(A) Except for extinguishment of fires, no person, except authorized city employees, shall use water from the water system of the city or permit water to be drawn therefrom, unless the same be metered by passing through a meter supplied or approved by the city. No person, unless authorized by the city, shall connect, disconnect or in any manner change or cause to be changed or interfere with the meter or outside register, or the action thereof.
(B) The city shall maintain and repair all meters and outside registers when rendered unserviceable through ordinary wear and shall replace them if necessary. Where replacement, repair or adjustment of any meter or outside register is rendered necessary by freezing, or by the act, neglect or carelessness of the owner or occupant of any premises, any expense incurred by the city thereby shall be charged against and collected from the water consumer, and water service may be discontinued until the cause is corrected and the amount charged collected.
(C) In the event a consumer makes a complaint that the meter reading appears excessive, the meter will, on written request and deposit of appropriate sum, be tested by the city. The consumer may, if he or she so desires, be present when the test is made. Charges for the meter test shall be in accordance with a regular schedule adopted by a resolution of the Council and which may be amended from time to time in the same manner; provided that, a schedule of fees, together with the date of adoption of each fee, shall be kept on file in the office of the City Administrator and the City Engineer, and available for distribution upon request therefor.
(D) The fees shall be uniformly enforced upon the adoption or amendment. When the test shows an accurate measurement of water, or error of over 2% in favor of the consumer, the amount deposited shall be retained by the city to cover part of the expense of making a test and the bill adjusted accordingly. In the event the test should show an error of over 2% in favor of the city, the deposit will be refunded to the consumer, a correctly calibrated meter will be installed and the bill will be adjusted accordingly. The adjustment, pertaining to both parties, shall not extend back more than one year from the date of the written request for the test, and the minimum charge shall not be affected.
(E) All water meters and outside registers shall be, and shall remain, the property of the city and may be removed or replaced or changed by the city whenever deemed necessary. City employees delegated for that purpose shall have free access at reasonable hours of the day to all parts of every building and premises connected to the city water system for reading, for servicing and for repair of meter and inspection of water piping.
(2002 Code, § 3.41) (Ord. 43, Second Series, effective 7-1-1974; Ord. 152, Second Series, effective 1-1-1979; Ord. 74, Third Series, effective 1-10-1983; Ord. 21, Fourth Series, effective 12-15-1991; Ord. 105, Sixth Series, effective 5-22-2009; Ord. 25, Seventh Series, effective 6-5-2015) Penalty, see § 10.99