(A) Water meters.
(1) Meter required. Except for extinguishing of fire, no person except authorized city employees shall use water from the water supply system or permit water to be drawn therefrom unless the same be metered by passing through a meter supplied or approved by the city. No person not authorized by the city shall connect, disconnect, take apart, or in any manner change or cause to be changed, or interfere with any such meter or the action thereof.
(2) Charge for water meter. A charge for a water meter shall be paid to the city in advance before delivery of the water meter for installation.
(3) Maintenance and repair. The city shall maintain and repair all meters when rendered unserviceable through ordinary wear and tear and shall replace them if necessary. However, where any replacement, repair, or adjustment of any meter is necessary because of damage from hot water backup, damage from freezing water, or damage from any act, carelessness, or negligence of the owner or occupants of any premises, any expense incurred by the city to repair that damage shall be charged against and collected from the water user, and water service may be discontinued until the cause is corrected and the amount charged collected.
(4) Testing of meters. When a user makes a complaint that the bill for any past services has been excessive, the city shall, upon written request, have the meter re-read. If the user remains dissatisfied and desires that the meter be tested, the user shall then make a deposit and the city shall test the meter. The amount of the deposit shall be established by the Council by resolution from time to time. The user shall, if he or she so desires, be present when the test is made. In case a test should show an error of more than 5% higher than actual usage, the deposit will be refunded to the user, and a correctly registering meter will be installed. In case the test shows an accurate measurement of water or an error of 5% or less higher than actual usage, the amount deposited shall be retained by the city to cover the expenses of making the test.
(5) Meters are city property. All water meters shall be and remain the property of the city, and may be removed or replaced or changed as to size and type by the city whenever deemed necessary. The city shall notify the owner of a property if it deems it necessary to replace or change the property’s water meter, and shall schedule an appointment with the owner or resident or manager of the property to enter the property and replace or change the water meter. If a property owner fails to respond to such notice, the city shall send a second notice, certified mail - return receipt requested, to the owner giving the owner 30 days to schedule the appointment for replacing or changing the water meter. If the owner fails to respond to such second notice within the time allowed, then a surcharge of $75 per quarter shall be charged to such owner’s account, continuing until such owner’s water meter has been replaced or changed.
(Am. Ord. passed 1-26-2004)
(6) Reading meters. Authorized city employees shall have free access at reasonable hours of the day to all parts of every building and the premises connected to the water system for reading of meters and inspection. The Administrator-Clerk-Treasurer shall be authorized to make adjustments in water charges when the amount billed is erroneous due to a meter deficiency or other mistake.
(1997 Code, § 18.18)
(B) Installation of water meters. All water meters hereafter installed shall be in accordance with the following rules.
(1) The service pipe from the water main to the meter shall be brought through the floor in a vertical position. The stop and waste valve shall be installed not less than 12 inches above the floor.
(2) The meter shall be located so that the bottom is from six to 12 inches above the finished floor line. The meter shall be set not more than 12 inches measured horizontally from the inside line of the basement wall, unless an alternate method is approved by the water inspector. A suitable bracket to support the meter in a proper vertical position and to prevent noise from vibration shall be provided.
(3) All meter installations shall have a stop and waste valve on the street side of the meter. In no case shall there be more than 12 inches of pipe exposed between the point of entrance through the basement floor and the stop and waste valve. A stop and waste valve shall also be installed on the house side of the meter. Meter setting devices shall be of copper pipe or tubing from the terminus of the service pipe up to and including the house side stop and waste valve. Gate valves shall be brass 125 pounds standard.
(1997 Code, § 18.19)