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A. Ownership: The city will own and maintain all water meters. The city will not pay rent to any user or customer or any other charge for a meter or other water facilities, including housing and connections on a customer's premises.
B. Installation: Installation of water meters shall be performed only by authorized employees or agents of the city. All meters shall be sealed by the water department at the time of installation, and no seal shall be altered or broken except by one of its authorized employees or agents.
C. The Size And Type Of Meter: Applicant may request and receive any size meter regularly stocked or furnished by the water department, provided the request is reasonable and further provided that the meter is not greatly oversized or undersized, as determined by the water superintendent. The water department reserves the right to determine the type of meter to be installed.
D. Location Of Meters: Meters shall normally be placed approximately two feet (2') from the property lines on the customer's property, but within the designated easement; the meter will be installed wherever the applicant desires within reason, but the location must be approved by the water department. The meters will not be located in driveways or other location where damage to the meter or its related parts may occur.
E. Joint Use Of Meters: The joining of several customers to take advantage of the single minimum charges and large quantity rates shall be prohibited, except under special contract, in writing, with the city council.
F. Changes In Size Or Location: If for any reason a change in the size of a meter and service is required, the installation will be accomplished on the basis of a new connection, and the customer's application shall be amended. Meters or services moved for the convenience of the customer will be relocated only at the customer's expense. (Ord. 202, 5-26-1992)
A. Setting, Review And Revision Of Rates: The water user charges shall be established by resolution by the council upon the passage of this chapter. Water user charges shall be reviewed at least annually but may be reviewed and adjusted as frequently as the council so desires, by resolution of the council, to reflect actual costs of operation, maintenance, replacement, and financing the water system and its facilities. Any revisions of the user charges shall be based on actual operation, expansion, maintenance, replacement, and financing expenses and the total water usage.
B. Outside City Limits: Water charges for the use of the water system outside of the city shall be established according to the class of the individual user by resolution of the council and may be changed from time to time by resolution of the council. (Ord. 202, 5-26-1992)
A. Notices To Customers: Notices from either the city or the water department to the customer will normally be given in writing and either mailed or delivered to him at his last known address. Where conditions warrant and in emergencies, the water department may notify the customer either by telephone or messenger.
B. Notices From Customer: Notices from the customer to the water department may be given by the customer or his authorized representative orally or in writing at city hall or to the water department. (Ord. 202, 5-26-1992)
A. Meter Readings: Meters will be read and customers billed on the basis of the meter reading to the nearest cubic foot.
The water department will keep an accurate account on its books of all readings of meters and such account, so kept, shall be prima facie evidence of the use of water service by the customer.
B. Rendering Of Bills:
1. Billing Period: All meters shall be read or estimated according to subsection D of this section, and shall be billed monthly.
2. Bills For Other Than Normal Billing Period: Opening or closing bills, or bills that for any other reason cover a period containing ten percent (10%) more days or ten percent (10%) less days than in the normal billing period shall be prorated.
3. Bills For More Than One Meter: All meters supplying a customer's premises shall be billed separately, except where the water department has for operating purposes installed two (2) or more meters in place of one, the charge may be combined for billing purposes.
C. Disputed Bills: When a customer disputes the correctness of a bill, he shall deposit with the city the amount of the disputed bill at the time the complaint is lodged, to preclude discontinuance of service pending final settlement of the bill or bills. Subsequent bills shall be paid or placed on deposit in a similar manner. Failure of the customer to make such a deposit may, at the city's option, warrant late charges, discontinuance of service or legal action, as provided under subsection F of this section.
D. Failure To Read Meters: In the event that it shall be impossible or impractical to read a meter on the regular reading date or that the water department, for whatever reason, fails to read a meter, the water consumption shall be prorated on the basis of thirty (30) days per month and the total water consumption for billing purposes for that period shall be estimated.
E. Payment Of Bills: Each bill rendered shall contain the final date on which payment is due. If the bill is not paid by that date, the account shall be considered delinquent, unless other arrangements have been made with the city, in writing, that specify another due date.
F. Delinquent Accounts:
1. Delinquent Notice: A reminder of account delinquency may be sent, at the discretion of the city clerk, to each delinquent account on or about fifteen (15) days after the account becomes delinquent.
2. Late Charges: Thirty (30) days after an account becomes delinquent, late charges shall be assessed. Delinquent account late charge shall be established by the council by resolution upon the passage of this chapter and may be reviewed and updated by resolution of the council as the council so desires.
3. Turn Off Notice: On or about sixty (60) days after an account becomes delinquent, a turn off notice may be sent to the customer. Said notice shall state a date on which water will be turned off if the delinquent account is not paid in full prior thereto. Prior to shutting off a user's water, the user shall be permitted to have a hearing in front of the city clerk.
4. Service Turn Off: A water department employee or other agent of the city shall deliver a written notice to the customer stating that the water service is being turned off until all delinquent amounts have been paid ("final notice"). The water department, no sooner than twenty four (24) hours after delivery of the final notice, excluding weekends and holidays, between the hours of eight o'clock (8:00) A.M. and three o'clock (3:00) P.M., shall discontinue water service to the user. Delivery of notice to the premises served by the water department shall be considered as delivery of notice to the customer.
5. Service Charge: In all instances where water has been turned off because of delinquent accounts, a service charge shall be made for the restoration of services and replacement of cash deposit as stated in subsection 6-5-5B of this chapter, will be required. The service charge for restoration of delinquent accounts shall be established by the council by resolution upon the passage of this chapter and may be reviewed and updated by resolution of the council at the council's desire.
6. Legal Collection Action: On or about sixty (60) days after an account becomes delinquent, the water department may initiate an action in the small claims court of Ada County or state district court to collect any amounts past due.
G. Installment Payment Of Delinquent Accounts: In cases of extreme hardship, the city clerk shall have the discretion of renewing service to a delinquent account upon receipt of a satisfactory installment plan for the payment of the overdue amount, the installment period not to exceed the period of time the account was delinquent. (Ord. 202, 5-26-1992)
A. Meter Accuracy: All meters will be tested prior to installation. No meter will be placed in service or allowed to remain in service which is known to have an error in registration in excess of two percent (2%) under conditions of normal operation.
B. Meter Test:
1. Standard Test: Meter tests will be conducted in accordance with standards of practice established by the American water works association or some other test method recommended by the meter manufacturer.
2. On Customer Request: A customer may, by giving not less than seven (7) days' notice, request the superintendent to test the meter servicing the customer's premises. The city will require the customer to pay to the city a testing fee. This fee shall be based upon the cost of testing the meter as determined by the city council. The fee deposit will be returned to the customer if the test reveals the meter to over measure the water flow by more than two percent (2%) under standard test conditions, otherwise, the fee shall be retained by the city. Customers may, at their option, witness any meter tests which they request, although the time and date of the test shall be determined solely by the water department.
3. On Water Department Request: If, upon comparison of past water usage, it appears that a meter is not registering properly, the water department may, at its option, test and adjust the charges accordingly if the meter either over measures or under measures the water flow. No charge for meter testing will be made to the customer for the meter test under these conditions.
C. Adjustments Of Bill For Meter Error:
1. Liability: Neither the city nor the customer will be liable to the other for any over or under payment of water usage due to a meter which shows readings either above or below the accuracy standard defined in subsection A of this section. This subsection C1 will not apply as to nonregistering meters.
2. Nonregistering Meters: The water department will bill the customer for water consumed while the meter was not registering. The bill will be computed upon an estimate of consumption based either upon the customer's prior use during the same season of the year, or upon a reasonable comparison with the use of other customers receiving the same class of service during the same season and under similar circumstances and conditions. (Ord. 202, 5-26-1992)
A. On Customer Request: Each customer about to vacate any premises supplied with water service by the water department shall give the water department written notice of its intentions at least two (2) business days prior thereto, specifying the date service is to be discontinued; otherwise, he will be responsible for all water supplied to such premises until the water department shall receive notice of such removal.
At the time specified by the customer that he expects to vacate the premises where service is supplied or that he desires to be discontinued, the meter will be read and a bill rendered which is payable immediately. In no case will the bill be less than the monthly minimum specified in the schedule applying to the class or classes of service furnished.
B. Nonpayment Of Bills: A customer's water service may be discontinued if the water bill is not paid in accordance with the procedures listed in subsection 6-5-11F of this chapter.
C. Improper Customer Facilities:
1. Unsafe Facilities: The water department may refuse to furnish water and may discontinue services to any premises without prior notice where plumbing facilities, appliances or equipment using water are dangerous, unsafe or not in conformity with the plumbing code of the state. (Ord. 202, 5-26-1992)
2. Cross Connections: A "cross-connection" is defined as any physical connection between the potable water system and another water supply.
The city or its agent will not permit any unprotected cross connection and will discontinue service to any persons or premises where an unprotected cross connection exists. Service will not be restored until the cross connection is properly protected. Violation of this chapter is subject to penalties as set forth in section 1-4-1 of this code; as such section shall be amended from time to time. (Ord. 350, 6-22-1999)
D. Water Waste: Where water is wastefully or negligently used on a customer's premises, seriously affecting the general service, the water department may discontinue service if such conditions are not corrected after notice by the water department.
E. Service Detrimental To Others: The city may refuse to furnish water and may discontinue service to any premises where excessive demands by one customer will result in inadequate service to others.
F. Fraud Or Abuse: The city and/or the water department will refuse or discontinue service to any premises where it is deemed necessary to protect the city from fraud or abuse. Discontinuance of service from one or both of these causes will be made immediately upon receipt of knowledge by the water department that the condition or conditions exist.
G. Unauthorized Turn On: Where water service has been discontinued for any reason and the water is turned on by the customer or other unauthorized person, the water may then be shut off at the main or the meter removed. The charges for shutting off the water at the main or removing the meter shall be established by the council by resolution after passage of this chapter and may be reviewed and updated by resolution of the council as the council so desires. These charges shall be billed to the offending customer and water shall not be furnished to the premises or customer until such charges are paid and the city has reasonable assurance that the violation will not reoccur.
H. Noncompliance With Regulations: The city may, upon five (5) days' notice, discontinue service to a customer's premises for failure to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter or city rules and regulations. (Ord. 202, 5-26-1992)
Restoration of service after discontinuance of service for unsafe facilities, water waste, fraud, abuse, unauthorized turn on or for noncompliance with this chapter or any of the policies, rules and regulations of the city will only be made after the irregularity has been corrected and the city has been assured that the irregularity will not reoccur. In addition, a rule violation restoration charge shall be required in addition to any other charges due or past due that the city may have incurred to correct the irregularity. (Ord. 202, 5-26-1992)
When an abnormally large quantity of water is desired for filling a pond, or for other purposes, arrangements must be made with the city prior to taking such water.
Permission to take water in unusual quantities will be given only if the city facilities and other consumers are not inconvenienced. (Ord. 202, 5-26-1992)
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