(A) Except for extinguishing of fires, no person other than an authorized city employee shall use water from the city water supply system or permit water to be drawn therefrom unless the water passes through a meter supplied or approved by the city. No person not authorized by the City Administrator shall connect, disconnect, take apart or in any manner change or interfere with any meter or its use.
(B) The city shall maintain and repair, at its expense, any meter that has become unserviceable through ordinary wear and tear and shall replace it if necessary. Where repair or replacement is made necessary by act or neglect of the owner or occupant of the premises it serves, any city expense caused thereby shall be a charge against and collected from the water consumer, and water service may be discontinued until the cause is corrected and the amount charged is paid.
(C) When a consumer complains that the bill for any past service period is excessive, the city shall have the meter reread on request. If the consumer remains dissatisfied, and he or she may, on written request and the deposit of $20 have the meter tested. If the test shows an error in the city’s favor exceeding 5% of the water consumed, the deposit shall be refunded, an accurate meter shall be installed, and the bill shall be adjusted accordingly. The adjustment shall not extend back more than one service period from the date of the written request.
(D) Water meters shall be the property of the city and may be removed or replaced as to size and type when deemed necessary.
(E) Authorized meter readers shall have free access at reasonable hours of the day to all parts of every building and premises connected with the city water supply system in order to read meters and make inspections.
(`87 Code, § 402.02)