stated method does not give the correct
consumption for the period. This meter will not be returned
to service until certified as accurate.
(4) If a meter is found to be accurate, the fee for testing
each water meter having an outlet not exceeding one (1")
inch shall be $38.00; for other water meters having an outlet
not exceeding two (2") inches, the fee shall be $40.00.
(k) Readings. All metered accounts shall have a minimum
of one actual reading at intervals not exceeding twelve
months (Ord. 3025 §1. Passed 10/15/85.) Except for accounts
with meters having an electronic communications
register and remote reading device which shall have a minimum
of one actual reading at intervals not exceeding
five (5) years, as well as every time the property is sold.
It shall be the owner's responsibility to make his property
accessible for at least one (1) meter reading per year except
for properties with meters having an electronic communications
register and remote reading device which shall be made accessible
for at least one (1) meter reading every five (5) years, as
well as every time the property is sold.
911.09 FIRE SERVICE.
(a) Hydrant Installation: Public. Wherever main extensions
are made, the City will propose the installation of fire hydrants
in accordance with accepted standards. Upon agreement of the
political subdivision concerned to pay the yearly rental of
such hydrant, the City will provide fire hydrant materials
for installation by the applicant's contractor. The City will
not propose installation of, or furnish materials for, fire
hydrants in any municipality where the size of the existing
street main and surrounding distribution system and the available
pressure on said street main fail to meet acceptable standards.
All fire hydrants will be maintained by the City.
(b) Hydrant Installation: Private. When a request is made
for private fire protection, a fire hydrant will be provided
by the City for installation by the applicant's contractor.
(c) Automatic Devices, Hydrants: Private. A fire line, to
be used for fire service, will be required for automatic sprinklers
or other fire service devices located inside of a building
or buildings. Fire hydrants located outside of the buildings
may be connected to said fire line, without additional charge.
(d) Allowable Use. Except for fire, only persons authorized
by the City shall take water from any fire hydrant, and
no fire hydrants shall be used for any other purpose, except
with the written approval and consent of the City.
(e) Change of Location. Change in the location of public
fire hydrants may be made upon written request and
approval by the City. Such relocation will be paid for by
the requestor.
(f) Approval. The City reserves the right to refuse an application
for fire protection where, in the judgment of the City, such
service is not reasonable or practical. (Ord. 3025 §1.
Passed 10/15/85.)
(g) Fire Flow Test. All customers must notify the City at
(610) 865-7077 seventy-two (72) hours prior to conducting
a fire flow test. (Ord. 3568. Passed 9/7/93.)
911.10 MAIN EXTENSIONS.
Whenever the developer/owner ("Applicant") of a
property within the service territory of the City requests
the City to extend its distribution system to serve such property,
the City will, subject to certain terms and conditions, extend
its distribution mains or allow Applicant to extend the City's
distribution mains.
The City will utilize an agreement defining the extension,
applicable cost (including taxes, if applicable), method of
payment, and refunds and/or credits, if applicable. Such agreement
will be in accord with the Public Utility Code, Title 66 Pa.
C.S. §1303.
The City shall have the exclusive right to determine the
type, size, length and location of mains to be installed and
the other facilities required to render adequate service,
including fire service. The minimum pipe size for main extensions
shall be 6 inches per 52 Pa. Code Chapter 65.17(b). Applicants
are responsible for 100% of the costs associated with the
extension, including materials, rights of way, installation,
inspection and overhead. However, the City may agree to share
a portion of the cost of the extension where the City determines
that the extension will be beneficial to the quality of service
provided to existing customers.
In determining the length of and necessity for any extension
required, the terminal point of such extension shall, in all
cases, be at that point in the curb line which extends entirely
across the frontage of the property for which water service
is requested. A street service connection will be provided
only for customer service lines that extend from the curb
to the premises to be served which are laid in a straight
line at right angles to the curb line.
For purposes of this rule:
1. "Bona Fide Prospective Customer" shall mean
any owner of an existing developed premises having a curb
line abutting on that part
of a street or public highway in which there is, or is to
be, located a distribution main of the City, who shall file
a signed
application for a new street service connection to such premises
and for water service to begin immediately following installation
of the street service connection.
2. "Street Service Connection" shall mean a pipe
with appurtenances used to conduct water from a distribution
main of the City to the curb line of the premises.
When the City determines that an extension requested by an
Applicant qualifies for a credit/refund, said extension and
refund/credit shall be determined as follows:
The Applicant will deposit with the City upon execution of
an agreement an amount equal to:
(1) The Estimated Cost - The Estimated Cost of the Applicant's
Deposit shall include estimates of the cost of said main(s)
and of any other facilities which the City shall have decided
are required to render adequate service, less
(2) The Applicable Credit - The Applicable Credit shall be
a credit equal to the amount produced by multiplying (a) the
average Estimated Cost per foot of the extension by (b) thirty-five
(35) feet, and by multiplying the product thereof by (c) the
number of Bona Fide Prospective Customers who will be directly
served by said extension.
When an agreement calls for the refunding of deposits, the
city will refund to the Applicant, during the period of ten
(10) years from actual date of deposit, a Per-Customer Refund
Amount for each additional Bona Fide Prospective customer
for whom a street service connection shall be directly attached
to such main extension, as distinguished from extensions or
branches thereof; provided however, that the total amount
refunded shall not exceed the original deposit, without interest,
and that all or any part of the deposit not refunded within
said 10-year period shall become the property of the City.
The Per-Customer Refund Amount shall be an amount equal to
the average actual completed cost of thirty-five (35) feet
of the said extension.
At the conclusion of the project, there shall be a reconciliation
of the actual costs incurred to the amount of deposit that
has been paid. If the actual cost exceeds the deposit, the
Applicant shall be responsible for payment of the difference
to the City. If the deposit exceeds the actual cost, the City
shall refund the difference.
911.11 DAMAGE TO SYSTEM AND THEFT OF WATER.
Any owner or occupant of property which is serviced by the
water system of the City of Bethlehem who removes the seal
installed by the City, or who in any other way willfully causes
damage to any equipment in the system or who uses water for
which the City is not properly compensated, shall be considered
in violation of this Ordinance and shall be subject to the
penalty set forth in Section 911.99. (Ord. 2949. Passed 7/3/84.)
Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the
City's remedies at law or equity.
911.12 WATER CONSERVATION CONTINGENCY PLAN
(a) General.
If the City is experiencing a short-term supply shortage,
the City may request general conservation of inside water
uses and may impose mandatory conservation measures to reduce
or eliminate nonessential use of water.
(b) Voluntary Conservation
The City shall first request voluntary curtailment
of all non-essential uses of water.
(c) Mandatory Conservation
If voluntary cooperation does not achieve satisfactory results,
mandatory compliance will be imposed. If any customer refuses
to comply with such mandatory measures, the City may either
adjust the outside water valve connection in a manner, which
will restrict water flow by up to 1/2, or otherwise restrict
flow such as by the insertion of a plug device.
(d) Nonessential Uses of Water Include:
(1) The use of hoses, sprinklers, or other means for sprinkling
or watering of shrubbery, trees, lawns, grass, plants, vines,
gardens, vegetables, flowers, or other vegetation.
(2) The use of water for washing automobiles, trucks, trailers,
trailer houses, or any other type of mobile equipment.
(3) The washing of streets, driveways, parking lots, service
station aprons, office building, exteriors of homes, sidewalks,
apartments or other outdoor surfaces.
(4) The operation of any ornamental fountain or other structures
making a similar use of water.
(5) The use of water for filling swimming or wading pools.
(6) The operation of any water-cooled comfort air-conditioning,
which does not have water-conserving equipment.
(7) The use of water from fire hydrants for construction
purposes or fire drills.
(8) The use of water to flush a sewer line or sewer manhole.
(9) The use of water for commercial farms and nurseries other
than a bare minimum to preserve plants, crops, and livestock.
(e) In addition to the provisions as set forth above, the
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council is authorized to
promulgate, adopt, and enforce a Water Rationing Plan by virtue
of the Emergency Management Services Code, 35 Pa. C.S. £1701
et seq. as implemented by the Drought Emergency Proclamation
dated November 6, 1980.
(f) In the event of a drought emergency, as declared by
a Basin Commission and by a proclamation or executive order
issued by the Governor, the City of Bethlehem is authorized
to collect fines set forth in its Local Water Rationing Plan
as filed with and approved by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management
Agency.
911.13 WATER USE STANDARDS FOR CERTAIN PLUMBING
FIXTURES
(a) General.
This Rule establishes the maximum water use for certain plumbing
fixtures installed in all new construction or renovation.
Such standards have been implemented to achieve the maximum
efficiency of water use, which the City of Bethlehem determined
is technologically feasible and economically justified.
PLUMBING MAXIMUM WATER EFFECTIVE FIXTURE USE DATE
Showerheads 3.0 gallons/minute in effect
Lavatory Faucets 3.0 gallons/minute in effect
Kitchen Faucets 3.0 gallons/minute in effect
Water Closets 1.6 gallons/flush Jan. 1, 1991
Urinals 1.5 gallons/minute in effect
(b) Reevaluation of Water Use Standards.
The City of Bethlehem may, at any appropriate time, amend
any of the water use standards listed above relevant to technological
developments relating to the water use or water efficiency
of any of the specified plumbing fixtures. Amendments will
also apply only to new construction and renovation.
(c) Exemptions.
The City of Bethlehem may exempt a particular type of customer
when it is determined that the water use standard for plumbing
fixtures listed above are inappropriate or cannot be accommodated
by existing technology.
911.14 CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL AND BACKFLOW
PREVENTION
Cross connection control and backflow prevention shall provide
containment of sources of contaminants that may exist on the
customer’s premises. All procedures for this shall be
in accordance with the City of Bethlehem’s Cross Connection
Control and Backflow Prevention Regulations. Included in the
Regulations are procedures for: the installation and testing
of backflow prevention devices, the certification of Backflow
Prevention Assembly Technicians, the implementation time schedule
and a list of City-approved backflow prevention devices.
(a) Cross Connection Control.
No water service connection shall be installed or maintained
to any premises where actual or potential cross-connections
to the public water supply system or customer's water system
may exist, unless such cross-connections are abated or controlled
to the satisfaction of the public water supplier.
No connection shall be installed or maintained whereby water
from an auxiliary water supply may enter a public or customer's
water system unless such auxiliary water supply, as well as
the method of connection and use of such supply, has been
approved.
(b) Backflow Prevention.
City will require installation of backflow prevention devices
for all new facilities. Existing single family residential
facilities and multi-family residential facilities three stories
and lower in height will not be required to install backflow
prevention devices unless a cross connection is discovered
on the customer's premises. All other existing facilities
will be required to install backflow prevention devices. The
type, size and location of the backflow prevention device
shall be in accordance with the City's Cross Connection Control
and Backflow Prevention Regulations. The backflow prevention
device shall be installed, owned and maintained by the customer
at the customer's expense. The city shall approve the location
of the backflow prevention device.
(c) Installation.
Backflow prevention devices required by this ordinance shall
be installed at a location, and in a manner, approved by the
city. A person properly qualified shall install the device(s).
Backflow prevention devices installed on the service line
to a customer's water system shall be located on the customer's
side of the water meter, as close to the meter as is reasonable
practical, and prior to any other connection.
Backflow prevention devices and water meters shall be installed
within the customer's premises at a location that provides
for convenient access for future maintenance. Customer shall
reconfigure their internal piping to accommodate installation
of these devices, if necessary. If adequate space is not available
within the customer premises, the customer shall enlarge or
reconfigure it. If this is not possible, customer shall provide
an approved above grade enclosure located outside of the customer's
premises to house these devices. Below grade vaults shall
not be permitted.
If the water meter of backflow prevention device is upgraded
or replaced, the customer shall provide adequate space within
their premises for the new devices. Customer shall also be
responsible for reconfiguration of their internal piping to
accommodate installation of the new devices. If adequate is
not available within the customer premises, the customer shall
enlarge or reconfigure it. If this is not possible, customer
shall provide an approved above grade enclosure located outside
of the customer's premises to house these devices. Below grade
vaults shall not be permitted.
(d) Violations.
The City may deny or discontinue, after issuing reasonable
notice, water service to any premises wherein any backflow
prevention device required by this ordinance is not installed,
tested, and maintained in a manner acceptable to the City,
or if it is found that the backflow prevention device has
been removed or bypassed, or if an unprotected cross-connection
exists on the premises, or if a low pressure cut-off device
required by this ordinance is not installed and maintained
in working order.
Water service shall not be restored until the customer has
corrected or eliminated such conditions or defects in conformance
with this ordinance and to the satisfaction of the City.
911.99 PENALTY.
Applicants and customers are required to comply with all
the rules and regulations applicable to water service furnished
by the
City of Bethlehem. For violation of this ordinance, the City
reserves the right to shut off the water after due notice
and cancel the contract. For turning on the water again, a
charge will be made as specified in Section 911.06. Nothing
in this Section shall be construed as limiting the City's
remedies at law or equity.
(a) First Violation - A fine of $200.00, or thirty days imprisonment,
or both;
(b) Second Violation - A fine of $500.00, or sixty days imprisonment,
or both;
(c) Third and Each Subsequent Violation - A fine of $1,000.00,
or ninety days imprisonment, or both. (Ord. 3025. Passed 10/15/85;
Ord. 3242. Passed 2/7/89.)
(Ord. 4018 Passed 7/5/00)
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