A. Required, Rates: All premises, including new structures, using village water must be supplied with an adequate meter at the property owner's cost, provided that such water service may be supplied by the village and be billed based upon an average water usage bill for the respective system at a flat charge until such meter may be installed. For all multiple- family residential structures over two (2) stories in height the owner may apply to the village for one of two (2) options: (Ord. 2010-02, 1-26-2010; amd. Ord. 2013-20, 9-24-2013)
1. If separate meters with shutoff valves are located in common areas accessible to the village, bills for sewer and water usage shall be billed to each residential unit.
2. If no separate meters with shutoff valves are located in common areas accessible to the village, then a single meter shall be installed per building in a location accessible to the village. Bills for sewer and water usage shall be billed to the landowner or association and the village shall be authorized to disconnect water service to the entire building for nonpayment of water user charges using the procedures set forth in section 7-4-8 of this chapter.
Nothing contained in this subsection A shall be construed to eliminate the requirement that a separate water connection tap-on fee be paid for each dwelling unit in a multiple-unit residential building.
B. New Structures: Before any new structure is occupied, a water meter shall be installed therein as herein required or application made for such water service at the flat rate of charge until the meter can be installed, or no water shall be furnished such premises. (Ord. 2010-02, 1-26-2010)
C. Installation And Type: An automatic/electronic water meter with touch pad and radio transmitter shall be installed in a location that will be easily accessible for the purposes of reading the meter and maintenance of meter. The owner of any premises shall provide a location for a water meter and maintain such location and passageway thereto clean and sanitary and free from any obstruction or any condition hazardous in nature. No connection for water meters shall be installed in any location not easily accessible or which is, or may be, unclean, unsanitary, or in any manner unsafe to sewer and water department employees in the discharge of their duties. (Ord. 2014-01, 1-28-2014)
D. Owner's Expense: The meter to be installed shall be at owner's expense and shall be an automatic/electronic water meter with touch pad and radio transmitter as designated by the sewer and water supervisor. A conduit no less than one- half inch (1/2") shall be installed from the water meter location to either the gas meter or electric meter location outside of structure. All conduits installed in multi-unit structures shall be from water meter locations to one central location outside of structure, at either the gas meter or electric meter location. Conduit installation shall be installed in accordance with the national electric code.
E. Replacement And Testing Program: The supervisor of sewer and water shall initiate and maintain a program to replace all residential meters after the meters have registered nine hundred thousand (900,000) gallons. All water and/or sewer users using a water meter who are receiving water and/or discharging wastewater in excess of six hundred thousand (600,000) gallons per year shall have their water/sewer meter tested for accuracy at least every two (2) years. Except as provided in subsections F and G of this section, the sewer and water department shall pay the cost of meter replacement, testing and repairs, and the old meter will be the property of the village.
F. Care Of Meter Equipment: It is the sole responsibility of the owner of the property to care for the water meter equipment, protect said meter from weather related damage and from abuse or neglectful damage from occupants, pets, remodeling and other activities.
G. Meter Repairs: The property owner shall bear the entire expense of all repairs on water meters on their premises due to freezing or from any other cause owing to the negligence of the said property owner or his tenant. The sewer and water department shall make the repairs and the cost thereof shall be billed at time and material to and paid by the property owner.
H. Reading Meters: The sewer and water supervisor or his designee shall read or cause to be read every water meter used in the village at such times as are necessary so that the bills may be sent out at the proper time.
I. Dispute Of Meter Accuracy: Upon complaint of the consumer and payment by him of a fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00), such meter shall be taken out and factory tested. If, upon testing, the meter is not found to be within AWWA standards for water meter accuracy, it shall be repaired or replaced and the one hundred dollar ($100.00) fee returned to the consumer. If the meter is found to be within AWWA standards for water meter accuracy the one hundred dollar ($100.00) fee shall be retained by the Village. (Ord. 2010-02, 1-26-2010)