(A) Installation and ownership.
(1) For each improved property, a water meter shall be installed inside the property owner’s building. Each new water meter shall be furnished and installed by the Authority at the expense of the owner.
(2) The water meter and remote transmitter shall remain the property of the Authority. The Authority shall have the right to remove any such water meter for testing or for maintenance and may furnish in its place another meter substantially equal thereto as the need for such replacement may occur, without incurring liability therefor to the owner. In such cases, the property owner must provide access to the Authority or its representative.
(3) The Authority shall inspect, test, adjust, maintain and/or replace such meters at its own expense, except that any meter damaged in service through the negligent act or omission of the property owner or of the owner’s tenant or agent shall be replaced by the Authority at the expense of the property owner.
(4) Meter damage resulting from freezing or backflow of hot water shall be considered the result of negligence on the part of the owner.
(B) Meter accuracy.
(1) The accuracy of the water meters on the Authority’s water system shall be determined in accordance with the meter manufacturer’s specifications. Upon request of any user, the Authority will inspect the meter in the user’s premises. If necessary, the Authority will have the meter tested and while testing, a replacement meter will be installed. Meter test results will be provided to the property owner and kept for record purposes for one year by the Authority.
(2) If the said meter is found to register a greater quantity of water than passes through it, to a degree exceeding the tolerance of accuracy prescribed by the meter manufacturer’s specifications, no charge shall be made for such test, and the bills rendered on the basis of the registration of said meter for a period of not more than three months preceding the removal thereof may be adjusted on an equitable basis.
(3) If the said meter is found to have been tampered with, the property owner shall be responsible for all costs to replace said meter.
(4) Upon prior request, the water user may review the water test results during normal working hours.
(5) If the meter is found to be accurate, the property owner or user shall be responsible for all costs associated with the meter test including the removal and replacement of the meter.
(Res. 07-06, passed 12-10-2007; Res. 08-03, passed - -2008; Ord. 147, passed 2-12-2008; Res. 11-162, passed - -2011)