[1961 Code, § 24.49; Ord. 257; Ord. 439]
The Water Department shall have the right to require guarantee deposits from any water consumer who has allowed his or her bill to become delinquent or who does not have an acceptable credit rating or for the payment of future bills.
[1961 Code, § 24.52; Ord. 257]
No interest shall be payable at any time upon any deposit made by any consumer, as required by § 54.116 for water service under the provisions of this chapter.
[1961 Code, § 24.53; Ord. 257; Ord. 439]
Any guarantee deposits that may be required by § 54.115 may be applied to current billing after one year of acceptable payment experience or to closing accounts. Any balance in excess of $5.00 of any deposit remaining after the closing bill or application to current bill for water service has been settled will be returned promptly; provided, nothing is owning to the Water Department by the depositor for water delivered to any former address.
[1961 Code, § 24.55; Ord. 257]
For convenience in the reading of meters and the preparation of water bills, the Water Department is hereby expressly authorized and it shall be its duty to divide the city into districts. These districts may, from time to time, be revised or changed as necessary or desirable in order to equalize the work of reading meters and billing.
[1961 Code, § 24.56; Ord. 257]
The meters in each district established under § 54.119 shall be read on approximately the same day of every other month, except when Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays intervene.
[1961 Code, § 24.57; Ord. 257]
Water bills based on meter readings shall be prepared and mailed to the consumers in each district on approximately the same day of every other month, except when Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays intervene. Fifteen days shall be allowed from the date of mailing of the bills for the payment thereof.
[1961 Code, § 24.58; Ord. 257]
In case a house becomes vacant, the regular minimum rate shall be charged and collected from the owner thereof whether water is used or not unless the Water Department is notified in writing of the fact that the property is unoccupied and the Water Department is requested to cut off the water service therefrom.
[1961 Code, § 24.59; Ord. 257]
For the purpose of making charges, all water meters supplying a consumer's premises will be considered separately and the readings thereof will not be combined, except that where the Water Department shall, for operating necessity, install in place of one meter, two or more meters, then the reading of those two or more meters will be combined for the purpose of making charges; provided, the minimum water rates shall be applied to each such meter.
[1961 Code, § 24.60; Ord. 257]
Under ordinary conditions, continuous water service meters shall be read monthly on approximately the same day of the month; provided, the Water Department may, at its discretion, read the meter of any consumer on a bimonthly schedule and a bill issued showing the period covered by the meter readings, the quantity of water used and the total charge for the service rendered.
[1961 Code, § 24.61; Ord. 257]
If the water meter readings indicate a large or unusual consumption has occurred, the readings will be checked before the bill is mailed. The Water Department's services will be available without charge in assisting in locating the probable causes of high consumption. When it is impossible to read the meter due to any obstructions, an average bill or a series of average bills will be rendered. The accumulated over-read or under-read, if any, will be adjusted at the next actual reading date. If the meter fails to register, the charge for water will be based upon the average of the comparable period of the preceding year, taking into consideration the volume of business, weather conditions and any other factors that may assist in determining an equitable charge.
[1961 Code, § 24.63; Ord. 257; Ord. 615; Ord. 1011]
In the event any consumer is delinquent in the payment of his or her water bill, and that delinquency continues for a period of five days after the final date for payment of the bill a penalty of 5% of the unpaid current balance shall be added to that consumer's account.
[1961 Code, § 24.64; Ord. 257; Ord. 1011]
A person taking possession of premises and using water through an active service connection without having made application to the Water Department for water service shall be held liable for the water delivered from the date of the last recorded meter reading. If the meter was found inoperative, the quantity of water consumed will be estimated.
[1961 Code, § 24.65; Ord. 257]
Upon application of the owner or occupant of a building or premises served by water service connection to have water shut off at the supply or inlet side of the meter, the Water Department will shut the water off and at the same time will record the reading of the meter.
[1961 Code, § 24.66; Ord. 257; Ord. 275]
No charge will be made by the Water Department for turning on or shutting off the water supply when requested by the consumer incident to the closing of an account.
[1961 Code, § 24.68; Ord. 257; Ord. 275; Ord. 615; Ord. 1746, 1-15-2020; Ord. 1747, 2-5-2020]
The City Council shall adopt by resolution a written policy on discontinuing residential service for nonpayment. The city shall comply with the written policy in all actions to discontinue residential water service. Such policy does not apply to nonresidential water service. Nonresidential customers/users failing to pay a bill on time are subject to termination after a fifteen (15) calendar day notice is served for the service address following the due date.
[Ord. 1301, 10-17-2001; Ord. 1422, 5-4-2005; Ord. 1423, 5-18-2005; Ord. 1426, 6-1-2005; Ord. 1438, 6-15-2005; Ord. 1463, 5-17-2006]
All new development on land that has not had prior water service shall be subject to a water impact fee as established pursuant to the city’s impact fee ordinance (§§ 33.065 et seq.).