(A) Meters required.
(1) All water furnished consumers shall be metered. All meters shall be furnished and set by the Water Department, but owners must provide suitable location in piping system for same. Meters shall be placed on service pipe not to exceed two feet from the wall where such pipe enters the premises. There shall be a stop and waste between the meter and the wall and a suitable place provided for the meter so as to keep it dry and clean and readily accessible at all times to the meter reader and inspectors of the Water Department. A gate valve shall also be placed on the pipe on the outlet side of each meter not more than three feet from the meter. All valves and fittings necessary to comply with these requirements and to provide connection to meter, except a coupling or flange at each end of meter, shall be provided by the owner of premises to be served.
(2) For services larger than two inches in diameter, the Water Department reserves the right to install two or more meters of smaller size. Where meters are so placed, each meter shall have a valve or shut-off on both inlet and outlet pipe in addition to the basement shut-off.
(3) Where a service pipe larger than two inches in diameter is used, the plumber shall call at the office of the Village Clerk to arrange for instructions regarding the fittings and space to be provided for the water meters.
(4) In case that two or more meters are desired for measuring water to different tenants in the same building from one service connection, they shall be so placed that no one of them shall measure water which has passed through another one.
(5) Each residential home, apartment, private dwelling, and place of business, heretofore erected, established, or structurally modified must be equipped with a water meter furnished by the village. Each residential dwelling unit shall have a seperate water meter.
(6) Meters shall be installed in a location that will be easy access.
(B) Owners to protect meters.
(1) The owner or occupant of premises where a meter is installed shall be held responsible for its care and protection from freezing or hot water and from other injury or interference from any person or persons. In case of any injury to the meter, or in case of its stoppage or imperfect working, he, she, or they shall give immediate notice to the office of the Water Department In all cases where meters are broken or damaged by negligence of owners or occupants of premises, or by freezing, hot water, or other injuries, except ordinary wear and tear, the necessary repairs to the meter shall be made by the Water Department and the cost of such repairs paid for by such owner or occupant, and in case payment thereof is neglected or refused, the water supply shall be turned off and shall not be turned on until full payment has been made, together with a fee assessed by the Board of Trustees for turning on the water again. Damaged meters may be repaired by the Water Department without first giving notice thereof to the owner of premises served by such meter.
(2) No one shall in any way interfere with the proper registration of a water meter, and no one except an authorized representative of the Water Department shall break a seal of a meter; provided, however, that the village may grant written permits to licensed plumbers in case of emergency to break such seal for draining pipes or stopping water leaks.
(3) Wherever a water meter is installed on a water service in premises that is to be remodeled, removed or destroyed, or where the service is discontinued so that the water meter is no longer needed, the owner of such premises shall give notice in writing to the Village Clerk to arrange for the removal of such meter, and free access to such meter must be provided at least 24 hours after notice is given so that the meter may be removed. The owner of the premises shall be held responsible for the meter until such written notice is given, and if the meter is covered or lost, he, she, or they shall be required to pay for the same at the actual value.
(C) Testing meters.
(1) In case there is doubt as to the accuracy of a water meter on the part of the consumer, he, she, or they may have the meter tested by the Water Department at which test he, she, or they may be present or have a representative present if he, she, or they so desires. If the meter is found to measure more than 2% incorrectly, no charge shall be made for making the test. If the meter should be found to over-register more than 2% there shall be a proportional deduction made from the previous water bill. A water meter shall be considered to register satisfactorily when it registers within 2% of accuracy.
(2) If upon investigation and testing of the meter, the consumer is dissatisfied with the bill as then rendered, he, she, or they may within five days after the investigated or corrected bill is rendered to him, her, or them, file with the President of the Board of Trustees, a complaint in writing, setting up the grounds of his, her, or their complaint. At the next regularly scheduled meeting, the Board of Trustees shall pass on said bill and complaint, and the decision of a majority of said Board shall be final.
(3) Penalty for nonpayment of bill in time required by this chapter shall attach unless decision is in favor of the consumer.
(D) Access to premises. The village and its employees and agents, including all water meter inspectors, shall be given ready access to the premises wherein water meters are located for the purpose of reading, examining, testing, repairing, and replacing such meters and fixtures. In the event the village is not permitted to conduct any reading, examination, test, repair, or replacement it deems necessary or convenient to assure compliance with this chapter or other applicable governmental regulations, the village shall have the right to terminate water service upon 48 hours’ notice posted at the premises or the village may request a court of competent jurisdiction to issue such administrative warrant or order as may be applicable, to fully inspect any building or premises to determine compliance with this and any other ordinance or regulation and to assess attorney fees and court costs against the property owner.
(E) Access to water meter and meter reader. The property owner shall not obstruct access to the water meter or any meter reader of any property served by the village water supply. Property owners will be required to permanently remove any such obstructions within a reasonable period of time. If the obstruction is not removed as directed, the village shall have the right to terminate water service upon 48 hours’ notice posted at the premises.
(Prior Code, § 7-1-24) (Ord. passed 2-6-1946; Ord. 4-1976, passed - - ; Ord. 2023-01, passed 2-21-2023) Penalty, see § 50.99
Cross-reference:
Fee schedule, see § 33.32