(A) Meter required.
(1) All properties to which town water is supplied shall be equipped with an operating water meter.
(2) The town will furnish a five-eighths inch by three-fourths inch meter, which shall remain the property of the town after installation. If a larger meter is required, the town will contribute the amount equal to a five-eighths inch by three-fourths inch meter and the property owner will contribute the difference.
(3) A separate meter is required for each individual residence and each individual business, but combined residences and businesses occupying the same building may be served by a single meter. The meter must be installed within 70 feet of the main or a meter pit is required. If service extends to a second building on the premises, such as a shop or garage, the line must be plumbed after the meter, or a second meter must be purchased and will incur only water-use charges.
(B) Installation of meter. The town will install the meters. All meters shall be installed in a dry, frost-free environment. If a meter pit is required, the meter will be installed at the property owner’s expense. The property owner is responsible for the maintenance of the meter pit.
(C) Reading meters. A town employee will read meters. A touch pad or drive-by reader will be installed at the time of meter installation, and the employee must have access to the touch pad located on an exterior wall.
(D) Testing meters. Any municipal water meter shall be taken out and tested upon complaint of the consumer upon payment of a fee as provided in the fee schedule appendix on file in the Town Office an in Ch. 32 of this code. If, upon test, the meter is not within 3% of being accurate, it shall be repaired or replaced and the fee returned to the consumer.
(E) Meter reading unavailable.
(1) Whenever meter readings for any billing period are unavailable, whether due to meter malfunction, weather conditions or other cause, water bills shall be calculated on the basis of an average monthly seasonal consumption rate for the premises. If such average rate is unavailable or is not reasonably applicable, the billing shall be estimated from a comparison with similar households or businesses in the community.
(2) At such time as normal monthly readings can be obtained, the actual metered rate will be reinstated.
(Ord. passed - -) Penalty, see § 51.99