Loading...
The city may regulate, limit or prohibit the use of water for any purpose as determined by the City Council to be in the best interests of the longevity and safety of the water supply system. Such regulations shall restrict less essential water uses to the extent deemed necessary to ensure an adequate supply for domestic and commercial needs and for firefighting. No such regulation, limitation or prohibition shall be effective until 24 hours after publication thereof in a newspaper of general circulation in the city. Any person violating such regulation or rule shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished as prescribed in § 1-16.
(1993 Code, § 68-31) (Ord. passed 1-22-2001; Ord. 2014-01, passed 1-27-2014)
Only employees of the city, in the course of the performance of their duties, may break, damage, destroy, uncover, deface or tamper with any structure, appurtenance or equipment which is a part of the water supply system.
(1993 Code, § 68-32) (Ord. passed 1-22-2001; Ord. 2014-01, passed 1-27-2014)
§§ 68-33 – 68-45 RESERVED.
DIVISION 2. METERS
All premises using water shall be metered, except as otherwise provided in this Code. Only Department employees may break or injure the seal or change the location of a meter, or otherwise alter or interfere with it in any way.
(1993 Code, § 68-46) (Ord. passed 1-22-2001; Ord. 2014-01, passed 1-27-2014)
The Department shall have the right to shut off the supply of water to any premises where the Department is not able to obtain access to the meter. Any qualified employee of the Department shall at all reasonable hours have the right to enter the premises where such meters are installed for the purpose of reading, testing, removing or inspecting the meter, and no person shall hinder, obstruct or interfere with such employee in the lawful discharge of his duties in respect to the care and maintenance of such meter.
(1993 Code, § 68-47) (Ord. passed 1-22-2001; Ord. 2014-01, passed 1-27-2014)
(A) The owner of a property served by the water supply system shall reimburse the city for any damage that a water meter may sustain resulting from carelessness of the owner, agent or tenant or from neglect by any of them to properly secure and protect the meter, as well as for any damage that may be caused by frost, hot water or steam backing from a boiler. If the owner fails to pay the reimbursement within the time required in the bill, the Department may shut off the water service until all charges have been paid to the city.
(B) (1) It is the policy of the city to discontinue utility service to customers by reason of nonpayment of bills only after notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard on disputed bills. The city’s form for application for utility service and all bills shall contain, in addition to the title, address, room number, and telephone number of the official in charge of billing, clearly visible and easily readable provisions to the effect:
(a) That all bills are due and payable on or before the date set forth on the bill; and
(b) That if any bill is not paid by or before that date, a second bill will be mailed containing a shut off date by which the bill must be paid to prevent discontinuation of service for non-payment; and
(c) That any customer disputing the correctness of his bill shall have a right to a hearing at which time he may be represented in person and by counsel or any other person of his choosing and may present orally or in writing his complaint and contentions to the city official in charge of utility billing. This official shall be authorized to order that the customer’s service not be discontinued and shall have the authority to revise the amount of the customer’s bill.
(2) Requests for delays or waiver of payment will not be entertained; only questions of proper and correct billing will be considered. In the absence of payment of the bill rendered or resort to the hearing procedure provided herein, service will be discontinued at the time specified, but in no event until the charges have been due and unpaid for at least 30 days.
(3) When it becomes necessary for the city to discontinue utility service to a customer for nonpayment of bills, service will be reinstated only after all bills for service then due have been paid, along with a turn-on charge of such amount as is authorized from time to time by Council by resolution.
(1993 Code, § 68-48) (Ord. passed 1-22-2001; Ord. 2014-01, passed 1-27-2014)
A water meter shall be considered to be accurate if, when tested, it registers not more than 2% more or 2% less than the actual quantity of water passing through it. If a meter registers in excess of 2% more than the actual quantity of water passing through it, it shall be considered fast to that extent. If a meter registers more than 2% less than the actual quantity of water passing through it, it shall be considered slow to that extent.
(1993 Code, § 68-50) (Ord. passed 1-22-2001; Ord. 2014-01, passed 1-27-2014)
Loading...