A.Â
The Department of Public Works reserves the right,
where applicable, to attach a water meter to any service pipe at any
time whenever it shall deem it expedient to do so and thereafter charge
for the quantity of water thus metered instead of by the schedule
of flat rates.
B.Â
Owners of the premises, where applicable, may make
application to the Department of Public Works to set a meter at the
Department's expense and thereafter pay for the water used at existing
metered rates, provided that the regular assessed rates for the use
of water shall not be less than the minimum charge. The owner will
be required to protect the meter from freezing or from any other possible
damage. Failure to do so will result in repairs made for damage by
the Department of Public Works at the owner's expense.
C.Â
All persons are hereby forbidden to interfere with
or remove a water meter from any service after it has been attached
by order or permit of the Department of Public Works, under a penalty
of not less than $100 nor more than $250.[1]
D.Â
If, from any cause, the meter breaks or the indicators
fail to record or record incorrectly the amount of water consumed
for any quarter, the owner must pay for such quarter for the same
amount of water used in the same three-month period preceding the
time when disability occurred, unless the parties can show, to the
satisfaction of the Department of Public Works, that the consumption
was less.
E.Â
All meters two inches and under will be installed
by the Department of Public Works. Meters larger than two inches will
be installed by the owner at his expense, under the supervision and
inspection of the Department of Public Works.
F.Â
Any plumbing changes needed to install a water meter
will be the responsibility of the property owner, and the cost incurred
will be borne by the property owner.
The types of meters on all services shall be
determined by the Department of Public Works. However, all meters
larger than two inches in size shall be of the type known as "compound
meters" or as approved by the Department.
On meters three inches and over, each meter
setting shall include a bypass. The bypass valve shall be sealed shut,
and if the seal is unlawfully broken, the owner will be charged $25
for resealing. In case it is necessary for the consumer to break the
bypass seal, he shall immediately notify the Department of Public
Works, giving the reason for breaking the seal.
A.Â
All meters are sealed upon installation by the Department
of Public Works both at the coupling on the supply or inlet side of
the meter and at the bonnet set screws. Such seals shall not be broken
or disturbed in any manner.
B.Â
In any premises where such seals are found broken
or where meters used for measuring water taken from mains of the Department
of Public Works are damaged, tampered with, disconnected, removed
or maliciously disturbed, the person responsible, upon conviction
thereof by and before the City Judge of the City of Hudson, shall
be liable for damages and be punished by a fine of not less than $100
nor more than $250, in the discretion of such Judge.[1]
Notice of any stoppage or irregularity of operation
of a meter shall be given immediately to the Department of Public
Works.
The owner shall be responsible for the protection
from damage or theft of any meter installed on said premises and owned
by the Department of Public Works and shall be required to pay all
damages to the Department of Public Works for loss or theft of the
meter or through damage of the meter caused by hot water, freezing
or other damage due to neglect.
A.Â
All renewals and repairs of the Department of Public
Works' meters due to natural causes and not the neglect of the owner
will be made by the Department of Public Works without charge to the
owner.
B.Â
To be considered accurate, meters must test within
2% plus or minus (that is, between 98% and 102% of the water actually
passed) within the following limits of flow:
Size of Meter
(inches)
|
Rate of Flow
(gallons per minute)
| |
 5/8
|
1 to 20
| |
 3/4
|
2 to 30
| |
1
|
3 to 50
| |
1Â 1/2
|
5 to 100
| |
2
|
8 to 160
|
C.Â
The flow limits of other sizes and types of meters
shall be that specified by the manufacturer. When the average of three
tests of the meter does not fall within the above limits of accuracy
(98% to 102%), the meter shall be repaired.
D.Â
All meters will be tested by the Department of Public
Works before installation and periodically thereafter. Meters will
not be changed upon request of the owner unless proven defective or
inaccurate.