SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS
OF THE HUGULEY WATER, SEWER & FIRE PROTECTION AUTHORITY

The Board of Directors of the Huguley Water, Sewer and Fire Protection has adopted the following basic rules and regulations that will be observed by both the Authority and its members for regular one family dwelling and one farm dwelling.

I. TYPES OF SERVICE

(a) The rate schedule set forth below contemplates a single user, such as one family dwelling, one-farm dwelling. (Regular household tap).

(b) Extraordinary circumstances, such as subdivision extensions, multiple dwelling units, industrial users, and fire protection shall be governed by special contract agreements made by the Board of Directors.

(c) All water mains shall not be less than ¾” to residence. Service lines should be run by using PVC type schedule 40 psi or ¾” or larger copper rated at 150-psi minimum.

(d) A private cut off is required approximately 3 feet from meter on owner’s side where owner may be able to cut off their line without going into the Authority’s meter box.  Owner is not allowed to go into meter box for any reason and cut off water.

(e) The superintendent of the Authority must approve all installations.

II. STANDARD RATE SCHEDULE

See adopted rate schedules and customer classifications, which are subject to change at any time as the board of directors may deem necessary.

III. APPLICATION FOR SERVICE

(a) The Consumer will make application for service, in person, at the office of the Corporation and make the necessary deposits as required.

(b) Each member subscribing to use the services of the Authority shall pay a connection fee for each connection desired based on the current fee schedule at time of application. A cash security deposit of $90.00 will be required when application is signed.

IV. MINIMUM CHARGE

(a) Water furnished for a given lot shall be used on that lot only and for one (1) household. No other connections shall be connected to this single service.

(b) Except for fire protection, the Authority shall not under any condition furnish water free of charge to anyone. NO ONE IS TO CONNECT TO A FIRE HYDRANT EXCEPT FOR FIRE DEPARTMENTS WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE AUTHORITY.

V. CORPORATIONS RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY

(a) The Corporation will run a service line from its distribution line to the property line where the distribution lines exists, or is to be constructed, and runs immediately adjacent and parallel to the property to be served. No service charge, other than the connection fee referred to in above, will be made for a 5/8 x ¾” meter. A proportionately greater charge will be made for a meter of larger dimension.

(b) The Corporation reserves the right to refuse service unless the consumer’s lines or piping are installed in such a manner as to prevent cross-connections or backflow.

VI. CONSUMER’S RESPONSIBILITY

(a) Where meter, or meter boxes, is placed on the premises of a consumer; a suitable place shall be provided by the consumer therefore unobstructed and accessible at all times to the meter reader. Meter should not be enclosed behind fences.

(b) The consumer shall furnish and maintain a private cut-off valve on the consumer’s side of such meter, the corporation to provide a like valve on its side of such meter. The consumer shall install and maintain an acceptable back flow device. The consumer shall evaluate the need for a pressure regulator on the consumer’s side of the meter and shall install and maintain the pressure regulator as required.

(c) The consumer’s piping and apparatus shall be installed and maintained by the consumer at the consumer’s expense, in a safe and efficient manner and in accordance with the corporation’s rules and regulations and in full compliance with the sanitary regulations of the State Health Department.

(d) The consumer, members of his household and employees shall use water furnished by the corporation for consumption only. The consumer shall not sell water to any other person or permit any other person to use said water. Water shall not be used for irrigation, fire protection, or other purposes, except when water is available in sufficient quantity without interfering with the regular domestic consumption in the area served. Disregard for this rule shall be sufficient cause for refusal or discontinuance of service.

VII. ACCESS TO PREMISES

(a) Duly authorized agents of the corporation shall have access, at all reasonable hours, to the premises of the consumer for the purpose of installing or removing corporation property, inspection piping, reading and test meters, or any purpose in connection with the corporation service and facilities.

(b) Extensions to the system shall be made only when the consumer shall grant Or convey, or shall cause to be granted or conveyed, to the corporation a permanent easement or right-of-way across any property traversed by the lines.

VIII. CHANGE OF OCCUPANCY

(a) Not less than three days notice must be given in person or in writing, at the corporation office, to discontinue service or to change occupancy.

(b) The outgoing party shall be responsible for all water consumed up to the time of departure or the time specified for departure, whichever period is longest.

(c) The new occupant will apply for water service within 48 hours after occupying the premises and failure to do so will make him liable for water consumed since the last meter reading.

IX. METER READING –BILLING—COLLECTING

(a) Meters will be read and bills rendered monthly, but the corporation reserves the right to vary the dates or length of period covered, temporarily or permanently if necessary or desirable.

(b) Bills for water will be figured in accordance with the corporation’s rate schedule and will be based on the amount consumed for the period covered by the meter readings, except where a consumer orders turn off less than one month after turn on, the minimum bill to such consumer for such period shall be equal to the minimum charge for one full month’s service.

(c) Reading from different meters will not be combined for reading.

(d) Bills shall be paid at the Authority office. PAYMENTS TO METER READERS OR MAINTENANCE WORKERS ARE PROHIBITED.

(e) Bills are due on or before the 10th of every month and late fees will apply after the 10th of the month. Current month water charges up to $100.00 will be charged $10.00 late penalty. Current month water charges over $100.00 will be charged 10% of the current charge.

(f) If bills are not paid on or before the 20th of the month, service may be discontinued on the 21st. Current month charges PLUS late penalty fee not paid on or before the 20th will incur the following actions: Reconnect fee of $25.00 and meter may be locked.

(g) Failure to receive bills shall not prevent bills from becoming delinquent or relieve the customer from payment.

(h) Huguley Water Sewer & Fire Protection Authority has a policy in place that may allow the Authority to waive the late fee or reconnect fee being charged to our customers due to delays in the postal service if the following conditions apply:

1. The payment envelope MUST be POSTMARKED on the 10th day of the month or before for the late fee to be waived.

2. The payment envelope MUST be POSTMARKED on the 20th day of the month or before for the reconnect fee to be waived.

X. SUSPENSION OF SERVICES

(a) When services are discontinued and all bills paid, the security deposit will be refunded.

(b) Upon discontinuance of service for non-payment of bills, the corporation will apply the security deposit toward the settlement of the account. Any balance will be refunded to the consumer. But if the security deposit is not sufficient to cover the bill, the corporation may proceed to collect the balance in the usual way provided by law for collection of debts.

(c) Service disconnected for non-payment of bills will be restored only after bills are paid in full, such security deposit as may be required by the board of Directors is made and a service charge of $25.00 paid for each meter reconnected.

(d) The corporation reserves the right to discontinue its service without notice for the following additional reasons:

1. To prevent fraud or abuse.

2. Consumers’ willful disregard of the corporation rules.

3. Emergency repairs.

4. Insufficiency of water supply due to circumstances beyond the corporations’ control.

5. Legal processes.

6. Direction of public authorities.

7. Strike, riot, fire, floods, accident or any unavoidable cause.

(e) The Corporation may, in addition to prosecution by law, permanently refuse service to any consumer who tampers with a meter or other measuring device.

XI. COMPLAINTS—ADJUSTMENTS

(a) If the consumer believes his bill to be in error, he shall present his claim, in person, at the office of the corporation before the bill has become delinquent but such shall not be effective in preventing discontinuance of service as heretofore provided. The consumer may pay such bill under protest and said payment shall not prejudice his claim.

(b) The Corporation will make special meter reading at the request of a consumer.

(c) Meters will be tested at the request of the consumer upon payment to the corporation of the actual cost of making the test provided, however, that if the meter is found to over-register beyond three percent of the correct volume, no charge will be made.

(d) If the seal of a meter is broken by anyone other than the corporation’s representative or if the meter fails to register correctly or is stopped for any cause, the consumer shall pay an amount estimated from the record of his previous bills and/or from other proper data.

The Huguley Water, Sewer and Fire Protection Authority’s service to it’s customers is considered top priority, therefore, we will strive that; and water service will not be cut-off (main system) unless it is absolutely necessary to do so. The Authority urges its customers to use necessary precautions (i.e. check valves on hot water heaters) that abrupt emergency cut off will not affect appliances.

Last Revised: 9/1/10