A.
Generally. All water furnished through service pipes, whether for
residential, commercial or industrial use, shall be metered. All meters
5/8 inch or smaller shall be furnished and installed at the expense
of the Water Department, except as otherwise provided. Meters larger
than 5/8 inch should be purchased from the Water Department.
B.
Fire protection. At the option of the Water Department, service lines
used exclusively for fire protection may be left unmetered. Wherever
surreptitious use of water by the consumer is discovered from such
connection, the Water Department may either discontinue such service
or compel the owner to install a suitable meter at his or her own
expense.
C.
Building purposes.
(1)
Generally. Water meters for building purposes shall be set by the
Water Department at the expense of the contractor or person making
such application therefor.
(2)
Unmetered water. In case it is impracticable to place meters for
such building purposes, water may be supplied to the contractor or
owner at flat rates duly established.
No water meter shall be set or removed or disturbed without
a permit from the Water Department. In general all meters shall be
installed and removed only by duly authorized agents of the Water
Department.
A.
Obstructions. Whenever a water meter is set, whether at the curb
or in the sidewalk or area vault or any part of the basement of any
building, the space occupied by the meter and the meter box shall
at all times be kept free from rubbish or obstructions of any kind.
B.
Accessibility. The owner and tenant shall provide ready and convenient
access to the meter so that it may be frequently read and examined
by agents of the Water Department.
A.
Responsibility. Any damage which a water meter may sustain resulting
from the carelessness of the owner or his or her agent or tenant or
from neglect of any of them to properly secure and protect the same,
including any damage that may result from allowing said meter to become
frozen or to be injured by hot water or steam, shall be paid to the
Water Department by the owner of the premises.
B.
Wear and tear. Ordinary wear and tear of five-eighths-inch meters
shall be the responsibility of the Water Department. All other meters
shall be the responsibility of the owners. Meters shall be repaired
only by the Water Department or its authorized agents.
A.
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 designated in the schedule of fees
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.
B.
Fees will be charged to the property owner; all bills for testing
meters will be treated as water bills under the regulations set forth
in this article.
