Sec. 13-3-20. Failure to meter or tampering with meters.
(a) It is unlawful for any person to share a meter with any other water-using unit or to allow any water-using unit to be unmetered. It is unlawful for any person to tamper or interfere with any water meter or seal, or to arrange any plumbing or piping so that the use of water or sewer service might not be accurately registered by the meter. It is further declared to be unlawful to prevent or interfere with any employee of the Town in his or her access, examination and reading of any meter.
(b) The following nonexclusive remedies may be applied at the election of the Town Manager to ensure that all water service is measured by an individual, accessible and functioning meter.
(1) Higher rates. The owner of any unmetered water-using or sewer-using unit shall pay substantially higher water and sewer service charges.
(2) Abatement. The Town Manager may enter and install, inspect, repair or maintain a meter on the premises of any water-using or sewer-using unit which is not in compliance with the requirements of this Chapter if the owner of the unit fails, within ten (10) days after the date specified in the notice, to comply. The costs of such meter and installation shall be borne by the owner and shall be added to the next regular bill for the unit’s water and sewer service charges. Any unpaid costs shall be subject to the delinquency charge, interest, penalty and other collection provisions for service charges contained in Section 4-1-90 of this Code and applicable statutory provisions.
(3) Water shutoff. The Town Manager may disconnect the water service to any water-using unit, without any liability whatsoever, upon failure to meter.
(4) Withholding of permission. No approvals or permits under Chapter 15 of this Code or the Land Use Code shall issue for the alteration of any unmetered water-using or sewer-using unit unless the plans call for bringing the unit into compliance. (Prior code 13.12.020; Ord. 1288 §1, 2008)