§ 20-05 Meters.
RCNY § 20-05
(a)Placement – General.
(1)An approved water meter shall be installed wherever City water is supplied and for all wells or other water sources that discharge into the City sewer system, in new construction, upon replacement or repair of a service line in an unmetered property, or on a retrofit basis the rules of the New York City Water Board (15 RCNY 42, Appendix A (Part VII, § 1)). The Department may require installation of additional meters as a condition for certain New York City Water Board rate or billing programs.
(2)(i) Each building must have one (1) meter on each service connection supplying the building set at the point of entry. However, the Department may issue a variance or approval allowing two (2) or more separate meters to serve residential and non-residential (or rate-eligible and ineligible) occupancies in the same building or lot to comply with a rate or billing program established by the New York City Water Board.
(ii)Properties with internal water mains must have a meter and backflow prevention devices in a vault or above-ground enclosure located at the property line at each connection to the city water system.
(iii)Unmetered properties with a lead or galvanized metal service pipe shall not be permitted to install a water meter except when accompanied with complete replacement of the lead or galvanized service line.
(3)Placement during building construction (i) All water used in the construction of buildings 75 feet or six (6) or more stories in height shall be metered.
(iv)The meter shall be close to the point of entry of the service pipe, and shall be enclosed in a vault or box of ample size and substantial construction which will provide adequate protection against damage or injury from frost or any other cause.
(v)Each meter shall remain in service throughout the entire period of building construction. If a different meter is to be used during operation of the completed building, a separate meter permit is required for that replacement.
(vi)Where the meter is inoperable, has not accurately measured the water supplied to the premises, or has not been maintained in good working order during the entire period of building operations, the charge for water consumed during building construction shall be established as provided by the New York City Water Board in accordance with the Water and Wastewater Rate Schedule.
(4)All water used in the construction of buildings less than six (6) stories in height shall either be metered or be supplied by a hydrant permitted in accordance with 15 RCNY § 20-08. If water used during construction is metered, the meter shall be placed as described in 15 RCNY § 20-05(a)(3). Permit applications for temporary water service during construction shall include the name and contact information for the Licensed Master Plumber or construction management company.
(5)Metering of fire service pipes and combined service pipes.
(i)Fire service connections: Fire service connections in premises supplied with City water must have an approved backflow prevention assembly. It can be either a double check detector or reduced pressure detector assemblies. Fire service connections of two-and-one-half (2 1/2) inches in diameter must be provided with valves, and fittings required for a three (3) inch service connection. Fire service connections supplying private hydrants must have fire service valves and fittings.
(b)Meter permits.
(c)Work on small meters.
(d)Approved water meters. Meters shall meet the following requirements: (1) All water meters used for billing purposes must comply with applicable specifications of the most recent AWWA Standards for Water Meters, and/or be specifically tested and approved by the Department as to their accuracy, performance and construction. The Department shall maintain and regularly update a list of approved water meters, detector assemblies, pit meter equipment, meter attachments and meter-associated equipment.
(6)Positive displacement meters 5/8" through 1 1/2" must conform to the most recent version of AWWA Standard C700. 2" positive displacement meters are not approved for use after January 1, 2021.
(7)All meters must have a main case composed of an alloy which does not have a lead content that exceeds current NSF/ANSI Standard 61/372 limits. Upon request by DEP the meter manufacturer must submit all documentation associated with its product's compliance with NSF 61/372.
(8)Meter manufacturers shall notify the Department at least thirty (30) days after any changes in design, serial numbering, or other matter that might affect the use of the water meter or billing processes.
(9)Any main meter case made of plastic or other non-metallic material shall be commercially recyclable or shall be recycled by the manufacturer or its agent. Any main meter case made of plastic shall have metallic threaded connections unless specifically approved by the Department for composite or plastic threads.
(10)Any meter that requires a battery other than for temporary backup power for proper operation shall be provided with a manufacturer's warranty at least equal to the claimed life of the battery, or ten years for meters one-and-a-half (1 1/2) inch and larger or 15 years for meters smaller than one-and-a-half (1 1/2) inch, whichever is longer.
(11)The manufacturer must provide each meter supplied to a distributor after January 1, 2020 with a removable barcode tag and sticker meeting the Department's Enhanced Barcode Specifications available on the DEP website.
(12)All meters installed in any pit or vault, or installed in the basement of a building lying in a designated floodplain, shall have factory, waterproof wiring connections and shall be rated by the manufacturer for submersion in water.
(e)Compound, turbine, electromagnetic, and single-jet meters.
(g)Sizing.
(h)Tests. The permit applicant shall submit the manufacturer's meter accuracy test results to the Department at the time of permit application. The Department retains the right, in specific instances, to require that a new, used or repaired meter be sent to a designated Department facility for testing at the owner's expense.
(vii)An approved test port located between the meter and the outlet control valve shall be included in the design of all setters. The test port shall be capable of delivering flows from at least one quarter (1/4) to two (2) gpm, but no more than four (4) gpm.
(13)Meters settings shall be provided with holes for running seal wire to be installed by the Department. The meter installation shall include either one-eighth (1/8) inch holes drilled in a bolt on each end flange, or an one-eighth (1/8) inch hole drilled in one or both flanges.
(j)By-pass.
(k)Meter pit/meter box requirements. Meter pits shall be constructed in accordance with the following requirements: (1) All meter electrical connections shall be factory sealed to be water proof.
(f)Pits containing sewer traps shall be provided with an air vent.
(l)Metering condominium and homeowners' association developments.
(m)Removal.
(n)Seals. A seal placed by the Department for the protection of any meter, valve, fitting or other water connection shall not be tampered with or defaced. The seal shall not be broken except after securing a permit from the Department. Breaking the seal without such a permit shall be a violation, except for emergency repairs as described in 15 RCNY § 20-01(f). The Department may also remove the meter for testing and resetting or replacement. The customer shall be responsible for safeguarding and protecting the seal and the meter. Application of a seal on a new or replacement meter shall denote approval by the Department.
(o)Meter shut-off. Where water is obtained through more than one (1) meter, and where tests indicate accurate registration is not being obtained by reason of the divided delivery of water, the Department may, at its discretion, shut off and seal the meter(s) to ensure accuracy of registration.
(p)Protection of meters and settings.
(q)Encoding registers. When used, all encoder-type remote registration systems must comply with all applicable requirements of AWWA Standard C707 and the following requirements: (1) The register must encode at least the six (6) most significant digits which will be read from the remote receptacle.
(r)Remote receptacles and AMR transmitters ("MTU").
(s)Meter attachments.
(t)Ownership of water meters. All water meters used for billing purposes are the property of the Department. At the time of replacement or removal, one or more photographs of the meter must be provided to the Department that must include the serial number of the meter and the final meter read. The Department may, upon written request prior to the removal or replacement of a meter, require the return of a meter to the Department for testing or other purposes. Failure to 1) provide photographs of a meter; and 2) return a meter to the Department when requested by the Department, at the time of replacement or removal is a violation of this rule. (Amended City Record 7/26/2021, eff. 8/25/2021; amended City Record 1/18/2023, eff. 2/17/2023) [
