THE TOWN OF HARWICH WATER DEPARTMENT RULES & REGULATIONS

SECTION 7 - Violations

7.1  Violations of Regulations
Any violation of these regulations may result in the Superintendent ordering the shutting off of the water to the violator’s premises. When the water has been shut off for violations of rules or their offences, and it shall not be turned on again until the Department is satisfied that there shall not be further cause of complaint and charges have been paid to cover the cost of shutting off and turning on the water.

7.2   Discontinuance of Service
A water service may be discontinued for any reason such as nonpayment of water bills, fees, charges and liens or for violations of any rules and regulations contained herein, and in accordance with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40 Section 42.  A water service may be terminated without notice for fraudulent use. Reconnection of terminated service will be done ONLY during normal working hours of the Department; a reconnection fee shall be applied. Water service will not be reconnected until all charges have been paid in full.

If a request is made by the Harwich Health Department, the water may be shut off if there is a health and safety issue at the property.

7.3   Inactive Services
If an account does not have a meter and has been inactive for more than 24 months, the Department may disconnect and cap the service from the distribution system. If the property owner wishes to keep the service connected to the system, he or she must apply for an extension that may not exceed one year unless there is a special condition made and set forth by the Board of Water Commissioners.

7.4   Cross Connections
Any consumer found to be in noncompliance with the drinking water regulation of Massachusetts, 310 CMR 22.22 shall be punished by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Environmental Protection by a fine of not more than $25,000 dollars for each day that the violation occurs or continues. Water will be turned off immediately until violation has been corrected. There will be a Turn on and Turn off fee assessed per violation. There is also a testing fee per device, see non water related fees.

7.5   Treatment
No treatment by any unauthorized personnel shall be permitted. If anyone is found adding any treatment to Town’s water they will be subject to fines established by the Board of Commissioners for each individual offense.

7.6   Mandatory Water Use Restrictions
Any consumer found in violation of a water ban shall be fined as follows:

First Offense – written warning

Second Offense - $100.00 dollars

Third and any subsequent offense - $300.00 dollars

7.7   Unauthorized Water Use
Whoever unlawfully and intentionally injures a water meter or prevents such meter from registering the quantity of water supplied through it or use or causes to be used water without consent of Department shall be fined no less than $100 dollars for each offense.

7.8   Defacing and Littering Upon Town Owned Property
Any person or persons willfully defacing and or littering upon Town owned property located within its watershed shall be fined no less than $300.00 dollars.

7.9   No Tampering with Department Property
All gates, valves, shutoffs, water meters and standpipes and any other portion of the municipal system, are the sole property of the Harwich Water Department, are not to be open, close, removed or in any way tampered with. Only personnel authorized by the Water Superintendent may use this equipment. Violators will be subject to charges or penalties as stated herein or by Massachusetts General Law Chapter 165.