§ 25-81. Customer responsibilities.

(a)

Each customer shall pay the finance director for all damage to or destruction of property of the city located on or off the customer's premises where damage is caused directly or indirectly by the customer, excepting only that resulting from ordinary wear and tear, and storm damage. Each customer shall notify the public works director promptly of any defects in the city's public water supply system that might affect service to the customer or might be dangerous to the public or public property.

(b)

Any customer of the city shall pay for the cost incurred by the city for the repair of the customer's meter damaged by freezing, negligence or vandalism. Any customer shall pay to the city the costs incurred by the city to repair a meter, regardless of location, if damaged by any other act or omission of the customer. If repairs to a meter are made as a result of any damage by any of the causes mentioned above, the finance director shall send the customer an itemized statement of the labor and repairs necessary to repair the meter and if the account is not paid within thirty (30) days after the receipt thereof, the city shall disconnect the customer from service. If the service is disconnected, the customer shall pay the charges for disconnection and reconnection as required by this article.

(c)

At least once per year, the owner of the property shall read the meter and compare that reading to the most recent bill. If the reading is higher than the reading on the most recent bill by at least one thousand (1,000) cubic feet or two (2) times the average bill, whichever is greater, then the property owner shall contact the finance department. The property owner is responsible for any difference between the meter reading and the reading on the last bill.

(d)

The owner of the property shall be responsible for all unpaid water and sewer services which have been previously provided to the subject premises. If any unpaid water and sewer services were consumed by a previous property owner or occupant, then the city will use whatever efforts it deems reasonable, in the sole discretion of the city, to collect the amount owed by the previous property owner or occupant, and will reimburse any such sums collected to the current owner who paid such previous charges.

(Ord. No. 10911, § 2, 4-2-90; Ord. No. 12036, § 1, 12-17-2012; Ord. No. 12051, § 1, 3-18-2013)