(A) Generally. Except for extinguishment of fires, no person, unless otherwise authorized by the City Council or Public Utilities Department, shall use water from the water system 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 not authorized by the City Council or Public Utilities Department shall connect, disconnect, take apart or in any manner change or cause to be changed or interfere with any meter or the action thereof, or break any meter or valve seal.
(1) A charge established pursuant to § 50.46 of this chapter shall be paid by customers to the city for water meters including installations and check valves and payment for same shall be made at the time of water service application. This payment shall be made only once, subject to the following: where a consumer has need for a larger line in addition to his or her domestic line, as in the case of a commercial consumer who needs a one-inch line for normal use and a six-inch or larger line for a fire sprinkler system, he or she will be permitted to run one line into the premises and “Y” off into two lines at the building. When this is done, the meter will be attached to the small or domestic line and a check valve as well as one-inch detection meter shall be put on the large line.
(2) The city shall maintain and repair all meters when rendered unserviceable through ordinary wear and tear and shall replace them if necessary. When replacement, repair or adjustment of any meter is rendered by the act, neglect (including damage from freezing or hot water backup) or carelessness of the owner or occupant of the premises, any expense caused the city thereby shall be charged against and collected from the water consumer.
(3) A consumer may, by written request, have his or her meter tested by depositing the amount established pursuant to § 50.46 of this chapter. In case a test should show an error of over 5% of the water consumed, a correctly registering meter will be installed, and the bill will be adjusted accordingly and the testing deposit refunded. The adjustment shall not extend back more than one billing period from the date of the written request.
(4) All water meters and remote readers shall be and remain the property of the city.
(5) Authorized city employees shall have free access at reasonable hours of the day to all parts of every building and premises connected with the water system for reading of meters and inspections.
(6) It shall be the responsibility of the consumer to notify the city to request a final reading at the time of the customer’s billing change.
(B) Water meter setting. All water meters hereafter installed shall be in accordance with the following rules.
(1) The service pipe from the water main to the meter, when the same enters the building, shall be brought through the floor or bottom course of concrete block or foundation where depth permits.
(2) The meter shall be located so that the bottom is from 12 inches to 24 inches above the finished floor line.
(3) All meter installation shall have a gate valve on the street side of the meter. A gate valve shall also be installed on the house side of the meter. All fittings and pipe shall be red brass or bronze. Gate valves shall be brass 125-pound standard. Ball valves may be used in lieu of gate valves on the house side of the meter. A meter yoke shall be required on water meters one inch or less in size.
(Prior Code, § 50.35) Penalty, see § 10.99