(A) Charges: Charges for residential water service shall be billed on a quarterly basis.
Billing periods shall be as follows:
1. February 1 through April 30
2. May 1 through July 31
3. August 1 through October 31
4. November 1 through January 31
Charges for industrial and commercial water service shall be billed monthly.
(B) Liability: The owner of the premises shall be liable to pay for the service on said premises, and the service is furnished to the premises by the Village only upon the condition that the owner of the premises is severally liable therefor to the Village. Application for village water service must be made in the owner's name with the owner's current mailing address.
(C) Due Date: All bills for residential water service shall be payable not later than the close of business on the last day of the month following the end of the billing period. All bills for industrial and commercial water service shall be payable not later than the close of business on the fifteenth day following the end of the billing period. A penalty of ten percent (10%) shall be added to the principal amount of any bill (including all arrearages) not paid within said thirty (30) day period or fifteen (15) day period, as the case may be. (Ord. 97-16, 7-22-1997)
(D) Delinquent Charges: Whenever any charges for water service, or service charges for installation, disconnection, turnon or shutoff of water service remain unpaid, in whole or in part, for thirty (30) days (15 days for commercial/industrial customers), such charges shall be deemed delinquent. Once an account has been deemed to be delinquent, the water clerk shall immediately send a series of three (3) letters spaced seven (7) business days apart notifying the customer of the delinquency. If the account is not paid after the third letter has been sent, a fourth and final letter notifying the customer that if after seven (7) business days, the account remains delinquent, water service will be terminated. This process will take place only once during any rolling twelve (12) month period beginning on the date the initial late notice is sent. Subsequent delinquencies will only receive the fourth or final notice providing for a disconnect after seven (7) business days. Whenever the premises is occupied by a person or persons other than the owner, and the village has previously received notice of this, the notice of delinquency shall be mailed to the owner of the property if his/her address is known to the village.
(E) Disconnection Of Service For Nonpayment; Reinstatement Fee: The water supply may be shut off from any premises for which the water bill remains unpaid for thirty (30) days (15 days for commercial/industrial customers) after the rendition of the bill for such service. If water service is discontinued after the owner of the premises or his/her representative has failed to make payment, water service shall not be reinstated until all past due bills and penalties due thereon are paid in full, together with payment of a fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for shutoff of service for delinquency and a fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for cost of reinstating service to the location. The second shutoff and reinstatement is subject to surcharges of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) each. A third such occurrence will result in surcharges of two hundred dollars ($200.00) each and shall remain at this rate for any subsequent disconnects.
(F) Delinquent Charges; Lien: Whenever any charges for water service or service charges for installation, disconnection, turnon or shutoff of water service remain unpaid, in whole or in part, for thirty (30) days (15 days for commercial/industrial customers) such charges shall be deemed delinquent. After the prescribed collection process has been followed and the account remains delinquent, the water superintendent shall exercise his/her discretion to initiate proceedings to place a lien upon the said property, by having the village file a statement of lien claim with the Cook County recorder of deeds. This statement of lien claim shall include the legal description of the property to which service is provided; the amount unpaid including penalty; and a notice that the village claims a lien for stated amount as well as for all water service charges and penalties, subsequent to the period for which the bill was rendered. Whenever the premises is occupied by a person or persons other than the owner, and the village has previously received notice of this, notice of delinquency and lien shall be mailed to the owner of the property if his/her address is known to the village. The failure of the village to record the lien with the Cook County recorder of deeds or to mail the notice of delinquency and lien to the owner of the property or failure of the owner to receive such notice, shall not affect the right of the village to foreclose the lien for unpaid bills as mentioned herein. Property subject to a lien for unpaid water charges shall be sold for nonpayment of the same, and the proceeds of the sale shall be applied to pay the charges, after deducting costs, as is the case in the foreclosure of statutory liens. Such foreclosure shall be by bill in equity in the name of the village. The village attorney is hereby authorized to initiate such proceedings against any property for which the bill has remained unpaid for ninety (90) days after it has been rendered. (Ord. 05-05, 9-27-2005)
(G) Severance And Restoration Of Water Service After Tampering: If it is found that the water supply has been restored by persons other than water department personnel to a building in violation of the provisions of the waterworks ordinance, the village board shall have the authority to sever the service through which the water is being supplied to any such building. No water shall again be supplied to the premises until the charges of such severing and also any other unpaid charges have been paid. The charges hereinbefore provided shall be paid by the persons owning or occupying the building at the time it is desired to have the water service restored, irrespective of whether such person is being held responsible for any tampering with the B box shutoff.
(H) Security Deposit: Whenever water service has been terminated due to delinquency of payment, the water superintendent may require a security deposit from the owner of the premises before restoring water service to the said premises. The security deposit must be in the form of cash or certified check and is not applicable to any future charges. (Ord. 97-16, 7-22-1997)