(a) Application required. A person shall not use a service without first making the proper application for the service with the director. For general service accounts, a written application will be required of those persons from whom the director requires a security deposit. The application, when made in writing, must be made on forms provided by the director. The director is authorized to establish other procedures, not in conflict with this chapter or state law, to process and accept customer applications and to collect and process security deposits as necessary to secure customer accounts. The application requirements of this section do not apply to wholesale service contracts.
(b) Restriction of application. The person making the application shall include that person’s spouse, if any, as an applicant on the application. If unmarried or unrelated individuals or unrelated business entities who jointly own or occupy premises desire service, the director may require application to be made jointly in the names of those individuals or business entities. The director may also require application for service to be made only by and in the name of the owner of property if the director determines that substantial risk of financial loss to the department would occur as a result of acceptance of an application from a person other than the owner.
(c) Contract. The application constitutes a contract to pay all charges for service and to abide by all provisions of this chapter, the provisions of this code, and other local, state and federal laws relating to the service.
(e) Accurate information. An applicant shall furnish the names and addresses of any other joint owners, regardless of whether or not they reside at the premises, if this information is known to the applicant. An applicant shall also furnish proper identification and shall correctly furnish any other relevant information, including but not limited to proof of ownership or agency, required by the department in order to properly provide the service. If information is not furnished or is false, the application may be denied and service, where provided, may be discontinued. A person commits an offense if he knowingly makes a false statement on an application for service under this chapter.
(f) Use without application. A person who occupies premises and uses service without making application is responsible for all water used from the date of the last meter reading previous to that person occupying the premises. If the person is a tenant and the owner of the premises has failed to give the notice required in Section 49-15, then the owner is jointly and severally responsible with the tenant for the charges. (Ord. Nos. 19201; 19622; 20653)