(a) Water utility service may be requested by phone, mail, or in person. The department, as a condition precedent to approving an application for water service to any premises, shall collect all installation and other charges required by this chapter. Title to all pipes, fittings and other water facilities shall be and remain in the city. The person, corporation, or association in whose name the water utility service is requested, or any other person, other corporation, or other association who is receiving the benefit of the water utility service will be responsible for compliance with the terms of this chapter, and will be responsible for the payments and charges required by this chapter.
(b) As a condition of providing water service, the director may require a deposit from an applicant for services as follows:
(1) For residential water service, the deposit amount shall be two hundred dollars ($200.00). For water service to other customer classes, the deposit amount shall be two (2) times the estimated monthly bill.
(2) The individual in whose name the deposit is made shall be responsible for the payment of all bills incurred in connection with the service furnished.
(3) The director may require a separate deposit for each meter installed.
(4) The deposit, with interest, will be refunded or forfeited as follows:
(i) Residential deposits shall be refundable after one (1) year of continuous service, providing the account is not delinquent and has been kept in good standing. If the account is open for less than one (1) year, the residential deposit shall be refunded after the final bill is satisfied.
(ii) Deposits on commercial, multi-family or industrial applicants may be held until the account is closed.
(iii) If water service to an account is discontinued for nonpayment of bills, the deposit with interest will be applied by the city toward settlement of the account. Upon reactivation of the account, another deposit may be charged.
(iv) The accrued interest on the deposit amount, to be refunded the applicant or applied toward settlement of an unpaid account, will be computed using the average market rate earned by the City of Tucson's Investment Pool during the past twelve (12) months.
(c) The director may, at his option, require a utility service bond in lieu of a cash deposit for large commercial, multi-family, and industrial applicants for service. Such utility service bonds shall be on a form approved by the city attorney, and the director shall have the power to execute such bond on behalf of the city. The provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall apply to utility service bonds.
(d) The director may require a deposit from existing customers who become delinquent and do not keep their account in good standing or have had their service discontinued for nonpayment of bills. Deposit will be calculated per subsection (b).
(1953 Code, ch. 25, § 11; Ord. No. 4489, § 1, 5-24-76; Ord. No. 4626, § 2, 3-3-77; Ord. No. 4763, § 1, 2-27-78; Ord. No. 9977, § 1, 5-24-04; Ord. No. 10897, § 1, 5-24-11, eff. 7-5-11; Ord. No. 11269, § 1, 5-19-15, eff. 7-6-15)