(a) Water Services to be Metered. All water services shall be metered.
(b) One Meter for Each Service. The Water Department may grant a permit for the installation of more than one meter on a service supplying an apartment building containing more than one apartment unit when the plans showing the piping arrangements are submitted to and approved by the Water Department. In cases where such additional meters are permitted, it shall be required:
(1) That the meters all be contained compactly or in a meter room, and that each meter be controlled independently of the others.
(2) That the owner assume all responsibility for the installation and the maintenance of the meters other than that assumed by the Water Department.
(c) Meters Registered by Service Numbers. All meters shall be registered by service numbers and apply to street number and lot number and not to property owner's name. Inquiries regarding meters should give the street numbers and if possible service numbers.
(d) Meters to be Furnished by the Water Department. Meters shall be paid for in accordance with the current ordinance, by the person or persons applying for the service.
(e) Maintenance and Replacement. The maintenance and/or replacement of meters will be at the expense of the Water Department. However, the customer will be charged and held responsible for all repairs or cost of replacement due to any act of negligence on the part of the customer.
(f) Responsibility for Loss or Theft. Property owners shall be held responsible for and shall reimburse the Water Department for the loss or theft of any meter furnished and maintained as hereinbefore provided.
(g) Repairs at Expense of Owner. All damaged or improperly functioning meters, not owned by the Water Department may be repaired at the expense of the owner.
(h) Removal by Water Department Employees Only. A meter shall be removed only by an authorized employee of the Water Department. Unauthorized persons removing or tampering with meters will be subject to a twenty-five dollar ($25.00) fine.
(i) Penalty for Unlawfully Breaking Seal. When, upon inspection, any meter seal has been found broken from any cause whatsoever, the water may be turned off, and the water will not be turned on again until the sum of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and the cost of repair or replacement of the meter has been paid to the Water Department.
(j) Removal for Repairing or Testing. The Water Department reserves the right to remove a meter from any premises and substitute another meter in its place for the purpose of making repairs or testing.
(k) Tests without Request. The Water Department may test any meter, which in its judgment is registering incorrectly, without charge to the owner.
(l) Request by Property Owner or Consumer to Test. In cases where the property owner or consumer requests the Water Department to test a meter, the Water Department shall charge ten dollars ($10.00) for the cost of testing the meter if the meter is found to be operating properly. However, when a consumer's bill shows an increase of one hundred percent (100%) when compared with similar bills of the same period of the preceding year, he will be allowed, on request, a meter test free of charge.
(m) Meters Must be Accessible. Meters must be freely accessible to meter readers and other authorized employees of the Water Department and must not be covered with or obstructed by rubbish or other material regardless of whether such meters are located in meter vaults, meter tile or basements. Meters will not be installed in coal bins or coal cellars. The Water Department may shut off water when violations of this subsection are not corrected following due notice of such violation by the Water Department.
(Ord. 88-14. Passed 3-16-88.)