New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 21 - Miscellaneous
Chapter XXX - Niagara Falls Water Board
Part 1950 - Water Regulations
Section 1950.6 - Service branches

(a) Property owners desiring water service branches laid to their premises shall make written application for such branches at the water board. Such application when fully executed constitutes an agreement that the property to be supplied is to be held liable for all charges for water consumed and any other indebtedness.

(b) Applications for service branches shall be made by a plumber licensed by the city or by the owner of the premises. In the latter case, the name of the licensed plumber who will do the work must be specified. All applications for new service shall be accompanied by the payment in full of all service line material to be furnished by the water board.

(c) Service branches less than two inches in size shall be attached to the water mains by means of a corporation cock(s) and tailpiece(s) supplied by the water board to the person making the application.

(d) The main water supply or water service from the water board water main to a point inside of the street curb shall be of type "K" annealed copper tubing.

(e) Service connections to the water board's water main are normally to be tapped on the top of the main and an arm running parallel with the main installed and blocked up with brick or stone. The copper service must be placed in a deep shelf on the side of the trench so that the copper pipe can be covered with at least six inches of earth. The copper service from the main to the curb cock is to be made with a minimum number of flared connections, except the 11/2" and 2" sizes may have one 90-degree elbow and one coupling with soldered joints.

(f) All service branches larger than two inches shall be of cast or ductile iron.

(g) Every service branch must be provided with a curb cock or valve protected by a curb box or valve box set just inside the curb line for the purpose of turning water either on or off.

(h) Whenever possible, service branches shall be laid in a direct line from the street main to the curb box and at right angles to the curb. They shall be laid at a minimum depth of four feet. Any exception must be approved by the director.

(i) Service branches may be laid in the same trench as the sewer lateral, provided they are placed upon a trench shelf and above the sewer line.

(j) All service branches from the main to the building must be laid by a licensed plumber or a competent employee under the supervision of a licensed plumber. The water board shall do no work except insertion of a corporation cock or the installation of a tapping sleeve and valve with the necessary valve box.

(k) All water service pipes are considered the property of the property owner and as such, said owner shall be responsible for any leakage which may occur between the curb cock and the building supplied, and it shall be the responsibility of such property owner to maintain such service pipe in a non-leaking condition at all times and at his own expense.

(l) The water board, at its own expense, shall repair, replace and otherwise maintain, except for thawing, that part of the water service pipe located between the water main in the street and the curb cock, otherwise known as the curb stop, including such curb cock and the protecting curb box whenever, in its judgment, such repair, replacement or other maintenance is necessary, provided that such service pipe is not more than two inches in diameter and that the property supplied is situated within the corporate limits of the city.

(m) The thawing of all frozen water services is the responsibility of the property owner.

(n) When a leak is discovered in a service branch between the curb box and the building supplied, a written notice shall be mailed or delivered to the property owner informing him or her of the existence of such leak. Failure of the property owner to repair such leak within five days of the date that such notice is mailed, shall be deemed sufficient cause for the water board to discontinue the supply of water through such service until such leak is repaired. Services temporarily discontinued in this manner shall not be restored until the leak is repaired and a reactivation fee as identified in the board schedule of rates is paid to the water board.

(o) The cost of removal and capping at the corporation cock when discontinuing service shall be paid for by the owner, whether done at his request or by order of the director, at real cost.

(p) Any service line where water service has been terminated at the request of the owner shall be considered inactive if service is not restored within two years from the removal of the water meter. After two years, the service line shall be deemed abandoned and the director may require replacement of the service line to re-establish water service.