Arcata Municipal Code Art. 7 Meters

All services shall be metered. The sum of money set forth in Section 7686 shall be paid to the City prior to installation of the meter facilities to pay all of the cost of said installation when said installation is made at the request of the customer. The service connection, whether located on public or private property, is the property of the City, unless specifically otherwise provided, and the Environmental Services Department reserves the right to repair, replace and maintain it, as well as to remove it upon discontinuance of service. (Ord. 1516, eff. 8/16/2019)

When service has been approved by the Environmental Services Department, the Environmental Services Department will furnish and install a service at such location as the applicant requests, provided such requests are reasonable; the service will be installed from its water distribution main to the curb line or property line of the premises which may abut on the street, on other thoroughfares, or on the City’s right of way or easement. Charges for new services are payable in advance and shall be in accordance with Section 7686.

Only duly authorized employees or agents of the Environmental Services Department will be permitted to install a service connection from the City’s main to the customer’s premises. (Ord. 1516, eff. 8/16/2019)

Meters will be installed at the curb or within the easement, and shall be owned by the City and installed and removed at its expense. No rent or other charge will be paid by the City of Arcata for a meter or other facilities, including housing and connections, located on a customer’s premises. All meters will be sealed by the Environmental Services Department at the time of installation, and no seal shall be altered or broken except by one of its authorized employees. (Ord. 1193, eff. 7/31/1992; Ord. 1516, eff. 8/16/2019)

Meters moved for the convenience of the customer will be relocated at the customer’s expense. Meters moved to protect the City’s property will be moved at its expense.

Changes in size of meter will be made on request of the customer. If the request is for a smaller meter than the existing one, it will be installed by the Environmental Services Department without charge. If a larger meter is requested, the customer shall pay the difference between the installation charge for the existing meter and the installation charge for the new meter, as set forth in Section 7686. If a new service is required, the full charge established in Section 7686 shall be collected. (Ord. 1516, eff. 8/16/2019)

Meters will be read periodically as determined by the Finance Director.

All meters will be tested prior to installation and no meter will be installed which registers more than two percent (2%) fast. If a customer desires to have the meter serving his premises tested, he shall first deposit a fee as set forth in the Schedule of Fees adopted by resolution of the City Council. Should the meter register more than two percent (2%) fast, the deposit will be refunded, but should the meter register less than two percent (2%) fast, the deposit will be retained by the City.

If a meter tested at the request of a customer pursuant to Section 7766 is found to be more than two percent (2%) fast, the excess charge for the time service was rendered the customer requesting the test or for a period of six (6) months, whichever shall be the lesser, shall be refunded to the customer.

If a meter tested at the request of a customer pursuant to Section 7766 is found to be more that twenty-five percent (25%) slow in the case of domestic services, or more than two percent (2%) slow for other than domestic services, the Finance Department may bill the customer for the amount of the undercharge based upon corrected meter readings for the period, not exceeding six (6) months, that the meter was in use.

If a meter is found to be not registering, the charges for service shall be at the minimum monthly rate or based on the estimated consumption for a comparable period or by such other methods as is determined by the Finance Department, and its decision shall be final.