All meters will be tested prior to installation. No meter will be placed in service or allowed to remain in service which is known to have an error in registration in excess of three percent under conditions of normal operation.
(Ord. 348 §12.1, 1984; Ord. 427 §1, 1997)
Meter tests will be conducted in accordance with standards of practice established by the American Water Works Association.
(Ord. 348 §12.2.1, 1984; Ord. 427 §1, 1997)
Customers may, giving not less than seven days' notice, request the Water Department to test the meter serving their premises. The Water Department will require the customers to deposit the testing fee. The deposit will be returned to customers if the test reveals the meter to over-register more than three percent under conditions of normal operation. If the meter is operating satisfactorily, or if the meter under-registers more than three percent under the standard test conditions, the deposit shall be forfeited to the Water Department. If the cost of testing the meter is higher than the deposit, customers will be responsible for the remaining costs associated with testing the meter. Customers may, at their option, witness any meter tests which they request.
(Ord. 348 §12.2.2, 1984; Ord. 427 §1, 1997; Ord. 446 §9, 1998)
If, upon comparison of past water usage, it appears that a meter is not registering properly, the Water Department may, at its option, test the meter and adjust the charges accordingly if the meter either over-registers or under-registers. No charge for meter testing will be made to customers for the meter test under these conditions.
(Ord. 348 §12.2.3, 1984; Ord. 427 §1, 1997)
When, upon test, a meter is found to be over-registering more than three percent under normal operating conditions, the Water Department will refund to the customer the full amount of the overcharge, based on corrected meter readings, not exceeding two regular billing periods that the meter was in use.
(Ord. 348 §12.3.1, 1984; Ord. 427 §1, 1997)
When, upon test, a meter is found to be under-registering more than five percent, the Water Department may bill customers for the amount of the undercharge, based upon corrected meter readings, not exceeding two regular billing periods that the meter was in use.
(Ord. 348 §12.3.2, 1984; Ord. 427 §1, 1997)
The Water Department will bill customers for water consumed while the meter was not registering. The bill will be computed upon an estimate of consumption based upon the customer's prior use during the same season of the previous year, or upon a reasonable comparison with the use of other customers receiving the same class of service during the same season and under similar circumstances and conditions, or both.
(Ord. 348 §12.3.3, 1984; Ord. 427 §1, 1997)