(A) The city shall have as security for the collection of water rates and sewer system rates for the use or consumption of water or sewer services supplied to any house or building or any premises, lot or lots, or parcel or parcels of land, a lien upon such house or other building and upon the premises or lot, or lots, or parcel or parcels upon which such house or other building shall be situated or to which such water or sewer system service was supplied. Such lien shall become effective immediately upon the distribution of the water or sewer service to the premises or property supplied as aforesaid, but shall not be enforceable for more than five years thereafter.
(B) The lien set forth in division (A) above may be enforced by at least one of the following ways.
(1) Unpaid water rates and sewer system rates may be reported to the City Assessor to be spread by him or her on the next general city tax rolls, as a special tax or assessment upon the lot or premises on which said unpaid water rates and sewer system rates have become a lien. The unpaid water rates and sewer system rates shall be collected in the same manner as other city taxes. No attempt to collect any water rates and sewer system rates by this process shall invalidate the lien upon the lot or premises.
(2) A lien for unpaid water rates and sewer system rates may be filed by the Department of Municipal Service, to be recorded in the County Register of Deeds office, setting forth the amount of the unpaid water rate and sewer system rates for the particular parcel of real property and the filing of said lien shall be deemed notice of the lien for the unpaid water rates and sewer system rates.
(3) The lien set forth in division (A) above may be enforced in any manner prescribed by the general laws of the state providing for the enforcement of tax liens.
(Prior Code, § 38.1-16) (Ord. 660B, passed 8-11-1980; Ord. 1482, passed 10-21-2019)