(A) Meter required. Except for the extinguishment of fires and for such other uses as may be provided in this code or authorized by the City Council, no person other than an authorized city employee shall use water from the city water supply system or permit water to be drawn from it unless the water passes through a meter supplied or approved by the city.
(B) Ownership and installation. Water meters for normal use shall be furnished by and shall remain property of the city. If a customer requires a meter of unusual design or capacity, the customer shall purchase and maintain the meter at the customer’s own expense. Meters shall be installed, disconnected, taken apart, or in any other manner changed only by authorized city employees, or by a plumber if expressly so authorized by the Public Works Coordinator or by regulations established by the City Council.
(C) Maintenance. The city shall maintain and repair at its expense any meter furnished by it that has become unserviceable or inaccurate through ordinary use and shall replace the meter if necessary. Water meters may be removed or replaced by the city at any time. If city repair or replacement of a meter, whether owned by the city or by the customer, is made necessary by any act or neglect of the owner, of the lessee, or of the occupant of the premises served, or of any other person, the city may add any expense occasioned thereby to the customer’s water bill. The Public Works Coordinator may also discontinue water service until the cause is corrected.
(D) Re-reading of meter. When a customer complains that any bill is excessive and requests that the meter be re-read, the Public Works Coordinator shall have the meter re-read.
(E) Testing. The city may test a meter for accuracy at any time. When a customer feels that any bill is excessive, the customer may demand in writing that the meter be tested. If the test shows the meter to be inaccurate, it shall be repaired or replaced.
(F) Adjustment of bill. If a test shows a meter to be inaccurate by more than 5%, the bill for the immediate past service period and for the elapsed portion of the current service period shall be adjusted accordingly. If, by reason of stoppage of the meter or any other reason, it is not possible to determine with reasonable accuracy the amount of water actually used, the Public Works Coordinator may estimate by any reasonable method the amount of water which was used. In no event shall any adjustment be made for any service period prior to the immediate past service period.
(Prior Code, § 53.07) Penalty, see § 50.999