§ 51.37  WATER METERS.
   (A)   Water furnished from the city water supply system, as of July 1, 1977, to each premises shall be measured by a meter or meters. Such water meters shall be furnished and installed by the city and shall remain the property of and under the control of the city. The city shall have access to the meter for the purpose of reading, testing, and repairing. The customer shall provide a suitable place for the installation of the meter and if in the judgment of the city a meter pit should be constructed, such meter pit shall be constructed in accordance with the plans and specifications supplied by the city. No persons other than an authorized employee of the city shall break or injure the seal on, or change the location of, alter, or interfere in any way with any meter. The water customer shall be responsible for all damage to the meter or seal caused by any act or negligence of any person other than an employee of the city, including damage by hot water, frost, or other cause and the expense to the city caused thereby shall be charged to and collected from the water customer.
   (B)   A property owner may request the installation of a second or subsequent meter for the purpose of separately measuring water used for outside uses such as lawn or garden watering. Any and all expenses associated with the installation of such a meter shall be the obligation of the property owner and shall be paid in advance to the city prior to the installation of the meter. The property owner shall make all arrangements for installation of the meter. Upon completion, the property owner shall advise the city that the installation is complete. The city shall inspect the installation to determine whether the installation is proper. No water shall be permitted to flow through the meter until approved by the city.
   (C)   From and after the effective date of this section, any person seeking a building permit for the construction of a new residential or commercial building shall declare whether an outdoor sprinkler system is to be installed, a second water meter to measure outside water consumption shall be installed. This section shall become effective January 1, 2005.
(2011 Code, § 13.04.150)  (Ord. 17, passed - -1949; Ord. 90, passed - -1976; Ord. 291, passed - -2004; Ord. 287, passed - -2005)  Penalty, see § 10.99