(A) Responsibility for payment.
(1) The owner of the premises served by the water system shall be liable to the township for any charges and fees authorized to be charged by this chapter.
(2) When a single water service pipe serves two or more consumer units, the owner of the premises shall be responsible for payment of water used on the premises.
(3) If damage to the municipal system and equipment arises out of the owner's failure to obtain proper miss-dig utility locating, the owner of the premises as well as any contractor or individual performing the work at the premises shall be responsible to reimburse the township for any and all costs and fees incurred by the township arising out of failure to obtain proper miss-dig utility locations.
(B) Billing, collections and customers payments.
(1) Meter reading. Meters shall be read quarterly and as deemed necessary.
(2) Bills. The township shall tender bills for water service and all other charges in connection therewith. Bills for water service shall be sent to consumers by first class mail.
(3) Quarterly bills. Quarterly water bills for users of the system shall be based upon water consumption as set forth in the rate resolution.
(4) Due date of charges. All bills shall be payable by the due date specified on the bills and shall be paid at the office of the township by mail or as designated by the Township Board.
(5) Collections. The Township Treasurer shall collect all moneys due for water service and all other charges in connection with the water system.
(6) Late charges. If any charge for the services of the water, which has been billed to a consumer of the water system, shall not be paid on or before the due date specified on the bill, a delayed payment charge of 10% of the amount of the bill shall be added thereto and collected therewith.
(7) Unpaid bills.
(a) If any bills for the service of the system shall remain unpaid after 30 days following the due date specified on the bill therefore, the water supply for the premises affected may be cut off and if cut off shall not be turned on again, except on payment in full of the delinquent charges therefore, and the fee charged for resumption of service. The township shall send a notice by first class mail to its consumers of intent to terminate service.
(b) If payment is not received, or satisfactory arrangements have not been made within seven days after the shut off notice is sent to the consumer, the water service shall be shut off. No water service that has been discontinued because of non-payment shall be restored until all past due bills are paid.
(8) Non-receipt of bill. Failure of the consumer to receive any bill shall not relieve that person of the liability for the charges incurred and the consumer shall notify the Township Clerk if a bill has not been received the fifteenth day after the end of a billing period.
(9) Charges to become a lien upon premises. The township shall have as security for the collection of water rates, assessments, charges or fees due or to become due for the use and installation, repair or maintenance to any house, building or premises, a lien upon the house, building or premises, upon which the water service was supplied. This lien shall become effective immediately upon the providing of the water service to the premises.
(a) The lien created by this chapter shall have priority over all other liens, except taxes or special assessments. The lien created by this chapter shall not apply if a written lease has been legally executed containing a provision that the lessor shall not be liable for payment of water use charges, providing the lease was executed prior to the supply of water for which the charges are made and providing that the lessor has filed an affidavit with the Township Clerk verifying the execution of a lease containing the provision. The lessor shall give the township 20-days' advance written notice of any cancellation, change or termination of the lease. The affidavit shall contain a notation of the expiration date of the lease.
(b) Charges for water services, which are under the provisions of § 21 of Pub. Act 94 of 1933, being M.C.L.A. § 141.121, as amended, shall be made a lien on all premises served thereby. The charges for water furnished to any premises are hereby recognized to constitute the lien and whenever any charge against any piece of property or premises shall be delinquent for six months, or more, that fact shall be certified on March 1 of each year, to the Tax Assessing Officer of the township. Whereupon, the charge shall be by him or her entered upon the next tax roll as a charge against the piece of property or premises and the charges shall be collected and the lien thereof enforced in the same manner as general township taxes against the premises.
(Ord. 17-02, passed 3-20-2017)