(A) Meters required.
(1) Except for the extinguishment 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.
(2) No person not authorized by the Sewer and Water Department shall connect, disconnect, take apart or in any manner change or interfere with any meter or its use.
(B) Meter installation. Meters shall be installed by the city or a licensed contractor at the property owner's expense.
(C) Maintenance.
(1) The city shall maintain and repair at the property owner’s expense any meter that has become unserviceable through ordinary wear and tear and shall replace it if necessary.
(2) Where repair or replacement is made necessary the expense caused thereby shall be a charge against and collected from the water customer and water service may be disconnected until the cause is corrected and the amount charged is paid.
(D) Complaints; meter testing.
(1) When a consumer complains that the bill for any past service period is excessive, the city shall have the meter reread on request.
(2) If the consumer remains dissatisfied, he or she may, on written request and the deposit of $50 have the meter tested.
(3) If the test shows an 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.
(4) This adjustment shall not extend back more than 1 service period from the date of the written request.
(E) Meters property of property owners. Water meters shall be the property of the property owners and may removed or replaced to a size and type when deemed necessary.
(F) Meter reading and inspection. Authorized meter readers shall have access with permission 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.
(1986 Code, § 402.02) (Am. Ord. 32, passed 10-6-1997; Am. Ord. 120, passed 12-3-2018) Penalty, see § 10.99