§ 78-52. Water meters; stopcock and waste cock or cutoff valve required; exemption; right of access.

(a)

All occupied premises within the city and within 200 feet of a city water line must be connected to city water and shall have a separate meter which shall only meter water servicing such premises.

(b)

Any new buildings erected and used for residential, commercial or industrial uses must have a shutoff or cutoff valve placed at the property line or at some convenient point on the premises. Such shutoff valve shall be under the control of the tenant or owner and shall be used if a break in the pipes occurs in the building or structure or for other necessity, so that the pipes to be repaired can be shut off without the necessity of using the water shutoff maintained and installed by the city.

(c)

All necessary meters will be furnished by the city and shall remain the property of the city. A consumer desiring a meter larger than the size of the meter then in service will be required to pay the difference between the price of the meter then in service and the price of the larger meter and all other fees required for the upsizing. The city shall approve the requested upsizing.

(d)

The public services department is to maintain the proper operation of all meters and has the right to, whenever such meter wears out or becomes incapacitated, install a new meter. No repair or replacement of meters shall be made other than by the public services department.

(e)

The public services department shall have the right to test meters to determine their accuracy whenever it sees fit, but if a consumer demands a test when, in the judgment of the public services department, the meter is operating correctly, the consumer shall pay a fee of $45.00 for each test performed by the public services department.

(f)

The officers and employees of the public services department shall have the right of access to the premises of a consumer at any reasonable hour for the purpose of conducting the normal business of the public services department, such as making tests and inspections.

(g)

The consumer shall not cause any plant, tree, shrub, weeds, trash, mulch, fence, vehicle, pet, or structure to grow or to be placed within three feet of the water meter box and shall not do anything which would cause the public services department any difficulty in locating, reading, or maintaining the water meter and box located on the consumer's property. The public services department shall have the right to refuse service to any premises when the contracting party of such premises, after 20 days from rendition of a written notice to the consumer specifying the problem, has failed to correct the condition causing the public services department difficulty in reading or maintaining the water meter or box.

(h)

Where meters or appurtenances are broken or damaged by the negligence of the owner, tenant or occupant of the premises, the cost of repair or replacement shall be paid by the owner or occupant of the premises, and if the cost is not paid upon repair or replacement, the water supply shall be turned off and shall not be turned on again until payment of such amount due is made.

(Code 1988, § 22-42; Ord. No. 99-64, § 1, 1-13-00; Ord. No. 11-02, § VI, 1-13-11)