(A) Property owners will be held liable for the maintenance of and repairs to (i) all plumbing within or on their property, and (ii) private service lines leading from any city water main to their property, including such parts of any service lines lying within a city street, alley, easement or across other private property. Known leakage or loss of water will not be permitted and failure of the property owner or user to make immediate repairs upon the discovery of such leakage shall be cause for the city to restrict or shut off water service until the necessary repair or replacement is made, under § 51.031 of this chapter; all plumbing must be kept in proper condition in such manner as to prevent any unnecessary wastage of water.
(B) (1) In the event leakage occurs where water is taken from the public water mains for private consumption after passing through a meter, the owner or user may, within 90 days from the receipt by him or her of any water bill from the city, make application for an adjustment of that water bill in writing stating the conditions causing the excessive water bill and stating that the source of the leakage has been repaired. The owner or user must supply the city with a sworn affidavit executed by a duly licensed plumber that such leak has been repaired and that there are no other leaks on the premises. Said affidavit must include copies of paid receipts accompanying the request. It approved, the adjustment will be calculated based on the city policy averaging the three previous year’s consumption during the corresponding period. The calculated adjustment will be 50% of the amount that the water bill in question exceeds the three-year average.
(2) No adjustments will be made in instances where, in the judgment of the City Manager or the Manager’s designee, the leak would have been discovered by the owner or user upon exercise of ordinary care and diligence; and/or the leak was apparent to and/or within the knowledge of the owner or user for ten or more days.
(Prior Code, § 44-58) (Ord. 2015-57, passed 10-5-2015)