(A) Meters required. Except for the extinguishing of fires, no person other than an authorized city employee shall use water from the city water supply system or permit water to be drawn therefrom unless the water passes through a meter supplied or approved by the city. No person not authorized by the Clerk/Treasurer/Administrator shall connect, disconnect, take apart or in any manner change or interfere with any meter or its use.
(B) Maintenance. The city shall maintain and repair at its expense any meter that has become unserviceable through ordinary wear and tear and shall replace it if necessary. Where repair or replacement is made necessary by act or neglect of the owner or occupant of the premises it serves, any city expense caused thereby shall be a charge against and collected from the water consumer, and water service may be disconnected until the cause is corrected and the amount charged is paid.
(C) Complaints; meter testing. When a consumer complains that the bill for any past service period is excessive, the city shall have the meter reread on request. If still dissatisfied, the consumer may, on written request and a deposit as may be established from time to time by Council resolution, have the meter tested. If the test shows error in the city’s favor exceeding 5% of the water consumed, the deposit shall be refunded, an accurate meter shall be installed, and the bill shall be adjusted accordingly. The adjustment shall not extend back more than one service period from the date of the written request.
(D) Meters property of city. Water meters shall be the property of the city and may be removed or replaced as to size and type when deemed necessary.
(E) Meter reading and inspection. Authorized meter readers shall have free access at reasonable hours of the day to all parts of every building and premises connected with the city water supply system in order to read meters and make inspections.
(’77 Code, § 402.02) Penalty, see § 10.99