(A) Type of meters. The applicant, at its expense, shall supply Badger Meters to all service pipes now connected or that may hereafter be connected to the public water mains of the city. The size and capacity of the meters for each installation shall be determined by the City Administrator, or his or her designee.
(B) Cost of meters. Based on the determination of the type of meter, different costs are associated with different size meters. These costs include: meter, parts, labor and administrative, as well as maintenance and upkeep. As a result, the city shall set the cost of meters to public at double the cost of the meter and all parts included in the installation process.
(C) Location of meters. Water meters shall be located at such places and in a such manner as the City Administrator, or his or her designee, shall direct, within the premises to be served or in boxes or vaults as he or she shall determine, and shall be free from obstructions and conveniently accessible for the purpose of reading, inspection, repair and replacement. All such installations shall be made in accordance with the specifications to be prescribed by the City Administrator, or his/her designee, and such meter shall be installed horizontally, be secured, and set in such a manner as to prevent freezing or submersion in water. Water meters shall not be installed in cross-spaces. A full port, ball valve, supplied by the city, shall be installed within 12 inches before and after the meter. A drip leg shall be installed between the meter and the outlet valve, per the Illinois Plumbing Code. No other accessories or connections shall be installed before the outlet ball valve. When a water service enters the building through the foundation wall or floor, no more than 12 inches of the service line shall be exposed before a flared fitting shall be installed to connect the full port valve supplied by the city. A water meter shall be installed a minimum of 14 inches off the floor, and have a working clearance of 16 inches on top and not less than 10 inches on all other sides. If any meter is not kept unobstructed and accessible for reading and inspection, the water shall be shut off and not again turned on until the obstructions are removed and the meter made accessible.
(D) Seals; who may break seals. A person, firm or corporation that receives water from the city shall maintain water meter seals on the premises intact and unbroken. In the event that a water meter seal is broken, the person, firm or corporation that receives water from the city shall be responsible for the payment of a $50 administrative charge. The charge shall be added to the customer's monthly bill.
(E) Who may remove, repair meters; meter stop. After any water meter is placed, only officers or employees of the Water and Sewer Department shall be allowed to repair, remove or in any manner interfere with such meter. A meter stop or valve shall be placed on each side of the meter.
(F) Injuring, defacing meters; notice of defective meter. It shall be unlawful for any person to injure, deface, mar, destroy or in any manner to interfere with any water meter. It shall be the duty of the owner or occupant to promptly notify the Water and Sewer Department of defects in any such meter, or of its failure to properly register the quantity of water passing through the same.
(G) Cost of keeping meter repaired. Water meters shall be deemed inaccurate and in need of repair when they vary from the A.W.W.A. C-705 Standard. Whenever any meter shall be shown to be inaccurate or in need of repair, the City Administrator, or his or her designee, shall cause it to be removed, and every meter so removed shall be replaced with one that has been tested and proved to be accurate. The ordinary cost of keeping each meter in repair shall be paid by the city. The person upon whose application any meter is installed or the then owner and/or occupant of the premises served, shall be jointly and severally liable for any breakage or damage done to such meter, including damage by freezing, hot water, or breakage, and also for the theft thereof.
(H) Liability to city for losses incurred by city caused by chapter violations and additional charges. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall become liable to the city for any expense, loss or damage occasioned the city by reason of such violation. The cost of making good such loss or damage, any replacement meter charge, any resealing of meter charge or meter test charge shall be paid by the owner and/or the occupant of the premises in which such meter was installed, as soon as the bill for same is presented, and the amount therefor shall be a lien against the premises for which such meter was installed, to the extent and with the same effect as water rates.
(`79 Code, § 50.04) (Ord. 91-233, passed 4-23-91; Am. Ord. 01-312, passed 7-10-01; Am. Ord. 11-045, passed 12-21-11) Penalty, see § 10.99