(a) No physical connection shall be maintained between any other source of water or liquid and the Village water supply piping. No spigot or outlet shall be physically connected to a drain or sewer or be submerged. The proper cross-connection prevention device shall be installed in accordance with Section 925.17 and OEPA regulations.
(b) There shall be no electrical grounding of A/C and/or D/C power source permitted on the water system or any private extension thereof.
(c) A permit must be obtained by the property owner or a plumber engaged by the property owner in order to receive a service line connection. At this time the permit section will check the property records to verify that all assessments levied against the property have been paid prior to issuing the permit. If the assessments and other charges levied have been paid, a permit will then be issued; if not, the property owner must pay the assessments and other charges levied before a permit is issued. Should a renewal of a service be desired, a permit will be issued by the permit section after it has been determined that there are no outstanding unpaid bills; then an employee of the Village will restore the service.
(d) Any consumer may have a service discontinued by request to the Village. The meter will be turned off or removed and water shut off at the curb by the Village. Should it not be possible to obtain a final reading, a closing statement will be estimated on the time elapsed since the last reading and the estimated consumption as determined by the Village. Under no circumstances shall the closing statement be less than the minimum rate prorated for the time the water was used. When service is re-established, a reconnection charge will be levied.
(e) All employees of the Village, designated for the purpose with proper identification, are authorized to enter, at reasonable hours, into any house, building or plant supplied with water from or connected to, or traversed by water mains of the Village, to examine bibbs, pipes, meters, cisterns, reservoirs, tanks or other apparatus and sampling for the purpose of ascertaining the quantity of water consumed or supplied or for placing or taking away any meter, instrument, pipe fitting or other material belonging to the Village or for any other reasonable purpose in connection with the water supply system.
(Ord. 515. Passed 3-26-90.)
(f) Meter Reading.
(1) All meters will be read monthly.
(Ord. 2003-16. Passed 10-27-03.)
(2) Remotes should be installed on meters currently read by users within a five year period.
(3) If the meter reader is unable to obtain a reading because a meter is out of order, it will be replaced and the amount of water consumed will be estimated. If the meter reader cannot gain entrance to a residence having an inside meter, he will leave a card upon which the user may record the meter reading and return it to the Village within five days.
The Village will base its current bill upon the reading sent in by the customer. If a card is not returned, the bill will be done for no more than two consecutive meter reading records, or the Village will have the service discontinued.
(g) The Village shall make a charge for any service requiring a special trip to the property, such as temporary shut-offs. Only representatives of the Village are authorized to install, disconnect or remove water meters from a service. Any meter not properly removed, which becomes lost or not recoverable, shall be chargeable to the property owner. No person without a permit from the Village is allowed to turn a stop clock, hydrant or valve owned by the Village or on public right of way, other than as provided in the “Rules and Regulations” governing plumbers, excepting, however, members of the Fire Department in the performance of their duties. In case trouble occurs between the main and the curb stop, or in the meter, the Village should be called. If the trouble is beyond the curb stop, it should be shut off and a plumber called.
(h) Service branches are installed at the expense of the property owner who is held responsible at all times for any leakage that may occur between the curb stop and the building. The plumber taking out the permit for the service is responsible for one year after final inspection for any leaks developing between the corporation stop in the water main and the curb stop. The Village will repair, without expense to the owner, any leaks which occur between the main line and meter pit, including the curb stop, providing such leaks are not caused by defective workmanship or material. The Village has the right to replace any water meters it deems necessary and cannot be held responsible for damage to service lines caused by such work if reasonable care is exercised. Notice to replace inferior pipe will constitute reasonable care. Failure to repair leaks, remove obstructions preventing access to the meter pit or make payment of charges for work done by the Village for such purposes, when notified to do so, will be sufficient cause for the Village to enter the street and close the corporation stop which shall not be reopened until the cause for the closing has been remedied.
(i) Consumers are required to keep meter pits packed or otherwise protected in such manner as to prevent freezing and they will be held responsible for any damage caused by freezing.
(j) All meters must be accessible at all times. Failure to comply with this rule will be cause for discontinuing service which will not be resumed until the trouble has been remedied. This rule shall apply to meters in meter pits which are covered with dirt or other materials or that are filled with water or gas; or where passage to meters is blocked so that the meters are not accessible.
(k) A customer may request turn-off in order to permanently terminate or temporarily terminate charges.
(l) A list of all current charges, fees and rates for the various water services performed are on file in the Village office. These charges, fees and rates are subject to amendment by the Village and are not to be construed as being fixed for an indefinite period of time.
(Ord. 515. Passed 3-26-90.)
(m) Bills rendered customers having multiple establishments or apartment units shall be computed in accordance with Section 934.01, except that minimum billing shall not be less than the minimum rates times the total number of units. Dormitories, Rest Homes, Assisted Living Units, Care Centers, and similar establishments shall be considered as one unit.
(Ord. 2004-06. Passed 3-22-04.)