New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 21 - Miscellaneous
Chapter LXXXIII - Buffalo Water Board
Part 10085 - Buffalo Water Board Regulations
Section 10085.7 - Water service connections

Universal Citation: 21 NY Comp Codes Rules and Regs ยง 10085.7

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024

(a) Taps or connections with mains or distribution pipes.

No persons, except the properly authorized employees of the City of Buffalo, will be permitted to tap or make any connection with the mains or distribution pipes of the water board.

(b) Permit for alterations to system attachments.

No plumber shall make any extensions to or alterations of any tap, pipe or other fixtures attached to or intended to become attached to the pipes of the water system without first having obtained a written permit from the commissioner.

(c) Multiple service prohibited.

No plumber shall be permitted to connect any two or more distinct premises or tenements with or upon one service pipe.

(d) Responsibility for payment for multiple service.

In case two or more premises are, at the time of adoption of these regulations, supplied by one service pipe, water service shall be refused to such premises until the person controlling the main stopcock shall pay the full amount of water rate for the premises thus supplied. When the water shall be supplied to more than one person through a single tap, the bill for the whole supply shall be made to the owner of the premises, and in case of nonpayment, the water shall be shut off, notwithstanding that one or more person(s) shall have paid their proportion to such owner or to any other person.

(e) Responsibility for payment for more than one house on lot.

In all cases where there are two or more distinct dwelling units or tenements on a lot without meters or when the water is accessible to both, the water will not be turned on to one dwelling unit or tenement unless the access rate is paid by the second or the water rates are paid for each dwelling unit or tenement, or meters are installed.

(f) Extensions of service pipes and certain facilities prohibited.

(1) No extension or alteration of service pipes, whether involving new uses of water or not, shall be made without the permission of the commissioner; and for any extension involving new uses of water, an application therefor shall be filed with and approved by the commissioner before such extension is made.

(2) No hopper bottom, evasive or antifreezing closet shall hereafter be installed in the city, and no water shall be furnished for any such closet.

(g) Shutoff after repairs.

No plumber shall, after making any connection or extension or after making repairs or putting in any new attachment, leave the stopcock open and the water turned on.

(h) Turning on water by plumber prohibited.

No plumber shall turn on water to any premises, whether an old or new supply.

(i) Tapping and disconnecting of service lines.

(1) Notice for tapping must be delivered to the department 24 hours before the day for insertion of any tap and such notice must state the time when the pipe will be uncovered and ready for the tapper. Such notice must state definitely the size of the pipe to be connected and run, the number of the premises, the side of the street and the name of the person owning the premises and such other information as the commissioner may require.

(2) When application for a new tap is made, the fees pursuant to the board schedule of rates for plugging at the main all other taps not actually in use in front of the same premises must be paid by the owner of the premises. The plugging of the old tap will be done by city employees, and the real cost of the same, if any is incurred by the water board, will be added to the next water bill or assessed against the premises.

(3) In all cases of demolition or removal of buildings, the user service connection and all existing water service lines not continued in use, previously servicing said premises, shall be abandoned and properly disconnected and plugged at the water main at the expense of the owner of the property and under the supervision of the commissioner, unless the commissioner shall otherwise give permission for the retention of said service lines.

(j) Additional charge for unready pipe.

In case the pipe is not ready for the tapper at the time specified, an additional charge as provided in the board schedule of rates will be made for each trip made to the premises thereafter.

(k) Responsibility for street opening.

The commissioner will in all cases determine and control the size and location of openings of service cocks inserted in the main pipes. The plumber performing such work will be held responsible for any damages or casualties of any kind that may occur in connection with the opening in the street for running the service pipe; and the repaving over all openings in the streets and sidewalks must be done by said plumber or owner, or at their expense, and kept in as good condition by such plumber or owner, or at their expense, for one year after such service pipe shall have been laid.

(l) Maintenance of service pipes.

All user service connections, lateral or service pipes for public or private use and all necessary fixtures connected therewith shall be subject to the approval of the commissioner. Such pipe and connection are to be laid and kept in good repair and protected from frost by or at the expense of the applicant, who shall likewise pay for the fee for tapping of the main pipe. Such payment to be made by the person making the application for a supply of water at the time such application is made.

(m) Depth of service pipe.

The user service connection is to be laid not less than five feet in depth below the surface or below the grade of the street, and the material used for such user service connection shall in each and every case be subject to the approval of the commissioner or as hereinafter specified.

(n) Size and makeup of service pipe.

(1) The minimum nominal internal diameter of user service connection water service pipe shall be 3/4 inch, and, except as otherwise herein permitted, the maximum nominal internal diameter shall be two inches.
(i) Such service pipe shall be of any of the following materials: Type K copper water tube, SPS copper pipe, or SPS 85 percent red brass pipe.

(2) Service lines over two inches in nominal internal diameter, when approved and permitted by the commissioner, shall be of any of the following materials:
(i) SPS hard copper pipe;

(ii) SPS 85 percent red brass pipe;

(iii) mechanical-joint ductile iron pipe; or

(iv) bell-and-spigot ductile iron pipe.

(3) All service pipe, fittings and accessories shall be subject to the approval of the commissioner based on accepted national standards as follows:
(i) Type K soft copper tube shall be made of dioxidized copper, 99.9 pure, and shall be sound and free from any defects. All tubes shall be stamped with the manufacturer's name or designation at frequent intervals and shall be able to withstand an internal pressure of 700 pounds per square inch.

(ii) SPS copper pipe shall be manufactured of dioxidized copper, 99.9 pure, and shall be free from defects. Each length shall be stamped with size and grade.

(iii) SPS and 85 percent copper and 15 percent zinc and free from defects. Each length shall be stamped with size and grade.

(iv) Ductile iron pipe shall conform to the latest revisions of the specifications for ductile iron pipe, C111 and C151 of American Water Works Association (AWWA). Pipe shall be furnished with a seal coated cement lining in accordance with AWWA specification C104, and shall be coated on the outside with a bituminous coating, approximately one mm thickness, in accordance with AWWA specification C151. The minimum thickness of ductile iron pipe shall be Class 52.

(4) All service pipes shall be made of materials that are lead free.

(o) Fittings, taps and joints.

(1) Fittings.
(i) Fittings for assembling copper water tubes shall be cast-bronze flared tube or cast brass or wrought-copper solder type. All such fittings shall be marked with the size and the manufacturer's name or designation.

(ii) Threaded-type fittings shall be of cast brass or bronze of heavy-beaded steam pattern free from defects and containing the following materials:

Material

Minimum (percent)

Maximum (percent)
Copper 80 86
Zinc 4 15
Tin 3 6

(iii) Fittings for ductile iron pipe shall conform to the latest revision of the specifications for ductile iron fittings, C153, compact body type (class 350), of the American Water Works Association.

(2) Taps.
(i) The maximum size taps permitted for various size water mains shall be as follows:

Size of Main (inches)

Size of Tape (inches)
4 3/4
6 3/4
8 1
10 1
12 11/4
16 11/4
20 2
Over 20 2

(ii) When the condition of the main is such that it will not fully support any of the above sizes or when obstructions prohibit normal installation, then the commissioner may, in his discretion, permit the connection to be made by means of an approved tapping saddle; provided, however, that no taps for domestic or fire supplies shall be installed in 36-inch, 48-inch and 60-inch transmission mains.

(iii) Multiple taps for a single service line shall not be permitted. Tapping sleeve and branch valve may be used where a greater volume of water is required than can be obtained through taps above prescribed. Connections to the tapping sleeve and branch valve shall be directed and as permitted by the commissioner.

(iv) At the connection to the corporation cock, a proper regard and allowance for service line flexibility shall be made. Where Type K copper water tube services are installed, an excess of two feet of pipe shall be used for bending of a gooseneck at the water main to provide flexibility. Where SPS copper pipe or SPS 85 percent red brass pipe is used, a minimum of three 12-inch pieces of pipes and fittings shall be used to make a flexible joint at the main.

(3) Joints.
(i) All joints between copper pipe and copper or brass fittings when of solder type only shall be of silver solder or brazed with phoscopper.

(ii) Mechanical joints for ductile iron pipe and fittings shall conform to the latest specifications for mechanical joints for ductile iron pressure pipe and fittings (designation C111) of the American Water Works Association.

(4) All fittings, taps, and joints shall be made of materials that are lead free.

(p) Type of stopcocks to be used.

(1) All stopcocks used for service pipes shall be of the pattern known as the "round waterway," the size of the head to be as follows:
(i) 3/4 inch: 13/4 * 7/16 inches, T or square as preferred.

(ii) One inch: 2 * 1/2 inches, T or square as preferred.

(iii) 11/4 inches: 21/2 * 9/16 inches, T or square as preferred.

(iv) 11/2 inches: 21/2 * 5/8 inches, T or square as preferred.

(v) Two inches: 31/8 * 3/4 inches, T or square as preferred.

(2) On all others, screw valves are to be used.

(q) Service pipes larger than one inch.

Service pipes larger than one inch in diameter intended for fire protection or for supplying power for elevators or other hydraulic motors cannot be tapped or used for the general supply of water to the premises. Such supply must be taken through a service pipe of the ordinary size.

(r) Inspection of stopcocks; stopcock box materials.

All stopcocks made by the plumbers in the sidewalks, as well as those for street washers, hydrants, water closets, and the like, shall be subject to the inspection and approval of the commissioner; and the stopcock boxes shall be cast iron and shall be equal to the sample in the office of the department.

(s) Installation of stopcock box.

All connections shall be provided with a stopcock as required herein, which shall be covered with a cast-iron box extending up to the grade of the sidewalk, the cover to have the word "water" thereon, and shall be placed in the sidewalk within one foot of the line of the curbstone so that the word "water" can be read from the sidewalk. No premises will be supplied without said box being in good working order. In case of neglect or refusal of the user or owner to provide or repair the box within 10 days when notified, the commissioner shall cause it to be done and deliver an invoice for any real costs incurred by the water board to the owner or user, or charge the real cost of the expense against the premises, to be collected with the first bill for supply of water that shall become due against such premises.

(t) Provision of stopcock for each service.

Each and every service pipe must be provided with a stop and waste cock for each separate dwelling unit or place where water is introduced, easily accessible and so situated that the water can be conveniently shut off and drained from the pipes.

(u) Installation of stopcock box in sidewalk.

In cases where the stopcock boxes are set in the flagging or pavement of the sidewalk, the stones are to be neatly and accurately cut and the top of the stopcock boxes set even with the flagging or pavement and in all other cases flush with the surface of the sidewalk.

(v) Stopcock handle.

In cases when the stopcock has to be placed deeper than six feet, a stationary wrench, which comes up to the ordinary depth of the cocks, must be installed. The top of this wrench is to be formed like the top of the stopcock and the rod is to work in a guide immediately below its top or handle.

(w) Safeguarding from freezing.

If there is a vault or area under the sidewalk or in front of any building, the service pipe shall run at a sufficient depth below the floor of such vault or area to be secured from freezing. A suitable stop or waste cock shall be placed in each service directly within the wall of the building and so located as to be secure from freezing and to drain all pipes in the building as a safeguard against freezing and to give the user the means of stopping the flow of water in case of leakage or damage to plumbing on the premises.

(x) Hydraulic elevator service pipes.

All service pipes for supplying hydraulic elevators or other large motors must have suitable air chambers attached thereto for the purpose of preventing water hammer in the pipes, and the owners or users of such elevators must keep the same in good repair so as to prevent all leakage or waste of water.

(y) Leaks in service pipes.

When leaks occur in the service pipes at any point beyond the main, they must be immediately repaired by the owner or user of the premises; and if not repaired within 24 hours after notice, the commissioner shall cause the same to be shut off until repaired and deliver an invoice for any real costs incurred by the water board to the owner or user, or charge the expense incurred against the premises, to be collected with the first bill for supply of water that shall become due against said premises.

(z) Protecting residents with lead service pipes.

(1) A lead service pipe shall not be repaired, and where repairs are required, such a pipe shall be replaced with a service pipe that is lead free and otherwise complies with the requirements of subdivision (n) of this section.

(2) If a lead service pipe is replaced between the water main and the curb stop, then any connected lead service pipe, or connected service pipe made from galvanized steel or galvanized iron, shall also be replaced with a service pipe that meets the requirements of subdivision (n) of this section.

(3) If any service pipe is repaired or replaced, then any connected lead service pipe shall be replaced with a service pipe that meets the requirements of subdivision (n) of this section.

(aa) Replacement or remediation of service pipes, valves and appurtenances.

(1) The board, on its own initiative, or as it deems appropriate, acting with the city and/or any other person, may use public funds and it may utilize public employees to replace or remediate any service pipe, valve, or appurtenance, including but not limited to, lead and/or galvanized steel or iron service pipes, at the discretion of the commissioner, when the commissioner determines that such replacement or remediation may benefit the public health, safety, welfare, or the public water supply system.

(2) Before using public funds or utilizing public employees to replace or remediate a service pipe, valve, or appurtenance, the commissioner shall consider and act consistently with any applicable board policy and procedures, the availability of public funds, equipment, personnel and facilities and other resources.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New York may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.