[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and City Council
of the City of Monroe as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
CHARTER REFERENCES
Water connections — See § C-269.
Installation of water facilities — See
§ C-324.
GENERAL REFERENCES
General penalty — See § 1-27.
Plumbing regulations — See Ch. 500.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 625.
Water in subdivisions — See Ch. 630.
STATUTORY REFERENCES
Water supply generally — See
Mich. Const. Art. 7, § 24; MCLA §§ 46.171
et seq., 486.51 et seq. 486.101 et seq.
Water quality — See MCLA § 67.38.
[Adopted as Ch. 1044 of the 1995 Codified
Ordinances of Monroe]
[Amended 11-17-2014 by Ord. No. 14-006]
Service connections will be made or water service
will be supplied upon application made by the property owner/tenant
or their respective authorized representatives. The property owner's
name shall also appear on the bill. Utility Service maybe denied
for applicants who are in financial default with the City of Monroe.
[Amended 4-6-1998 by Ord. No. 98-004; 5-16-2005 by Ord. No.
05-006]
A.
No application for service will be approved unless
a main exists in front of or at the rear of the location desiring
service. If a main does not exist in front of or at the rear of his
or her property, the owner must take the necessary steps to have a
main constructed.
B.
An application for service may be approved in an area
where no water main exists in front of or at the rear of the location
desiring service only under the following circumstances:
(1)
The local government having jurisdiction over the
location desiring service makes a written request to have the requirement
for water main construction for the area waived.
(2)
No unserviced buildable properties exist beyond the
location desiring service.
(3)
In the opinion of the Director of Water:
(a)
A waiver of the requirement for water main construction
would not create a detriment in the service to or of any adjacent
property owners currently or potentially serviced by the Monroe water
system, whether within or without the City of Monroe; and
(b)
The location for which the waiver is being sought
can be serviced adequately with a private water service.
[Amended 6-18-1962 by Ord. No. 809]
All bills shall be due and payable on a date
which shall be inscribed on the bill. Said date shall be at least
21 days after the bill is mailed.
[Amended 6-18-1962 by Ord. No. 809]
[Amended 5-16-2005 by Ord. No. 05-006; 6-5-2006 by Ord. No.
06-007; 5-27-2007 by Ord. No. 07-007; 5-19-2008 by Ord. No.
08-003; 6-1-2009 by Ord. No. 09-006]
Rates for water and services supplied to residents of the City
and to customers outside the City shall be those established by ordinance
of the City Council, upon recommendation of the Director of Water.
Such rates shall be on file in the office of the Director of Water.
Rates shall include call-out and turn-on fees, administrative fees
and such other service charges deemed appropriate by Council.
A.
Charges for water and services under the provisions
of Section 21 of Act 94 of the Public Acts of 1933, as amended, and
made a lien on all premises serviced thereby, are hereby recognized
to constitute a lien.
B.
Whenever any such charge against any property shall
be delinquent for six months, the City officials in charge of the
collection thereof shall certify to the City Assessor the fact of
such delinquency.
C.
Such charge shall be entered upon the next tax roll
as a charge against such premises.
D.
The charge shall be collected and the lien thereof
enforced in the same manner as general City taxes against such premises
are collected and liens thereof enforced.
[Added 3-16-1998 by Ord. No. 98-002;
amended 6-5-2006 by Ord. No. 06-008; 5-19-2008 by Ord. No. 08-003; 6-1-2009 by Ord. No.
09-006; 6-4-2018 by Ord. No. 18-004]
A.
Assessment of fee. In addition to all other charges provided for,
each premises requesting connection to the City of Monroe's municipal
water system shall pay a water system development fee to be assessed
against previously unserviced property or property which is being
developed for a more intensive use. A water system development fee
for redeveloped property shall only be assessed based on the upsized
water meter size for the proposed use (i.e., five-eighths-inch to
a two-inch). As determined by the Director of Water, a water system
development fee shall not be assessed for an existing water user with
any established water connection desiring to add a secondary water-only
meter for irrigation purposes, filling swimming pools, etc.
B.
Determination of fee. Said fee shall be paid in full at the time that application for connection to the system is made. The assessment is based on a fair buy-in fee to recover the new user's fair share of the amortized cost of the water system based on the depreciated value of the water system's assets and the current number of five-eights-inch diameter equivalent users in the water system. Users requiring meter sizes larger than five-eighths-inch diameter shall be assessed a fee using the American Water Works Association meter capacity ratios. A water system development fee shall be assessed against all user type classes (government, residential, commercial, multiple-residential, church, industrial, miscellaneous, schools, community bulk water users, etc.) desiring a connection with the City of Monroe's municipal water system. For each unserviced or redeveloped premises, the minimum meter size shall be five-eighths-inch diameter or as sized in accordance with the American Water Works Association Manual M22 and conform to the most recent edition of the Michigan Plumbing Code, as adopted in Chapter 275, Article V, of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Monroe. A water system development fee for the connection(s) to the system shall be as listed in the Water System Development Fee Table in Subsection D. Water system development fees shall be reviewed on an annual basis by the Director of Water.
C.
Condominium, townhouse, or multiple-residence developments. For developments consisting of no more than two units per building, separate water meters for each unit shall be required and a water system development fee shall be assessed for each unit in accordance with the Water System Development Fee Table listed in Subsection D. For developments consisting of three or more units per building, one water meter per building shall be required and a water system development fee shall be assessed in accordance with the Water System Development Fee Table listed in Subsection D.
D.
Water System Development Fee Table.
[Amended 6-21-2021 by Ord. No. 21-005]
|
Meter Size
(inches)
|
Per Connection Fee
|
|---|---|
|
5/8
|
$3,000
|
|
1
|
$7,500
|
|
1 1/2
|
$15,000
|
|
2
|
$24,000
|
|
3
|
$52,500
|
|
4
|
$90,000
|
|
6
|
$187,500
|
|
8
|
$270,000
|
|
10
|
$435,000
|
|
12
|
$645,000
|
The Water Department may extend distributing
pipes, aqueducts and mains and erect hydrants outside the City, and
may regulate, protect and control such portions of the works, and
the water supply therefrom, in the same manner as it may regulate
and control the works and water supply within the City.
Water service shall be supplied to each person
requesting service through a single service line to the main. Where
two or more buildings, or two or more families or establishments in
a single building, are supplied by one service line and are, with
the approval of the Water Department, presently contracting separately
for water furnished, such multiple service through a single service
line shall be continued. Multiple service through a single service
line may be allowed upon request by the Water Department. Each such
service must have its own curb stop.
No owner or tenant of any premises supplied
by the Water Department shall be allowed to furnish water to other
persons or families except as specified in his or her request for
service or as specially permitted by the Department. In case of violations
of this rule, the supply shall be discontinued and the owner charged
for past service, in accordance with the rates of the Department.
Service may be discontinued by the Water Department
for proper cause at any time.
The use of a fire service for any reason other
than for fire protection or testing purposes shall be prohibited.
Service shall be discontinued upon a violation of this section.
In addition to other remedies provided, the
City shall have the right to shut off and discontinue the supply of
water to any premises for nonpayment of water rates when due.
[Amended 5-19-2008 by Ord. No. 08-003; 6-1-2009 by Ord. No.
09-006]
A.
The Water Department shall have the right to limit
or cut off the water supply without notice in case of fire, breakdown
or other unavoidable causes, or for the purpose of making necessary
repairs, connections, etc., and will furnish reasonable notice when
practicable.
B.
The Department will not be liable for any damage which
may result to consumers by the shutting off or turning on of the water
main or service for any purpose whatsoever.
C.
No person shall violate any written order issued by
the City of Monroe Water Department, pursuant to the supervision,
implementation and enforcement of this chapter of the Code of the
City of Monroe.
No application for service at flat rates will
be accepted by the Water Department.
For all temporary work for which water is required
and where it is not practical to place a meter, a charge will be made
on the estimated quantity used.
No person, except an authorized agent of the
Water Department, shall have the authority to turn on or off any valve,
stop cock, service cock or other street connection or to tamper with
the meter or meter seals.
Water consumers are not guaranteed any specific
quantity of water. The consumer is entitled to all the water available
depending upon his or her location and the size and condition of the
service connection, subject to emergencies as hereinafter described.
A.
The Water Department shall have the right to reserve
a sufficient water supply at all times in its reservoirs to provide
for fire or other emergencies.
B.
The Department may restrict or regulate the quantity
of water used by consumers in case of scarcity or whenever the public
welfare may require it.
[Amended 5-16-2005 by Ord. No. 05-006]
A.
No person, except an authorized representative of
the Water Department, shall take water from any public fire hydrant,
draw cock, standpipe or fountain, except for fire purposes or for
use of the Fire Department in case of fire.
B.
No public fire hydrant shall be used for any other
purpose than those specified in this chapter unless specially permitted,
in writing, by the Water Department for the particular time and occasion.
C.
A minimum deposit shall be required for all small
or large fire hydrant setups along with a daily fire hydrant connection
and water usage charge assessed for all purposes except fires.
[Amended 7-25-1988 by Ord. No. 88-014]
A.
Authority. The following procedure shall apply in
the interpretation and enforcement of this section. By virtue of his
or her authority as Mayor of the City, the Mayor, or the Mayor Pro
Tem in the absence of the Mayor, may declare a water emergency. Where
the term "Mayor" is used hereinafter, the term "Mayor Pro Tem" may
also be used.
B.
Compliance required. When a water emergency has been
declared, all customers of the City water supply system shall comply
with the provisions of this section and the agreements by and between
the members of the system.
C.
Sprinkling prohibition.
(1)
When the Mayor finds that drought weather conditions
exist and that such conditions make it necessary to prohibit the sprinkling
of lawns, the Mayor shall cause to be put into effect a lawn sprinkling
prohibition in a manner prescribed in this section.
(2)
Once in effect, the prohibition under this section
shall remain in effect until terminated by announcement of the Mayor
in accordance with this section. While the prohibition is in effect
no person shall sprinkle lawns.
D.
Public announcement required. The Mayor shall cause
such declaration made by him or her pursuant to this section to be
publicly announced by means of broadcasts from stations with a normal
operating range covering the City and nearby areas, and he or she
may cause such declaration to be further announced in a newspaper
of general circulation in the City when feasible. Each announcement
shall describe the action taken by the Mayor, including the time it
became or will become effective. The Mayor shall make or cause to
be made a record of each time and date when any declaration is announced
to the public in accordance with this section.
E.
Termination of lawn sprinkling prohibition. Whenever
the Mayor shall find that the conditions which gave rise to a lawn
sprinkler prohibition pursuant to this section no longer exist, he
or she may declare such prohibition terminated.
F.
Enforcement. Law enforcement officers of the City
and employees of the Monroe Water Department, specifically service
persons and meter readers, have the authority to issue appearance
tickets to persons in violation of this section pursuant to MSA 5.1891
and MCLA § 106.8, as amended. Such authority shall extend
into all jurisdictions serviced by the Monroe water supply system
as if the system were entirely located within the City pursuant to
MSA 28.868(3) and MCLA § 764.9c, as amended.
[Amended 5-16-2005 by Ord. No. 05-006; 6-1-2009 by Ord. No.
09-006]
A.
The Water Department shall install all services from
its mains to the meter and will endeavor to do this work at as low
a cost as possible, the same to be paid for by the property owner.
B.
All service pipes shall be one inch or larger.
C.
No connection shall be made with Water Department
mains except by the Department.
[Amended 1-4-2005 by Ord. No. 04-018; 6-21-2021 by Ord. No. 21-005]
[Amended 6-1-2009 by Ord. No. 09-006]
Any service line which is abandoned for any
reason whatsoever shall be shut off at the main. Charges in connection
with this shutoff shall be borne by the property owner, contractor
or authorized representative who is abandoning the service.
[Amended 5-19-2008 by Ord. No. 08-003]
All fire service installations shall be made
by the Water Department or under the supervision of the Department,
and the cost thereof shall be defrayed by the property owner. The
fire installation shall include a double check detector assembly conforming
to ASSE Standard #1048. If chemical additives will be introduced to
the system, or if there will be a secondary water source available,
the installation shall include a reduced pressure detector assembly
conforming to ASSE Standard #1047. The quarterly standby charges for
this service shall be determined by the diameter of the flange connection
of the detector check valve, and the rates shall be as established
by the Council in the rate ordinances. No fire service installation
shall be used as an auxiliary to an outside source of supply.
[Amended 5-16-2005 by Ord. No. 05-006; 6-1-2009 by Ord. No.
09-006]
A.
Service pipes shall be of the materials and shall
meet the requirements set forth below:
|
Size
(inches)
|
Seamless Copper Tubing, Mueller
or Equal Wall Thickness
|
Ductile Iron
|
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
0.065
| |
|
1 1/2
|
0.072
| |
|
2
|
0.083
| |
|
Larger than 2
|
Class 52, cement lined
|
B.
Service pipes shall be of the materials and meet the
requirements of the Water Department for copper. All copper must be
K grade.
C.
Cast iron and plastic are not permitted for use as
service pipe.
D.
All ductile iron pipe must be wrapped in polyethylene
encasement (eight-mil minimum thickness) per AWWA C105 and tested
in accordance with Water Department requirements.
[Amended 5-16-2005 by Ord. No. 05-006; 6-1-2009 by Ord.No. 09-006; 6-21-2021 by Ord. No. 21-005]
A.
In the case of failure between the main and the curb stop of an existing wrought or galvanized iron or steel service pipe, it shall be replaced by the Water Department with a one-inch (minimum) service pipe pursuant to § 699-26, subject to the State of Michigan Lead and Copper Rule regulations.
B.
The cost for new service pipes, between the main and
the curb stop, shall be defrayed equally by the Water Department and
the property owner unless it is subject to the State of Michigan Lead
and Copper Rule regulations where the Water Department shall pay for
the replacement cost pursuant to budget and schedule obligations.
C.
In case of a failure of an existing wrought or galvanized iron or steel service pipe between the curb stop and the meter, it shall be replaced by the Water Department with a one-inch (minimum) service pipe pursuant to § 699-26, and the cost for new service pipes, between the curb stop and the meter, shall be defrayed by the property owner unless it is subject to the State of Michigan Lead and Copper Rule regulations where the Water Department shall pay for the replacement cost pursuant to budget and schedule obligations.
D.
All maintenance and renewal of existing lead, copper
or plastic service pipes previously installed and maintained by the
Water Department shall be performed by and at the cost of the Water
Department subject to the State of Michigan Lead and Copper Rule regulations
pursuant to budget and schedule obligations.
[Amended 8-22-1994 by Ord. No. 94-012; 5-16-2005 by Ord. No.
05-006; 5-19-2008 by Ord. No. 08-003; 6-4-2018 by Ord. No. 18-004]
A.
Scope. This section does not supersede the State Plumbing Code, but
is supplementary to it.
B.
Adoption of state rules. The document on file in the office of the
Clerk/Treasurer, being marked and designated as Water Supply Cross-Connection
Rules of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, being R
325.11401 through R 325.11407 of the Michigan Administrative Code,
is hereby adopted by the City the same as if fully set out herein
for the purpose of regulating cross-connections with the City water
system.
C.
Inspections. It shall be the duty of the Water Department to cause
inspections to be made of all properties served by the public water
supply where cross-connections with the water distribution system
are deemed probable. The frequency of inspections and reinspections
based on potential health hazards involved shall be as established
by the Water Department and as approved by the Michigan Department
of Environmental Quality.
D.
Duty to provide information; right of entry. Whenever requested by
the Water Department, the owner of any parcel or premises served by
the water distribution system shall furnish to the Department all
information requested concerning the piping system or systems serving
the said parcel or premises. The owner, lessee or occupant shall allow
the Department to enter and be upon said parcel or premises in question
to make inspections or investigations as the Department shall deem
to be necessary or desirable. The refusal of such information or refusal
of access, when requested, shall be deemed to be prima facie evidence
of the presence of cross-connections of the type prohibited by this
section.
E.
Right to discontinue water service. Whenever the Water Department
shall find a cross-connection of the type prohibited by this section,
or whenever an owner, lessee or occupant of any parcel or premises
refuses to furnish the information requested or to permit access to
said lands or premises for the purpose of investigation or inspection
as set forth above, the Department is hereby authorized and directed
to discontinue water service to any parcel or premises wherein any
connection in violation of this section exists and to take such other
precautionary measures deemed necessary to eliminate any danger of
contamination of the public water supply system. Reasonable notice
shall be given to the owner, lessee or occupant of said parcel or
premises in question by the Department if imminent danger of contaminating
the water main is not present. Where contamination of the public water
supply or any water main is an immediate possibility, or where contamination
of any main occurs, the Department shall order the water to be immediately
shut off without giving notice to the consumer or owner/lessee or
occupant of the parcel or premises. Water service to such property
shall not be restored until the cross-connection has been eliminated
or evidence has been furnished and access permitted to enable the
Department to determine that no cross-connection as prohibited by
this section exists.
F.
Backflow prevention device required.
(1)
The Water Department shall require a backflow prevention device or
other means of preventing contamination of the public water system
at all locations where there is potential for a cross-connection to
exist. All testable backflow prevention assemblies shall be tested
upon installation, subsequent testing of assemblies shall be tested
as specified by the City of Monroe, in accordance with the State Plumbing
Code and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality requirements,
and the results shall be certified.
(3)
Required testing shall be at the owner's expense. Only persons that
hold an active ASSE 5110 tester's certification shall perform such
testing. Said person shall certify, in writing, the results of each
test conducted. Assemblies that do not pass the test shall be corrected
and approved within 30 days of receipt of the test data unless there
is an imminent threat to health and welfare, in which case the City
shall have the right to immediately disconnect service until such
time as repair or replacement has been completed.
G.
Protection of water from contamination. The potable water supply
made available on the properties served by the public water supply
system shall be protected from possible contamination as specified
by this section and by the State Plumbing Code. Any water outlet which
could be used for potable or domestic purposes and which is not supplied
by the potable system must be labeled in a conspicuous manner as follows:
WATER UNSAFE FOR DRINKING.
The Water Department shall furnish all labor
and materials necessary to install and repair all water meters and
water service pipes between the water main and the water meter, in
accordance with the regulations set forth in this chapter.
The water service tap shall be supplied by the
Water Department and shall constitute a tap or taps into the main
of suitable size and number to adequately supply the service desired.
[Amended 6-1-2009 by Ord. No. 09-006]
The curb stop, fitted with a suitable box extending
to the ground surface to give access to the stop, shall typically
be located between the street and sidewalk, or if no sidewalk exists,
near the property line. In the townships, the curb stop and box shall
be located near the property line.
[Amended 11-17-2014 by Ord. No. 14-006; 6-21-2021 by Ord. No. 21-005]
The service pipe shall be installed by the Water
Department from the main to the curb stop, and thence to a suitable
location for the meter. All new or renewed water service line installations
and routings shall place meters in basements or meter pits. Basements
are a below-ground-level habitable story of the building. Crawl spaces
are not acceptable locations for meter installations. Alternative
basement construction materials (i.e., walls, floors, etc) and installation
types and locations must be approved prior to application and or completion
of the work.
If a building is subject to freezing temperatures,
the owner must take precautions to prevent the meter and service from
freezing. The expense of all repairs to meters and services which
are damaged by freezing shall be defrayed by the property owner.
[Amended 5-16-2005 by Ord. No. 05-006]
A.
Water services. Charges for installation for water
services will be made at the current unit cost to the Water Department.
"Current unit cost" shall be the actual cost of labor, material and
equipment plus 20% for the use of small tools, superintendence, engineering
and office work. "Actual cost" shall be the full amount expended by
the City to purchase labor, materials and equipment.
B.
Service from main to stop box. All new services are
charged to the center of the right-of-way, regardless of which side
of the street the main is located on.
A.
Petition required. Where water supply is desired at
a location which does not abut a water main, a petition shall be submitted
to the City Council for the construction of a new water main for the
district involved, in accordance with § C-324 of the City
Charter.
B.
Assessment of costs.
(1)
The cost of the construction within the City of water
mains and appurtenances, exclusive of fire hydrants and appurtenances,
shall be charged against the property benefited on a front-foot basis
except as hereinafter provided.
(2)
Frontage on a side street of a corner lot in excess
of 125 feet shall be assessed on a front-foot basis for the installation.
(3)
The Water Department shall determine the size and
location of any proposed water main, which size shall not be less
than six inches.
C.
Cost of large mains.
(1)
The Water Department shall pay one-fifth of the cost
of the construction of an eight-inch main and appurtenances exclusive
of fire hydrants.
(2)
In cases where a main installed is larger than eight
inches in diameter, the difference between the cost of an eight-inch
main and the cost of the one installed shall be defrayed by the funds
of the Water Department.
D.
Cost of fire hydrants. The cost of the installation
of fire hydrants and appurtenances shall be borne by the Water Department.
E.
Construction outside the City.
[Amended 8-12-1996 by Ord. No. 96-018]
(1)
The entire cost of all mains located outside the City
limits shall be defrayed by the property owner, provided that the
Council may, by resolution, authorize and order the Water Department
to assume all or any part of the difference in cost between that of
an eight-inch main and that of a larger main whenever the Council
is of the opinion that the installation of a main larger than eight
inches is to the future benefit and advantage of the Department. Where
a main is constructed within the City on a street which has frontage
outside the City, property owners outside the City shall pay the proportionate
amount, in accordance with their frontage, of the total cost of the
installation, including fire hydrants and appurtenances, before a
tap to the water main is granted. The size, location and methods of
construction shall be determined by the Water Department. If constructed
outside the City by the Water Department for the benefit of persons
outside the City limits, advance payments must be made before the
work will be started, except in those instances where the extension
is for the use and benefit of public institutions located within the
County, in which latter case the Council may enter into a contract
providing for installation and construction on an installment payment
basis. All construction not performed by the City shall be under City
supervision and inspection, and the cost of such supervision and inspection
shall be defrayed by the property owners. By contract, the City may
allow construction not performed by the City to be under the supervision
and inspection of a registered professional engineer acceptable to
the City.
(2)
Whenever any water main is constructed which is larger
than eight inches, such water main shall be deemed an "over-size main."
The difference between the cost of constructing an over-size main
and the cost of constructing the same length of an eight-inch main
shall be deemed the "cost of the over-size." Whenever an over-size
main is to be constructed outside the City, the party petitioning
for such water main extension shall defray the entire construction
cost. However, the petitioning party may be entitled to reimbursement
for over-size costs as determined by the contract between the City
and the petitioner.
F.
Main benefiting one side of street. If a main benefits only one side of the street, 1/2 of the cost as outlined in Subsection E(2) hereof shall be charged against the property and the other part of the cost shall be charged against the Water Department.
G.
Maintenance.
(1)
The maintenance of all water mains located outside
the City limits for leakage, broken mains, etc. shall be performed
by and at the expense of the Water Department unless otherwise contracted.
(2)
The cost of repairs to hydrants, valves, etc., damaged
from shock, shall be defrayed by the parties producing the damage.
[Amended 5-16-2005 by Ord. No. 05-006; 6-1-2009 by Ord. No.
09-006; 6-21-2021 by Ord. No. 21-005]
A.
Cost of meter installations. The valves before the five-eighths-inch to one-inch meter will be maintained by and at the expense of the Water Department, subject to the service line requirements of §§ 699-22 and 699-27. The valves and appurtenances (i.e., spool pieces, meter pits, valves, etc.) in connection with one-and-one-half-inch and larger meters shall be maintained by the property owner.
B.
Standards.
(1)
The meter setting to be supplied and installed by the Water Department,
for sizes of five-eighths-inch, three-fourths-inch and one-inch meters,
shall consist of a meter, together with a valve immediately before
the meter and a suitable connection with the service pipe.
(2)
In cases where meters of larger sizes are required, the meter shall
be supplied by the Water Department, and the cost thereof shall be
defrayed by the property owner.
(3)
The owner or his or her agent shall be required to install such meters
and to furnish and install a suitable gated bypass, gates immediately
before and after the meter and a plugged test outlet suitable to the
size of the meter between the meter and the following valve.
(4)
Unless a one-half-inch longitudinal spring in the pipeline may be
readily obtained to facilitate removal of the meter, a suitable slip
joint shall be included in the meter setting.
(5)
The installation shall be approved by the Water Department before
water is turned on. The cost of a meter setting shall be borne by
the property owner in accordance with the prices as listed by the
Water Department.
C.
Style and location.
(1)
All meters shall be of the style and character adopted by the Water
Department and shall be conveniently located at a point approved by
the Department.
(2)
When a building is remodeled or renovated, and access to the meter
or service line is changed, the owner of said building shall notify
the Department, which shall inspect the location of the meter and
service line routing. The Department shall order any necessary action
to be taken to ensure continued access to the meter and the service
line. Meters that are to be relocated shall be relocated to a nonconfining
space in which continued access is readily available, service lines
requiring rerouting shall be relocated to a location that meets current
ordinance approved location; otherwise the meter and service line
shall be relocated into a meter pit external of building. All costs
associated with the meter and service line relocation shall be borne
by the property owner.
D.
Responsibility to maintain meters; removal and storage by Department.
(1)
Meters shall be maintained by the Water Department insofar as ordinary
wear is concerned. Damage due to freezing or hot water or external
causes shall be paid for by the applicant, owner, or customer.
(2)
The Department shall, upon notice of vacation of a property, remove
and store the property owner's meter until such time as it is again
needed. No fee shall be charged for this service.
E.
Inspecting and testing of meters and connections. The Water Department
reserves for its representatives the right, at any reasonable time,
to read and inspect meters and connections, including service lines,
or to test any meter which, in the judgment of the Department, is
not registering properly or is in need of repair.
F.
Conclusiveness of meter readings. Where water is furnished by a meter,
the quantity recorded by it shall be considered conclusive by both
the applicant and the Water Department, except when the meter has
been found to be registering inaccurately or has ceased to register.
If the meter has ceased to register, the quantity may be estimated
from the average registration for a similar period during the year
just past.
G.
Tests at request of consumer.
(1)
In case of a disputed account involving the accuracy of a meter,
the meter shall be tested at the request of the consumer and in his
or her presence.
(2)
In the event that the meter so tested is found to have an error in
registration outside the accuracy limits set fourth by the AWWA, the
bills will be increased or decreased accordingly over the entire period
of the current bill, unless it can be shown that the error is due
to an accident or other cause, the exact date of which can be determined,
in which case it shall be figured back to such time.
(3)
If the meter so tested shall be found to be accurate within the limit
herein specified, a fee shall be paid to the Water Department by the
consumer requiring such a test, but if not so found, then the cost
thereof shall be borne by the Department.
(4)
The amount of the fee shall be at the current rate as posted and
established by the Water Department. The charge for a requested test
of meters above one inch shall be the actual cost of labor and material
for removing, testing and replacing each meter.
H.
Tampering with meter seals; opening hydrants; property destruction.
(1)
Any tampering with or breaking of meter seals shall be deemed a misdemeanor.
(2)
No person, except an employee of the City in the performance of his
or her duties, shall open or use any fire hydrant, except in case
of emergency, without first securing written permission from the Water
Department. In no case shall any hydrant be opened or closed except
with a hydrant wrench provided by the City.
(3)
No person shall break, damage, destroy, uncover, deface or tamper
with any structure, appurtenance or equipment of the City water system.
