(A) All water meters shall be furnished by the city, but with installation charge to be paid by the plumber as provided in the Plumbing Code, and shall be of such type, size and construction as the city may specify, and shall at all times remain the property of the city; provided, however, that, additional or auxiliary meter or meters desired by the owner or consumer being supplied for the purposes of subdividing the total water used, shall be at the entire expense of such owner or consumer, and shall be his, her or their property. The reading of such additional meters and the maintenance thereof shall be by the owner or users.
(B) All meters shall be installed as close as possible to the entry point of the service pipe. The location shall be in accordance with the directions and requirements of the City Public Works Department. No person, other than licensed and bonded plumbers or employees of the City Public Works Department, shall be permitted to install, remove or change the location of any meter. Meters must be at all times readily accessible for reading and examination by the designated employees or designees of the City Public Works Department. Meters must not be exposed to danger of damage by frost or freezing. If the meter becomes damaged by frost or freezing, by hot water or in any other manner due to the carelessness or neglect of the owner or occupant of the premises, or their agent, such owner or occupant must pay for such damage.
(C) Meters shall be installed by a licensed and bonded plumber and shall be so installed and operating before completion of the installation and before water is first supplied to the premises; provided, the plumber may use a temporary water connection without meter for testing purposes only.
(D) When the water distribution system pipes in any building or structure are used as the ground for the electric system serving said building or structure, a jumper wire being a minimum size #6 wire conductor shall be connected to the pipe on each side of the water meter so as to form a by-pass and continuous circuit around said water meter.
(E) Remote meters shall be installed in all residences served by the city’s waterworks system. Installation of the remote meters shall be performed by the City Public Works Department, or a thhird party ccontracted by the city.. Only meters approved by the Public Works Department shall be installed. The cost of installation for these meters, and the cost of installation of additional equipment, including but not limited to interior shurt off valves near the water meter, expended in order to comply with the Illinois Plumbing Code, shall be included on the billing statement issued to the owner of the residence after installation of the meter and/or other necessary equipment. Owners have one month from the date of notification by the city to install a remote meter. If compliance is not met during that period of time, water service will be turned off and not turned on until the remote meter has been installed.
(Prior Code, § 52.11) (Ord. 06-007, passed 1-24-2006; Ord. 2014-007, passed 2-11-2014; Ord. 2015-033, passed 11-10-2015; Ord. 2023-037, passed 8-22-2023)