(A) All applications for the installation, maintenance, and repair of water meters shall be made to the city.
(B) No other person other than the city or its designee shall maintain or repair any water meter within the city limits. Every water meter connected to the water system shall be sealed by or under the direction of the city, and no other person shall break or remove the seal, provided, however, that a plumber licensed to do business in the state may break the seal to remove the meter for necessary repairs. In all cases where a seal is broken or a meter is removed by a licensed plumber, the plumber shall notify the city of the fact within 24 hours after the seal is broken or the meter is removed. Whenever any seal attached to a water meter by or under the direction of the city is found broken, the broken condition of the seal shall be prima facie evidence that the seal was broken contrary to the terms and provisions in violation of this chapter.
(C) All water meters connected to the water system shall be accessible to the city at any reasonable hour of any business day, and the refusal of admission of any owner or occupant of any premises wherein a water meter is installed after the owner or occupant has been notified that admission is desired for the purpose of inspecting a water meter installed in the premises shall constitute a violation of this chapter.
(D) The meters shall be repaired from time to time as is necessary to ensure accurate measuring of the flow of water, except that whenever a meter has been damaged due to negligence on the part of persons other than the employees of the city, the owner, occupant, or user of the premises or other persons desiring the use of the water shall reimburse the city for the expense of repairing any such meter. Upon failure to reimburse the city within a reasonable time and upon demand therefor, the water services and supply to the premises may be shut off or discontinued as determined to be in the best interest of the city.
(Prior Code, § 7-2-10) Penalty, see § 50.99