(A) The public water used by each customer shall be metered. The meter will be furnished, installed, tested and maintained by the city at the customer’s expense and shall remain the property of and under control of the city.
(B) Meters for ordinary domestic service shall be of five-eighths-inch by three-fourths-inch size. The meter shall contain remote readouts. A separate gate valve the same size as the meter connections shall be installed on the service line on both sides of the meter. Where application for a larger service is made, determination as to size shall be made by the city. Larger sizes may be required for industrial, commercial or multiple dwelling use.
(C) Meters shall be set in an accessible location and in a manner approved by the city. Where due to unusual circumstances it is necessary to place the meter in a pit, the pit shall be installed by the city at the expense of the customer as directed by the city.
(D) The city shall have the right to shut off the public water to any customer where access is not available to the meter. Qualified employees of the city shall at all reasonable hours have the right to enter the premises where the meters are installed, for the purpose of reading, testing, removing or inspecting same and no person shall hinder, obstruct or interfere with any such employee in the discharge of his or her duties.
(E) Any damages to a meter resulting from carelessness or neglect of a customer to properly secure and protect the meter from damages caused by frost, hot water, steam or other misuse shall be paid for by the customer upon presentation of the bill therefor. The same shall be collected in the same manner as any customer service charge.
(F) Any meter installed prior to adoption of this chapter shall be subject to inspection and testing by the city. All repair or replacement cost shall be borne by the customer.
(G) If any meter shall fail to register properly, the city shall estimate the consumption for the prevailing billing period and bill accordingly.
(H) The customer may request that a meter be tested upon depositing with the city sum calculated on the basis of meter size as outlined in § 51.10. If the meter is found to register more than 3% fast, the deposit shall be returned to the customer. If the meter is found to register less than 3% fast, the city shall retain the deposit.
(Ord. 128, passed 12-20-1984)