(a) All charges for water and/or sewer made against the user of the premises supplied, shall be due and payable within 15 days after billing. The charges for service shall become a lien against the premises furnished service upon such service being provided. If not paid within 30 days, the water may be turned off to any premises against which such charges are outstanding. Upon the water being turned off, the water will not be turned on again until the charges have been paid, together with the current turn-on fee. A lien against the premises exists upon the service being furnished.
(b) Charges for services furnished to a premise may be placed within the discretion of the Township, by decision of the head of the Department of Public Services or such department head’s designee, upon the next tax roll or subsequent tax rolls and shall be collected and enforced in the same manner as provided for the collection of real property taxes assessed. The department head may select the tax roll upon which such charge shall be placed and collected.
(c) Where a single water meter or meters provide water and/or sewer services to more than a single addressed premises, the lien shall be calculated by dividing the outstanding amount unpaid by the number of addressed premises, whether occupied or unoccupied.
(d) When a tenant is responsible for payment of the water and/or sewer bill in a written lease, a landlord may file an affidavit verifying that the lease has been properly executed and is in effect attaching a copy of the lease to the affidavit with the Department of Public Services. At the same time, a deposit as specified in the fee schedule, by resolution of the Township Board, shall be paid in full. Additionally, the landlord shall, within 20 days, provide notice of any cancellation, change in lease terms with respect to the water, or termination of the lease. Upon full compliance by the landlord with the foregoing, no lien shall accrue against the premises. The landlord shall be responsible upon expiration, termination or change of any lease terms for filing another proper affidavit with a copy of the lease. In the event the water bill remains unpaid for in excess of 30 days, all or any portion of the deposit may be applied toward any outstanding charges. The cash deposit or any depleted portion of it, so used, shall be restored in full within 30 days of any depletion, or a lien otherwise may be imposed, service not restored or shut off.
(e) The proceedings set forth herein are cumulative and any other lawful enforcement methods for the payment of charges for water service may be enforced.
(f) In the case of temporary vacancy of any premises, the water will be turned off at the curb stop and the meter removed by the department upon written request of the owner of the premises to the department and will be turned on the meter reset when requested, upon payment of all applicable fees and charges. Water turn-ons will be scheduled with the department during regular working hours. Water turn-ons occurring beyond regular working hours will result in double special service charge as otherwise set forth in the fee schedule ordinance. Charges shall be billed for each visit, regardless of whether by water turn-on or water turn-off actually occurs.
(g) A bill shall be delivered or mailed to the premises to which the water is supplied, or to a designated mailing address. The Township assumes no responsibility for the loss or failure of such a bill to reach the proper person. A charge will be made for all water registered by a meter and no deduction shall be made for leaks, any alleged inaccuracy of the meter, or other claimed causes, except as provided in Section 1040.13(i).
(h) Payment of all water and sewer charges and other accounts due shall be made to the Township at locations within the Township as designated by the Township.
(Ord. 319. Passed 12-22-97; Ord. 398. Passed 5-7-12; Ord. 482. Passed 10-24-22.)