A.
Charges for the use or consumption of water by the
owner or occupant of any house, building, lot or premises, water rent
or charges for work done or services provided shall be billed to the
owner of the real estate quarterly each calendar year.
B.
If, after reasonable effort, an authorized employee
or official of the Water Department is unable to gain access to a
meter in order to obtain a reading for billing purposes, he shall
leave a form at the premises in which the meter is located. The owner
or occupant then shall be responsible for entering the meter reading
and other appropriate information on the form provided by the Water
Department and for returning the same to the Water Department within
one day of the date on which the form was left at the premises. If
the form is not returned within this period, the owner shall be billed
an estimated amount based on the amount of water used or consumed
during the same quarter of the previous year or by averaging the amounts
used or consumed during the four quarters immediately preceding the
one for which the bill is being rendered.
[Amended 6-26-2017 by Ord. No. 30-2017]
A.
Delinquent bills, penalties, and discontinuance of service. Refer to Chapter 94, Appendix B, for policies concerning delinquent bills, penalties and discontinuance of service.
B.
If the water supply to any premises has been discontinued under the provisions of this section, the Water Department shall not turn on and restore the water supply until the owner pays in full the bill, together with the shutoff fee, charged in accordance with this section, and a turn-on fee, as provided in § 190-33, for restoration of service.
C.
Unpaid water charges or rents and other costs and expenses thereon
shall be a lien upon the house, building, lot or premises to which
they relate to the same extent as taxes are a lien upon real estate
in the municipality and shall be collected and enforced by the same
officers and in the same manner as liens for taxes.
D.
All charges and fees are payable to the Borough of Madison Water
Department by mail or in person at the office of the Department. No
person is authorized to accept or give a receipt for moneys due the
Department except the Borough Treasurer or Clerk of the Department
or their duly assigned assistants.
Except in the case of the initial installation of water service and meter, no new consumer shall be served with water unless an application, on a form to be furnished by the Water Department, shall have been completed by the consumer and filed with the Department. Such application shall be accompanied by payment of a turn-on fee as set forth in § 190-33. An application signed by a tenant shall also be signed by the owner. Consumers changing their place of residence within the Borough shall also be required to execute the application and file the same with the Department, but without payment of the fee. Water may be shut off by the Department on receipt of a written request by a consumer to the Water Department. A shutoff and turn-on charge as set forth in § 190-33, however, shall be made for each turning-off and each restoration of the service. If a house is vacant, no deduction from the minimum charge as set forth in § 190-33 shall be made as long as the curb stop shall remain open.
[Amended 11-10-2003 by Ord. No. 49-2003; 7-23-2012 by Ord. No. 17-2012; 6-26-2017 by Ord. No. 30-2017]
A.
Borough-owned meters of two inches or less. The customer shall report promptly any meter thought to be defective or out of order. The Department will promptly comply with a request to test such meters. Should such test disclose that the meter is not defective or out of order, a charge as set forth in § 190-33 will be made for the test. Meters found to be defective or out of order during the course of such tests will be replaced or repaired, and the test fee will be waived. Water charges for the quarter in which the meter is found to be defective or out of order shall be based on the water consumed during the same quarter the previous year or on an average of the meter readings for the four quarters preceding that in which the meter was found to be defective or out of order, whichever is greater. The customer is responsible for maintaining adequate access to the meter as well as maintaining the plumbing and piping before and after the meter. If the Department is unable to adequately access the meter or if the Department is unable to replace the water meter due to the condition of the piping, then a penalty of up to $1,500 per quarter may be assessed in addition to any water consumption charges until the condition is corrected.
B.
Meters larger than two inches.
(1)
All meters larger than two inches shall be tested by December 1,
2016, by a qualified inspection agency at the expense of the meter
owner. A written report from the agency shall be submitted to the
Borough Water Utility within two weeks of said test. Thereafter, each
meter larger than two inches shall be tested every three years or
as requested by the Borough and a report submitted to the Borough
as set forth herein. This report shall include: meter location; meter
size, manufacturer, model, serial number, and month/year meter was
manufactured; test date; test reading; and accuracy for high, intermediate
and low flows; and certification from a qualified meter testing company.
Failure to supply the test report as requested by the Borough within
60 days of request by the Borough will result in a penalty being assessed
of up to $100 per day. The Borough reserves the right to demand that
the customer replace the meter with a different design or type approved
by the Borough if the Borough deems the current meter is not appropriate
for the current use based on accepted industry standards. Valves that
permit water to bypass the meter shall be affixed with a Borough seal
to ensure that said valve has not been used without permission of
the Borough of Madison. Removal or tampering of the seal without the
permission of the Borough shall result in a penalty of $750 per offense.
(2)
If any such test reveals defects, the customer shall make the repairs
as requested by the Borough within 60 calendar days. Failure to repair
or replace the meter as requested by the Borough within 60 calendar
days of request will result in a penalty of up to $250 per day being
assessed. Failure to report any repair or replacement of the water
meter shall result in a penalty of up to $750 per offense.
C.
Meter tampering. Tampering with the meter, removal of the meter,
diverting water so as to bypass the meter, or using unmetered water
without the consent of the Borough shall result in service being discontinued
and/or a penalty not to exceed $10,000 being assessed.
