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1859
DISTRICT OF COLiAlliA. LAWS,  STViuTES,


AN ACT REGULATING TiE DISTRIBUTION
OF POTOMAC  WATER 
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II  NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE N A T I O N A L L I B R A R Y O F M E D I C I N E  N A T I O N A I 11 B R AR Y OF
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      A.N" ACT
  KKOULATING THE DISTRIBUTION OF

POTOMAC  WATER
       THROUGHOUT THE
   CITY OF WASHINGTON.


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WTIOfWl  LIBRARY  OF  MEDICINE
     BETHESDA 14, MD. 
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            j^IST  ACT
   REGULATING THE DISTRIBUTION OF

POTOMAC    WATER
        THROUGHOUT THE

CITY OF  WASHINGTON

Whereas, the Congress of the United States did, on the
  third day of March, eighteen hundred and fifty-nine, pass
  the following act, entitled " an Act to provide for the care
  and preservation of the works constructed by the United
  States for bringing the Potomac  Water into the cities  of
  Washington and Georgetown, for the supply of said water
  for all Governmental purposes, and for the uses and bene-
  fit of the inhabitants of the said cities."
  Be it enacted by the Senate and Huuse. of Representatives
of the  United States of America in Congress^ assembled,
That the dams,  aqueducts, water-gates,  reservoirs, and all
fixtures and improvements connected  therewith, which have
been, or may hereafter  be constructed by the United States
for the conveyance of the water from the Potomac river above
the Great Falls to the cities of Washington and Georgetown,
together with the lands, houses, fencing, water,  and other
rights and appurtenances connected with the same, and be-
lono-ino- to the government, as also the mains, conduits, sup-
ply°pipes,  basins,  hydrants,  fountains,  stop-cocks, sewers
drains, receiving basins, and all other  fixtures connected with
the same, which have been, or may hereafter be laid down  or
constructed by the United States, shall be placed  by the
President of the  United States under the  immediate care,
management, and superintendence of a properly qualified
officer°of the United States Corps of Engineers, to be appoin-
ted by him, who shall act under the Department of the inte- 
                            o

terior, and who shall make an annual  report to that Depart-
ment in the month of November in each year,  to be laid be-
fore Congress at the commencement of their  regular annual
session,  of the work,  proceedings, repairs, casualties, and
expenditures connected with the  said Water-works  for the
preceding year ; and such officer, as a compensation for the
duties and responsibilities imposed upon him by this act,  shall
receive for his pay as said Engineer, no more than his regu-
lar pay as an officer of the corps. He shall occupy the necessary
apartments in one of the public buildings in the city of Wash-
ington, as may be directed by the President, and shall be sup-
plied by the  Government with the stationery,  instuments,
books, and furniture, required in the performance of his  pub-
lic duties.  And in this office of the Engineer of the Potomac
Water-works, shall be kept and preserved, a complete record
of all the lands and other property and matters and things
enumerated in this section, and otherwise connected with  or
belonging to these water-works, or which may hereafter  be
acquired or procured for the same.  The said Engineer  shall
have full power and control  over the  said water-works, and
shall regulate the manner  in which the said Corporations  of
Washington and Georgetown may tap the pipes  for the sup-
ply thereof, and shall stop the same whenever it is found  no
more than adequate to  meet the wants of the General  Gov-
ernment.  The said Engineer's decisions on all questions con-
nected therewith, to be subject only to appeal to the  Secre-
rary of the Interior.
  Sec. 2. And be it further enacted,  That full power and
authority are hereby given to the Corporations of Washing-
ton and Georgetown, in the District of Columbia, to supply
the inhabitants  within  their  respective limits with Potomac
water from the aqueduct, mains, or pipes, now laid  or to  be
laid in the streets and  avenues by the United  States ;  and
to make all laws and regulations  for the proper  distribution
of the same, subject to  the restrictions prescribed by this act:
Provided, That no  expense  shall devolve upon the  United
States in consequence of said distribution.
  Sec. 3. And  be further enacted, That the  said Corpora-
tions shall have authority, by ordinance, act, or otherwise, to
establish a scale of annual rates for the supply and use  of
said water, apportioned to different classes of buildings  in
said city according to their size, dimensions, assessed values,
exposure to fires, uses  for dwellings,  stores,  shops, stables,
manufactories,  or other purposes, number of occupants,  or
consumption  of water, measured by meter  or otherwise 
X
and to modify, alter, amend,  increase or  reduce such scale,
from time to time, and extend it to other  description of buil-
dings and  establishments; to collect  such rates or  rents,
when so fixed, in advance or otherwise, through such agents
or commissioners as they may authorize, from the owners or
occupants of all such buildings or establishments, respectively,
who may use the water therein.   To stop the supply of water
to any such dwelling or establishment upon a failure to  pay
said rate, charge, or rent.  And generally, to enacts uch laws
as may be necessary to supply the inhabitants of said city of
Washington  with pure and wholesome water, and to  carry
into full and complete effect the powers herein granted; Pro-
vided, That the rates levied by the cities  of Georgetown and
Washington shall never be a source of revenue other than as
a means of keeping up to the  said cities a supply of water.
   Sec. 4. And be it further enacted,  That for the purpose
of enabling the Corporations  aforesaid  to carry out the pro-
visions of this act, it shall be  competent for them to borrow,
in such proportions as they may  deem  expedient, a sum of
money not exceeding one hundred and fifty thousand dollars
for the city of Washington,  and fifty  thousand dollars for
Georgetown, redeemable within a period of ten years, out of
any revenue to be derived from water rents.
   Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That it shall not be
lawful for any person or persons other than said Corporations,
or persons authorized by them, to tap or open the  mains or
pipes laid or to be laid by the United States, for any purpose
whatever, under a penalty of not less  than fifty nor more
than five hundred dollars, for each and every offence.   And
if any person or persons shall wilfully and maliciously break,
injure, deface, or destroy, any main or pipe,  bend, branch,
valve, hydrant, service-pipe,  or any other fixture used for the
distribution of water throughout the streets and avenues, or
for its introduction into the  houses, tenements, or buildings
of said cities, such person or persons shall be subject to im-
prisonment in the county jail, for a period not exceeding two
years for each and every such offence.
   Sec. 6. And be it further enacted,  That whenever it shall
become necessary to lay main pipes for the supply of  water
to the cities of Georgetown and Washington, the cost of the
same shall be paid by the said cities, and  the Engineer afore-
said is hereby prohibited from making any contracts for the
same, unless approved by the Corporations aforesaid, and ex-
pressly stipulated with the contractor or contractors that the
payment for the same is to be made by the said Corporations ; 
4
Provided,  That  no greater number of main pipes shall  be-
laid by the General Government than are sufficient to give to
said government the necessary supply of water.
   Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That it shall be unlaw-
ful for any person or persons to do or commit any  act by
reason of  which the supply of water, or  any part thereof,
shall  become  impure, filthy,  or  in any way unfit for use,
and that any person or persons committing any  such  act  or
acts, wilfully, knowingly, and maliciously, shall be subject to
a fine of not exceeding one thousand nor less than five  hun-
dred dollars, or not exceeding three nor less than one year's
confinement in the Penitentiary of the District of Columbia,
for every such offence.
   Sec. 8. And be it further enacted,  That all acts or parts
of acts inconsistent  with this, be, and the same  are hereby,
repealed.
   Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That the cities of Wash-
ington and Georgetown, respectively, shall have power to es-
tablish a complete system of sewerage in aid of the execution
of the  provisions of this act.
   Approved, March 3, 1859.

And whereas,  the city of Washington  fully appreciates the
   liberality of the United States in thus permitting a present
   sufficient and future inexhaustable supply  of water  from
   the Potomac  Aqueduct,  and mains to be introduced into
   the dwellings of her inhabitants,  and therefore, in  order
   speedily  to avail herself of this great privilege, enacts the
   following ordinance:

  AN  ACT  regulating the distribution of "Potomac Water"
            throughout the City of Washington.

   Be it enacted by the Board of Aldermen and Board of Com-
mon Council of the City of Washington,  That immediately af-
ter the passage of this act, and annually thereafter, on or about
the fourth Monday in June,  the Mayor, by and with the advice
and consent of the Board of Aldermen, shall appoint some sui-
table and competent person, who shall be a citizen of Washing-
ton, as a Water Registrar, who shall, before  entering upon a
discharge of the duties of his office, execute a bond to the Cor-
poration, with two or more sureties, to be approved by the May-
or, in the penal sum often thousand dollars, conditioned for the
faithful discharge of the duties of his office ; he shall hold his
position as  said Water Registrar, until a successor is appoin- 
0
ted and qualifies as aforesaid, or he is removed by the Mayor,
and shall receive an annual compensation  of one  thousand
two  hundred  dollars, payable  monthly out of the  Water
Fund.
   Sec. 2. And be it enacted, That the Water Registrar, shall
assess the water rates according to the tariff established by
ordinance of the Corporation; make out and deliver all bills
(or the use of the water; visit personally, at least twice  each
year, the premises of every  individual supplied therewith; ex-
ercise a constant supervision over the use of the water, and
attend to the enforcement of all the requirements of this or
any other water ordinance  of the Corporation.
   Sec. 3. And be it enacted, That the water Registrar shall,
on or about the first day of each and every month, make a
summary statement of the  business transacted in his office
during the preceding month, to  the  Mayor, for transmis-
sion to the Boards of the city Council, for their information and
guidance, and annually, on or before the tenth day of Janua-
ry, shall present to the Mayor,  for the like  transmission, a
detailed report,  showing the whole number of water takers,
the amount received from each class, for annual rates; the
number supplied for the first time during the past year; the
number of cases where the water has been discontinued, and the
reasons therefor; the receipts  and expenditures of the water
department, the then condition of the Water Fund;  and such
other information as he may deem useful or important.
   Sec 4.  And be it enacted,  That the Water Registrar shall
keep suitable books in his office, in which shall be entered all
the transactions of the water department;  the names of all
persons who take the water;  the description of the building
and its location; the purposes for which the water is used;
the number, size, and location of all Corporation stops order-
ed to be inserted, and fire-plugs erected; the amounts received
for each, and from  whom;  and such other entries as may be
necessary to a full understanding of all the details of his office;
which books shall be always open to the inspection  of the
Mayor or any member or committee of the city Council.  He
shall arrange, file,  and safely  keep all papers  belonging to
the department; audit, examine, and  certify, if correct, all
claims upon the Corporation growing  out of the distribution
of water throughout the avenues, streets, or alleys of the city;
and no bill or account against the water department shall be
paid unless so certified to be correct by the AVater Registrar,
and appropriation shall have been made therefor by the Cor-
poration.  The said Water Registrar shall deposit weekly, or 
<;
oftener, all money received by him on account of water rates,
tapping mains, erecting  fire-plugs,  enforcing  penalties,  or
from any other source whatever, to the  credit of the  Water
Fund, in such bank  or institution as may be designated by
law to receive the deposits of the Collector of Taxes, and shall
furnish the city Register with a certificate  from the proper
bank  officer  of each  deposit so made.  He shall keep  his
office in the City Hall, in a  room  to be provided for that
purpose by the Mayor, and shall  be in attendance  thereat
every day,  except Sundays, from nine o'clock in the  morn-
ing to five  o'clock in the afternoon.
  Sec  5. And be it enacted,  That it shall be the duty of the
Committee  on Finance of the Board of Aldermen,  and the
Committee of Ways and Means of the Board of Common Coun-
cil, acting for the time as a joint committee, at least once in
every six months, to examine all the books, accounts,  and
vouchers of the water Registrar, the receipts from everysource,
the deposits in banks, the payment and expenditures, the con-
dition of the Water Fund, and  all other matters connected
with the fiscal operations of the water department, and re-
port the result of their investigation, with such recommenda-
tion as they may deem proper, to their respective Boards.
  Sec  6. And be it enacted, That immediately after the pas-
sage of this act, and  annually thereafter,   on  or about the
fourth  Monday in June, the Mayor, by and with the advice
and consent of the Board of  Aldermen, shall appoint some
competent and suitable person, who shall have learned prac-
tically and  thoroughly the art and trade of a plumber or a
machinist, as a Water  Purveyor.   He shall be a citizen  of
Washington, and not engaged during his continuance in office,
directly or  indirectly,  in the plumbing business, or any other
business in  this city or elsewhere;  and shall, before entering
on the duties of his office, execute a bond to the Corporation,
with one or more sureties, to be approved by  the  Mayor,  in
the penal sum of two  thousand dollars,  conditioned for the
faithful performance of the duties of his office;  he shall hold
his position as Water Purveyor until a successor is appointed
and qualified, as aforesaid, or he is removed by the Mavor,
and shall  receive an  annual  compensation of one thous-
and dollars, payable monthly, out of the Water Fund.
  Sec. 7. And be it enacted, That  the said water Purveyor
shall be charged with, and  responsible  for, all supplies be-
longing to the pipe yard or water department,  the superin-
tendence of the laying of all water mains being the property
of the city, repairing  and renewing the same;  the erection 
complete of all Corporation fire-plugs; the tapping,  upon a
written order from the Water Registrar, of all water mains,
and  the insertion of Corporation stops therein,  under the
direction, so far as the mains laid by the United  States are
concerned,  of the Engineer of the "Potomac Water-works,"
agreeably to the requirements of the first section of the act of
Congress aforesaid;  the inspection  and approval of the man-
ner of laying all service pipes, and  the location of all  stop-
cocks thereon ; the shutting off the  supply of water in case of
leakage or waste, or  upon the non-payment of the water rates,
when due, and perform all such other duties appertaining to
the distributing department, as may be required of him.
  Sec, 8. And be it enacted, That the Water Purveyor shall
keep a map of the city in his office, drawn  to a scale of not
more than two hundred and fifty  feet to the  inch, showing,
at all times, the exact location and  size of all the main water
pipes, designating thereon all the valves, outlets or branches,
fire-plugs, and service pipes, so as to avoid all difficulty in as
certaining the true location of any main, service pipe, fixture
or thing belonging to the water department;  and in addition
to said map, corresponding entries shall be made, from day to
day, in books to be prepared for  that purpose, and carefully
preserved in his office.  He shall keep his said office in  the
City Hall,  in a room to be set apart for that purpose by the
Mayor, and shall attend thereat every day, except Sundays,
from nine o'clock in the morning to five o'clock in the  after-
noon, when not necessarily engaged in the out-door duties of
his office.
   Sec. 9. And be it enacted, That the Water Purveyor shall,
on or before the first day of every month, make a summary
statement of all the  operations in his branch of the water de-
partment during the  preceding month, to the Mayor for trans-
mission to the Boards of the city Council, for their information
and guidance;  and on or before the tenth day of January,
annually, shall present to the Mayor, for like transmission, a
detailed report showing the whole number of feet, size, and
location of water mains then laid  throughout the city ;  the
number, size, and location  of all mains laid  during the past
year; of all valves inserted, all Corporation stops introduced,
and of all fire-plugs  erected;  the number of leaks repaired,
and the causes thereof; a complete inventory  of all mains
and supplies on hand in the pipe yard, or elsewhere, and such
other information as he may deem  useful or important.
   Sec. 10.  And be  it enacted, That it shall be the duty of
the Committee on Drainage, Sewerage,  and Distribution of 
s
 Water, in each branch of the city Council, acting for the time
 as a joint committee, at  least once in every six months, to
 thoroughly and carefully examine and inspect all  the opera-
 tions of the distributing department of the water, in its extent
 and detail; the condition of  all stop-valves  and fire-plugs,
 trenches,  or excavations in which mains or service  pipes have
 been  laid, the quantity of mains and other supplies received
 by the Water Purveyor from  the  contractors for  furnishing
 the same, the quantity used in the distribution of  the water,
 and an inventory of all remaining  on hand,  and  report the
 result of their examination and inspection, with such recom-
 mendations as they  may  deem  proper, to their  respective
 Beards.
   Sec. 11. And  be it enacted, That  all money paid into the
 city treasury on account of the water  department, shall be
 placed to  the credit of the Water Fund, to which  it is exclu-
 sively and inviolably  appropriated  and set  apart, and  shall
 not be used for any purpose or object other than to distrib-
 ute the water throughout the city of VVashington,  to pay the
 salaries of the officers belonging to the said water depart-
 ment, and the principal and interest on all loans made there-
 for.  And no moneys belonging to the Water Fund shall be paid
 out of the city treasury except upon specific  appropriations,
 and then only by warrants drawn on the deposit bank, signed
 by the Mayor and countersigned by the city  Register.
   Sec. 12.  And be it enacted, That the Water Registrar
shall, immediatly after entering upon the duties of his office,
 and annually, on  or about the first day of February, advertise
 for a period of from ten to thirty days, in at  least two  daily
 newspapers   published  in  Washington, having the largest
 subscription list, inviting sealed proposals in duplicate,  to be
 transmitted, one copy to the President of the  Board of Al-
 dermen, and one copy to the President of the Board of  Com-
 mon Council, for the furnishing, during the current year, deliv-
 ered in this city, of all water-mains, valves, branches, bends,
 sleeves, caps, Corporation stops, fire-plug hydrants, and every
 other article or thing required in distributing the water ; and
 also, for the  trenching, laying of the mains  complete, inser-
 ting the  valves,  branches, and out-lets;  erecting the fire-
 plug hydrants ; filling, ramming, and levelling the ditches or
 excavations ; designating  the  probable  number  of feet of
 main  and size, and  the probable  quantity of every other ar-
 ticle or thing enumerated,  required to be furnished or laid
 during the year, an.l  naming a time when such sealed propo-
 sals will be opened  in joint meeting of the two Boards of the
 city Council. 
fcl
  Sec. 13. And be it enacted.  That every person who  shall
be awarded any contract for the supply of materials, or the
performance of labor, as above provided, shall give penal bond
or bonds with sureties, to be approved by  the Mayor, for the
faithful fulfilment of his contract with the Corporation, accor-
ding to its terms and conditions.   And all such contracts
shall be made in writing and signed in duplicate, one  copy
shall be filed in the office of the city Register, and the other
copy in the office of the  Water Registrar.
  Sec. 14. And be it enacted.  That  no member of  the city
Council,  or officer, agent or employee of the Corporation of
Washington,  shall be personally or pecuniarily interested, di-
rectly or indirectly, in any contract, bargain, agreement, or
award in relation to the distribution  of water,  wherein the
Corporation is at all interested  ; and any and all contracts,
bargains, agreements, or awards made in violation of  the pro-
visions of this section,  shall be  utterly void and not binding
on the  city.
  Sec. lo. And be  it enacted, That it shall be the duty of the
Water Purveyor to cause, without delay, water mains of not
less than six inches in diameter,  inside measurement, and
proved under a pressure of three hundred pounds to the square
inch, to be securely laid, the upper surface of which  shall be
forty-eight inches in depth below the established grades, with
approved stop-valves at proper distances, in all such avenues,
streets, and alleys,  as  may be  designated  from  time to time
by ordinance of the Corporation: Provided, That such mains
shall be laid only in such designated avenues, streets, or al-
leys where the rents to be received from the use  of the water
will yield an immediate  return  to  the  city of not less  than
six per centum per annum upon the whole amount of the re-
quired expenditure in such  avenue, street, or alley : Provi-
ded further,  That the  city Surveyor shall, at the request of
the Purveyor, prepare, make, and furnish all such surveys,
admeasurements, and levels, and perform such other service,
and give such other information pertaining to his office, as
city Surveyor, which may be required of him.
  Sec. 16. And be  it enacted, That the annual  rent for the
use of the water, shall be payable to the Water Registrar, at
his office, in advance, on the first day of July in each year.
All charges for specific supplies, or for fractional parts of the
year,  shall likewise be payable to the said Water Registrar,
at his office, in advance, before  the order to the  Purveyor to
tap the main is issued by the Registrar, or the  water is let
on,  as also  the cost of tapping the main, and furnishing and 
1(1
 inserting the Corporation stop, which shall, in every instance,
 except when the supply is for the use of the United States,
 be fixed at three dollars for each and  every time the  said
 water mains are tapped and the stop inserted.
   Sec. 17. And be. it enacted, That in all  cases of the non-
 payment of the water rent for thirty days after the same is
 due and payable, as aforesaid, the Water Registrar shall no-
 tify the Purveyor of such delinquency, and the said Purveyor
 shall discontinue the supply of water immediately, and he shall
 not allow it to be  again used in said delinquent's  premises
 until the water rent is paid to the Registrar as aforesaid.
   Sec. 18. And be it enacted, That a book, to be called the
 " Subscription Book," shall be kept in the office of the Water
 Registrar,   with a caption importing  that the owners of
 property whose names  are undersigned  request that water
 may be introduced into their premises mentioned, opposite
 their  respective names,  upon the terms  and conditions pre-
 scribed by the ordinances of the Corporation, and consenting
 that in default of payment for the water  used in said premi-
 ses, the supply may be discontinued and the flow stopped un-
 til the water rent be paid.  When the owner of any property
 applies for the introduction of water into his premises,  he or
 his authorized agent shall write his name in said subscription
 book, under said caption, with the  date and number  of his
 application, the location of his premises, and the purpose for
 which the water is  to be used ; and the water shall not be in-
 troduced into the premises of  any person  or  persons until
 there is written what is here required, and the  price of the
 permit to tap the main is paid, as also the water rate, whether
 annual, fractional,  or  specific.
  Sec. 19.  And be it enacted, That after the requirements
 of the foregoing section are complied with, it shall be the duty
 of the Purveyor upon receiving  the order from the  Water
 Registrar, as soon  as  he  is notified by  the plumber engaged
 in making the connection for  water, that  the main  is  ex-
 posed at the desired place, without delay to tap  the  same
 and insert the  Corporation stop.  And the owner of the prem-
 ises, after receiving a permit from said Registrar to open the
 avenue, street, or  alley, and foot pavement, and from the
 Commissioner  of Public Buildings, where the premises are to
be supplied from a main laid in an avenue or street which the
United States have, in whole or in part, improved, as required
by the act of Congress of June twelve, eighteen hundred and
fifty-eight,  may have the water introduced into the desired
 premises: Provided,  The work  be  done  by  a competent 
u
plumber, to the satisfaction  of the Purveyor, subject in case
of grievance to an appeal to the Mayor, and the material used
to be of the best quality of its  kind,  sufficiently strong to
safely withstand double the  required pressure, and be laid at
least thirty-six inches  in depth  below  the established grade.
And every service pipe shall have a stop-cock inserted therein
by the plumber, at the expense of the owner of the premises,
in such situation as may be  accessible  at all times  from the
avenue, street or alley, with an opening above the same at
least four inches square, secured by a cast-iron box, or wooden
box if saturated with gas-tar, or walled  up  with bricks  and
cemented,  and covered at the top with a  cast-iron   plate,
marked " Potomac Water;"  which  stop-cock shall  be  only
for the use and under the exclusive control of the Water Pur-
veyor, so that the  supply may be stopped at any time  in case
of leakage or on the non-payment of the  water rent, as above
provided.   And every tenement or dwelling shall  have its
own  independent service pipe from the main, so that but one
tenement or dwelling shall receive its supply of water through
one  service.
  Sec. 20. And be it enacted, That when directed by ordinance
of the Corporation,  it shall be the duty of the water Pur-
veyor to cause without delay, one or more fire-plug hydrants
to be erected complete, and connected  with the the main by
not less than a four-inch pipe, where the water mains shall
have been  laid down, unless the said fire-plug hydrants have
been or shall  be  erected by the United States.  The said
fire-plug hydrants shall be placed at such point or points as
will best serve for  the extinguishment of  fires, and shall be of
the most approved pattern and  manufacture, and fitted for
steam and hand engines.
   Sec. 21. And be it enacted, That as soon  as each fire-plug
hydrant shall  have been erected and tested to the satisfaction
of the Water  Purveyor, the actual  expense thereof, (which
shall in no case exceed eighty-five dollars,) shall be paid to
the Water Registrar out of the funds of the Ward in which it
may be located.
   Sec. 22.  And be it enacted, That  all fire-plug hydrants
which may be erected as aforesaid, are hereby  placed  under
the charge of the Water Purveyor, whose duty it shall be to
see that they are at  all times kept in  good repair and filled
with an abundant supply of water.
   Sec. 23. And be it enacted, That the following regulations
shall be considered a part of the contract with every person
who  takes  the water, and every such  person, by taking the 
['J
water,  shall be considered to express his assent and be bound
thereby.  They shall be printed upon every bill for water rent,
and whenever  any one of them is wilfully violated, the water
shall be shut off from the premises, and the How not restored
except upon the pa}nnent to the  Registrar of the sum of two
dollars.
 The said regulations are as follows :

1.  All  persons taking the water  are hereby required to  keep
   their service pipes and all the fixtures connected with such
   service  pipes,  in good condition and repair, and protected
   from frost, all at their own expense ; to prevent all unne-
   cessary waste  of water, and keep the trench in which  their
   service  pipe  was laid,  from the main  to  the building
   line, in  good order and condition.
2.  Applicants  for water must state  fully and truthfully  all
   the purposes for which it is  required,  and without con-
   cealment,  answer all questions put to them by the Water
   Registrar relative to its consumption and size of  premi-
   ses.
3.  The  hose shall not be used in the avenues or streets to wash
   off carriages,  omnibusses, or  other vehicles,  or for water-
   ing or washing horses.   Caps upon the said  pavement or
   street washers must, when the washers are not in use, be
   kept screwed  securely down, and not project more  than
   three-fourths  of an inch above the foot pavement.
4. No  private hydrant will be permitted on the side walk or
   foot pavement, or in the front area, or in  any other place
    where the waste water from its mouth or  outlet will be
    cast on the side walk or foot pavement of any  avenue or
    street  in the  city.
f>. The Corporation reserves the right, whenever  it may be
    deemed necessary in order to furnish the  supply required
    for domestic uses, to cause the flow of water to be discon-
    tinued  for all other  purposes.
6. All waste water, if discharged into the gutters of the aven-
    ues or  streets of the city, must be conducted across the
    side pavements or footways, through cast iron or fire-clay
    pipes, wooden boxes, or cemented drains  below, and cov-
    ered by the flagging or bricks of said pavements or  foot-
    ways.
   Sec. 24. And be it enacted, That the annual rents to be col-
lected by the  water department  shall be as follows, to  wit: 
13
       On all tenements two stories in height having a front width
       of sixteen feet and under, the sum of three dollars, and for
       each additional front foot twenty-five cents, and for each ad-
       ditional story, one dollar per story.
          Sec. 2~>. And be it enacted, That the extra  and miscella-
       neous water rents shall be, in addition to the regular annual
       water rates on the houses when occupied as dwellings, as fol-
       lows, to wit:

          Bakeries.  For the average daily use of flour, for each bar-
       rel, the sum of one dollar per annum.
          Bathing Tubs.  In all public bathing establishments and
       barber shops, three dollars per annum each.

          Fountains.  For the first jet of one-eighth of  an inch, three
       dollars; for each additional jet of one-eighth, one dollar; for the
       first jet of one-fourth of an inch, five dollars ; for each  addi-
•       ticnal jet  of one-fourth, two dollars ;  for the first jet of three-
       eighths of an inch, ten dollars ; for each additional jet of three
       eighths, three dollars;  for the fir6t jet of one-half of an inch,
       fifteen dollars; for each additional jet of one-half of an inch,
       five dollars:  but no fountain or jet shall be permitted on any
       premises where the water  is not taken for  other  purposes,
       and to an extent sufficient for these purposes.

          Horses, (private,) including water for washing carriages;
       for each horse, one dollar.

          Livery Stables, including water  for washing  carriages ; for
       each stall, twenty-five  cents.
          Horses, Omnibusses,  Carts, Drays, or other vehicles; for
       each horse, fifty cents.
          Hotels and Boarding-houses shall, in addition to the reg-
       ular annual water rate for private families prescribed in the
       twenty-fourth section of this act,  be charged  for  each bed-
       room for boarders or lodgers within the same, the sum of fifty
       cents.
          Stationary Steam-engines ; for each horse power, two dol-
       lars and fifty cents per annum.
          Locomotive Engines,  making not more than two trips per
       day, one hundred dollars each, per annum ; if more than two
       trips per day, in the same proportion.
          Refrectories, Eating-houses, Club-houses, Confectioneries,
       Taverns,  Ordinaries, Provision-shops or Stores, Market and 
14
 Fish stalls, refreshment and oyster Saloons, from five dollars
 to twenty dollars per annum, to be fixed by the Registrar.
   Stores, Shops, Warehouses,  Offices, Billiard Saloons, Bar-
 ber shops, and Apothecary sto7-es, from three dollars to fifteen
 dollars per annum, to be fixed by the Registrar.
   All Manufacturing and other business  requiring a  large
 supply of water, are to be charged therefor at the rate of one
 cent per one hundred gallons, on the daily average estimated
 quantity during the year, the  year to  be computed at  three
 hundred days.
   All  water required for purposes which are  not specified in
 the foregoing tariff, shall  be paid for at such rate as may be
 fixed by the Corporation.
   The proprietors or persons  having charge  of the  hotels,
 boarding houses, and manufacturing establishments, may  place
 within their respective premises, at their own expense, a suffi-
 cient and accurate  water meter, to be approved by the  Pur-
 veyor, for the purpose of measuring the quantity of water used
 by them respectively.  And when  in any case the quantity
 used shall be so ascertained, the Water Registrar shall estab-
 lish a water rate therefor  instead of the specific rate herein-
 before required to be paid.
  Sec. 26. And be it enacted, That the Mayor may grant per-
 mission to such persons as he may deem proper, who will  com-
 ply with all the conditions of this or any other  ordinance  of
 this Corporation, to use the water from such of the fireplug
 hydrants as may be designated by the Purveyor, or if  erec-
 ted by the United States,  then by the Engineer in charge of
 the Potomac Water-works, for the purpose of sprinkling any
 of the  avenues,-streets, or alleys, in this city ;  and no charge
 shall be made for the water so used.
  Sec. 27. And be it  enacted, That the  sprinklers,  when
 used by every such person shall be  as follows: a tin or cop-
 per cylinder of six feet in length and three inches in diame-
 ter ; it shall contain not exceeding  five  rows  of holes which
 shall be  at least one-half inch  apart and of the size of eigh-
teen inch wire guage, or sixteen holes to the inch, and shall
be made  so as to throw the water  directly on  the  avenue
street,  or alley to be sprinkled,  and the ends  of the cylinder
shall be without holes or openings of any kind.
  Sec. 28. And be it enacted,  That any person permitted
to use the water for the purpose of sprinkling the avenues  or
streets aforesaid, who shall violate the provisions of any ordi- 
ir,
nance of this Corporation, shall  have his said permission re-
voked by the Mayor.
  Sec. 29. And be it enacted, That the Water Purveyor shall
cause mains to be laid wherever ordered by  act of the Cor-
poration, and permit service pipes to be put down  in any  of
the avenues, streets, or alleys, upon the condition  of procur-
ing from the Commissioner of Public Buildings permission to
make the necessary excavations in  all such  avenues and
streets, as may have been improved in whole or in part by the
United States, and the said water mains and  service pipes,
from time to time, to cause to be repaired  or renewed, and
for that purpose to open or cause to be  opened any part of
such avenue, street or alley, (subject to the condition afore-
said) and of the pavements or footways thereof, leaving at all
times a sufficient passage for carriages, horses and foot pas-
sengers ; and cause to be restored  forthwith to their former
condition, all such  avenues, streets,  alleys, pavements, and
foot-ways, as shall, from time to time, and any time,  be  so
opened and disturbed as aforesaid.
   Sec.  30.  And be it enacted, That whenever  the  water
Purveyor, shall  cause or permit  any part of the avenues,
streets, alleys, pavements, or footways, to be opened for the
purpose of laying or repairing the pipes for distributing the
water through the  city, or permitting  it  to  be  conducted
into the  premises of the inhabitants  thereof, he shall  cause
the work to proceed without  delay, and  when  the mains or
service pipes are so laid, to require the earth to be securely
filled in before sundown or all trenches so guarded by barri-
cades or  otherwise,  as to prevent accidents or injuries arising
therefrom;  and shall also cause to be immediately removed
all stones,  earth, or rubbish of any kind remaining after the
laying or repairing of such mains or service  pipes.
   Sec. 31.  And be it enacted,  That  as often as any of said
mains shall prove defective and become leaky from  any cause,
so as to  allow the  water to escape therefrom and flow upon
the surface  of the ground, it shall be the duty of the said
Water Purveyor to cause the same to be immediately repaired.
And in case of leakage from any service pipe, it shall be the
duty of the said Water Purveyor, to  cause the owner or agent
of the premises supplied by such service to be notified in writ-
ing, of the fact,  without delay, and to require said owner or
agent to repair the same, and upon failure to do so, the said
owner or agent shall be liable to a fine of not less than five
dollars nor more than ten dollars, for each and every day af- 
Lfi
ter the delivery of such notification, that the said repairs are
not made, and be held liable for all damage which may result
from such leakage.
  Sec. 32. And be it enacted,  That if any person or persons,
shall open any foot pavement, avenue, street or alley, or tap
or cause to be tapped, any water mains, pipe or private con-
nexion therewith, for the purpose  of  conducting the  water
into any premises, or for any other use without the written per-
mit of the Wrater Registrar, as provided in the nineteenth sec-
tion of this act, he or they shall forfeit and pay a fine of not
less than thirty dollars, nor more than fifty dollars, for each
offence, and be liable, in addition,  to the penalty imposed by
the fifth section of the act of Congress of March third, eigh-
teen hundred and fifty-nine upon this subject.
  Sec. 33. And be it enacted,  That if any person or persons
shall open or assist in opening, any fire-plug under the con-
trol of the city, except in case  of actual  fire in the vicinity ;
or remove the cover from any valve-box or stop-cock box ; or
turn on or off the supply of water by  means of said valve on
the main,  or stop-cock on the service pipe, or otherwise, with-
out the authority of the Water Purveyor, such person or per-
sons shall  be liable to a fine of not less  than ten  dollars nor
more than fifty dollars, for each offence.
  Sec. 34. And be it enacted,  That if any person or persons
shall obstruct the access to any valve or stop-cock connected
with the water mains or service pipe, by placing thereon stone,
brick, lumber, dirt, or any other material, or who shall permit
any such material to be placed thereon by those in his or their
employ, shall be liable to a fine  of not  less that ten dollars nor
more than twenty  dollars, for each offence, and likewise to a
penalty of not less than five dollars nor more than thirty dol-
lars per day, for every day the said access shall so continue
obstructed, after receiving a notice from the Water Purveyor
to remove the same.
  Sec. 35. And be it enacted, That if any occupant of prem-
ises into which has been introduced the  water,  shall permit
the same to run or  waste  unnecessarily  from any hydrant,
cock,  jet, street-washer, or other fixture;  or  to  overflow or
flood the sidewalk or foot pavement, and thus,  by wetting, be
annoying, or by freezing, dangerous to foot passengers; or to
flow from  his fountain into adjacent premises and there used,
or be taken from  or  used by any person other than said
occupant or a member or visitor of his family, except in case
of fire; or if any  hydrant, jet, cock, street-washer or other
fixture be  found leaking, and said occupant, owner or agent of 
17
the  premises,  shall refuse or neglect to have the necessary
repairs made without delay;  or refuse admission to the Water
Registrar, Purveyor, or other authorized agent of the Corpo-
ration, into his premises when in the official discharge  of his
duty, as hereinbefore provided, the person so offending, shall
forfeit and pay a fine  of not less than  five  dollars nor more
than thirty dollars, for each offence, and the supply of water
shall be stopped from said premises  until satisfactory assu-
rance is given the Water  Registrar  that the like case will
not  again occur.
   Sec. 36. And be it  enacted, That if any person or persons
shall wilfully or maliciously break, injure or deface, or des-
troy any water main, bend, branch, sleeve cap, valve, hydrant,
jet, fountain,  street-washer, fire-plug hydrant, service  pipe,
stop-cock, valve-box, stop-cock box, plate, or covering, or any
other fixture or thing used  for or  connected with the distribu-
tion  of water throughout the avenues, streets, or alleys  in
Washington, or for its introduction into  the  houses or  tene-
ments or buildings of the inhabitants of said city, such person
or persons so offending, shall be liable to a fine of not less than
forty dollars nor more than fifty  dollars, for  each and every
such offence, and, in addition thereto, to a criminalprosecution,
under  the fifth section of the act  of Congress of March third,
eighteen hundred and  fifty-nine,  upon this subject.
   Sec. 37. And be it  enacted,  That immediately after the
passage of this act, it shall be the duty of the  Water Registrar
to notify, in writing, all persons who may have introduced, or
are using or  prepared to use in their premises  in this city,
(except the Public Buildings  departments,  or  offices of the
General Government) water from any of the mains  or pipes laid
by the United States or the Corporation, that they are  forth-
with required to sign the "Subscription  Book" in his office,
as provided in the eighteenth section of this act, pay in ad-
vance  the water rate herein designated,  and insert the  stop-
cock, for the use of the Corporation, in the service pipe,  if not
already there.   And if any such person or  persons shall af-
ter receiving the notice aforesaid, refuse  or neglect to comply
therewith, he or they shall be liable to a fine ef not less than
ten dollars nor more than forty dollars per day, for each and
every  day that the said notice is disregarded; and after the
lapse of two  days from the day of the receipt of said notice,
if its requirements shall not be complied with, then it is here-
by made the  duty of the Water Purveyor, to disconnect the
service or supply pipe, and stop the flow of water to all such
premises, and the flow shall  not  be again established or the 
18
water permitted therein, until all the requirements of this or-
dinance are obeyed, and the  expense of cutting off and con-
necting the service-pipe with all excavations and paving, shall
first have been paid to the Water Registrar.
  Sec. 38. And be it enacted, That all fines, forfeitures, and
penalties imposed by this and all future  water ordinances,
shall be prosecuted, recovered and collected, as other fines,
forfeitures, and  penalties are prosecuted, recovered, and
collected by this Corporation ; and when paid, shall be placed
to the  credit of the General Fund.
  Sec. 39. And be it enacted, That  it is hereby  made the
duty of all Police officers to  report in writing  or otherwise,
to  the Water Registrar,  all leaks  or  breaks  in the  water
mains, service pipes, fire-plug hydrants, and street-washers,
all  valves,  stop-cocks, and street washers  without proper or
secure  covers or plates; of all openings made in the avenues,
streets, or  alleys, for repairing, renewing,  or laying  down ser-
vice pipes,  and the name  of the person doing   the  work;  to
attend all fires, assist in opening all fire-plugs,  hydrants, and
see that they are properly and securely closed  when no long-
er in use;  report the number and  location of  the  buildings
destroyed,  if supplied with water;  the discharge  from the
fire-plug hydrants, during the fire,  whether free or obstruc-
ted , and, generally, all violations of this and other water or-
dinances, and communicate such further information  as in
their judgment may be  useful or important.
   Sec. 40. And be it enacted, That the Mayor be, and he is
hereby authorized,  whenever and as the same may be requir-
ed for  and in the prosecution  of the work of distributing the
Potomac water throughout  the city of Washington, to bor-
row such sums of money as may be  necessary,  on  bonds or
certificates of stock of this Corporation, bearing interest, pay-
able quarter yearly on  the first days of January, April, July,
 and October, at the rate of six per centum per annum, and
 redeemable or payable at the pleasure of this  Corporation
 within a period of ten years from the date  of the issue thereof;
 Provided,  That the whole  sum  for which bonds  or stock
 certificates shall be issued, shall not exceed in  the  aggregate
 one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, in compliance with the
 act of Congress approved third March, eighteen hundred and
 fifty-nine; And provided further, That previous to the issue
 of any bonds or stock  certificates under  this act, the Mayor
 shall advertize daily,  for one week, in two newspapers pub-
 lished in this city, for  proposals for the sale of the bonds or
 stock that he may require, and that the same shall be awarded 
19
to the highest bidder therefor;  Provided, That no bonds or
stock shall be issued at less than its par value.
   Sec. 41. And be it enacted, That the stock certificates or
bonds that may be issued under this act, shall be designated
and known as water stock, and shall be signed by the Mayor,
countersigned by the  Register, and  sealed with the seal of
this Corporation, and shall be transferable on the books of
this Corporation in the same way  and under the same regu-
lations as is now transferable, the stock of the city now out-
st anding.
   Sec. 42. And be it enacted, That  all  acts or resolutions
conflicting with this act,  in any manner or form, be, and the
same are hereby, repealed.
   Approved, June 2, 1859.
MTinr;;.!.  L'^ARY OF  MEDiCIN? 
 
 
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