VILLAGE OF AURORA 
LOCAL LAW NO. 4 of 2015 
AMENDING LOCAL LAW #2 OF 2001
A LOCAL LAW FOR RULES AND REGULATIONS 
GOVERNING THE USE AND SUPPLY OF WATER 
Be it enacted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Aurora 
as follows: 
1. Rules. Part of Contract. 
Every person who shall be supplied, or whose property 
shall be supplied, with water by the Water Department of 
the Village shall be deemed to have accepted, and 
approved the rules of the Village governing and 
regulating the supplying of water, and the same shall 
constitute a part of the contract between such person and 
the Village. Wherever the word consumer shall be used in 
the Rules and Regulations, it shall mean the owner or 
owners of the premises. The continuance of the consumer 
to take water after any amendment or change of these 
rules shall be deemed an acceptance of such amendment or 
change. 
2.	Work To Be Done by Water Department, Licensed Plumber, 
or by Special Permit. 
A. All service connections with the principal mains, and 
service pipes from said principal mains to approximately 
two feet back of the curb line, or gutter line where 
there is no curb, including the stop or curb cock or 
valve, and box for same, shall be put in and installed 
only by properly authorized employees of the Water 
Department, acting under the direction of the 
Superintendent of said Department. 
B. From curb cock or value to meter. 
No person shall make any connection with the above 
mentioned curb cock located either at the curb or property line, except a regular employee of the Water Department acting under the direction of the Superintendent, or a person having a special permit from the Water Department. 
3. Agent or Owner. 
The plumber designated and employed by the owner of the 
premises will be considered the agent of such owner while 
employed in the prosecution of the work of introducing 
water into said premises, and in no sense as the agent of 

	the Water Department. The village will not be responsible for the acts of such plumber. 
4.	Application for Service. 
Every person desiring a supply of water through the 
principal water mains must make application at the office 
of the Water Department for a service pipe and connection 
with the Village mains. Such application shall be made 
in writing and must be signed by the owner of the 
property or his duly authorized agent. 

5. 
6. 

Material of Service Pipe. 
The service pipe, between the corporation cock at the 
main and the curb cock at the curb, shall be seamless 
copper tubing, Type K. All pipe between the curb cock 
and the meter, wherever located, shall be of the same 
quality, approved by the Water Department.  

Opening of Curb Cocks. 
The curb cock or value controlling any service shall not 
be opened or left open by the plumber or any other person 
after connecting said service at the curb, so that the 
water may be supplied to such premises by said service, 
unless the service pipe installation has been approved by 
the water Department and the meter installation 
completed. In case of building operations, special 
permission may be given by the Water Department under 
such conditions as it may prescribe. 

7. Injury to Mains, Pipes, Etc. 
Any person responsible for any injury to any main, pipe, 
hydrant, or other water facility, shall reimburse the 
village for the loss of water caused 
thereby. He shall not be responsible for any damage 
caused by such escaping water. 
8. Responsibility for Trench. 
In the case of any excavation in any street or public 
grounds for the introduction of any water pipe or 
connection under authority of a permit from the Water 
Department, where the work is not done by said 
Department, the owner and plumber will each be held 
responsible for the trench opened by them. 
Whenever any street or public ground is opened for making 
a connection with or laying any water pipe, or fixtures, 
public safety and convenience shall be duly regarded and 
conserved by the construction of such bridges across open 
trenches as may be required to accommodate business and 

5.	
6.	
to insure safety to the public. Red lights, barricades 
and all such other means of protections against accident 
must be provided. 
9.	Laying of Service pipes. 
Service pipe will be required to be laid not less than 
four feet below the surface of the earth at any point to 
the inside of the foundation wall of the building into 
which the water service is introduced and, in case the 
final grade of the street or sidewalk has been officially 
determined and established, then the said service pipe 
shall be laid at a depth of not less than four feet below 
such established grade at all points, so that when the 
street and walk are graded, there shall be not less than 
four feet covering of earth over the pipe at any point. 
'10. Trenches Inspected. 
Where trenches are opened for the laying of service pipes 
and such service pipes installed, said trenches, 
materials and workmanship shall be inspected by the Water 
Department before the same are back filled. The owner or 
the plumber performing such work shall notify the Water 
Department that such trench is ready for inspecting. 
11. Service Pipes Installed and Maintained. 
The owner of property into which water is introduced by 
a service pipe will be required to install and maintain, 
in perfect order, at his own expense, the said service 
pipe from the curb stop or property line. The Water Department has the right to shut off water to the property until repairs are made.
12. Step and waste Cocks. 
Just inside of the basement wall of the building into 
which the service pipe extends, a shut off valve shall be installed before the water meter.
13. Steam Boilers. 
In all places where steam boilers or hot water tanks are 
supplied with water from the Village water supply, the 
owner or consumer must see that the plumber places a 
suitable safety valve, vacuum valve or other proper 
device to prevent damages from collapse or explosion when 
the water is shut off. 
The Water Department, its employees, or the Village of 
Aurora shall not be liable for any damage resulting from 
the sudden shutting off of the water from any steam 
boiler or other fixture deriving its supply from the 
village water supply. When practicable, suitable notice 
of such shutting off shall be given to the owner or 
occupant. 
14. Fire Service. 
Stand pipes, or other pipes for automatic suppression of 
fires in buildings, which fixtures are only intended for 
such use, may be permitted to be attached to the water 
supply system. Application for such permits, accompanied 
by a plan of the proposed pipe system must be submitted 
to the Superintendent of the Water Department for his 
approval. No additional fixtures, connections or 
extensions, shall be made in any fire protection system 
without the approval of the Superintendent. 
The entire cost of installing the fire service shall be 
borne by the owner of the building supplied. 
15. Fire Services Maintained. 
The owners of the premises where pipe lines are in 
service for fire protection shall maintain such services 
pipes in perfect order over their entire length from the 
street main into the premises, and they shall be 
responsible for any damage that may be caused by leakage, 
or breaking or bursting of such pipes, unless such damage 
has been caused through some fault of the Water 
Department. 
16. Inspectors May Enter Premises. 
Officers or employees of the Water Department, upon 
presentation of proper credentials, may enter upon any 
premises where Village water is being supplied or upon 
any premises when application is made for a permit to 
connect plumbing with the water pipes, for the purpose of 
installing, reading, removing or repairing meters, or for 
inspecting the plumbing and fixtures of the water 
service, and all work in connection with such service. 

17. Limit the Water Furnished. 
The Water Department reserves the right to limit the 
amount of water furnished to any consumer should 
circumstances seem to warrant such action, although no 
limit may be stated in the application or permit for use; 
or said Water Department may entirely shut off the water 
supply used for any manufacturing purpose, or for 
furnishing power, or for lawn sprinkling, at any time, by 
giving reasonable notice to the consumer of such intended 
action. 
In the case of making or constructing new work, in making 
repairs or leakage tests, the right is reserved to shut 
off the water from any consumer, provided a good faith 
effort is made to give reasonable notice, for as long a 
period as may be necessary, excepting that in emergency 
situations, no notice shall be required. 
18. Shutting Off. 
It is understood and agreed that the Water Department of 
the Village of Aurora shall not be liable for any damage 
which may result to any person or premises from shutting 
off of the water from any main or service, for any 
purpose whatever, even in cases where no notice is given. 
19. Change of Pressure. 
The Water Department of the Village of Aurora shall not 
be liable for any damage or loss of any name or kind, to 
property or persons, which may arise from, or be caused 
by any change, either increase or decrease, in pressure 
of water supplied, from any cause whatever. 
20. All Services To Be Metered. 
All water furnished through service pipes, whether for 
residential, commercial or industrial use, shall be 
metered. All meters shall be furnished and installed at 
the expense of the Water Department, except as otherwise 
provided. 
At the option of the Water Department, service lines used 
exclusively for fire protection may be left unmetered. 
Wherever surreptitious use of water by the consumer is 
discovered from any such connection, the Water Department 
may either discontinue such service, or compel the owner 
to install a suitable meter at his own expense. 
21.	Damaged or Missing Meters. 
Any damage which the meter may sustain, resulting from 
the carelessness of the owner, his agent or tenant, or 

from neglect of either of them to properly secure and 
protect the same, including any damage that my result 
from allowing said meter to become frozen, or to be 
injured by hot water or steam getting back from a boiler 
or hot water tank, shall be paid to the Water Department 
by the owner of the premises. 
Cost for meters missing from premises shall be paid to 
the Water Department by the owner of the premises. 
Ordinary wear and tear of meters shall be the 
responsibility of the Water Department. Meters shall be 
repaired only by the Water Department or their authorized 
agents. 
22. Access to Meter. 
Whenever a meter is set, whether at the curb, in the 
sidewalk or area vault or any part of the basement of any 
building, the space occupied by the meter and the meter 
box shall at all times be kept free from rubbish or 
obstructions of any kind. 
The owner and tenant shall provide ready and convenient 
access to the meter so that it may be frequently read and 
examined by agents of the Water Department. 
23. Permit To Set Or Remove Meter. 
No meter shall be set or removed or disturbed without a 
permit from the Water Department. In general, all meters 
shall be installed and removed only by duly authorized 
agents of the Water Department. 
24.	Meters For Building, Conversion Or Remodeling Purposes. 
Water meters for building, conversion, or remodeling 
purposes shall be set by the Water Department at the 
expense of the contractor or person making such 
application therefor. 
In case it is impracticable to place meters for such 
building purposes, water may be supplied to the 
contractor or owner at flat rates duly established. 
25. Certificates of Occupancy. 

No meter shall be set or water 
of Occupancy has not been 
indicating compliance with 
Building Code. 

furnished if a Certificate 
issued for the premises 
New York State Fire and 

26. A Back Flow Prevention Device. 
A back flow prevention device shall be installed at the 
Owner's expense. 
HYDRANTS 
27. Control. 
All street fire hydrants, or hydrants for private fire 
protection from unmetered service lines, are under the 
control of the Water Department. No person, except an 
authorized agent or employee of the Water Department, the 
Department of Public Works, Fire Department, or a person 
permitted by the Water Department to take water 
therefrom, shall operate, use or disturb any hydrant, or 
any part thereof, or take any water therefrom, under any 
circumstances whatever. 
28. Damages. 
In case any damage to a street hydrant is done by any 
person having a permit for taking water from said 
hydrant, the holder of the permit shall pay such damages 
and all costs and expenses that may be incurred by reason 
thereof, on demand, to the Water Department. 
29.	Use of Hydrants for Construction Purposes. 
No person shall use any fire hydrant for construction or 
other purposes without first obtaining a permit for such 
use from the Water Department and making any advance 
payment demanded by said Department. All hydrants used 
for any construction purposes such as sewers, buildings, 
paving, etc., must have reducing couplings attached to 
the nozzles of the hydrants, with an independent valve 
for regulating the supply. 
The main valve of the hydrant must be opened full at the 
beginning of work each day, and remain open until the 
stoppage of work at night. The water supply shall be 
regulated by the independent valve. The hydrant shall be 
operated only by a proper hydrant wrench, which shall be 
obtained from the Water Department. 
Water must not be allowed to run except when used. No 
leaking hose, pipe or joints shall be permitted. All 
persons using hydrants shall immediately obey any 
instructions or orders that may be issued by the Water 
Department to regulate the use of these hydrants. 
If required by the Water Department, a meter shall be 
applied to the connection made with the hydrant, at the 

expense of the party using same, and said party shall pay 
for all water by meter measurement, at the stipulated 
rates. 
VALVES 
30. Operated by Employees Only. 
No person, except a duly authorized employee of the Water 
Department shall open, close or in any way interfere with 
any valve or gate in any water main, conduit, or street 
pipe. 
31.	Displaced or Covered. 
Any person who has disturbed or displaced a valve box so 
that the valve stern cannot be reached by a key, or who 
has covered a valve box or manhole cover of a valve 
chamber with dirt, paving, plank or other material shall 
immediately replace the valve box or remove the 
obstruction. 
32. Certain Cross Connections Not Permitted. 
The Water Department having the management and regulation 
of the potable water supply furnished to the municipality 
shall not permit any physical connection between the 
distribution system of the said supply and that of any 
other water supply, unless such other water supply is 
regularly examined as to its quality by those in charge 
of the potable water supply to which the connection is 
made and is also found to be potable. This prohibition 
shall apply to all water distribution systems either 
inside or outside of any building or buildings. 
33. Fixtures Not To Be Cross-Connected. 
No plumbing fixture, device or construction shall be 
installed, or shall be connected to the municipal water 
supply, when such installation or connection may provide 
a possibility of polluting such water supply or which may 
provide a cross-connection between a distributing system 
or water for drinking and domestic purposes and water 
which may become contaminated in such plumbing fixture, 
device or construction. 
34.	Payments by Consumers. Registration. 
Generally, all water consumed shall be recorded and paid 
for by meter registration and at rates to be fixed by the 
Trustees of the Village, except as otherwise provided 
for. Such rates may from time to time be changed as the 

trustees may determine. 
35. Water Rates (Responsibility). 
All charges for water, service pipe installation, 
repairs, damages caused by carelessness or neglect, 
penal ties, etc., shall be made against the premises 
supplied, and the owner of premises shall be held 
responsible for such charges, if not paid, shall 
be a lien on the property benefited. All such unpaid 
charges shall be added to the next municipal tax against 
the property. 
36.	Meter Bills. 
Bills for metered water shall be payable quarterly. In 
each instance meter bills·, if not paid on or before the 
due date stated on the bills rendered, shall be increased 
five per centum as a penalty for failure to pay promptly. 
Failure to receive bill shall not act as a waiver of such 
penalty. 
In the event that more than one meter is used upon the 
same premises, separate bills shall be rendered for each 
meter reading. 
37. If Meter Fails to Register. 
If the meter stops or fails to register, the consumer 
will be billed at the average daily consumption, over the 
year previous, as shown by the meter, when it is in 
order. 
38. Charges in Case of Leaks. 
All water that passes through a meter shall be charged 
for whether used, wasted, or lost by leakage, except that 
the Village Board of Trustees may make such abatement as 
seems to its right and proper in the case of underground 
leaks, where it does not seem that the owner or user 
could reasonably be expected to know of the leak or to 
have had a fair chance to stop the same. Such reduction 
shall not exceed one-half of the excess above the usual
bill. 
39. Test of Meters. 
Upon the written application of any consumer of the 
municipal water supply made to the water Department and 
accompanied by an inspection fee of $10.00 the Water 
Department shall remove the said meter, bring the same to 
their shop and there test the same, in the presence of 
the owner, if he so desires. If upon such inspection the 
meter is found to be more than 5% fast said Water 
Department shall return to the consumer the above 
inspection fee and make such reduction in the current 
bill as the facts warrant. If, however, the meter does 
not over-register more than the above mentioned 5%, the 
Department shall retain the above inspection fee as its 
expense of the testing. 
40. Miscellaneous. 
Whenever practical a meter shall be placed and the water 
consumption paid for at the established meter rates. 
For building purposes where it is not advisable or 
practical to install a meter the owner or contractor may 
be furnished water at a fixed flat rate. In such 
instances the owner or contractor should make written 
application to the Water Department on a form provided by 
the Department giving the data required. The Water 
Department may demand payment in advance of the amount of 
charges for water at scheduled rates for work thus 
stated. 
	41. 	No person shall willfully or maliciously break, injure, 
or disturb any water main, service pipe, meter, or water 
fixture or facility of any kind. No person shall 
disturb, remove, alter or tamper with any water meter. 
No person, except members of the fire or water 
department, or department of public works, shall unlock, 
unscrew, or remove any water meter.

42.	Easement Requirements- Generally.

1.	Permanent easements are required for all infrastructure and improvements referenced in these regulations, including, but are not limited to easements for: storm sewers and appurtenances, storm water drainage-ways and areas, sanitary sewers and appurtenances, water mains and appurtenances, streets and sidewalks, conservation and recreation areas and specialty pedestrian routes (trials, etc.).    

2.	All easements granted to the Village are necessary to ensure that infrastructure and improvements may be maintained, modified, repaired and/or replaced in a safe, effective and expeditious manner so as to limit disruption of services to potentially affected parties and such other purposes as may be deemed appropriate by the Village.

3.	All easements shall include provisions such that any and all areas disturbed and/or damaged shall be fully restored to a condition at least as good as the condition of the area and/or feature just prior to the start of the work.  Wherever and whenever possible, all easements must be in such form and substance as prescribed by the Village and meet the approval of the Village attorney, it being the intent of these regulations that all permanents easements shall be recorded with the Clerk of the County. 

4.	For new developments that include improvements and installations that will be dedicated back to the Village, the developer shall be responsible to show all proposed and finalized easements on all design and final project drawings, shall prepare all easement agreements to be used in such form and manner as directed by the Village, and shall prepare all the required maps and legal descriptions suitable for filing as required, complete the field stakeout of said easements and reimburse the Village for all costs to conduct reviews and to file completed documents. 

Detailed Requirements

1.	For either newly proposed developments which will include the installation of new facilities and utility pipes that will be dedicated back to the Village, or for locations where existing utilities presently exist on private property without any existing easement, the following requirements shall apply.  It is understood that where no easement presently exists, the intent of this regulation is to ensure a permanent easement agreement with the landowner is obtained and filed with the Clerk of the County thereby providing the Village unobstructed access to operate, maintain, modify, repair/replace and or re-design the utility in its overall responsibility to protect public health, safety and welfare.  Wherever and whenever a private landowner shall seek to obtain land use approvals of any type, or building or other permitting approvals of any type, the Village shall include as a condition in such approval(s) the landowner’s obligation to enter into a permanent easement agreement with the Village in such a form and content as prescribed by the Village in order to protect the Village’s interests in any and all utility infrastructure passing through, above, or under the subject landowner’s property.  Failure to adhere to the Village’s conditions as to the granting, or modification, of an approved permanent easement, or easements, as the case may be, shall subject the landowner to the revocation of the approval(s) or permit(s) being sought.  

2.	All permanent utility easements shall be a minimum width of 20 feet (centered on the pipe or feature), wherever the pipe is no greater than 36” in diameter and/or the depth of bury to the pipe invert is no greater than 10 feet below the ground surface.  For all other utility installations which exceed these thresholds, or where two utility features are to be included within a single easement area, the easement width shall be accordingly widened to a minimum of 25 feet or greater, depending on the specific circumstances that exist.

3.	For each permanent easement granted to the Village, an additional temporary easement shall be agreed upon which will provide a suitable access route to the permanent easement area as well as additional working widths adjacent to the permanent  easement (10 feet wide), so as to allow adequate space for performing whatever work is needed.

43. 	This local law supersedes all previous versions  and takes effect immediately upon filing with New York State.