[CC 1974 §27-81; Ord. No. 626 §1, 12-7-1961]
All consumers of City water shall have, on the premises served,
a water meter for measurement of the amount of water consumed by the
premises.
[Ord. No. 1721 §I, 8-9-2000]
A water meter installed for water not passing into the City sanitary sewer system. A secondary water meter may be installed on residential or commercial properties for measurement of water that does not pass into the City sanitary sewer system. Such uses would include lawn watering systems, and other usage that does not overflow or drain into the City sanitary sewer system. Such installations must be approved by the Director of Public Works and shall meet all other requirements of Richmond City ordinances. All costs of installation of such meter shall be borne by the customer. Water meters shall be obtained as outlined in Section
700.030.
[CC 1974 §27-82; Rev. Ords. 1929, No. 38 §§9
— 10]
Water meters shall be furnished by the City and shall be paid
for, including the installation thereof, by the individual consumer.
[Ord. No. 2594, 9-27-2022]
A. All meters shall be set in an approved, non-hazardous place and accessibility
shall be maintained at all times. All meters shall be located within
an approved location within the City right-of-way. The water meter
shall be protected from any potential damage or freezing and be readily
accessible.
B. Meter well or meter pit, lids and covers shall be as specified by
the Director of Public Works and be protected from damage by traffic,
mowing or any other means and be of sufficient strength to withstand
traffic loads.
C. All meters shall be set in a horizontal position.
D. The meter shall be the same size as the service line installed and
in no case shall the meter be larger than the service line.
E. Meter sets for meters two (2) inches in diameter and larger shall
require a bypass with a sealed bypass valve.
F. Meter sets for meters two (2) inches in diameter and larger shall
require a flexible coupling installed on the building side of the
meter and isolating valve.
G. A licensed plumber shall furnish and install all required pipe, fittings,
valves, meter well or pit covers and lids approved by the City.
H. The Public Works Department shall install the meter.
I. Regardless of the meter location, the customer shall be responsible
for damage to the meter or its appurtenances caused by the customer's
negligence or failure to properly safeguard and protect such meter
and appurtenances from hazards.
J. All meter wells or pits shall be located to prevent an accumulation
of water within the tile or pit so it can be properly drained.
K. Meter Sets — Small Meters. All outdoor meters one (1) inch
and smaller shall conform to the following:
1.
The shut-off valve shall be between eighteen (18) inches and
twenty-four (24) inches from the lid.
2.
All materials for meter sets shall conform to current Public
Works Department specifications.
3.
All meters shall be placed in an eighteen (18) inch diameter
pit, no more than two (2) meters in one (1) pit.
4.
Maintenance and testing of meters will be performed by the Public
Works Department.
5.
All meter pits, customer tiles and sets shall be maintained
by the customer.
6.
All meter pits must have a metal ring that will accept a twelve
(12) inch locking meter lid approved by the City.
7.
The customer shall be responsible for taking necessary precaution
to prevent pipes and meters from freezing in cold weather for all
installations that are not approved by or do not conform to Public
Works Department specifications. If an unapproved meter or a meter
located indoors is damaged by freezing, the costs of materials for
such repairs shall be charged to the customer. Only meters supplied
by the City shall be installed.
L. Meter Sets — Large Meters. All outdoor meter sets for meters
one and one-half (1 1/2) inches and larger shall conform to the
following requirements:
1.
Meters one and one-half (1 1/2) inches to three (3) inches
shall be in a minimum twenty-four (24) inch pit.
2.
Meters over three (3) inches must be in a vault allowing enough
room for shut off valves and meter.
3.
Any vault lids must have twenty-four (24) inch minimum access
hole with locking lid.
4.
All meter pits must have a metal ring that will accept a twelve
(12) inch locking meter lid approved by the City.
5.
Pit and materials for meter sets shall be as approved by the
Director of Public Works and plans and specifications shall be furnished
by a licensed plumber or contractor for approval.
[CC 1974 §27-83; Rev. Ords. 1929, No. 38 §12]
When, by reason of a temporary defect in a water meter, such
as a stoppage of the meter, the monthly bill cannot be arrived at
accurately, the City Collector may bill the consumer an amount based
on the average of the bills covering the preceding six (6) months.
[CC 1974 §27-84; Ord. No. 626 §3, 12-7-1961; Ord. No. 2594, 9-27-2022]
All consumers of water in residential districts of the City
shall install their water meters on the outside of their dwellings
or buildings so as to be readily accessible to the meter reader and
buildings with preexisting inside meters shall install an approved
remote-control reading dial on the outside of said dwelling or building,
and the City shall not be liable for the payment of any of the cost
thereof. No water meter shall be installed in any residential building
or dwelling on the inside thereof unless it is warranted by the Public
Works Director as the only option for service and a remote-control
reading dial is placed on the outside thereof, and the City shall
not be liable for any part of the cost thereof. When installing new
or replacing an existing water line or water meter, the meter must
be placed as close to the water main (street) as possible and so inspected
by the City. In the event of an accident involving a water meter,
meter lid or meter pit once installed and checked by the City, it
is not the responsibility of the City to pay for said accident. It
is therefore the responsibility of the owner or tenant or both of
such property to inform the City of any problem with the water meter,
meter lid or meter pit.
[Ord. No. 2594, 9-27-2022]
All consumers of water in the City of Richmond shall upon installation
of an AMI meter with an MTU (meter transmitting unit) be responsible
for protecting this meter that is installed in a pit with a lid. If
while mowing or other reason unknown, the lid is removed and the MTU
is destroyed or the meter is destroyed so that either must be replaced,
an invoice may be sent to the owner of the property or the tenant
if a rental property for the replacement of such meter and/or MTU.
If this invoice is not paid in a timely manner of thirty (30) days,
the amount of such meter and/or MTU will be added to the customers
water/sewer/trash bill and will be subject for disconnect by the 20th
of the following month.
[CC 1974 §27-85; Ord. No. 477 §2, 11-10-1954]
The Superintendent of Utilities or other representative of the
City shall have access to the premises of any customer at all reasonable
times for the purpose of inspecting and testing any water meter and
reading the records thereof.
[CC 1974 §27-86; Ord. No. 599 §1, 2-1-1961; Ord.
No. 1845 §1, 9-11-2002; Ord. No. 1872 §1, 4-9-2003; Ord. No. 1872A §1, 12-30-2003; Ord. No. 2237 §I, 3-13-2012; Ord. No. 2569, 4-26-2022; Ord. No. 2594, 9-27-2022]
A deposit in the amount as detailed in City's Comprehensive
Fee Schedule shall be made with each application of an owner requiring water connection service to their property; and a deposit in the amount as detailed in City's Comprehensive Fee Schedule shall be made with each application by a non-owner of property requiring water connection service to said property, with these sums to be retained by the City, to ensure payment of all final bills. When applicant requests service be disconnected permanently, this deposit, including any additions per Section
700.200 of the Code, but less any amounts still due the City for water, sewer, and trash service, shall be refunded without interest. Only applicant of the City of Richmond (for non-payment of bill) or responsible party making the deposit on such account may request service to be disconnected. For purposes of the Section, "contract for deed" and "lease to own" shall be considered non-owned property and the word "application" shall include a fully completed customer deposit information form (Collector Form No. 600) inclusive of any documentation required by such form. Non-owner, along with fee, must provide lease/rental agreement with all tenants on application and copy of photo id when filling out application. Both owner or non-owner of property are required to be current on all bills owned to the City, including old water bills and City taxes, before deposit is accepted and service is connected. Deposits shall be transferable only if account is current.
[CC 1974 §27-87; Ord. No. 732 §1, 8-20-1969; Ord. No. 735 §1, 10-1-1969; Ord. No. 806 §2, 6-26-1972; Ord. No. 914 §1, 7-2-1975; Ord. No. 1131 §1, 6-3-1981; Ord.
No. 1315 §1, 12-16-1987; Ord. No. 1538 §1, 10-26-1994; Ord. No. 1745 Art. VII, 3-28-2001; Ord. No. 1978 §§I — II, 9-28-2005; Ord. No. 2058, 9-26-2007; Ord. No. 2525, 9-22-2020; Ord.
No. 2556, 10-12-2021; Ord. No. 2569, 4-26-2022]
All residents and owners of property within the corporate limits
of the City having a connection with any mains or pipes used in connection
with the City water system shall pay at the rate as detailed in the
City's Comprehensive Fee Schedule, held on file in the City offices.
[CC 1974 §27-91; Ord. No. 477 §1, 11-10-1954; Ord. No. 874 §4, 6-19-1974; Ord. No. 1187 §2, 7-20-1983; Ord. No. 1764 §1, 6-13-2001; Ord. No. 1847 §I, 9-25-2002; Ord. No. 1853 §I, 11-13-2002; Ord. No. 1938, 9-8-2004; Ord. No. 1941, 10-27-2004; Ord. No. 1942, 11-23-2004; Ord. No. 1962, 4-27-2005; Ord. No. 1977, 9-28-2005; Ord. No. 2079, 4-9-2008; Ord. No. 2102, 10-22-2008; Ord. No. 2255 §I, 6-26-2012; Ord.
No. 2296 §I, 7-9-2013; Ord. No. 2340 §I, 10-14-2014; Ord. No. 2380 §I, 4-26-2016; Ord. No. 2505, 1-28-2020; Ord. No. 2569, 4-26-2022]
A. Sewer rates shall be based upon the quantity of water used as the
same is measured by the water meter installed on the premises served.
1.
For residents of the City on City water and sewer, the charges
shall be at the rate as detailed in the City's Comprehensive Fee Schedule,
held on file in the City offices.
a.
Application Of Base Rate To Residential Multi-Family Facilities.
Residential Multi-family facilities include a building or portion
thereof designed for or occupied by two (2) or more families or households
living independently of each other, including, but not limited to,
apartment houses, row houses, tenements, apartment hotels, cooperative
apartments or condominiums, duplex, tri-plex, four-plex, and assisted
living facilities. Classification of a use as a residential multi-family
facility shall be as determined by the City Administrator or his/her
designee.
Any residential multi-family facility that obtains a certificate
of occupancy for the facility from the City after May 1, 2015, or
upon transfer of ownership shall be subject to the payment of the
monthly sewer base charge for each dwelling unit in the facility regardless
of whether individual water meters are in place for each unit.
The landlord of a residential multi-family facility may apply
for a vacancy credit in the amount of the monthly base charge for
any dwelling units that are vacant for one or more consecutive months.
Applications for vacancy credits must be submitted, in writing, to
the City Collector in accordance with such forms and administrative
procedures as may be developed by the City Collector for this purpose.
2.
For non-residents of the City, the charges shall be at the rate
as detailed in the City's Comprehensive Fee Schedule, held on file
in the City offices.
B. Sewer rates when water is not supplied (i.e., no water meter) shall
be at the rate as detailed in the City's Comprehensive Fee Schedule,
held on file in the City offices.
[Ord. No. 1721 §I, 8-9-2000]
Sewer rates shall not be charged for readings on secondary water meters as defined in Section
700.025 unless it shall be determined that water metered by a secondary meter is entering the City sanitary sewer system. Then all water metered through the secondary meter since installation shall be considered to have entered the sanitary sewer system and the rates as outlined in Section
700.100 shall be charged.
[CC 1974 §27-132; Ord. No. 798 §VI, 5-17-1972; Ord. No. 1131 §2, 6-3-1981; Ord. No. 1315 §2, 12-16-1987; Ord. No. 1543 §1, 2-9-1995; Ord. No. 1979 §I, 9-28-2005; Ord. No. 2059, 9-26-2007; Ord. No. 2532, 11-10-2020; Ord. No. 2556, 10-12-2021; Ord. No. 2569, 4-26-2022]
The rate to be charged for water supplied through a meter and
water line which furnishes water to a residence, party or any entity
outside the City limits shall be at a rate as detailed in the City's
Comprehensive Fee Schedule, held on file in the City offices.
[CC 1974 §27-87.1; Ord. No. 842 §§1 — 3, 10-3-1973; Ord. No. 849 §§1 — 3, 12-5-1973; Ord. No. 1131 §3, 6-3-1981]
The rate to be charged for water supplied through a compound
meter for water per unit that is supplied in the corporate limits
of the City of Richmond shall be determined by establishing an average
usage per unit per month being supplied through the compound meter.
After such average consumption per unit is determined, the progressive
rates established in this Chapter shall be applied to each unit and
then a total sum shall be billed to the party responsible for the
water hook-up.
[CC 1974 §27-87.2; Ord. No. 842 §5, 10-3-1973; Ord. No. 1453 §3, 1-8-1992; Ord. No. 1515 §1, 12-8-1993; Ord. No. 2569, 4-26-2022]
Whenever any water meter shall be disconnected for failure of
the water user to pay due and owing water bills to the City of Richmond
or for any other reason as set forth by ordinance, and reconnection
shall be made upon request of the water user as provided by ordinance,
the fee to be charged to the water user requesting reconnection shall
be as detailed in the City's Comprehensive Fee Schedule, held on file
in the City offices.
[CC 1974 §27-89; Ord. No. 732 §6, 8-20-1969; Ord. No. 2065, 11-14-2007; Ord. No. 2138 §2, 9-8-2009]
The water supply may be shut off from any premises for which
the water bill remains unpaid for a period of ten (10) days after
the bill is rendered and mailed. When shut off, water shall not be
turned on except upon the payment of the usual fee for turning on
water.
[CC 1974 §27-90; Ord. No. 1576 §1, 2-28-1996]
A. Adjustments.
1. No adjustment shall be made for water leaks on the customer service
lines without the approval of the majority of the Water Committee,
at a meeting of the Water Committee, where all members of the Committee
have been notified of such meeting.
2. Any adjustment for a City resident water customer and/or City business
customers will never be for less than the customer's previous twelve
(12) month average water usage and/or average monthly usage of record,
if less than twelve (12) months' history is available. The adjustment
shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of any amount over the previous
twelve (12) month average.
3. Any adjustment for a water customer outside the City limits will
never be for less than the customer's previous twelve (12) month average
water usage and/or average monthly usage of record, if less than twelve
(12) months' history is available. The adjustment shall not exceed
twenty-five percent (25%) of any amount over the previous twelve (12)
month average.
4. When an adjustment is allowed by a majority of the Water Committee, due to a dispute over a leak, the reconnect fees set out in Section
700.130 may be waived.
B. Disputed Water/Sewer Bills — Procedure. When a water
customer requests an extension time period for payment of a large
or disputed water/sewer bill, the following procedures shall apply:
1. If no leaks, disputes or discrepancies exist, the bill must be paid in full as set forth in Section
700.140.
2. Where the Water Committee has allowed an adjustment due to a leak, dispute or discrepancy, a homeowner or business owner may be allowed up to three (3) equal monthly installments to pay the disputed amount, over their twelve (12) month average water bill, as long as their current water bills during the three (3) month period are paid in full, in accordance with Section
700.140.
3. Where the Water Committee has allowed an adjustment due to a leak, dispute or discrepancy, a residential renter or business owner renter may be allowed up to two (2) equal monthly installments to pay the disputed amount, over their twelve (12) month average water bill, as long as their current water bills during the three (3) month period are paid in full, in accordance with Section
700.140.
[Ord. No. 1762 §§I —
IV, 5-23-2001; Ord. No.
2023, 12-13-2006]
A. A residential
sewer customer living in an individually metered dwelling unit may,
at his or her option, during the period from September fifteenth (15th)
through September thirtieth (30th) of each year apply to the City
to have their sewer charges adjusted for the preceding months of May,
June, July and August based on the average amount of water used by
such customer during the preceding months of October, November, December,
January and February.
B. Commercial
businesses (for watering purposes only) may also be included in this
adjustment process.
C. Such
averaging is unavailable to residents who were not water customers
of the City during the preceding period of October through February.
D. In
the event any month of the October through February averaging time
period has a zero or minimum charge, such month shall be excluded
in determining the average water usage.
E. Any
adjustment refunds shall be applied as a credit on future sewer and
water bills of such customer.
[CC 1974 §27-92; Ord. No. 477 §3, 11-10-1954]
A. If any user of water, other than a domestic or residential water user, shall use more than ten thousand (10,000) gallons of water in any month for commercial or industrial purposes, and if as established by records kept and maintained by such user and open for inspection by the City's representative more than one-half (½) of the water used by said customer was not discharged into the sewerage system of the City, then the charge specified in Section
700.110 for the use and services of the sewerage system of the City shall be based on the amount of such water furnished said customer during the month less the amount of such water which was not discharged into the sewerage system of the City.
B. If
in any particular case special and unusual circumstances shall make
the application of sewerage rates inequitable and unfair when applied
to any commercial or industrial user, the City Council shall have
the right to modify the rates with respect to such customer and shall
have the right to enter into contracts in such cases making charges
for sewerage services which are equitable and fair.
[CC 1974 §27-93; Ord. No. 477 §4, 11-10-1954]
No sanitary sewerage services shall be furnished or rendered
free of charge to any person.
[CC 1974 §27-94; Ord. No. 477 §5, 11-10-1954]
The Superintendent of Utilities and the City Clerk, or such
other officers or representatives of the City as may be designated
from time to time, shall cause all bills for sewerage services to
be rendered monthly as services accrue. All sewer bills shall be due
and payable from and after the date when such bills are rendered,
at the office of the City Clerk or other place designated by the City
Council, during the regular hours of business. The representative
of the City preparing such bills shall calculate the amount of each
bill for sewerage services and shall add the same to the amount of
the bill of the customer for water and sewerage services and shall
render such customer a combined bill for such water and sewerage services.
[CC 1974 §27-95; Ord. No. 477 §6, 11-10-1954; Ord. No. 2569, 4-26-2022]
If any bill for water and sewerage services shall be and remain
due and unpaid after the tenth (10th) day following the date of the
rendition thereof, an additional charge as detailed in the City's
Comprehensive Fee Schedule, held on file in the City offices.
[CC 1974 §27-96; Ord. No. 477 §7, 11-10-1954; Ord. No. 1128 §1, 5-20-1981; Ord. No. 1145 §2, 11-4-1981; Ord. No. 1453 §4, 1-8-1992; Ord. No. 1513 §1, 12-8-1993; Ord. No. 1823, 4-10-2002; Ord. No. 2237 §II, 3-13-2012; Ord. No. 2569, 4-26-2022]
A. All persons or parties who are users of water from the City upon being billed shall pay said water bill including all charges on said bill by 4:30 P.M. on the tenth (10th) of the month following the mailing of said bill. If the bill is not paid by the tenth (10th) of the month, an additional charge as detailed in the City's Comprehensive Fee Schedule, held on file in the City offices, will be added to the net amount. If service is disconnected for non-payment by the twentieth (20th) of the month, a charge for reconnecting the water user to the water system shall be paid in an amount in accordance with Section
700.130 of this Chapter, plus:
1. An upgrade of the water deposit to the current amount of deposit
required for water hookup;
2. The past due water bill paid in full; and
3. An additional amount as detailed in the City's Comprehensive Fee
Schedule, held on file in the City offices;
which shall be added to the water deposit.
|
[CC 1974 §27-98; Ord. No. 599 §§2 — 3, 2-1-1961; Ord. No. 1357 §3, 11-9-1988]
A. All
delinquent water and sewer bills on any property due and unpaid either
by a tenant or the owner of such property, prior to the sale or transfer
of the property, shall be owed by the owner of such property, and
the owner of such property shall be held responsible for all water
passing through the water meter located on such property.
B. In
the event there are delinquent water and sewer bills due and unpaid
by either the owner or the tenant of such property, to which water
and sewer service has been furnished, at the time of the sale or rental
of the property, then the water shall not be turned on so as to furnish
water to the property, unless the purchaser of the property or the
seller thereof shall pay all of said delinquent and unpaid water bills
due at the time of the sale or transfer of said property; provided
however, that in the case of rental property, only that amount owed
for the first (1st) forty-five (45) days of delinquency shall be due
and payable prior to water being furnished to such property.
C. In
the event there has been no final water, sewer, and trash bill requested
before the closing of such property, the City Collector will give
an amount equal to one and one half (1 1/2) the annual average
bill to the closing agent to collect. All remaining funds after all
final bills are paid will be refunded by the City directly to the
proper party that paid in the closing of such property.
[Ord. No. 2594, 9-27-2022]