All water meters shall be read at least one time each month. Should a consumer’s meter get out of repair or fail to register properly, the consumer shall be billed and charged for water during the time the meter is out of order or repair on the basis of the monthly consumption during the same month of the preceding year; provided, that if no basis for comparison exists, the customer shall be charged the amount as may be reasonably fixed by the Utilities Superintendent.
(1972 Code, § 3-409)