(a) Applications for the use of water shall be made and accepted in a manner prescribed by the Director of Public Utilities. All accounts for water service shall be established and maintained in the name of the record title owner of the premises served thereby. Any owner of real estate premises to which water is supplied shall be deemed primarily liable for all water and service charges for such premises, whether or not the premises is occupied by the owner, tenant or other persons, and whether or not the account has been established in the name of some other person or entity. In addition, any user and/or occupant of the premises where water service is provided shall be liable for payment for such services.
(b) The Director of Public Utilities may require a deposit to be placed on an account whenever the account holder:
(1) Does not have an established credit history with the Division of Water;
(2) Has received delinquency or termination of service notices and wishes to avoid such termination;
(3) Has had service terminated for nonpayment;
(4) Is a debtor in a pending case in U.S. Bankruptcy Court;
(5) Refuses to allow employees of the Division of Water to enter upon the premises served for the purposes of meter reading, repairs and/or testing.
The deposit amount shall equal six (6) average monthly bills or two (2) average quarterly bills on that account which shall be calculated based on the previous twelve (12) months’ consumption at the premises served.
(c) Deposits held by the Division of Water shall not be applied to current water or sewer bills. However, a deposit held on an account shall be returned to the depositor if, subsequent to the date of the deposit, twelve (12) consecutive monthly bills or four (4) consecutive quarterly bills are timely paid. If a deposit is held on an account at the time it is closed, the deposit shall be applied to any final amount outstanding, and the balance, if any, shall be returned to the depositor.
(Ord. No. 462-11. Passed 5-23-11, eff. 6-22-11)