All meters used to measure water purchased from the water district
shall be supplied by the water district, and no meter shall be installed
unless supplied by the water district. Each meter shall be installed
by the Water Department after payment of the fee specified hereinafter.
At the time of application for water service, the following
must be paid in full; tapping fee, inspection fee, meter deposit for
each meter up to one inch in size; the amount of meter deposit is
to be fixed by resolution of the Town Board from time to time. For
meters over one inch in size, the deposit is based on the actual cost
of the meter at time of purchase. A quote will be obtained by the
Water Department and the applicant will be advised of the cost.
No person other than an employee of the Water Department shall
interfere with or remove any water meter, sealing device or coupling
from any meter installation after it has once been placed in service
by the Water Department.
The Water Department shall determine the proper size of meter
to be installed and shall have the right to change the meter at any
time it is necessary in order to ensure its proper operation.
Any meter damaged by frost or by hot water or steam backing
into the meter or by an external cause shall be repaired by the Water
Department at the expense of the property owner, and the water service
may be disconnected until such corrective action is taken to prevent
a recurrence of the incident which caused the damage. The charge for
such repairs shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the
Town Board.
The charge for such repairs shall be based on the cost of removing,
repairing, testing and replacing said meter, plus 15% for department
overhead. There shall be a minimum charge of $25 for a three-quarter-inch
meter, $35 for a one-inch meter and $50 for a meter larger than one
inch.
Consumers, upon request, may have the meters serving their premises
tested by the Water Department in their presence or that of a duly
authorized representative. If the meter so tested shall be found to
register not more than 103% of the amount of water actually passing
through it, a charge in the amount of $15 shall be paid by the consumer
for testing a meter one inch or less in size, and, for meters larger
than one inch in size, the actual expense, including overhead, incurred
by the Water Department in removing, testing and replacing the meter
shall be paid by the consumer.
Employees of the Water Department, in the performance of their
duties, shall be permitted to enter the premises of any consumer at
any reasonable hour to remove, replace, repair or test the meter,
to make a record of the quantity of water used, to inspect the premises
to determine the manner of water use or to enforce the provisions
of this Water Chapter. If the Water Department is unable to read a
meter after two successive attempts, the charge will be estimated
on the basis of prior use in comparable periods and the difference
adjusted when the meter is again read. If the meter is damaged or
fails to operate, the bill will be based on the average use during
prior comparable periods unless there is evidence that the use is
not normal and the average use for comparable periods is not properly
applicable, in which case the charge will be estimated by some other
method which the Water Department considers equitable.
In all instances, except for industries and meter pits, the
consumer will be mailed a meter reading card, with postage prepaid,
with a request that the consumer fill in, in the space provided, the
consumption figures on the water meter. The meter reading card should
be filled in and returned by the 16th of the month of receipt. If
the meter reading card is not so received, the bill will be estimated
using previous readings on the consumer's account ledger. For
the third estimate, covering nine months' water usage, the meter
will be read and an additional service charge of $25 will be added.
For the fourth estimate, covering one years' service, a notice
of shutoff of $90 will be mailed with the meter reading card, and
an additional service charge of $25 will be added for the sending
of said personnel.