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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)
All duly appointed employees of the water department, under the direction of the water superintendent, shall have free access, after reasonable notice to the customer is given, at all reasonable hours of the day to any and all parts of structures and premises in which water is or may be delivered for the purposes of inspecting connections, the conditions of conduits and fixtures, and the manner and extent in which the water is or may be delivered for the purposes of inspecting connections, the conditions of conduits and fixtures, and the manner and extent in which the water is being used. The water department or city does not, however, assume the duty of inspecting the customer's line, plumbing and equipment, and shall not be responsible therefor. (Ord. 202, 5-26-1992)
A. Responsibility For Customer Equipment: The city shall not be liable for any loss or damage of any nature whatsoever caused by any defect in the customer's line, plumbing or equipment, nor shall the city be liable for loss or damage due to interruption of service or temporary changes in pressure. The customer shall be responsible for valves on his premises being turned off when the water service is turned on.
B. Responsibility For Water Department Equipment: Water department equipment on the customer's premises remains the property of the city and may be repaired, replaced or removed by the water department employees at any time without consent of the customer and the city and water department shall not be liable for any damage resulting therefrom. No payment will be made to the property owner for the right to install, maintain, replace or remove city equipment on his premises. The property owner must keep vicious dogs or other animals secured or confined to avoid interference with the water department operations and maintenance.
C. Damage To City Equipment: The customer shall be liable for any damage to equipment owned by the city which is caused by an act or negligence of the customer, its tenants, agents, employees, contractors, licensees or permittees. Damage to equipment shall include, but not be limited to, breaking of seals and locks, tampering with meters, injury to meters, including, but not limited to, damages by hot water, steam, and damaged meter boxes, curb stops, meter stops and other appurtenances. (Ord. 202, 5-26-1992)
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