911.523 METER SETTINGS AND LOCATIONS.
   (a)   Valves must be provided on both the inlet and outlet sides of the meter and as close thereto as possible, in accordance with the Division of Water standards. These valves which must be installed at the owner's expense shall be of the Gate type, either solid wedge or double disc and nonrising stem, wheel handle and brass body, suitable for working pressures up to 125 pounds. The valve shall be the same diameter as the service pipe which in the case of the smallest service is required to be one inch. Only brass bushings shall be used in the meter setting.
   (b)   Location of Meter. 
      (1)   In all structures with basements, the meter will be installed within two feet of where the service line enters the basement wall. The meter will be located between one and three feet from the basement floor and no closer than eight inches from the wall. After the meter has been installed, it will be the responsibility of the property owner to insure that complete access to the meter is maintained at all times.
      (2)   In all structures without basements, the meter will be located as follows:
         A.   Slab Type: The meter will be installed within two feet after entering the utility room with the same location requirements as for structures with basements.
         B.   Other Types: The meter will be installed in a location to be approved by the Division of Water.
(3)   For all of the above installations, any permanent structures such as furnaces, water heater, etc., must be installed so that access to the meter for reading and maintaining is not restricted.
   (c)   All meters of two inches diameter or larger that are installed inside shall be installed at floor level. Meters one and one-half inches in diameter and smaller shall be installed at a height of not more than three feet above floor level. All inside meter installations shall be so arranged that the meter connections shall extend not less than eight inches from the wall. On all meter installations, a stop and waste valve shall be installed immediately ahead of the meter and a shutoff valve immediately behind the meter. On one and one-half inch diameter meters and larger, a bypass must be installed with Water Department seal on the bypass.
   (d)   Meters larger than two inches in size to be located outside a building shall be installed by the Division of Water at the expense of the customer in a vault equipped with piping and valves as specified by the Division of Water. Vault, piping and valves shall be installed by the customer at the customer's sole expense. Specifications for such vault with cover, small housing and piping for installation of a remote reader and valves shall be obtained upon request from the Division of Water.
   (e)   No box meter vault shall be installed on any residential services.
   (f)   The builders or property owners must provide an adequate location within the building for installation of the water meter. This location shall be freely accessible and shall not be hidden or covered with boxes, building materials, or any other obstruction. Such settings must at all times have unobstructed access for the purpose of reading and servicing the meter. Under no condition shall a meter be placed under a sink, in a closet, behind a hot water tank or furnace, in a crawl space, or a secluded location.
   (g)   A specially designed protective enclosure, removable by Division of Water employees without removing screws, or bolts and latches may be placed over a meter in an unprotected position in the kitchen only.
   (h)   Meters may be placed in an attached garage, if heated.
   (i)   Plumbers shall install only brass meter connections approved by the Division of Water.
   (j)   A drain with sufficient capacity to carry off all water that can leak from a meter, or meter setting, is recommended to be installed in such a manner that damage to the property and/or furnishings from such leaks is prevented. The Division of Water in any case is not responsible for damages caused by water leaking from a meter or meter setting.
   (k)   All builders and property owners must also provide one-half inch conduit from the meter to the outside of the building so that the Division of Water can set a remote-read meter. The Division of Water will specify the location of the remote-read meter.
   (l)   Specifications for the Installation of the Electrical Circuit for Remote Meter Registers.
      (1)   The installation shall consist of a section of one-half inch TW conduit attached to the outside of the building in a vertical position parallel to and twelve inches to the side of the electrical house circuit.
      (2)   The conduit shall be attached to the house by corrosion resistant straps.
      (3)   The top strap shall be approximately six inches from the top end of the conduit.
      (4)   The straps shall be fastened to the building with corrosion resistant screws.
      (5)   On the lower end of the conduit shall be a conduit and a piece of one-half inch TW conduit stubbed through the outside wall with plastic bushing.
      (6)   The top end of the conduit shall be at a minimum height of four feet and a maximum height of five feet from the finished ground level.
      (7)   In cases of masonry construction, the top end of the conduit shall be one and three-quarters inches below the center of a horizontal mortar joint.
      (8)   All metallic materials shall be treated against rust and corrosion. Wire shall be 22 gauge of the three wire conductor type in a sheath which shall be abrasion and moisture resistant. Each conductor shall be color coded: red, green, and black.
      (9)   The wire from the meter to the conduit shall be securely fastened to the building with insulated staples in a workmanlike manner.
      (10)   The wire at the top of the conduit outside of the building shall extend out of the conduit a minimum of six inches and a minimum of two feet of wire shall be left at the meter setting.
      (11)   Please note: A wood backing plate must be provided for the remote meter reader location.
   (m)   Water service will not be provided to premises until the requirements of this section are complied with, regardless of the extent of corrective alterations needed.
(Ord. 167-96. Passed 9-16-96.)