(A) On customer request. Each customer about to vacate any premises supplied with water service by the Water Department shall give the Water Department written notice of his or her intentions at least two days prior thereto, specifying the date service is to be discontinued; otherwise, he or she will be responsible for all water supplied to the premises until the Water Department shall receive notice of the removal. At the time specified by the customer that he or she expects to vacate the premises where service is supplied or that he or she desires to be discontinued, the meter will be read and a bill rendered which is payable immediately. In no case will the bill be less than the monthly minimum specified in the schedule applying to the class or classes of service furnished.
(B) Nonpayment of bills. A customer’s water service may be discontinued if the water bill is not paid in accordance with the procedures listed in § 50.071.
(C) Nonpayment of sewer service charges. The charges for sewer service are authorized by Chapter 51 and set by resolution of the City Council. If the sewer service charges are not paid when due by any person, firm or corporation whose premises are served or who are subject to the charges herein provided, water service provided to that customer by the City of Union Water Department may be discontinued because of the default in the payment of the sewer service charges. As an additional alternative method, if the rates and charges are not paid when due by any person, firm or corporation, the amounts so unpaid may be certified by the City Recorder to the County Assessor of Union County, Oregon, and shall be by him or her assessed against the premises served as provided by law and shall be collected and paid over to the city in the same manner as other taxes are assessed, collected and paid over, with interest. Interest on unpaid bills shall run from the due date thereof at a rate to be set by resolution of the City Council. The unpaid charges may also be recovered in an action at law in the name of the city, with interest as aforesaid.
(D) Improper customer facilities.
(1) Unsafe facilities. The Water Department may refuse to furnish water and may discontinue services to any premises without prior notice where plumbing facilities, appliances or equipment using water are dangerous, unsafe or not in conformity with the Plumbing Code of the State of Oregon.
(2) Cross-connections. A cross-connection is defined as any physical connection between the Water Department’s system and another water supply. The Oregon State Health Division and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prohibit cross-connections. The Water Department will not permit any cross-connection and will discontinue service to any persons or premises where a cross-connection exists. Service will not be restored until the cross-connection is eliminated. Customers using water from one or more sources in addition to receiving water from the Water Department on the same premises shall maintain separate systems for each; and the Water Department’s water supply facilities shall be separated from any and all other systems by an air gap of not less than one foot, or if in the ground, by not less than five feet.
(E) Water waste. Where water is wastefully or negligently used on a customer’s premises, seriously affecting the general service, the Water Department may discontinue service if the conditions are not corrected after due notice by the Water Department.
(F) Service detrimental to others. The Water Department may refuse to furnish water and may discontinue service to any premises where excessive demands by one customer will result in inadequate service to others.
(G) Fraud or abuse. The Water Department will refuse or discontinue service to any premises where it is deemed necessary to protect the Water Department from fraud or abuse. Discontinuance of service from one or both of these causes will be made immediately upon receipt of knowledge by the Water Department that the condition or conditions exist.
(H) Unauthorized turn-on. Where water service has been discontinued for any reason and the water is turned on by the customer or other unauthorized person, the water may then be shut off at the main or the meter removed. The charges for shutting off the water at the main or removing the meter shall be computed at actual cost to the Water Department plus 15% overhead, but not less than $75. These charges shall be billed to the offending customer and water shall not be furnished to the premises or customer until the charges are paid and the Water Department had reasonable assurance that the violation will not reoccur.
(I) Noncompliance with regulations. The Water Department may, upon five days’ notice, discontinue service to a customer’s premises for failure to comply with any of the provisions of these regulations.
(Ord. 421, passed 5-30-1990)