(a) Private water meters; installation. If metered water is not delivered to a residential property with wastewater service, a property owner may install, at the property owner's expense, a water meter on the private water source serving the property. A connection permit is required for the installation of a water meter on a private water source.
(b) Same – readings; wastewater charges.
(1) The Department shall read a water meter on a private water source at least annually and charge for wastewater usage in accordance with § 13-5-805.
(2) For any billing quarter during which no meter reading occurs, the charge for wastewater service shall be estimated based upon prior meter readings or, if there have not been prior meter readings, in accordance with subsection (f).
(3) If the Department determines that the estimated wastewater charges billed between the installation of the water meter on the private water source and the first meter reading are inaccurate, the property owner shall be credited or billed in the next billing cycle for the difference between the estimated charges and charges based on the actual meter reading.
(4) If, based on the most recent meter reading, the Department determines that the estimated wastewater charges billed since the last meter reading are inaccurate, the property owner shall be credited or billed in the next billing cycle for the difference between the estimated charges and the charges based on the actual meter reading.
(c) Same – required replacement. A water meter on a private water source shall be replaced by the property owner at least once every 15 years.
(d) Same – repair; inspection. If the Department determines that a water meter on a private water source is not functioning properly, the property owner shall be given notice to repair or replace the water meter within 45 days. When the meter is repaired or replaced, the owner shall schedule an inspection with a Department representative. If the meter is not accessible for a scheduled inspection, or if the meter is not repaired or replaced at the time of inspection, the property owner shall be charged $40 for each subsequent inspection.
(e) Wastewater charges when private water meter not replaced. If the owner fails to repair or replace a water meter in accordance with a notice from the Department, the charge for wastewater service shall be in accordance with subsection (f).
(f) Wastewater charges for properties without private meters. If metered water is not delivered to a property with wastewater service and there is no water meter on the private water source, the charge for wastewater service shall be the average charge for wastewater service to similar properties plus an account maintenance charge of $3.00 per billing cycle regardless of the amount of usage. The Director may require special meters or devices for commercial and industrial properties that do not have metered water service.
(1985 Code, Art. 6, § 5-202) (Bill No. 63-87; Bill No. 4-88; Bill No. 35-93; Bill No. 23-04; Bill No. 6-05; Bill No. 52-14; Bill No. 61-20)