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14.12 - 1 CHAPTER 14.12 WATER METERS SECTION: 14.12.010: Installation - Testing 14.12.020: Accounts 14.12.030: Nonworking Meter - Estimate of Service 14.12.040: Deposit for Testing Meter 14.12.050: Reading - Computation of Bill 14.12.060: Change in Size - Payment of Costs 14.12.070: Charges - Separate Computation - Exception 14.12.080: Location - Nonliability for Damage 14.12.090: Customer Responsibility 14.12.100: Meter Tampering 14.12.110: Damage - Customer Payment of Repair Costs 14.12.120: Basis for Sizing 14.12.010: Installation - Testing: The Water Department will own, install and maintain all necessary meters for measuring the water service used by the customer and from time to time will inspect and test such meters. Where a master meter is used to measure the total water used, as for apartment houses or housing groups, the Water Department will not furnish or read auxiliary meters or submeters used for the customer's convenience. (Ord. 2481 Sec. 3 (part), 1980) 14.12.020: Accounts: The Treasurer will keep an accurate account on his books of the readings of meters, and such accounts, so kept, shall be offered at all times, places and courts as prima facie evidence of the use of water service by the customers, and shall be the basis on which all bills are calculated for metered service. (Ord. 3619 Sec. 2, 1995: Ord. 2481 Sec. 3 (part), 1980: Ord. 843 Sec. 7, (part), 1955) 14.12.030: Nonworking Meter - Estimate of Service: Should any meter fail to register correctly, the service shall be estimated by the Treasurer from a corresponding period. (Ord. 3619 Sec. 3, 1995: Ord. 2481 Sec. 3 (part), 1980: Ord. 843 Sec 7, (part), 1955) 14.12.040: Deposit for Testing Meter: The Water Department will, upon written request, test any customer's meter, and where excessive errors are shown to exist, adjust for wrong charges for a period not to exceed one year previous. When a customer requests a meter test, a deposit to cover the costs of the test shall be required. The amount deposited shall be sixteen dollars ($16.00) per inch. The deposit will be returned to the customer if the meter is found, upon test, to over-register more than two percent under the conditions of normal operation. A customer shall have the right to require the Water Department to conduct the test in his presence, or if he so desires, in the presence of an expert or other representative appointed by him. ---PAGE BREAK--- 14.12 - 2 All meters will be tested before installation, and no meter will be placed in service or allowed to remain in service which is known to have an error in registration in excess of two percent under normal operation. (Ord. 2481 Sec. 3 (part), 1980: Ord. 2286 Sec. 1, 1979: Ord. 843 Sec. 7 (part), 1955) 14.12.050: Reading - Computation of Bill: Meters will be read and the bills rendered will be based on consumption to the nearest one hundred (100) cubic feet. For computing bills, digits under one hundred (100) will be dropped. (Ord. 2481 Sec. 3 (part), 1980: Ord. 843 Sec. 7, (part), Ord. 2955) 14.12.060: Change in Size - Payment of Costs: For a change in size of meter during a calendar year, the customer shall pay for the costs and labor of changing meters and records. (Ord. 2481 Sec. 3 (part), 1980: Ord. 843 Sec. 7 (part), 1955) 14.12.070: Charges - Separate Computation - Exception: For the purposes of making charges, all meters serving the customer's premises will be considered separately, and the readings will not be combined, except that where the Water Department, for convenience or operating necessity, elects to install two or more meters instead of one at a central location to service the customer's premises, the readings of two or more meters will be combined for the purpose of making charges. (Ord. 2481 Sec. 3 (part), 1980: Ord. 843 Sec. 7 (part) 1955) 14.12.080: Location – Non-Liability for Damage: The location of the meter or meters used in measuring the customer's use of water must be in a place satisfactory to the Water Department's representative before service will be supplied. Ordinarily, the meter will be installed outside of buildings and between the property line and curb, or on the customer's property and as near the main as possible. Where meters are at present or may be installed within a building, the Water Department will not be held responsible for damage from water seepage through the wall, nor for damage from leaking meter, pipe or fittings. No valves or piping will be allowed in the meter box. (Ord. 2481 Sec. 3 (part), 1980: Ord. 2320, 1979: Ord. 843 Sec. 7 (part), 1955) 14.12.090: Customer Responsibility: No rent or other charges whatever shall be made by the customer against the Water Department for placing or maintaining meters upon the customer's premises. It shall be the responsibility of the customer to keep the meter free of rubbish and debris and accessible for reading and maintenance by the Water Department. (Ord. 2481 Sec. 3 (part), 1980) 14.12.100: Meter Tampering: If a meter under-registers the amount of water used, due to tampering with the meter, or piping, or in any other way causing under-registration, the service may be discontinued, and will not be reconnected until the customer has made adjustments for the loss of revenue and given satisfactory assurance that there will be no more tampering to cause under-registration. (Ord. 2481 Sec. 3 (part), 1980: Ord. 843 Sec. 7 (part), 1955) 14.12.110: Damage - Customer Payment of Repair Costs: If a meter is damaged by hot water from the customer line, or from thawing frozen pipes, the customer shall be required to pay for the cost of repairing and for the loss of revenue occasioned by the damage. (Ord. 2481 Sec. 3 (part), 1980: Ord. 843 Sec. 7 (part), 1955) ---PAGE BREAK--- 14.12 - 3 14.12.120: Basis for Sizing: All meters shall be sized and a basis for sizing shall be as follows: 3/4" or 1" meter for single residence, commercial, duplex, or small auto court (2 or 3 units); 1" meter for triplex, fourplex or under a requirement not to exceed 50 gallons per minute; 1½" meter for 5 units based upon requirements of gallons per minute, etc. Maximum delivery 100 gallons per minute; For flows over 100 gallons per minute the meter shall be sized according to applicable design standards and approved by the Director concurrent with application according to 14.03.010. (Ord. 2481 Sec. 3 (part), 1980: Ord. 843 Sec 7, (part) 1955)