(A) At the request of the property owner and without, in any manner, implied or otherwise relieving the property owner of any of his or her responsibility for the payment of all bills for water service, the utility may bill the tenant direct. In such an event, in order to secure the tenant's account and to protect the property owner within reasonable limits, but assuming no responsibility as to adequacy of financial protection, before service is established, the utility may require the tenant to make a suitable advance deposit, as specified in § 53.089.
(B) Notwithstanding the responsibility of the property owner for the payment of water bills as specified in § 53.086, in the event that the consumer's or property owner's past record of payment of accounts has been unsatisfactory or his or her water usage indicates that additional deposits are required to properly secure his or her account, the utility reserves the right to require an additional deposit.
(C) The utility shall have a reasonable time in which to read, remove or disconnect the meters after receiving the notice from the consumer. The utility shall then ascertain that all obligations of the consumer (including all accounts due the utility by the consumer) have been settled in full prior to the return by the utility any deposits of the consumers.
(D) Upon discontinuance of service, such deposit as may remain in excess of any such indebtedness owed the utility will be refunded to the consumer. Should any deficiency exist, the same shall be paid by the property owner as provided elsewhere in this chapter.
(Ord. passed 5-1-80)