[Amended 4-21-1997 by Ord. No. 35-97; 6-2-2008 by Ord. No. 08-28]
A. 
The Superintendent of Water shall, in granting applications for new connections, whether said connections are to replace old connections desired to be abandoned or are for the purpose of supplying new buildings, require that the connected services therewith be metered. Meters 3/ 4 inch or less in size shall be furnished and installed free by the Water Department. When the meter required is larger than the size specified in this section, the meter will be furnished and installed by the Water Department; but the cost of any necessary asbestos remediation, removal of hazardous materials, required services of a licensed plumber, and the cost of the meter shall be borne by the owner. If the owner fails to make such payment, the water may be shut off until such payment is made. Water service shut off shall occur in accordance with the provisions set forth in § 405-52.
B. 
In case it is necessary to install a meter in an outside setting, the extra expense of this setting must be borne by the owner and paid to the Water Department; and in default of such payment, the water supply may be shut off until such payment is made. Water service shut off shall occur in accordance with the provisions set forth in § 405-52.
[Amended 6-2-2008 by Ord. No. 08-28]
Additional meters, for submetering, must be furnished, installed and maintained by the owner at his or her own cost and expense; and must be placed so as not to divert any water in passing through the meter belonging to the City.
A. 
Plumbers installing new services or house plumbing shall leave sufficient horizontal space next to the stop and waste cock for the installation of meters as follows:
Size of Meter
(inches)
Space to be Left for Installation
(inches)
5/8
13 1/2
3/4
14 1/2
1
16
1 1/2
30
2
36
B. 
The Water Department may refuse to install a meter or allow the water to be turned on to such services until this section is complied with.
[Amended 6-2-2008 by Ord. No. 08-28]
No meter shall be installed by the Water Department unless the service, service fixtures and plumbing adjacent to the proposed location of the meter are in good and serviceable condition. The curb box must be readily accessible; the curb cock, stop and waste cock in good working order; and any rusty or unsafe pipes next to the proposed locations of meters must be replaced. The Superintendent of Water shall notify the owner, as shown on the latest assessment roll of the City, of the property in writing by certified mail. Such written notice shall contain the date for completion, at the discretion of the Superintendent of Water, up to but not longer than 12 months from the date the written notice is issued. If repairs are not made before such date for completion, the water may be shut off until the necessary repairs are made. Water service shut off shall occur in accordance with the provisions set forth in § 405-52.
All meters installed by the Water Department shall, where it is deemed necessary, have check valves placed next to outlets, at the owner's expense, to prevent hot water from backing through the meter. If the owner of premises so desires, meters two inches or larger in size may be installed with bypasses, so that meters may be removed for testing or repairs without hindering the supply of water. The expense of such bypasses and additional work shall be borne by the owner. All such bypasses shall be locked and sealed and shall be under the exclusive control of the Water Department.
[Amended 12-4-2006 by L.L. No. 2-2006; 6-2-2008 by Ord. No. 08-28]
All meters installed by the Water Department shall remain the property of the City, and property owners in whose premises such meters are installed will be held responsible for their safekeeping. The property owner shall be liable for any damage which said meters may sustain, resulting from the carelessness of the owner or his or her agent or tenant or from neglect of either of them to properly secure and protect the same, including any damage that may result from allowing said meters to become frozen, or to be injured by hot water or steam setting back through the boilers, and the amount of any such damage and labor shall be paid to the City by the owner. In default of such payment, the water supply may be shut off until such payment is made. Water service shut off shall occur in accordance with the provisions set forth in § 405-52.
[Amended 6-2-2008 by Ord. No. 08-28]
In the event a meter is frozen or damaged, a service charge as established from time to time by the Superintendent of Water will be incurred by the owner of the premises. Failure to pay such service charge may result in shut off of the water supply at the premises until all service charges are paid. Water service shut off shall occur in accordance with the provisions set forth in § 405-52.
[Amended 6-2-2008 by Ord. No. 08-28]
All repairs to meters, whether owned by the City or the consumer, shall be made by regular employees of the Water Department only. Repairs due to ordinary wear will be made free of charge, but repairs due to hot water, freezing or other internal sources must be paid for by the owner of the premises. If a meter is damaged beyond repair, such owner must pay the service charges incurred as established from time to time by the Superintendent of Water. Upon refusal of owner to pay for any such repairs, the water may be shut off and will not be turned on again until all charges are paid. Water service shut off shall occur in accordance with the provisions set forth in § 405-52.
No meter shall be removed or disturbed by persons other than regular employees of the Water Department without express permission being given by the Superintendent of Water.
[Amended 6-2-2008 by Ord. No. 08-28]
Persons making complaint as to the correctness of meter bills and claiming to be overcharged can, by applying in writing to Water Billing Office within 10 days after meter bills have been issued and paying a deposit at the Water Billing Office in an amount as established from time to time by the Superintendent of Water, request to have the meter taken out and tested. If the meter is found to be correct or to under-register, the deposit will be retained by the City as payment for testing the meter. Should the meter be found to over-register, the account will be credited in an amount equal to the deposit and the appropriate overcharge. The Superintendent of Water is authorized to correct any charge due to a fault in the meter.
[Amended 6-2-2008 by Ord. No. 08-28]
Meters will be read three times each year as specified by the Superintendent of Water, or so often as deemed necessary by the Superintendent of Water. Meters will be read only by regular authorized agents of the Department of Water wearing picture identification badges of the City. Only parties wearing such badges should be recognized.