(A) Requirement for installation. All premises using water shall be metered, except as otherwise provided by Code. No person without permission of the village shall break or injure the seal of, or change the location of, alter or interfere in any way with, any water meter, and shall call the village immediately for re-inspection upon completion of all work done to any meter. On all new installations there shall be a shut-off on each side of the meter for the purpose of testing, inspecting and replacement of the water meter.
(B) Access to meters. The Department shall have the right to shut off the supply of water to any premises where the Department is not able to obtain access to the meter. Any qualified employee of the Department shall at all reasonable hours have the right to enter the premises where such meters are installed for the purpose of reading, testing, removing, or inspecting the same and no person shall hinder, obstruct, or interfere with such employee in the lawful discharge of his or her duties in relation to the care and maintenance of such water meter.
(C) Shut-offs required for each unit. In the case of multiple family living houses, each unit shall be equipped with a shut-off valve for the purpose of discontinuing water/sewer service if the bill to the village is not paid. If no such arrangement is provided, then the property owner is responsible for all delinquent bills regardless of contracts with the tenant. The village is responsible for providing service and has the right to discontinue such service. If no such provision is provided by the owner of the property, then he or she becomes the responsible party.
(D) Reimbursement for damage. Any damage which a meter may sustain resulting from carelessness of the owner, agent, or tenant or from neglect of either of them to properly secure and protect the meter, as well as any damage which may be wrought by frost, hot water, or steam from a boiler, shall be paid by the owner of the property to the village on presentation of a bill therefor, and in cases where the bill is not paid, the water shall be shut off and shall not be turned on until all charges have been paid to the village.
(E) Meter failure. If any meter shall fail to register properly, the village shall estimate the consumption and bill accordingly.
(F) Inaccurate meters. A user may require that the meter be tested. If the meter is found accurate, a charge equal to the amount of staff time (pay plus benefit cost), plus equipment rental, shall be billed for the testing process. If the meter is found defective, it shall be repaired or an accurate meter installed and no charge shall be made.
(G) Accuracy required. A meter shall be considered accurate if, when tested, it registers not to exceed 2% more to 2% less than the actual quantity of water passing through it. If a meter registers in excess of 2% more than the actual quantity of water passing through it, it shall be considered "fast" to that extent. If a meter registers in excess of 2% less than the actual quantity of water passing through it, it shall be considered "slow" to that extent.
(H) Bill adjustment. If a meter has been tested at the request of user and shall have been determined to register "fast", the village shall credit the user with a sum equal to the percent "fast" multiplied by the amount of all bills incurred by said user within the three months prior to the test. If a meter so tested is determined to be "slow", the village may collect from the user a sum equal to the percent "slow" multiplied by the amount of all bills incurred by the user for the prior three months. When the Department on its own initiative makes a test of a water meter, it shall be done without cost to the user, other than his or her paying the amount due the village for water used by him or her as above provided, if the meter is found to be "slow".
(Ord. 211, passed 11-8-2010) Penalty, see § 10.99