All water sold by the city shall be based upon metered volume sales in accordance with the rate schedule as set forth in Code of the City of Lebanon, Chapter 68, Fees.
The city shall provide and install meters on
all new service lines up to and including one-inch. All meters installed
on new service lines in excess of one inch shall be provided and installed
by the consumer and shall be inspected by the Department of Public
Works prior to the service being turned on. The city shall provide
and install all meter reading terminals on new service lines. A minimum
of 24 hours' notice is required to schedule the installation of a
new meter or meter reading terminal or to schedule the inspection
of a meter or meter reading terminal installed by the consumer unless
the Director of Public Works approves less notice.
The size, type and location of the water meters
and meter reading terminals shall be approved by the Department of
Public Works in all cases. All meters shall be placed, whenever possible,
on the inside of the building or structure at the point of entrance
of the service line to the building or structure. The meter reading
terminal shall be placed on the outside of the building being serviced.
The consumer shall provide and maintain a clean, dry and warm space
for service and inspection, wherever practicable. No change shall
be made in the original location of meters or meter reading terminals
unless approved by the Department of Public Works and at the expense
of the consumer. Access to meters, meter reading terminals and backflow
prevention devices shall be provided to the employees of the city
with reasonable notice to the consumer.
A meter may be located in an outside vault or
box only when there is not a suitable location inside a building.
The meter vault or box shall be provided at the expense of the consumer.
Unless approved by the Director of Public Works, a location requiring
a confined space entry is not considered a suitable location.
All meters presently installed and all future installations shall be sealed by the Department of Public Works. Removal of the seal by anyone other than a city employee or authorized agent of the city shall be considered tampering in accordance with § 182-16, Tampering with water system, and § 182-25, Charges in case of meter tampering, of this chapter.
When a meter is determined to be inaccurate
or has been removed, the Department of Public Works will immediately
replace the meter and will compute the consumption charge based on
the average of the last four quarters.
All meters shall be factory certified before installation. Meters installed shall be tested upon request, and tests shall be scheduled at the discretion of the Department of Public Works. Tested meters shall conform to current national standards used by the city. All meter testing and repair charges shall be as set forth in Code of the City of Lebanon, Chapter 68, Fees. The consumer or an authorized representative may be present when the Department of Public Works tests a meter.
In the event that a meter freezes and is damaged due to the consumer's negligence, then the consumer shall pay a charge as described in Code of the City of Lebanon, Chapter 68, Fees.
If meter or meter reading terminal tampering or fraudulent use of water is discovered, the consumer shall be charged based upon average consumption prior to the last known date of meter seal verification for the entire period from last verification to the quarter prior to discovery of tampering, plus a charge of twice the average consumption for the quarter in which the tampering is detected, plus a fee, as described in Code of the City of Lebanon, Chapter 68, Fees. In addition, the consumer shall be subject to all penalties as set forth in § 182-34, Penalties, of this chapter or as otherwise provided for by law.
