This AGREEMENT, between BELFOREST WATER SYSTEM (BWS), a non-profit corporation, hereafter called the “Corporation”, and name, above, a member of corporation, hereinafter called the “member”; WITNESSETH WHEREAS, the Member desires to purchase water from the corporation and to enter into a water users agreement as required by the By-Laws of the Corporation; NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises herein contained, it is hereby understood and agreed: The corporation shall furnish, subject to the limitations as provided in the By-Laws, Service Rules and Regulations, or hereinafter provided for, such quantity of water as the Member may desire in connection with his occupancy of the property located on address, above, in Belforest Community in Baldwin County, Alabama. The Member shall install and maintain at his own expense a service line which shall begin at a point designated by the corporation at his property line and extend to the dwelling and other portions of the premises. The Member’s service line shall connect with the distribution system of the Corporation at the place designated by the corporation; provided the Corporation has determined in advance that the Corporation’s water system is of sufficient capacity to permit delivery of water to that point. The Member shall pay for water at such rates, time, and place as shall be determined by the Corporation. The Corporation shall install a cut-off valve and a water meter, in each service, provided use of water is immediately desired. Such cut-off valve and meter shall be installed either off the Member’s premises, or upon the Member’s property, within three (3) feet of the property line. The Corporation shall have exclusive right to use such cut-off valve and water meter. The Corporation shall determine any question of location of any service line connection to its distribution system; shall determine the allocation of water to members in the event of a water shortage; may shut off the water to a Member who allows a connection or extension to be made to this service line for the purpose of supplying water to another user. The failure of a Member to pay when due water charges duly imposed shall result in the automatic imposition of the following penalties: A. Non-payment by due date will be subject to a penalty of ten (10) per cent of the delinquent account. B. Non-payment before the 10th day after the due date will result in the water being shut off from the Member’s property. C. Non-payment for sixty (60) days will allow the Corporation, in addition to all other rights and remedies, to terminate membership, and in such event, the Member shall not be entitled, nor the Corporation obligated, to supply water under this agreement. In the event it becomes necessary for the Corporation to shut off the water from a Member’s property for violation of the Rules and Regulations, a fee will be charged for reconnection of service. A $100.00 deposit is required for connection of water service if occupying a house trailer or other portable dwelling. Each member shall be eligible for one bill adjustment per calendar year in case of a water leak on the member’s side of the meter. The leak must be repaired, and a Leak Adjustment Form must be completed in full prior to any adjustment. Leak adjustments will not be approved for any water usage, leak or not, pertaining to irrigation systems or swimming pools. Upon verification of the validity of the leak, review of the leak adjustment form, and approval of the leak adjustment amount, the system will credit the member’s account for 50% of the estimated amount of the leak (to be determined by BWS for up to two billing periods affected by the leak). The foregoing notwithstanding, the Corporation reserves the right to make or amend the By-Laws or the Rules and Regulations of the System from time to time, and the Member agrees to abide by such changes upon notice thereof. The Member understands that a refundable security deposit as designated below will be collected upon connection of service. Refund checks (with amount due applied to deposit) will be mailed to the last provided mailing address for the customer within 60 days of service termination. It is the customers’ responsibility to provide BWS with a valid mailing address in order to receive deposit refund after termination.
New Construction: Meter will be set within ten (10) business days of the day the proper permit is posted on property. Meter box must be visible and accessible before meter will be set. If service line must be moved, it is the responsibility of the contractor or homeowner. If any items are damaged, stolen or missing after service fees are paid (whether by property owner, contractor, or sub-contractor), the person with which the original water agreement was made will be responsible for payment of such items. The builder is responsible for notifying BWS when the property is sold so service may be transferred to the new owner. Any contractor purchasing a lot within the BWS service area is responsible for evaluating lot and determining if the plans for the driveway are going to interfere with the meter stub on the correct property. If contractor fails to do this and driveway is placed in the way, the contractor will be responsible for moving the meter and responsible for any leaks thereafter.
