Chapter 13.12



WATER METERS

13.12.010 Water meters.
13.12.020 Monthly readings-Special readings.
13.12.030 Bimonthly readings-Computation of bill-Special readings.
13.12.040 Separate meters required-Exception.
13.12.060 Ownership-Replacement and repairs.
13.12.070 Meter tests.
13.12.080 Adjustment of bills for meter error.


13.12.010 Water meters.


The department shall furnish, set and maintain all meters, and the charges for the meters and installation shall be at the expense of the owner of the premises.

A. Water Meters. Water meters shall be installed on all water services. For new meter installations an application fee of fifteen dollars will be charged for each water meter to be installed at that premises. Water meter charges are tabulated under department schedule of charges for water meters.

B. Detector Check Meters. There shall be installed on all private fire line connections a check valve of a type approved by the National Board of Fire Underwriters and equipped with a bypass meter. Detector check meter charges are tabulated under department schedule of charges for detector check meters. (Ord. 5112 º 17, 1996: Ord 4957 º 5, 1991: Ord. 4956 º 20, 1991: prior code º 9-26)

13.12.020 Monthly readings-Special readings.


In order to determine the rates to be charged each customer of water under the terms of this chapter, meters shall be placed upon each service connection to measure the water furnished or delivered, except in cases of the rates specified in Sections 13.08.050 and 13.08.090. All meters shall be read by the department at intervals of approximately one month, or as nearly so as the convenient operation of the department will permit except as provided for in Section 13.12.030. The interval between two successive meter readings shall be deemed and regarded as a month for the purposes of this chapter, and all rates shall be computed accordingly. When service is commenced or discontinued between regular meter readings, the customer charge will not be prorated and the bill shall be the customer charge applicable to the size meter through which such service is taken plus the commodity charge. (Prior code º 9-27)

13.12.030 Bimonthly readings-Computation of bill-Special readings.


A. The public service department may cause bimonthly reading of meters for all or any portions of the system whenever it determines that such practice will result in a more economical collection of bills for water. When such bimonthly reading of meters occurs, the department shall read such meters at intervals of approximately two months, or as near thereto as the convenient operation of the department will permit, and the interval between two successive meter readings shall be deemed and regarded as two months for the purposes of this chapter.

B. The customer charge shall be twice the customer charge prescribed in this chapter, and the commodity charge shall be computed by applying the rates prescribed in this chapter to one-half the water consumed during a two-month period and multiplying the results by two. When service is commenced or discontinued between regular meter readings, the customer charge will not be prorated and the bill shall be the customer charge applicable to the size meter through which such service is taken if service period is one month or less, or twice such customer charge if service is for a period in excess of one month, plus in either case the commodity charge. (Prior code º 9-28)

13.12.040 Separate meters required-Exception.


A separate meter shall be placed upon each separate service connection and the rate to be paid shall be computed separately upon each meter. The department may in lieu of a single meter and where special operating or service conditions require, install such number of meters on a service connection as shall be necessary to equal the capacity of such a single meter. For billing purposes, the consumption as registered by a battery of meters installed pursuant to this section shall be combined and charged for at such rate including the monthly minimum charge, as though the water were supplied through a single meter. (Prior code º 9-29)

13.12.060 Ownership-Replacement and repairs.


All water service connections, meters and housings installed by the department or conveyed to the department however provided for, shall remain at all times the property of the city and shall be maintained, repaired and renewed by the department when rendered unserviceable through reasonable use. Where replacement, repairs or adjustments are rendered necessary by the act, negligence or carelessness of the customer, any member of the customer's family, person in the customer's employ, or agent of the customer, any expense caused to the city thereby shall be charged and collected from the customer. No rent or charge will be paid by the department where such facilities are located on the customer's premises. The department may relocate its facilities as required by operating conditions, and may relocate any and all of its facilities from customer's premises at the termination of service. (Ord. 5112 º 19, 1996: prior code º 9-31)

13.12.070 Meter tests.


A. Whenever the accuracy of a water meter is questioned, the customer may demand that the meter be examined and tested by the department. Such demand shall be made in writing to the department, and shall be accompanied by a deposit of thirty dollars. Upon receipt of such demand and deposit, the department shall cause the meter to be examined and tested. Such customer shall have the right to require the department to conduct the test in the customer's presence or in the presence of an expert or other representative appointed by the customer.

B. If the meter shall be found to register over two percent more than actually passes through it under conditions of normal operation, then the meter shall be properly adjusted or another meter will be substituted therefor, and the deposit of thirty dollars shall be refunded to the customer. If the meter is found to register not over two percent more than actually passes through it, the deposit of thirty dollars shall be retained by the department as partial compensation for the examination and test. (Ord. 5112 º 20, 1996)

13.12.080 Adjustment of bills for meter error.


A. When a meter is found to register over two percent more than actually passes through it, the department will refund to the customer the overcharge based on the corrected meter readings for the period in which the meter was in use, not exceeding six months; provided, that if the actual cause and period of error can be definitely determined, the correction shall be made to cover such period.

B. If the meter upon test as herein provided is found not to register or to register less than ninety-eight percent of the actual usage, an average bill or a bill for the water used but not covered by the bills previously rendered, for a period not to exceed six months, shall be rendered to the customer by the department; provided, that if the actual cause and period of error can be definitely determined, the correction may be made to cover such period. (Ord. 5112 º 21, 1996)