Water charges begin when the meter is installed and continue until written notice has been given of the change of ownership. When such change of ownership takes place, the new owner must sign a new application.
[Amended 3-24-1998 by Ord. No. 98-06; 4-27-1999 by Ord. No. 99-7; 2-22-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-02; 3-25-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-05; 7-28-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-18; 11-24-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-25; 3-22-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-09; 2-26-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-02]
The following rates are hereby established for consumption of water from Township water mains:
A. 
Consumption rates per thousand gallons: as provided in Chapter 152, Fees.
B. 
Account service charges. In addition to consumption billing as described in Subsection A, the quarterly charge as provided in Chapter 152, Fees, shall be applied to each water meter, except those covered by Subsection C of this section.
C. 
Charges for multiunit dwelling buildings supplied through a single meter.
(1) 
All multiunit dwellings supplied through a single meter are subject to the account service charge for each meter in service as provided in Chapter 152, Fees.
(2) 
The threshold for charging the higher tiered consumption rate listed in Chapter 152, Fees (greater than 30,000 gallons), for multiunit dwellings supplied through a single meter shall be calculated by multiplying the number of individual units served through the meter by 30,000 gallons. The higher rate shall be charged for the consumption in excess of this amount.
D. 
New connection. All new water connections shall be charged a connection fee as provided in Chapter 152, Fees. For each successive year the connection fee shall be recalculated as follows: all prior costs for principal and interest on debt plus direct capital expenditures as of December 31 of the previous year divided by the total single-family dwelling units plus the total equivalent single-family dwelling units for commercial, apartment, condominium and not-for profit users as of December 31. This shall be calculated annually by the Chief Financial Officer of the Township no later than March 31 of the succeeding year. In addition, any off-site capital expenses not required by existing users but necessary for the supply of water service to the new users shall be added to the connection fee identified above. The capacity/connection fee will be levied and collected at the time the building permit is issued.
E. 
Bulk water/wholesale water rate to other municipalities. The rate schedule in Chapter 152, Fees, is established for the bulk sale of water to other municipally owned water utilities and bulk commercial users who consume in excess of 3,000,000 gallons per month. Bulk water delivered under this subsection shall be billed monthly. The rate is per 1,000 gallons.
A. 
All contractors using water for building and construction repair work shall apply for a temporary construction connection. The contractor will be furnished a meter by the Water Department which shall be attached to a service pipe or fire hydrant and rates shall be charged to conform to the meter rates established by § 346-23, but the minimum charge in all cases shall be as provided in Chapter 152, Fees.
B. 
A deposit as provided in Chapter 152, Fees, for the temporary meter and appurtenant connections shall be paid by the contractor and shall be refunded after removal of the temporary connection.
C. 
There shall be a charge as provided in Chapter 152, Fees, for the turning on and off of water on any premises.
[Amended 7-28-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-18; 10-27-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-24]
A. 
Swimming pools may be filled from fire hydrants upon application to the Water Department by the owner. Hoses and a meter will be supplied by the Water Department and fire hydrants shall only be operated by Water Department personnel. A fee as provided in Chapter 152, Fees, shall be charged.
B. 
The Township Council may, by resolution, set the charge for all other water rates of a special nature.
C. 
No charge will be issued for municipally owned recreation facilities. Water used by municipally owned recreation facilities connected to the water system through a metered connection shall be recorded but not billed.
For the purpose of making and collecting charges for Township water used by the consumer, the calendar year shall be subdivided and designated as follows: the year period shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31; the quarterly periods shall begin on the first day of January, April, July and October, respectively, and shall extend to the beginning of the succeeding quarterly period.
Under ordinary conditions, continuous service water meters shall be read on or about the first day of the beginning of a new quarter. Water meters installed for miscellaneous service may be read at the discretion of the Water Department.
The Township Council may, by resolution, establish meter reading districts or changes in the yearly and quarterly periods to provide for the progressive reading, billing and collecting of water charges.
Unless the applicant for water service specifies otherwise, the bills will be mailed or delivered to the premises where water service is furnished. If the applicant so desires, the Water Department will mail or deliver the bills to the business or home address of the applicant or his agent. Failure to receive bills or notices is no excuse for nonpayment of water bills.
[Amended 10-27-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-24]
A. 
Charges for water supplied at meter rates for any quarterly period or fractional part thereof will be dated on the last day of such period or on the day when the water is turned off and are due and payable on the day when dated.
B. 
All charges for water are a lien upon the premises or property on account of which the charge is incurred until paid and satisfied. Such charges shall be paid within 30 days after the date of bill.
C. 
If not so paid, interest from the expiration of such period of 30 days, at the rate of 8%, will be added and collected with such charge, and the water may be turned off from such premises if not paid.
Where water is supplied at meter rates, all the water registered by the meter will be charged for and no deduction will be made for leaks.
[Added 8-22-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-17]
A. 
The Water Department shall not discontinue water service for nonpayment of bills in cases where a charge is in dispute, provided the undisputed charges and bills are paid in an amount at least equal to the average of the last four previous quarters of billed charges and a formal request is made to the Water Department for an investigation of disputed charge. Once a formal dispute is filed, and the average payment is made, all collection activity on the disputed charge shall cease until such time as the dispute is resolved. When a dispute as to a charge is resolved, the Water Department shall provide seven days' written notice by certified mail before water service is discontinued for nonpayment of charges and/or bills. Any charge for water service that is not disputed within a nine-month period after being billed shall not be subject to dispute and shall be considered accurate and valid.
B. 
A dispute to a charge for water provided is perfected when a customer files with the Water Department a completed dispute form, which shall be provided by the Water Department upon request. Once a completed dispute form is filed, the Water Department shall retain a copy of the form and transmit the original to the Township Chief Financial Officer, and the Water Department shall cease all collections regarding the disputed charge pending resolution of dispute.
C. 
Within 20 days of a dispute being filed regarding a charge for water, and upon five days' notice to the customer filing a dispute, the Township Chief Financial Officer shall hold a hearing as to the disputed charge. At the hearing the customer may present evidence as to why they disputed the charge is erroneous and/or inaccurate; however, metered charges are presumed accurate unless evidence is presented that more likely than not demonstrates the meter generating the charges to be dysfunctional or inaccurate in accordance with the provisions of § 346-38.
D. 
If upon hearing the Township Chief Financial Officer finds that it is more likely than not that the disputed charge was erroneous or inaccurate, not as the result of tampering, the Township Chief Financial Officer shall be empowered to amend the charge as necessary to accomplish a fair and reasonable outcome as provided by § 346-39. However, if upon hearing the Township Chief Financial Officer does not find that is it more likely than not that the disputed charge was erroneous or inaccurate, the customer shall be so advised and required to satisfy any outstanding unpaid charge for continued water service.
E. 
Any unpaid charge for water that is either undisputed or found to be accurate shall be deemed a municipal lien on the property incurring the debt and shall run with the land in accordance with law.