A. Metered Water Required: All water taken from the city water system shall pass through meters, to which end, all service connections shall be equipped with meters located before any points of water use or withdrawal. (Ord. 99-1208, 12-6-1999)
B. Installation: All meters shall be installed by a licensed plumber and will be inspected by a duly authorized representative of the public works department. (Ord. 12-0303, 3-6-2012)
C. Location; Accessibility:
1. All meters shall be located as close as possible to the point where the service pipe enters the building or premises.
2. All meters shall be placed where they are readily accessible to the public works department for inspection, readings, maintenance and replacement. No obstructions shall be created which interfere with or diminish the accessibility of any meter.
D. Protection:
1. No meter shall be set in a place where groundwater or surface water can rise and cover it.
2. Meters shall be connected to the adjoining pipes by square faced union or flange joints, and the adjoining pipes must be horizontal.
3. A valve shall be installed on each side of every meter, and provision shall be made on the downstream side of the meter to drain the pipes and meter.
E. Disturbing Meters: After a meter has been installed, no person not duly authorized by the director of public works shall remove, repair, interfere with, or in any way disturb the meter.
F. Costs; Ownership:
1. The cost of every water meter and its installation shall be paid by the applicant for water service and shall constitute the meter fee.
2. The public works department shall retain ownership of all meters, and all repairs and replacements made necessary by normal wear shall be done at the expense of the department. (Ord. 99-1208, 12-6-1999)
3. Repairs or replacements of water meters made necessary by freezing, hot water, tampering or theft shall be made at the expense of the tenant or property owner and will include labor cost(s). (Ord. 12-0303, 3-6-2012)
G. Damage; Notice Of Defect:
1. No person shall injure, deface, mar, destroy, or in any manner interfere with any water meter.
2. It shall be the duty of the owner and/or occupant of any premises served with city water promptly to notify the city of any defect in the meter serving such premises. (Ord. 99-1208, 12-6-1999)
H. Customers To Read Meters: (Rep. by Ord. 12-0303, 3-6-2012)
I. Unread Meters: Whenever a meter in the active service of the city remains unread for six (6) consecutive months, such shall constitute a violation of the requirements of this chapter, and the premises served may be subject to termination of water services. (Ord. 99-1208, 12-6-1999)
J. Metering For Multiple Premises: (Rep. by Ord. 12-0303, 3-6-2012)
K. Inaccurate Meters; Charges Estimated: Whenever any meter, for any reason whatsoever, fails to register accurately the volume of water passing through it, the consumer shall be billed for the volume of water used during the corresponding time of the previous year under like conditions. If no record of the previous year exists, it shall then be the duty of the city manager and/or designated agents to estimate as best possible the volume of water used during the time the meter failed to register accurately, and the consumer shall pay the amount so estimated by city manager and/or designated agents. Each property owner will be eligible for up to one credit per year. (Ord. 12-0303, 3-6-2012)
L. Metering For Professional Sprinkling Systems: In cases where a residential home has a professional sprinkler system installed, an additional meter may be installed on the service connection for the metering of the professional sprinkler system at the property owner's expense, subject to the approval of the public works director and city manager. Furthermore, all water use registered by this meter will be charged to the owner of the property for water only, not sewer. (Ord. 02-0423, 4-15-2002)
M. Metering For A Pool: In cases where a residential home has a pool, an additional meter may be installed on the service connection for the metering of the pool at the property owner's expense, subject to the approval of the public works director and city manager. Furthermore, all water use registered by this meter will be charged to the owner of the property for water only, not sewer. It would be suggested for the property owner to arrange a convenient time with the fire department or public works director to fill the pool and the property owner will be billed. (Ord. 12-0303, 3-6-2012)