(a) Adoption of Maryland Plumbing Code. There is hereby adopted the Plumbing Regulations of the State of Maryland, latest edition and amendments, commonly known as the Maryland Plumbing Code. The board of aldermen at a regular or special public meeting, may modify same by written resolution, a copy of which shall be on file in the office of the plumbing inspector. Any inconsistency between the provisions of Maryland Plumbing Code hereby adopted and modifications passed by the board of aldermen shall be interpreted in favor of such modifications.
(b) Water and sewer house connections.
(1) Each building on one lot or parcel of land, shall be served by a separate water or sewer connection, a building for this purpose being any structure or part thereof, intended for a single occupancy on the street floor. When any water main or sewer is declared by the city complete and ready for the delivery of water or the reception of sewage, every abutting property owner, after due notice, shall make connection of all spigots or hydrants, toilets and waste drains with said water main or sewer within a time prescribed by the city. Both water and sewer connections shall be made at the same time if a water main and sewer are both available. The water and sewer connections shall be of such size as to adequately serve as provided in this chapter the number and type of plumbing fixture or equipment on the premises involved.
(2) If due to a change in the use of a property or due to the installation of additional fixtures therein, the owner requests a larger water and/or sewer house connection, or that an existing water and/or sewer house connection be relocated, or requests an additional water and/or sewer house connection which will result in abandonment of the existing connection, the owner shall be required to pay the actual cost of constructing the new connection and abandoning the old connection.
(3) If the plumbing inspector determines that an existing water connection is too small to serve the number of fixtures connected to it, so that the existing water meter is being run in excess of its safe rated capacity, the owner shall be notified of the situation and will be required to arrange for the installation of a larger water connection and larger meter, adequate for the service needed. If the owner refuses to correct the situation after due notice, the plumbing inspector shall disconnect and abandon the existing water connection and install a water service and water meter of suitable size and type, the cost of such connection, abandonment, and installation shall be charged to the owner.
(4) Separate water house connections and separate sewer house connections for each separate lot or parcel of land, abutting upon a street, alley or right-of-way in which there is a water main or sewer belonging to the city, will be constructed and maintained by the city from such water main or sewer to the property line.
(5) The city will not construct double water or sewer house connections except cases where the plumbing inspector determines that the installation of a separate connection would:
a. Result in undue interferences of traffic on major highway.
b. Result in multiple cuts across the paving of major highway at close intervals.
c. Possibly result in injury to life or damage to an existing structure due to rock, caving excavation or other causes.
d. Interfere with other utility structures.
(6) The size, depth, location and type of construction of all water and sewer house connections shall be as determined by the city.
(7) Water and sewer connections for properties not abutting directly on a water main or sewer may be allowed under such conditions and at such charges as the city may require.
(8) The water or sewer service pipes for any building, lot, premises, or establishment, shall not be laid over or under or through any other building, lot premises, or establishment except in a lawful right-of-way, or easement. No person shall connect or cause to be connected any building, lot, premises, or establishment with the water and sewer service belonging to or supplying another building, lot, premises, or establishment. This provision shall not prevent a dwelling with a private garage upon the rear of the same lot or parcel of land, from being supplied by the same service pipes; but if the garage be converted wholly, or partially into a dwelling or place of business, a separate connection shall be installed under such conditions as the city may require.
(c) Maintenance of water and sewer connections.
(1) The city will maintain all water and sewer connections from the street main to the property line.
(2) All pipes and appurtenances on private property shall be maintained by, and at the expense of, the property owner. The city, where it shall deem such action necessary, may do maintenance or repair work on private property, in which case, the cost including overhead expenses shall be paid by the property owner. The cost of any work outside of the property line, made necessary by the neglect or through the action of a property owner or tenant, shall be charged to the property owner.
(3) In the event of complaint from the owner’s plumber regarding a sewer stoppage, the city shall ascertain if the main line sewer or service line property line to main is clear and take such action as appropriate to clear same.
(4) If the main line sewer is found to be clear, the owner will be so informed and he shall then, at his own expense, employ a master plumber to determine the location of stoppage. If the plumber finds that the stoppage is located in the connection between the main and the property line, he shall then inform the city. In the event there is no clean out at the property line and the plumber finds no problem on private property, he shall notify the city. If, upon investigation by the city, the stoppage is found to be in the connection which the city is required to maintain, the condition will be corrected by the city without cost to the owner. If it is found that the stoppage is in the connection at the point of junction with the city’s pipe, or on private property, the plumber will be so informed and he shall relieve the stoppage.
(5) In the event of a complaint regarding a leak on a water house connection, the city will at once determine if the leak is in the public way or at a meter set by the city inside a building, in which case the leak will then be repaired. If it is found that the leak is not the city’s responsibility, the owner will be so notified and it shall be his responsibility to have the leak repaired at once by a master plumber at the owner’s expense.
(d) Special connection.
(1) A structure under a single ownership, but so divided as to provide for more than a single occupancy on the street floor, may be permitted a single connection by special permit under such conditions as the city may require.
(2) A group of buildings, under one ownership and on a single track of ground which may consist of a group of lots or a single parcel may be served by one connection under such conditions as the city shall determine. Shopping centers, apartment developments, tourist camps, motels, trailer coach parks, and similar groups, under one ownership, located on a single tract of ground as above may be served by a single connection, provided detailed plans of the on-site water and sewerage systems are approved by the plumbing inspector, and that all the construction of such systems is done under such conditions as the plumbing inspector shall prescribe.
(e) Fire service connections.
(1) Water connection for the fire service only will be furnished under such conditions as required by codes adopted by the city.
(2) If the fire service connection is to serve a fire sprinkler system only, either wet or dry, with no other fire protection or other outlets, a “double detector check” will be installed on the connection by a registered plumber in a suitable location that is in accordance with city of Frederick standard construction specifications and details, and approved by the plumbing inspector.
(3) If the fire service connection is to serve fire hydrants and/or other fire protection outlets on the property, either with or without a sprinkler system, a suitable meter, if required by the plumbing inspector and water superintendent, will be installed. The location of the meter shall be in accordance with city of Frederick standard construction specification and details and approved by the plumbing inspector and the water superintendent. Examples would include, but not be limited to, locations, and facilities, with approval of the city, that may be using on site fire hydrants and/or other fire protection outlets, (fire departments, fire training centers, landscapers, pool companies, etc.)
(4) A water connection for combined domestic and fire service will be supplied when required by city code in which case suitable metering devices and control devices will be installed on the connection at an approved location. Examples would include, but not be limited to, locations where multiple service connections to a building or buildings are installed off of a private water main on the site, (shopping malls, condominiums, colleges), in these cases, one connection to the public water main with a suitable master meter would be provided. Any and all sub meters will be the responsibility of the property owner to purchase, install, maintain, and read.
(f) Water meter.
(1) The city shall furnish and install a meter at the property owner’s expense for each water connection. The water meter will remain under the ownership of and will be maintained by the city.
(2) The city shall determine the size and type of any water meter, and the type and location of the setting. Outside meters or inside meters with outside registers will be used, except where obstructions or other considerations require that they be placed inside the building, in which case they shall be set as the city shall require. Meters shall not be installed in crawl spaces. Meters shall be installed in areas where they will remain readily accessible. When the water meter is set inside the cellar of the building, the property owner is responsible for the protection of the meter from injury due to freezing. Repairs and replacement of meters so damaged shall be at the expense of the property owner.
(3) The outside meter housing or the curb box must be installed so that the top is on the ground surface of the permanent grade. Where curbs and sidewalks exist, the top of the center of the meter housing will be placed at the straight line grade between the back of the curb and the street edge of the sidewalk. Where curbs and sidewalks are to be constructed in the immediate future, and where connections are under one and one-half (1 1/2) inches in diameter, the city will tap the water main and lay the water house connection to the property line. At the point where the meter is to be placed, the pipe will be cut and the inlet valve placed on the street section. The cut ends of the pipe will be overlapped, laid flat, and the water house connection refilled. The overlap shall be of sufficient length that when the meter is to be set, the ends can be raised to the vertical position, the meter yoke installed and the meter housing set.
(4) It shall be unlawful for any person, not specifically authorized by the city to interfere with, remove, replace, or tamper with a meter or a meter seal.
(5) It shall be unlawful to make a connection to any water service pipe between the water main and the meter, except such by-pass as the city may install. When such unlawful connection is found, the water house connection will be cut off at the main until such unlawful connection is disconnected and abandoned. Any expense of the city shall be paid for before the service is restored.
(6) If it is found that such unlawful connection has been made to by-pass a “detector check” in order to obtain unmetered water, the detector check will be removed and replaced by a suitable meter, such removal and replacement shall be paid for before service is restored plus the estimated consumption as determined by the city.
(g) Temporary water service. Temporary water service for building or other construction work will be furnished upon the filing of the proper application and the payment of a one hundred dollar ($100.00) deposit. A temporary water connection will be constructed from the main to the property line by the city, with an outside meter setting. The person requesting will connect to the meter outlet. When the person requesting has finished with the connection, the city will read the meter and remove the entire connection. The cost of the installation and removal of the connection, plus the city’s meter service charge, plus the charge for the water used, computed at the regular consumption rates, will be deducted from the deposit, and the remainder, if any, returned to the person requesting. If the total charges exceed the deposit, the person requesting will be billed for the excess.
(h) Temporary construction toilet. The use of outside temporary toilets over manholes on the city’s sewerage system will not be allowed except under special permission by the plumbing inspector.
(i) Fire hydrants.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person, other than an authorized employee of the city or a member of a fire department acting under orders of his proper superior in the performance of his duties, to operate a fire hydrant unless in possession of a permit from the city to do so.
(2) Fire hydrants may not be used for flushing or for any other purpose except by special written permission of the city, for the time and at the location specified. If such permission is granted, the water used shall be charged for at the prevailing water rates.
(j) Access to concealed connections. All bathtub valves or diverters and waste and overflows shall have an access panel, not less than fourteen (14) inches by thirty (30) inches of clear space, to service the tub valves or diverter and waste and overflow, unless the walls behind the tub valves or diverter and waste and overflow are drywall or panel board. Single lever shower valves will not require a separate access panel, but shall be serviceable from the front. All other shower valves, with the exception of single lever shower valves, shall have an access panel behind the shower valve, unless it is drywall or panel board and not less than fourteen (14) inches by twenty-four (24) inches of clear space. No tub valves or diverters, shower valves or related piping shall be placed in exterior walls. (Ord. No. G-85-17, § 1, (Title 5, §§ 1--9), 12-12-85; Ord. No. G-87-6, § 1, 4-2-87; Res. No. 95-3, § 1, 2-16-95; Ord. No. G-97-31, § 1, 10-16-97; Ord. No. G-97-35, § 1, 11-6-97)