Chapter 13.12
WATER BILLS AND CHARGES

Sections:

13.12.010 Customer liability.

13.12.020 Owner or agent liability.

13.12.040 Minimum charge.

13.12.050 Bill payment.

13.12.060 Billing – Mailing address.

13.12.070 Billing – Districts – Mailing – Due dates.

13.12.080 Changes of ownership or occupancy.

13.12.090 Deposit for new accounts.

13.12.100 Estimating bills when meter malfunctions.

13.12.105 Adjustments to high water bills caused by customer leaks.

13.12.110 Summer rates.

13.12.120 Nonpayment of bill – Address change.

13.12.130 Nonpayment of bill – Penalty.

13.12.140 Nonpayment of bill – Discontinuance of service.

13.12.150 Restoration of service following discontinuance for nonpayment.

13.12.160 Nonpayment of bill – Successive delinquencies.

13.12.010 Customer liability.

Every applicant shall be liable for the water furnished and metered in accordance with the application therefor until the water department receives written notice to cancel same and shut off the water, at which time the applicant’s liability shall cease except as to water previous to such notice. (Code 1961 § 25-52).

13.12.020 Owner or agent liability.

No owner or agent or subsequent tenant will be held liable for water or penalties charged on account of nonpayment of charges by a previous tenant. The city may, however, require that service to subsequent tenants be furnished on the account of the landlord or property owner. (Ord. 89-535 § 1. Code 1961 § 25-53).

13.12.040 Minimum charge.

In case no water is used through the meter or the property becomes vacant, the regular monthly minimum rate shall be charged to and paid by the owner of the property, or the applicant for service, whether water is used or not. (Code 1961 § 25-46).

13.12.050 Bill payment.

All water bills are due and payable at the office of the water department in the City Hall upon receipt and become delinquent 30 days following the billing date at which time a delinquent notice shall be sent and service subject to discontinuance 15 days following the date of the delinquent notice. (Ord. 88-524. Code 1961 § 25-48).

13.12.060 Billing – Mailing address.

Unless the applicant for water service directs otherwise, all bills will be mailed to the premises where water service is furnished. (Code 1961 §§ 25-48, 25-50).

13.12.070 Billing – Districts – Mailing – Due dates.

A. For convenience in the reading of meters and preparation of water bills, the department is expressly authorized to divide the city into districts. These districts may, from time to time, be revised or changed as necessary or desirable, in order to equalize the work of reading meters and billing. The meters in each district so established shall be read on approximately the same day of each or every month, except when Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays intervene.

B. Water bills based on such meter readings shall be prepared and mailed to the consumers in each district on approximately the same day of each or every other month, except when Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays intervene.

C. If the meters are read every other month the department may at its option bill monthly. The billings for the month the meters are not read shall be based on one-half of the previous two months’ usage.

D. The billing date and service period shall be plainly printed on each water bill. (Ord. 88-524. Code 1961 § 25-49).

13.12.080 Changes of ownership or occupancy.

It shall be the duty of every person signing an application for water delivery and of every owner of property to which water is delivered to notify the water department of any change in the ownership or occupancy of the premises to which the water is to be furnished at least two days prior to such change. (Code 1961 § 25-51).

13.12.090 Deposit for new accounts.

A deposit of $40.00 will be made by the consumer to the department for turning on the water supply when requested by the consumer to do so incident to the opening of a new account. This deposit may be returned to the consumer at such time as he has purchased the residence or building wherein the water is being furnished or at such time as the consumer has satisfactorily established his credit with the city or its agents and employees, The return of the deposit shall be completely within the discretion of the city council. (Ord. 88-524. Code 1961 § 25-55).

13.12.100 Estimating bills when meter malfunctions.

In the event a water meter fails to register during any month, a charge will be made based upon a three-month average amount of water used during the same period for the previous year as determined by the department. In the event there was no meter at this place during the previous year, a charge will be made upon an estimate fixed by the water department. Such charges, however determined, shall be paid by the consumer in the manner provided by this chapter for the payment of water bills generally. (Code 1961 § 25-56).

13.12.105 Adjustments to high water bills caused by customer leaks.

In the event that a consumer has an excessive bill at least 400 percent of their average usage, that is due to a leak at the customer’s service, the city manager or his designee, is authorized to adjust the charges for the customer. The adjustment shall be no greater than half the difference between the amount of billing in dispute and the average charge from a three-month period of water use from the prior year as determined by the department. No more than one adjustment of this type shall be made for a customer or service in any two-year period. (Ord. 93-587 § 2).

13.12.110 Summer rates.

During the summer months, the city council shall be allowed the discretion of reducing charges for water service. These summer rates shall be established by the city council by resolution. (Ord. 88-524. Code 1961 § 25-61).

13.12.120 Nonpayment of bill – Address change.

Water service shall not be given to any consumer upon change of address until all delinquent charges owed by such consumer at a former place of residence or business shall be paid. (Code 1961 § 25-54).

13.12.130 Nonpayment of bill – Penalty.

If a water bill is not paid before the close of business of the final date for payment, a penalty of 10 percent of the account of the bill shall be added thereto; provided, however, that when the final day for payment falls on Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday, payment may be made without penalty on the next regular business day. (Code 1961 § 25-57).

13.12.140 Nonpayment of bill – Discontinuance of service.

In the event that any customer is delinquent in the payment of his water bill, the department shall have the right after 48 hours’ notice to discontinue water service to the premises of such delinquent customer. Such notice shall be placed upon the premises where water is served. (Ord. 88-524. Code 1961 § 25-58).

13.12.150 Restoration of service following discontinuance for nonpayment.

If water service is cut off or discontinued for failure to pay delinquent bills, such service may again be established only in the event the consumer or the applicant for service at such place pays all delinquent bills, charges and penalties, plus a $10.00 reconnection fee, and makes a cash deposit as may be required by the water department. (Ord. 88-524. Code 1961 § 25-59).

13.12.160 Nonpayment of bill – Successive delinquencies.

When an owner or consumer has been delinquent in his water bills twice in succession or three times in any one calendar year, he shall be required to deposit a sum determined by the department to be equal to an average two months’ water bill upon such premises and shall pay, in addition thereto, the sum of $20.00 for turning on the water supply. Thereupon and not otherwise will water service again be made or established to the premises where the water bill has been delinquent. (Code 1961 § 25-60).