The rules and regulations herein set forth shall apply to the public water supply system which exists within the boundaries of the Village of Fishkill as well as those public water districts and public water supply systems which are served by the Village of Fishkill.
A. 
All public water supplied by the Village of Fishkill shall be through a water meter of such form and type as approved by the Village of Fishkill Water Department.
B. 
All water meters that shall be used on the village water system must be procured from the village and shall be the property of the Village of Fishkill. They shall be set at the expense of the property owner in such location, position and manner as to be readily accessible for reading and repair and kept free from obstructions and shall be fully protected from freezing and damage at the property owner's expense. A suitable stopcock shall be placed in the service pipe near the inlet side of the meter. The property owner shall be responsible for the cost of repair of any water meter damaged by freezing, or other cause, unless such damage is caused by an agent or employee of the village. All meters shall be under the exclusive control of and subject to the inspection at all times of the Village Board or its duly authorized agent. All repairs to and replacement of meters shall be made by the Village Board or its agents at the expense of the owner.
C. 
All water passing through a meter will be charged for, whether used or wasted. Meters will be tested at the consumer's request. If the meter is found correct, the consumer shall bear the expense of the test. Meters will be considered correct if registering within two percent (2%). If a meter goes out of order and fails to register correctly, the consumer will be charged the average daily consumption as shown by the meter when in working order.
D. 
No person shall in any way interfere or tamper with the water meter or the valves and fittings connected therewith. A person or persons who intentionally tampers with a meter shall be reported to the appropriate criminal prosecution authorities in addition to any civil penalties contained in this Code.
E. 
All meters must be sealed. The seal may be broken only by the authorized agent of the Village Board. Should the seal be broken in any other manner, the property owner will be held responsible, and the Village Board reserves the right to order the meter removed for a test at the expense of the property owner.
[Amended 3-6-2006 by L.L. No. 3-2006; 2-4-2013 by L.L. No. 1-2013; 2-6-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
Water use shall be measured in cubic feet and billed at the following rates:
A. 
In-Village residential users.
(1) 
Minimum charge: $16.44 up to 1,000 cubic feet.
(2) 
One thousand cubic feet and up: $10.69 per 1,000 cubic feet.
B. 
Out-of-Village residential users.
(1) 
Minimum charge: $32.88 up to 1,000 cubic feet.
(2) 
One thousand cubic feet and up: $21.38 per 1,000 cubic feet.
C. 
In-Village commercial users.
(1) 
Minimum charge: $21.37 up to 1,000 cubic feet.
(2) 
One thousand cubic feet and up: $13.89 per 1,000 cubic feet.
D. 
Out-of-Village commercial users.
(1) 
Minimum charge: $42.74 up to 1,000 cubic feet.
(2) 
One thousand cubic feet and up: $27.78 per 1,000 cubic feet.
E. 
The Village Board of Trustees does hereby authorize future rate changes to be made by Board resolution of the Board of Trustees.
Every service shall be supplied through a meter. The meter rate bill shall be due and payable to the Treasurer of the village on or before the 15th day of May, August, November and February of each year. Upon any bills remaining unpaid at the close of business in the Village Treasurer's office on the aforesaid dates respectively, twelve percent (12%) of the amount of such unpaid bill shall be added thereto. Upon any meter bill remaining unpaid and in arrears for thirty (30) days after the aforesaid dates respectively, an additional fifteen percent (15%) of the amount of the bill shall be added thereto, totaling twenty-seven percent (27%) in all. After the addition of twenty-seven percent (27%) to any meter rate bill as provided herein, the Village Clerk shall commence the notification procedure for the water supply shutoff, as set forth hereafter.
In the event that any water bill becomes delinquent for more than sixty (60) days, then the Village Clerk shall forward a written notice of water shutoff to both the property owner and the occupant (if the property is not owner-occupied), by certified mail, return receipt requested. Such notice shall specify that if the property owner/occupant disputes the amount of the bill or disputes whether payment has been made, the property owner must file a request for hearing. Such hearing request shall be made in writing and filed with the Village Clerk within seven (7) days of receipt of the delinquency notice. The hearing, if requested, shall be held within seven (7) days of the receipt of the request for hearing by the members of the Board of Trustees who are designated as the Water Committee. In the event that the water charges as finally determined by the Village Clerk (or the Water Committee if a hearing is requested) are not paid within ninety (90) days of their due date, then the water supply to the subject premises shall be shut off. Such water supply shall not be turned back on until all charges, penalties and a reconnect fee have been paid to the village; except that, if the water bill is thereafter added to the village property tax bill, then all of the foregoing charges, penalties and a reconnect fee shall also be added to the village tax bill. In that event, the water supply to the subject premises shall be restored upon the adding of the foregoing amounts to the village property tax bill.