(a) All water meters for premises served by the municipal waterworks system shall be registered in the name of the owner of such premises, who shall be billed for and who shall be liable for the payment of the charges provided in § 1040.01. If such bill remains unpaid for 30 days, the Village Administrator is hereby authorized to terminate such service in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(b) The Village Administrator shall not discontinue water service for nonpayment of a water bill without giving the customer in default, whether such customer is a landlord, owner or other person, at least seven calendar days prior written notice thereof. Any notice required by this section shall include the provisions of divisions (f) and (g).
(c) At least seven calendar days before discontinuing water service to any user not responsible for the payment of charges for water service, the Village Administrator shall post, conspicuously upon the premises served, notice of intent to terminate water service, the termination date and the rights and obligations set forth in divisions (f) and (g).
(d) For purposes of this section,
USER NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PAYMENT OF CHARGES FOR WATER SERVICE means any occupant of the premises served who is not a member of the household of the customer in default, in the case of residential customers, or any occupant who is not an agent or employee of the customer responsible, in the case of commercial establishments.
(e) When premises are occupied by a single family or a single commercial establishment and the bill has been directed to such premises, it shall be presumed that the occupant is the user responsible for payment.
(f) Any such customer responsible for the payment of charges for water service, who causes the discontinuance of that service by failure or refusal to pay the charges for past service or who willfully causes service to be disconnected, except while repairs are in progress or during temporary emergencies, shall be liable for compensatory damages to any tenant who is denied benefits of water service so disconnected.
(g) If a tenant makes a payment to the municipal waterworks in full satisfaction of the arrearage of the customer who is in default in order to avoid discontinuance of water service for nonpayment, the tenant shall have the right to deduct the amount of such payment from any future payment of rent owed to such customer.
(h) When collection of a water bill requires the posting of a notice on the premises as provided in division (c), there shall be a charge of $25 to the customer responsible for payment of the bill. This charge shall be in addition to the delinquent charge specified in § 1040.03(b).
(i) In the event of termination of service for nonpayment, such service shall not be reinstated until such bill, and any additionally authorized charges, have been paid in full.
(Ord. 88-9, passed 4-4-1988; Am. Ord. 00-42, passed 12-19-2000; Am. Ord. 2003-15, passed 5-20-2003)