The Department may administratively adjust the amount of water
and/or sewer consumed for a billing period where a leak or situational
high usage was experienced, or if a meter was read incorrectly. Underground
leaks (e.g., service lines over 200 feet in length that have a meter
pit or leaks in buried irrigation systems downstream of the water
meter) may also qualify for a reduction to the sewer portion of the
bill but must be repaired by a licensed plumber with proof of repair.
A. Conditions for qualifying for adjustment.
(1) The owner or an authorized person designated by the owner must request
the adjustment within 30 calendar days of the bill being issued.
(2) Water loss caused by a third party from whom the customer is able
to recover their costs are not eligible for an adjustment and are
therefore the responsibility of the customer. Examples of this include
theft, vandalism, negligence and construction damage, and unoccupied
or vacant properties.
(3) Customers may only be granted an adjustment at a property once every
three years. By requesting an adjustment, the customer is waiving
their rights to any future adjustments within three years of the initial
request regardless of the subsequent amount.
(4) The date, type of repair, and proof of repair must be provided, in
writing, to the Department in order to be considered for adjustment.
A signed letter from the repair company/technician that documents
the repairs completed shall constitute the proof of repair.
(5) The applying property owner must have an up to date account with
no current delinquencies.
(6) While an adjustment request is being processed, the customer is responsible
for payment of the entire amount due on their bill within the normal
payment period; or the customer may request to enter into an agreed-upon
payment arrangement.
B. Calculation of adjustment.
(1) Interior/situational usage adjustment. This type of adjustment is
limited to charges for water consumption only and no other charges
will be adjusted. The adjustment is calculated from the average (mean)
consumption of water from the customer's total bills over the
previous four billing cycles (one year's worth of bills). Fifty
percent of the additional water usage over the average water consumption
is deducted from the amount owed.
(2) Underground leak adjustment. This type of adjustment is for water
and sewer consumption only. Fifty percent of the additional water
usage over the average water consumption and 100% of excess sewer
usage is deducted from the amount owed. Evidence of an underground
leak repair must be provided from a licensed plumber to qualify for
an underground leak adjustment.
C. Adjustments to correct inaccurate meter readings. Adjustments to
water bills to correct inaccurate readings shall be made in accordance
with the following:
(1) Adjustments to water bills may be applied by the Department to correct
inaccurate readings of meters or incorrect readings caused by faulty
meters. During the reading cycle, the Department will automatically
check anomalous readings to ensure accuracy.
(2) If the customer wishes to contest the accuracy of the meter reading
and subsequent water bill, the customer may request that the meter
be checked or tested to verify the accuracy of the reading or the
meter. If, after checking and testing the meter, the reading is found
to be correct, the account will be charged the meter test fee. The
test fee is as set forth in the most recent Town of Bethlehem water
fee and rate schedule. If the meter or reading is found to be faulty
or incorrect, the water bill will be adjusted accordingly and the
meter test fee will be waived.