Buffalo Box Policy
A Buffalo Box is a water line shut-off point that sits between your home and the main water line that supplies your residence.
As of 2020, almost all homes in Stelle have a buffalo box shut-off valve assembly leading up to their residence.
The purpose of this buffalo box policy is to significantly reduce the occurrences which require the total shutdown of the entire water distribution system when trying to service the plumbing into a single home, and to insure the Stelle Community Association’s (SCA) ability to isolate any end-users from the distribution system for any of the following reasons:
1. Leaking water lines
2. Non-payment of water bills
3. Endangering the safety of the water system
4. Non-compliance with Stelle Water Systems Policies
All service connections to the Stelle Water System are required to have an external shutoff valve installed on the service line supplying the building, including a buffalo box access tube assembly. The buffalo box assembly shall be of a type approved by the SCA, and when possible shall be installed on the Utility Right of Way.
New property owners will coordinate the installation of all buffalo boxes with the SCA by submitting a Buffalo Box Installation Request form. Owners are responsible for all costs related to installation of their buffalo box assembly and landscape restoration. In the event of extraordinary costs incurred during installation due to deficiencies on the part of the SCA, owners may apply to the SCA Board for relief of those specific costs, up to $500.00. Such requests will be considered on a case by case basis.
Enforced Installation: Should the SCA need to isolate the end-user from the distribution system for any of the aforementioned reasons (1-4), and a buffalo box assembly has not been installed, the SCA shall have a buffalo box assembly installed on the Utility Right of Way, if possible, and shall charge the cost of such installation, plus a $500.00 administrative fee, to the property owner.
Landscaping: Homeowners shall be responsible for grading and seeding the greenbelt and/or utility right-of-way to restore it to its original condition. This shall occur within 12 months of the installation of the buffalo box. Otherwise, the SCA will restore the greenbelt landscape to original condition and add the landscaping cost to the property owner’s next invoice.
Per Section 5 of the Stelle Community Association Bylaws, this policy was approved by a majority of Class B members at a membership meeting on August 11, 2008. This policy is in effect on August 11, 2008 and supersedes any Buffalo Box Policy prior to this date.