Sec. 27-18. Use of device to bypass metering of water prohibited; civil infraction; minimum penalty; persons liable.

   (a)   No person shall utilize any device or method of connection to the municipal water system, including without limitation, any spacer or straight line pipe connection, which may result in delivery of any water to any person or property without passage of the water through a municipal water meter.

   (b)   It shall be a civil infraction for any person to violate this section. Any person, firm or corporation found liable for a violation of this section shall be assessed a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00). Any person, firm or corporation found liable for a second violation of this section shall be assessed a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00). Any person, firm or corporation found liable for a third or subsequent violation of this section shall be assessed a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). No hearing officer may suspend the imposition of any fine prescribed herein.

   (c)   Whenever a device or method of connection is in violation of this section, the owner or owners of the private property upon which any part of the violation occurs and the person who installed the device or method shall be jointly and severally liable for the violation and for the civil fine prescribed as punishment therefor.

(Ord. No. 7283, § 1, 9-18-89; Ord. No. 9015, § 3, 2-9-98; Ord. No. 10897, § 1, 5-24-11, eff. 7-5-11)

   Editors Note: Ord. No. 4656, § 1, adopted May 23, 1977, specifically amended the Code by repealing § 27-18. The former section pertained to outdoor water usage limitation, and had been derived from Ord. No. 4490, § 1, adopted May 24, 1976. Subsequently, § 1 of Ord. No. 7283, adopted Sept. 18, 1989, added a new § 27-18.

Sec. 27-19. Installation of ultra-low-flush water closets in low income owner-occupied housing.

The director shall establish and administer a program to provide for the purchase and installation of ultra-low-flush water closets in pre-qualified low-income, owner-occupied customer dwellings and for the purchase of ultra-low-flush water closets in city-owned low income housing units. The director shall develop an application form to be utilized by low- income customers who meet standard poverty-level income threshold guidelines as a function of family size to apply for the assistance pursuant to this program.

(Ord. No. 8598, § 1, 11-13-95)

   Editors Note: Ordinance No. 8458, § 1, adopted March 6, 1995, repealed section 27-19. Formerly such section pertained to incentives for the installation of ultra-low-flow water closets and derived from Ord. No. 7314, § 1, 11-20-89 and Ord. No. 7366, § 1, 3-12-90.

Secs. 27-20--27-27. Reserved.

ARTICLE II. RATES AND CHARGES

Sec. 27-28. Established by mayor and council.

The rates for the use of water for consumers shall be established by the mayor and council, subject to change, revision and modification in their discretion.

(1953 Code, ch. 25, § 19)

Sec. 27-29. Liability of customer of record or property owner for charges.

The customer of record, as indicated in the utility's records, is responsible for paying all charges for the provision of water service to a property or premises, regardless of whether the customer of record or another party has actually used the water delivered to the property. The utility may elect to pursue collection of any outstanding charges from the owner of the property if the customer of record does not pay for any outstanding charges. In such a case, ownership of the property or premises shall be determined by reference to public records maintained by the Pima County Recorder's Office. The property owner shall have the right to appeal the water charges pursuant to section 27-50(2).

If there is no customer of record, and a monthly meter reading indicates usage of water at the property or premises, the owner of the property shall be responsible for paying the water charges due. The property owner shall have the right to appeal the water charges pursuant to section 27-50(2).

(1953 Code, ch. 25, § 18; Ord. No. 9763, § 1, 9-9-02)

Sec. 27-30. Service charge.

Any person wishing to discontinue the use of water supplied from the department of water of the city must give notice thereof at the office, or the charge for water will be entered until such notice has been given. The charge for reactivation of water service or the transfer of water service from one customer to another will be twenty-two dollars and sixty-nine cents ($22.69). The charge for a customer to activate the fire protection (sprinkler service) or transfer of fire protection (sprinkler service) from one customer to another will be five dollars and forty cents ($5.40).

(1953 Code, ch. 25, § 14; Ord. No. 2665, § 1, 9-21-64; Ord. No. 3394, § 1, 1-12-70; Ord. No. 4626, § 3, 3-3-77; Ord. No. 5355, § 1, 4-20-81; Ord. No. 8446, § 1, 2-13-95; Ord. No. 9238, § 2, 6-14-99; Ord. No. 9977, § 2, 5-24-04; Ord. No. 10359, § 2, 12-12-06, eff. 1-16-07; Ord. No. 10510, § 2, 3-18-08, eff. 7-1-08; Ord. No. 11072, § 2, 5-21-13, eff. 7-1-13)