(A) Every application for water service shall be accompanied by a cash deposit, except that an applicant whose credit with the city has been established need make no deposit. A person who has paid his water bills promptly each month, before it becomes past due, to the city for a period of at least one year shall be considered to have established satisfactory credit with the city. If the applicant is the owner of and resides at a single family premise to be served by the Department, he shall be considered to have estab-lished satisfactory credit with the city.
(B) In the event that a deposit is required to guarantee payment for water used, any consumer required to make a deposit shall be required to do so within five days. If a deposit is not made within the time specified, water service may be discontinued; and, in such an event, a charge in accordance with § 15.04.010 shall be made for turning on the water. The deposit shall be retained by the city until the service is closed, at which time it shall be applied to the current bill and any balance due shall be refunded. At the expiration of one year after a closing bill has been rendered and after two written notices to the depositor of record have been sent, and if such depositor of record does not claim the deposit balance within such one-year period, the deposit or remaining balance thereof shall be forfeited and shall be transferred to the operating account of the Water Department.
('86 Code, § 15.08.050) (Ord. 2028, passed - - ; Am. Ord. 3554, passed - - )