(a) A separate and individual water service lateral shall be provided to each building, and each such lateral shall be metered. Each housing, business or commercial unit shall have a separate meter.
(b) All meters must be set in a horizontal position on the inside of the building. The remote reader shall be installed at an approved location. The meter not to be connected directly to the stop and waste cock.
(c) The property owner shall be responsible for protecting water meters from physical abuse, freezing, vibration, or other adverse conditions, and shall assume the cost of repair or replacement of meters damaged under such conditions.
(d) Each meter of two inch (2") diameter or larger shall be a compound or turbo type whichever is applicable, and be provided with a bypass. The bypass must be valved so that it can be sealed to prevent its use by anyone except the Municipal personnel. The consumer shall be responsible for all water usage recorded by such meter.
(e) The initial meter sized 5/8" x 3/4" and 1", shall be purchased from the Municipality and installed by the Municipality. A water meter setting fee shall also be applied as set forth in the General Fee Schedule of Chapter 206 of the Codified Ordinances. The Municipality retains ownership and will assume the maintenance of all 5/8" x 3/4" and larger meters or its replacement, without charge to the consumer.
(f) The original purchase of a meter over one inch shall be made by the consumer. Only those water meters approved by the Service Director may be used. The Municipality will inspect connecting plumbing to assure that the meter installation is consistent with all applicable regulations. After the meter has been installed and placed in service, the Municipality will assume the maintenance of the meter or its replacement, without charge to the consumer.
(g) A meter shall be removed only by authorized employees of the Municipality. Violations of this provision will result in a charge being added to the customer's account for expenses incurred, in addition to charges for damages to or loss of meters, and charges for the amount of unmetered water estimated to have been used.
(h) Water meters are registered to the property and not to its occupant. Water meters may not be moved by anyone without prior authorization of the Director.
(i) Multiple dwellings are permitted one service line and a master meter with a curb stop placed outside the premises on the public right of way.
(j) The Municipality has the right to replace any water meter it deems necessary without the consent of the property owner.
(k) Remote meter registers shall be required on all meters. The only exceptions are where circumstances exist that indicates it is not feasible, in the opinion of the Service Director, to make such an installation. Remote registers location on the structure shall be approved by the Municipality. Remote registers may not be installed to relieve the owner of the responsibility of placing the meter in a pit where required by regulation. The Municipality shall not be responsible for the damage of property caused by necessary holes, fastening or other work required for proper installation. The Municipality will maintain remote registers under the same provisions as meters are maintained.
(l) In the event of malfunction of the remote register, the inside reading of the main meter shall prevail at all times, in addition if a meter fails to register, or is found to be out of order, the customer will be charged at the average consumption for comparable periods, as shown by the meter when in order and registering accurately.
(m) Not more than one meter shall be used per premises serviced by a single service except where it is desired to have tenants in multiple occupancy on one premise metered separately for service provided by the Municipality, or in the case of sprinkling systems. Where this separate metering is desired and multiple occupancy units are involved, outside curb stops shall be required in a location specified by the Municipality and a meter installed in each separate unit. A remote reading register shall be required for each such meter. Any deviation from this must be approved in writing by the Service Director after plans are submitted showing locations of secondary curb stops.
(n) Auxiliary meters may be purchased and set by the owner of the premises, at his own expense, wherever the owner wishes, for the purpose of determining the amount of water used in certain areas of the premises. However, the Municipality will not read these meters, nor be responsible in any way for their accuracy or maintenance. Prior notification must be given to the Municipality before any such action is taken.
(o) Threaded valves must be provided on both the inlet and outlet sides of the meter and as close thereto as possible, in accordance with the Municipal standards. These valves, which must be installed at the owner's expense, shall be as follows:
(1) For service up to and including two inches (2"), the valve on the inlet and outlet side shall be a ball type valve. The valves shall be the same diameter as the service pipe which, in the case of the smallest service, is required to be three-quarters of an inch (3/4"). Only brass valves and bushings shall be used in the meter setting.
(2) For services four inches (4") and larger the valve on the inlet and outlet side shall be of the gate type; either solid wedge or double disc with nonrising stem, wheel pressures up to 150 pounds. The valve shall be the same diameter as the service pipe.
(p) Meters are required to be set at a point on the incoming service pipe as close as possible to the point of entry through the building or foundation wall on the inside of the building. In buildings without basements, the meter shall be set in a utility room or kitchen located adjacent to an outside door.
(q) Meters may be placed in an attached garage if heated; otherwise, they must be placed in an insulated enclosure of a design approved by the Service Director to prevent freezing.
(r) No one shall be permitted to install anything other than brass meter connections approved by the Municipality.
(s) Where a building is located more than 150 feet from the property line, or at the discretion of the Municipality the meter may be required to be located in vault or meter pit in a Municipality approved location, at or near the right of way or easement line. This pit or vault shall be of a type similar and equal to Ford or Mueller meter box in use on small services. The pit shall be kept accessible at all times, no obstruction shall be placed at any time on the cover of such vaults or boxes and the covers shall also be kept free from snow and ice. The vault cover shall be as specified by the Municipality. These vaults shall be maintained in a manner so that the meter may be read and served by employees of the Municipality. The property owner shall keep the meter pit at grade with the ground surface. Failure to comply with this requirement shall be cause for discontinuance of water service until such time as compliance is affected. The property owner shall conform to any written instructions from the Municipality as to the grade of meter pit, and the Municipality shall be indemnified against any damages or expenses occasioned it because a meter pit is above or below grade. All meter pits where authorized shall be owned and maintained by the property owner in accordance with the Municipal specifications, the cost of any repairs are at the property owners expense.
(t) Water meters for industrial or commercial nonsewered water usage, if approved by the Municipality, shall be installed, repaired or replaced by the property owner at his expense. The Municipality reserves the right to have the meter tested for accuracy at any time at the property owner's expense.
(u) If the meter fails to register within the accuracy limitation hereinafter prescribed, the test charge shall be canceled and credit for the rate of over registration, for a period not exceeding one year prior to the date of test, shall be entered on the water bill following the test. A meter shall be considered accurate when registering within two percent plus or minus the true amount of water delivered on the maximum flow of the water, and within ten percent the true amount delivered on the minimum flow, for the size and type of meter tested.
(v) Meters utilized by the Municipality whether owned by the Municipality, or by the customer shall meet the accuracy specifications of the American Water Works Association (AWWA). This shall apply both to new and to repaired meters.
(w) Permanent water supply for automatic sprinkler systems (private fire protection service) may, when deemed advisable, be granted on an unmetered basis in accordance with the rules herein. The general policy of the Municipality is to have one meter for each separate service connection; if, in the opinion of the Municipality, more than one meter is necessary to meter water supply to a property, such as multi family units, the meter shall be set in an area not under the control of any tenant and shall be accessible at all times to utility personnel. Meters shall not be installed in such a manner as to require subtraction of another's meter reading to determine usage for any consumer.
(x) There shall be no appurtenances installed on any service connection between the curb stop and the inlet valve of the water meter, except for branch fire line connections that are likewise metered, either completely or by a detector check assembly. Any necessary controls such as pressure reducers or check valves shall be installed after the outlet valve of the water meter.
(Ord. 25-10. Passed 12-14-10.)