(A) Generally.
(1) All requests for installation of special meters and reductions in sewerage service charges must be in writing to the city using the special meter installation form.
(2) No meter shall be installed before approval of the installation is granted by the city.
(3) No refunds, credits, reductions or allowances will be given covering any period prior to the date the city approves the request for installation of a special meter.
(4) All special meters MUST be approved by the city to receive credit.
(B) Special meter requirements.
(1) an approved, permanently installed special meter (no hose connections or portable meters) designed for measurement of water flows must be used to measure all water which does not enter the sewerage system.
(2) All special meters installed must register in the same units (gallons or cubic feet) as the public water supply meter which serves the user.
(3) Special meters shall be installed at the expense of the owner.
(4) All meters must be installed in accordance with standards, rules and regulations of the applicable public water supplier.
(C) Meter approval.
(1) It shall be the total responsibility of the user to verify to the satisfaction of the city, that the water does not enter the sewerage system.
(2) Only water measured with the approved special meter shall qualify for a reduction in sewerage service charges.
(D) Right to inspect meters. The city reserves the right to enter a user's premises to inspect the installation of all special meters and to verify all readings. If completed forms do not correspond with actual readings, then all reductions will be based on actual meter readings.
(E) Responsibility.
(1) The special meter shall be purchased and installed at the total expense of the user.
(2) The city assumes no responsibility for installation, maintenance or mechanical condition of the meter.
(3) The user is responsible for insuring that the special meter is properly maintained and serviced.
(4) No reductions will be approved if the meter fails to operate properly.
(5) No estimated reading will be acceptable as a basis for reduction in sewerage service charges.
(6) If a meter is suspected of faulty registration, the operator may order a test and/or replacement of meter.
(F) Meter reading.
(1) The user is responsible for reporting all readings to the city.
(2) The city assumes no responsibility for the readings until received at the main office.
(3) All readings must be recorded on the official form provided (at no cost) by the city and submitted to the city's main office. No readings will be accepted over the phone or verbally.
(4) All special meter forms must be COMPLETELY filled out according to instructions. The form will be used to determine the amount of reduction to be applied to the user's sewerage service charge.
(5) Forms will be automatically forwarded to the user on a yearly basis.
(6) All reductions will be computed based on the city's current approved rate schedules in effect at the time the water was used and not returned to the sewerage system.
(7) All special meter forms must be received by the city before the sewerage service charge is computed and/or processed for each billing period. No reductions will be allowed to a user's sewerage service charge once the billing has been computed and/or processed. The reduction will be carried forward to the next billing period.
(G) Refund limitation.
(1) Requested reductions or credits to a users sewerage service charge will not be greater than a minimum bill per current approved rates, for the applicable billing period. Residual credit will be carried to the next billing period. No cash refunds will be allowed except when a user's account is listed as a final billing.
(2) The amount of reduction associated with a special meter credit cannot amount to more than the total sewerage service charges associated with usage from the user's water supply meter(s) for the same period of time.
(3) All special meter readings and submittal of forms are to be kept on a current basis. No reduction in a user's sewerage service charge will be allowed for accounts that have been inactive for a period of 12 months or more since the last form submittal.
(4) To be eligible for the reduction or credits the user must be current in payment for city water and sewer services.
(Ord. 2007-09, passed 12-10-07)