(a) All water services must be metered.
(b) All applications for the use of water from the City must be made in writing by the Owner of the premises on the form provided by the City. A permit for water service must be obtained at the Water Department Office. This permit together with application and fee for the tap must then be presented to the Water Department Clerk. .
(c) One Meter only on a Service Branch, but Extra Second Meters Permitted. No service branch will be permitted to serve more than one master meter. Where more than one building, apartment or section is served through one water meter, and the owner desires to ascertain the amount of water used in such additional building, apartment or section, the installation of second meters to record such consumption will be permitted. The cost of installation and maintenance of such second meter must be borne by the owner, but the Water Department will not undertake to read such meters and render statements of same on application at the office. Such statements are for the convenience of the owner only and will not be recognized by the City in payment of bills.
(d) The City may grant a permit for the installation of more than one master meter on a service branch supplying an apartment building or a building containing more than one distinct apartment, when plans showing the piping arrangements are submitted to and approved by the City. In cases where such additional meters are permitted, it shall be required: (1) That all meters be contained compactly or in a meter room, and that each be controlled independently of the others; (2) That the owner assume all responsibility for the installation and maintenance of the meters other than that assumed by the City.
(e) Water for construction, private or public, will be furnished at the regular rates, unless otherwise provided by the City.
(f) All meters are to be registered by service numbers and apply to street number and lot numbers and not to owner's name. Inquiries regarding meters should give street number and if possible, service number.
(g) On and after the effective date of this section, all water meters shall be furnished by the City. All meters shall comply with the requirements or specifications prescribed by the City and shall be of the make, type, model and design approved and adopted by the City.
(h) Maintenance and Replacement of Meters. The cost of maintenance including repair or replacement of all meters furnished by the City at its expense, including those meters whose titles have been assigned to the City by individual owners according to subsection (j) hereof, will be at the expense of the City, excepting however, the customer will be charged and held responsible for all repairs or cost of replacement occasioned by hot water, neglect or any act of negligence on the part of said customer.
(i) Responsibility for Loss or Theft of Meters. Property owners shall be held responsible for and shall reimburse the City for the loss or theft of any meter furnished and maintained as hereinbefore provided.
(j) Transfer of Ownership of Meter to the City. On and after the effective date of this section, individual meter owners may enter into an agreement with the City providing for the assignment of title of their meter to the City provided such meter is in good working order at the time of transfer. In consideration thereof, the City agrees to keep and maintain said meters so transferred in repair or replace the same at the expense of the City as provided for.
(k) A meter shall be removed only by an authorized employee of the Water Department. Unauthorized persons removing or tampering with meters will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
(l) Penalty for Unlawful Breaking of Seal. When, upon inspection, any meter seal has been found broken from any cause whatsoever, the water will be turned off and will not be turned on until the sum of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) has been paid to the City as liquidated damages and expenses.
(m) The City reserves the right to remove a meter from any premises and substitute another meter in its place for the purpose of making repairs or testing.
(n) The City will, on its initiative, undertake to test any meter, which in its judgment is registering incorrectly, without charge to the owner.
(o) In cases where the property owner or consumer requests the City to test the meter owned by such property owner, the City reserves the right to charge Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for the cost of removing and testing the meter if the meter is found to be in proper working order.
(p) Meters must be kept freely accessible to meter readers and other authorized employees of the Water Department and must not be permitted to be covered with or obstructed by rubbish or other material regardless of whether such meters are located in meter vaults, meter tile or basements. Meters will not be permitted to be installed in coal bins or coal cellars. The City reserves the right to shut off water when violations of this regulation are not corrected following due notice of such violation to the owner by the City.
(q) All meter installations shall be located as directed by the Water Department.
(Ord. 09-04. Passed 3-23-09.)