(a) Water Meters. All premises using water shall be metered, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. No person except a Department employee or agent of the Department shall break or injure the seal or change the location of, alter or interfere in any way with any water meter. The Manager, with the approval of the Village Administrator, may authorize service on a flat rate basis where it is not practical to install a meter.
(b) Meter Location. Meters shall be set in an accessible location and in a manner satisfactory to the Manager. Where it is necessary for a meter to be set in a pit or box it shall be built at the expense of the property owner as directed by the Manager.
(c) 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 employee or agent 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 same and no person shall hinder, obstruct, or interfere with such employee or agent in the lawful discharge of his or her duties.
(d) Reimbursement for Damage. Any damage which a meter may sustain resulting from carelessness of the owner, agent, or tenant or from neglect of any of them to properly secure and protect the meter, as well as any damage which may be wrought by frost, hot water, or steam backing from a boiler, shall be paid by the owner of the property to the Village on presentation of a bill which shall be based on time and materials.
(e) Inaccurate Meters. A customer may require that the meter be tested by the Village. If the meter is found to be defective it shall be repaired or an accurate meter installed without charge to the customer.
(f) Meter Variance. A meter shall be considered accurate if, when tested, it registers not to exceed five (5%) percent more or five (5%) percent less than the actual quantity of water passing through it. If a meter registers in excess of five (5%) percent 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 five (5%) percent less than the actual quantity of water passing through it, it shall be considered "slow" to that extent.
(g) Water Bill Adjustment. If a meter has been tested at the request of a customer and is determined to register "fast" the Village shall credit the customer with a sum equal to the percent "fast" multiplied by the amount of all bills incurred by the customer, within the three months prior to the test. If a meter is determined to register "slow" the Village shall charge the Customer with a sum equal to the percent "slow" multiplied by the amount of all bills incurred by the customer within three months prior to the test. If the Department on its own initiative tests a water meter, it shall be done without cost to the customer, other than the payment of the amount due the Village for water used by the customer if the meter is found to be "slow."
(Ord. 146. Passed 6-8-05.)