Should a utility bill remain unpaid and the attendant delinquent notice go unheeded the water service to the property in question shall be disconnected.
(a) Sewer service shall be disconnected by the disconnection of the water service which shall be by one of two methods:
(1) Wastewater Department personnel shall locate the curb box containing the water on/off valve and shall place the valve in the off position; or
(2) If the valve box cannot be located or should the valve prove to be inoperable when located, Department personnel, bearing proper identification, shall enter upon the property subject to the disconnection order and shut the water off at the water meter and subsequently seal same.
(b) Reconnection of water/sewer service shall be accomplished by one of two methods:
(1) When the total amount due has been paid, including all late charge fees, a reconnection fee and miscellaneous fees, if applicable, by an acceptable instrument at the Utility Office the water/sewer service shall be reconnected by Department personnel; or
(2) When an acceptable arrangement has been reached between the property owner and the City for full payment of the utility bill, including all late charge fees, if applicable, the water/sewer service shall be reconnected by Department personnel.
(c) In either case mentioned above, the actual time of the reconnection of water/sewer service shall be subject to the availability of Department personnel and every effort shall be made to expedite the procedure.
(d) Once the water/sewer service has been disconnected for failure to pay a utility bill it shall be a violation of these Rules and Regulations as well as law for any unauthorized person to reconnect the water/sewer service for any reason. Further, authorized personnel shall not reconnect water/sewer service unless someone is present on the premises to certify that the water is indeed on.
(e) The following list details some of the reasons water/sewer service may be disconnected other than failure to pay a utility bill:
(1) Failure to repair a sewer service connection after notification by the City to make such repair;
(2) Failure to repair a leak in a water service connection after notification by the City to make such repair;
(3) Water meter tampering;
(4) Refusal to adequately protect the water meter from hazard, such as freezing temperatures;
(5) Refusal to remove a cross connection or to provide for backflow prevention;
(6) Unlawful dilution of an industrial waste subject to the particulars of an IWPT program;
(7) Refusal to remedy unsanitary conditions on any premises served by a water/sewer service connection;
(8) Violations of these Rules and Regulations in general.
(f) If a delinquent account remains unpaid the City reserves the right, under law, to certify same to the Clermont County Auditor or the Hamilton County Auditor, if applicable, by a certificate signed by the Finance Director. The County Auditor shall then place the amount certified by the signed certificate on the appropriate tax duplicate with interest and penalties allowed by law, including the applicable assessment fee. The same shall be collected as all other taxes and shall be considered as a lien upon the real property served by the water/sewer service connection.
(Ord. 90-1343. Passed 11-6-90.)