All water meters presently installed or to be installed and the service of water through meters will be governed by the following rules and regulations, whether within the City or outside the boundaries.
[Adopted 8-1-1950 by Ord. No. 6402 (Article 927 of the 1962 Codified Ordinances)]
The Bureau of Water Resources reserves the right to meter any or all consumers of water at any time it becomes necessary to do so.
From and after giving of notice as specified by this article, no water will be furnished except through meters to any consumers desiring to be served therewith falling within any of the following use classifications:
[Amended 8-22-1950 by Ord. No. 6425]
Except as hereinafter provided, the City will furnish and install all meters of the same size as the service pipe entering the building and will maintain and keep them in good repair. The Bureau may permit the installation of a meter either one size larger or smaller than the service pipe, depending upon the actual volume of consumption in the building served or any new use to which the building has been converted.
[Amended 7-12-1989 by Ord. No. 12913]
All consumers of metered water will prepare the pipe, ready for the installation, repair or replacement of the meter, as well as any stop, waste or valve required to drain it, at their sole expense. For all meters 1 1/2 inches in size or larger, a valved bypass will be provided at the sole expense of the consumer. Shutoff valves will be installed on the bypass piping and on the inlet and outlet sides of the meter in such a manner that the meter may be removed without disrupting service to the customer.
All consumers of metered water using steam or hot water under pressure upon the premises served will install a swing check valve to be placed near the meter in the direction of the flow of water, at his sole expense.
When convenient, meters will be placed within the property line of the consumer, in a convenient, accessible and unobstructed location within a building. No person other than an authorized representative or agent of the Bureau of Water Resources will install, remove, inspect and change, alter or interfere with any meter or the dials thereof.
[Amended 5-24-1960 by Ord. No. 9191; 8-6-1992 by Ord. No. 13145]
A.
If meters are removed, temporarily or otherwise, relocated or changed, such service must be performed by the Water Resources which will have the right to make the following charges as established in Chapter 270, Article II, Public Works Fees.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
B.
In addition to the above charges, see Chapter 270, Article II, Public Works Fees, for charges for three-inch and four-inch meters located in meter pits; the same charge will be made to have three-inch and four-inch meters reinstalled.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
C.
The above charges apply only to commercial and industrial properties.
D.
The Bureau of Water Resources will not remove any meters until all meter rentals and lateral charges are paid in full. Receipts for the final reading and lateral charges must be presented before the Bureau of Water Resources will remove any of the meters.
[Amended 8-6-1992 by Ord. No. 13145]
When not convenient to place a meter within a building, a suitable meter box or masonry pit will be built with suitable cover with lock and key, at the sole expense of the consumer. Meter pits will conform to the dimensions and construction standards as established by the Bureau of Water Resources.
[Amended 4-12-1989 by Ord. No. 12913]
The Bureau of Water Resources will give written notice to all consumers of water falling within the classifications set forth in § 633-19 hereof, in whose premises meters have not been installed, to prepare their pipe, stop, valve or meter box, and to install or permit the installation, repair or replacement of a meter within 30 days therefrom, which notice will specify the nature of such preparations generally, unless no entry to or inspection of the premises has been previously permitted. The notice may be given by service upon the consumers in the manner prescribed by law for the service of writs of summons or by registered mail at his last-known address registered upon the records of the department for the sending of water rent bills.
[Amended 4-12-1989 by Ord. No. 12913; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Upon failure of any consumer to prepare his pipe, stop, valve or meter box, or to permit the installation, repair or replacement of a meter within 30 days after the giving of notice as herein before prescribed, Water Resources will forthwith shut off the water supply of the premises at the main and will cease and desist from serving the premises with water until the provisions of the notice have been complied and the costs of shutting off and turning on the water supply have been paid in full.
[Amended 4-12-1989 by Ord. No. 12913]
The consumer will, at all times, properly protect the meter from injury by frost or any other cause and loss, and will be responsible for the cost of all repairs to any meters damaged by whatever cause, and replacement of any lost meters, payable in full at the next date of issue of his water bill.
If a meter fails to register or otherwise becomes out of order, it will be replaced or repaired by the Bureau of Water Resources. The current bill will be estimated and determined by the average amount of water used in a previous corresponding period. No deduction from water bills will be allowed on account of leakage.
In all cases where one service connection supplies two or more separate consumers or a block occupied by diverse parties, only one meter will be furnished for all consumers. The water rent as registered by such water meter will be chargeable to and payable by the owner of such premises or building. If additional meters are required for any building, the owner will furnish them at his own expense. Such additional meters will be of a type approved by the Bureau of Water Resources. The cost of installation and repairing will be paid by the owner.
[Amended 8-6-1992 by Ord. No. 13145; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
No consumer served with metered water will take or receive, or permit to be taken or received, any water from City water mains into the building or fixtures for which a water meter is installed, except such water that will pass through and be registered by such water meter.
The owner of a metered property will notify the Bureau of Water Resources immediately of any change of ownership of the property. The Bureau of Water Resources will read and bill the final consumption to the seller and list the buyer for future billings.
All bills for metered water will be rendered to and payable by the owner of the property served. Whenever metered accounts become delinquent for three months, the water supply to such property will be shut off at the main, and will not be turned on until all arrearages of water rents have been paid in full, together with all costs of the shutting off and turning on of the water supply. Five days' notice of such action will be mailed the owner and all tenants of the property setting forth the date and approximate time the water will be shut off.
All consumers of water will permit the authorized agents, servants and representatives of the Bureau of Water Resources to enter upon and in the property served at reasonable times and hours for the purpose of making inspections or for any other purpose lawfully required for the carrying out of any of the foregoing provisions of this article. In the event that any consumer will refuse or neglect to permit such entry, the Bureau of Water Resources will give notice, in writing, to the consumer of its intention and desire so to do. Upon further refusal, the water supply of the consumer will be turned off at the main, whereupon the Bureau will cease and desist from serving the premises with water until the provisions of the notice have been complied with and the costs of shutting off and turning on of the water supply have been paid in full.
[Amended 2-21-1973 by Ord. No. 11995]
Any person violating the provisions of this Article will be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 90 days, or both.