§ 52.25 METERS.
   (A)   All meters used for billing purposes by the Department shall be the property of the Department as shall the meter installations and meter boxes in which the Department’s meters are located, even though the customer may have made a capital contribution as a condition of obtaining service.
   (B)   No one shall do anything which will in any way interfere with or prevent the proper registration of a meter. No one shall work on a water meter without the written permission of the Department. No one shall install any pipe or other device which will cause water to pass through a meter or line without such water being registered fully by the meter.
   (C)   Each customer will be supplied through a separate meter. In those cases where a business under one ownership has a number of apartments, businesses and/or offices under one roof, service may be provided through one meter and for one account with the bill being computed in accordance with the provisions of §§ 52.29 or 52.30 of this chapter, or separate services and meters may be provided for each individual tenant.
   (D)   Meters and meter installations must be accessible at all times and must not be covered with rubbish and/or other material of any kind. No one other than an authorized agent of the Department shall be permitted to repair, adjust, remove or replace any meter or any part thereof.
   (E)   The customer shall be responsible for damage to the meter and meter installation through which he or she is served if such damage is caused by carelessness or negligence of the customer or his or her agent or employee or any member of his or her family. Such customer shall be billed for actual costs of repairs or replacements, and such bills shall be paid within ten days from the date of mailing thereof. Failure to pay for damage to a meter or meter installation as outlined above within a reasonable time may be taken as grounds for discontinuing water service by the Department.
   (F)   The Department may discontinue furnishing water to any customer who refuses permission for the Department to remove a meter from his or her premises.
(1994 Code, § 18-211) (Ord. 421, passed 12-18-1986; Ord. 423, passed 3-5-1987) Penalty, see § 10.99