(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 his or her intentions at least two-days prior thereto, specifying the date service is to be discontinued; otherwise, he or she will be responsible for all water supplied to the premises until the Water Department shall receive notice of the removal. At the time specified by the customer that he or she expects to vacate the premises where service is supplied or that he or she desires service 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) Remedies for 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 § 50.25(C), (F), or (G). Additionally, if any billing for rates, fees, or other charges is not paid within 90 days of the date it became due, or 90 days after the date the Council determined that a disputed bill was due, by any such person, firm, or corporation, the amounts so unpaid may be certified by the city to the County Assessor, and shall be assessed by him or her against the premises served, as provided by law, and shall be collected and paid over to the city in the same manner as other taxes are assessed, collected, and paid over, with interest. Interest on unpaid bills shall run from the due date thereof at the rate of 8% per annum, or as otherwise established by resolution of the Council. The unpaid charges may also be recovered in an action at law in the name of the city, with interest as aforesaid. These remedies are not mutually exclusive, and shall be in addition to any penalty assessed under § 50.99.
(C) Nonpayment of sewer service charges. If sewer service charges are not paid when due by any such person, firm, or corporation whose premises are serviced or who are subject to the charges herein provided, water service provided to that customer by the City Water Department may be discontinued because of the default in the payment of the sewer service charges.
(D) Improper customer facilities.
(1) Unsafe facilities. The Water Department may refuse to furnish water and may discontinue service 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.
(2) Cross-connections. A CROSS-CONNECTION is defined as any physical connection between the Water Department’s system and another water supply. The State Health Division and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prohibit cross-connections. The Water Department will not permit any cross-connection, and will discontinue service to any persons or premises where a cross-connection exists. Service will not be restored until the cross-connection is eliminated. Customers using water from one or more sources in addition to receiving water from the Water Department on the same premises shall maintain separate systems for each, and comply with all aspects of §§ 52.01 through 52.08.
(E) 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 the conditions are not corrected after due notice by the Water Department.
(F) Service detrimental to others. The Water Department 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.
(G) Fraud or abuse. The Water Department will refuse or discontinue service to any premises where it is deemed necessary to protect the Water Department 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.
(H) Unauthorized turn-on. Where water service has been discontinued for any reason and the water is turned on by a 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 computed at actual cost to the Water Department plus 15% overhead, but not less than $50, or as otherwise established by resolution of the Council. These charges shall be billed to the offending customer, and water shall not be furnished to the premises or customer until the charges are paid and the Water Department has reasonable assurance that the violation will not reoccur.
(I) Noncompliance with regulations. The Water Department may, upon five-days’ notice, discontinue service to a customer’s premises for failure to comply with any of the provisions of these regulations.
(Prior Code, § 51.13) (Ord. 98-471, passed 5-4-1998)