(1) Meter required. Except for extinguishment of fires, no person, except authorized city employees, 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 plumbing inspector shall connect, disconnect, take apart, or in any manner change, or cause to be changed, or interfere with any meter or the action thereof.
(2) Payment. A payment in an amount to that paid by the city for meters shall be made by customers to the city for water meters, and payment for the same shall be made in advance of installations. This payment shall be made only once, subject to the following.
(3) Multiple lines. Where a customer 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- or eight-inch 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 a three-fourths inch detection meter shall be put on the large line.
(4) Sprinklers. There shall be an installation charge for meters on fire sprinkler systems of $10 per meter, which shall include the first ten sprinkler heads, but where there are more than ten sprinkler heads on the system, there shall be an additional $1 charge for each additional ten sprinkler heads.
(5) Repair. The city shall maintain and repair all meters when rendered unserviceable through ordinary wear and tear and shall replace them, if necessary. However, where replacement, repair or adjustment of any meter is rendered necessary by the act, neglect, including damage from 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.
(6) Re-reading. A consumer may, by written request, have his or her meter re-read, by depositing the amount stated below with the city. In case a test should show an error of over 5% of the water consumed, the deposit shall be refunded to the consumer, a correctly registering meter will be installed, and the bill will be adjusted accordingly if the meter erred in favor of the city. The adjustment shall not extend back more than one billing period from the date of the written request. The deposit charges for meter testing are set forth in the city fee schedule.
(7) City property. All water meters shall be and remain the property of the city.
(8) Access. 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. No city employee shall enter any building or premises without having received permission from the owner or occupant of the building or premises, unless they have obtained an administrative search warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction. Refusal by the owner or occupant to permit the entering of buildings or premises to read water meters or for inspection shall be grounds for the immediate discontinuance of water service, and any other city permits, licenses or services, unless, after notice of the discontinuance, the person appeals the decision to discontinue to the City Council. No city employee shall enter any building or premises without having received permission from the owner or occupant of the building or premises, unless they have obtained an administrative search warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction. Refusal by the owner or occupant to permit the entering of buildings or premises to read water meters or for inspection shall be grounds for the immediate discontinuance of water service, and any other city permits, licenses or services, unless, after notice of the discontinuance, the person appeals the decision to discontinue to the City Council.
(Prior Code, § 401.30)