All customers are responsible for paying (A) a monthly water service charge based on meter size and type of water service (residential or commercial/industrial); and (B) a monthly consumption charge per unit applied to the quantity of water that passes through the meter. The charges set forth in Attachment A, City Schedule of Rates and Fees, attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter reflect the charges in place at time of enactment of the ordinance codified in this chapter. Adjustments to these charges will take place by resolution of the city council and any updated charges will be contained in the separate city-wide fee schedule.
Water service in all cases, shall be in the name of the owner of the property. The owner of the property may authorize, in writing, that service may be billed to a second party, such as a property tenant. The owner of the property remains responsible for payment of all amounts due for water service. If the owner of the property has authorized a second party to receive billing for service, the second party must complete an application for water service and submit that form to the city.
(Amended by Ord. 721 § 1; Ord. 743 § 1)
No customer shall knowingly permit leaks or waste of water. Where water is wastefully or negligently used on a customer's premises, the city may discontinue the service if such conditions are not corrected within the time specified in a written notice to the customer. The city's regulations on prohibition of water waste, water-efficient landscaping and the city's water conservation goals are set forth in Chapter 8.45 MMC.
(Ord. 721 § 1)
All water service will be metered and all water meters purchased by the city shall conform to American Water Works Association (AWWA) Standards C702-01, Section 3.6, and C703-96, Section 3.6. The city may request from the manufacturer or supplier verification which states that all water meters and/or components comply with all applicable requirements of this standard, and that such meters have been tested in accordance with AWWA Manual M6. Each water meter shall be synchronized so that there is no cumulative error between the internal readings on the meter-register and the external readings of the remote indicator.
(Ord. 721 § 1)
All meters will be installed and owned by the city. Meters will be installed at the property line in a public right-of-way or within the easement or at such location as may be recommended by the public works director or the public works superintendent. If a meter is removed at the city's request for city's sole benefit, it will be removed at the city's expense. In all other cases, deposits and connection fees will apply.
(Ord. 721 § 1)
Meters moved for the convenience of the customer will be relocated at the customer's expense. Meters moved for the city's convenience will be relocated at the city's expense.
(Ord. 721 § 1)
Any customer may request that the city test the water meter serving their premises for accuracy. The city will test the accuracy of meters up to two inches in size within two weeks from the time the customer submits the request to the city. Such meters shall be tested using AWWA approved meter testing equipment. Meters larger than two inches shall require a three-to-four-week time frame to test for accuracy because these meters will need to be sent to a meter testing facility in contract with the city. Customers may request a copy of the method used to certify the accuracy of the meter and the results. Charges for these testing services set forth in Attachment A, City Schedule of Rates and Fees, attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter, reflect the charges in place at time of enactment of the ordinance codified in this chapter. Adjustments to these charges will take place by resolution of the city council and any updated charges will be contained in the separate city-wide fee schedule.
(Ord. 721 § 1)
The findings and determination of the finance director or public works director on adjustments of bills for meter errors are final, subject to appeal to the city manager in accordance with MMC § 8.05.1300.
A. 
Meters with Fast Reading Registers. When a test reveals that a meter is registering more than two percent or greater than the actual flow under conditions of normal operation based on the AWWA M6 standards, the city will, within forty-five days, refund or credit to the customer the full amount of the overcharge based on corrected meter readings for the prior period, not to exceed six months, that the meter was in use, unless the exact duration of fast meter registration can be determined. If corrected meter readings for the prior period are not available, the city will refund to the customer the amount of overcharge based on the past average consumption for similar billing periods, not to exceed six months. The finance director or designee may elect to refund the differential immediately or to credit the customer's account.
B. 
Meters with Slow Reading Registers. If testing indicates the meter is registering below the AWWA M6 standards, then the meter register will be replaced with a new register. For the period determined that the meter was registering slow, not to exceed one year, if the meter registered more than ten percent less than actual flow, the finance director shall charge that customer for past estimated average usage for similar billing periods based upon an analysis of similar type of account usage.
C. 
Nonregistering Meters. When a test reveals that a meter is not registering, the city may bill the customer for the estimated amount of water consumed while the meter was not registering. The finance director or designee may at their discretion determine the appropriate amount of any adjustments/refunds using analytical evidence, such as using past consumption history during the same period for the same account or similar accounts. The finance director or designee may elect to average the consumption over a period of time ranging from one or several years in order to calculate an equitable adjustment.
(Ord. 721 § 1)