(A) (1) For new connections the village will provide at the customer’s expense a suitable meter and remote meter reading device for each customer’s water service connection. The village will determine the size and type of meter. The meter and remote meter reading device will remain the sole property of the village. The meter shall be installed by the customer’s plumber at the customer’s expense in compliance with the village requirements and the Illinois Plumbing Code. The village is not responsible for improper installations.
(2) Secondary meters for outside water use must be applied for and will be furnished at a cost as set from time to time by resolution of the Village Board of Trustees.
(B) Meters shall be conveniently located at the point approved by the village. A curb stop shall be installed by the village at a point determined by the village. A gate valve shall be installed by the customer on the village’s side of the meter adjacent to the meter. A suitable check valve shall be installed by the customer on the customer’s side of the meter if required by the village. The owner and/or customer will provide at his or her expense a clean, dry, safe place, not subject to a great variation in temperature, so that the meter will be properly protected from freezing and other hazards, so located as to control the entire supply, and as to be easily accessible for installation, maintenance, reading and disconnection. The customer shall cause to be placed, at the customer’s expense, a stop and waste valve on the service pipe at or near the influent side of the meter and another stop or waste valve on the service pipe at or near the effluent side of the meter. A backflow prevention device may be required at the customer’s expense in accordance with IEPA regulations and State Plumbing Code requirements. If so required, it will be inserted at some convenient point on the customer’s plumbing to protect the meter from excess pressure due to heating water or other circumstances.
(C) (1) Acceptable meter locations, so long as they meet the preceding requirements, include basements, utility rooms, furnace rooms, meter rooms and garages. Unacceptable locations include closets, and under lavatory or kitchen sinks. Meter boxes are acceptable only for mobile homes without permanent foundations, buildings without heat; existing buildings that did not have water service and do not have an adequate location for a water meter, and lawn or garden watering systems.
(2) When one water service connection supplies one meter, the meter must be located so that access to the customer’s meter is through the customer’s own premises only. When one water service connection supplies multiple meter installations, the meters must be located in a meter room (a room specifically constructed for the meters) accessible from a common hallway, separate outside entrance on grade, or outside of the customer’s premises.
(3) Where there are multiple meter installations located in a meter box, a key box furnished by the village at its expense will be installed near the door to the meter room. The building owner will furnish at the owner’s expense a key to the door to the meter room which will be placed in the key box.
(4) The owner and/or customer must permit installation of a remote meter reading device including wiring on the exterior of the premises. The device will be located so that it is easily accessible and as inconspicuous as possible.
(a) If a check valve is required, a safety valve shall be inserted at some convenient point on the house piping to relieve any excess pressure due to heating water or other circumstances.
(b) Meters will be maintained by the village so far as ordinary wear and tear is concerned, but damage due to hot water or external causes shall be paid for by the customer. Meters and remote meter reading devices will be owned and maintained by the village at the village’s expense for normal maintenance requirements. Repair of damage due to freezing, hot water or external causes which could have been prevented by ordinary precautions on the part of the customer and repair of damage caused by the customer, will be paid for by the customer. The amount charged for repair will be the actual cost of maintenance and labor including removal, testing and overhead expenses.
(c) No water meter shall be placed in service, nor be allowed to remain in service if it registers more than 102% or less than 98% of the water which passes through it.
(D) The village reserves the right to remove and test any meter at any time, and to substitute another meter in its place. In case of a disputed account involving a question as to the accuracy of a meter, the meter will be tested upon the request of the customer without charge, providing a satisfactory test can be made in service. If removed for test, a charge as set from time to time by resolution of the Village Board of Trustees must be payable in advance of the test. In the event that the meter so tested is found to have an error in registration in excess of 2%, the fee advanced for testing will be refunded, and the bills shall be corrected accordingly on the basis of one-fourth the time since the previous test. This correction shall apply both for over and under registration.
(E) Where water is furnished by flat rate, the village shall have the right to install, maintain and inspect a meter to determine the quantity supplied and the applicant shall provide a suitable location therefor. The village reserves the right to change from flat rate service to metered service at any time under uniform, nondiscriminatory rules.
(Ord. 18-04-01, passed 4-24-2018)