The purpose of this chapter is to encourage the conservation of water and facilitate the equitable distribution of charges for water service among customers.

All water furnished customers shall be measured through meters furnished by the City and installed by the City.

Fire sprinkler systems may be connected to water mains by direct connection without meters under the direct supervision of the Public Works Director. No other open, unmetered connection shall be incorporated in the system, and there shall be no valves except a main control valve at the entrance to the building which must be sealed open.

All meters shall be so located that they are easily accessible to meter readers and repairmen and protected from freezing.

The property owner shall provide all necessary piping and fittings for proper setting of the meter including a valve on the discharge side of the meter. Meter pits may be used only upon approval of the Public Works Director and shall be of a design and construction approved by the Public Works Director.

The full cost of any meter larger than that required for a single-family residence shall be paid to the City by the property owner or customer prior to the installation of any such meter by the City, or, at the sole option of the City, the property owner or customer may be required to purchase and install such meter in accordance with requirements established by the City.

Whenever a water meter owned by the City is found to be out of order the Public Works Director shall have it repaired. If it is found that damage to the meter has occurred due to the carelessness or negligence of the customer or property owner, or the meter is not owned by the City, then the property owner shall be liable for the cost of repairs.

The Public Works Director shall be permitted to enter the premises of any customer at any reasonable time to read, remove, or change a meter.

All connections with the City water supply shall include a remote recording device to register the volume of water passing through the water meter. The remote recording device shall be furnished and installed by the City.