El Centro Municipal Code Art. I In General

All water furnished and delivered by the city shall pass through meters and connections as provided by the city.

(Ord. No. 62-4, § 1; Code 1962, § 31-1)

All money collected from charges for water, connections, extensions, penalties and other activities, and sales of inventories shall be deposited in the water fund.

(Ord. No. 62-4, § 2; Code 1962, § 31-2)

The city shall have the right in any emergency to turn the water off or on without notice, but it shall be the duty of the city to make reasonable effort to notify all consumers in advance of such an emergency and that the water is to be turned off or on.

(Ord. No. 62-4, § 2; Code 1962, § 31-3)

It shall be unlawful for any person to open any fire hydrants, street hydrants, stopcock gate, valve or to interfere in any manner with any street water service, water connection, or any water meter attached to any service pipe connected with the water mains, or to turn on or off water mains or water pipes of the city, or to tap, break or injure any water main or water pipe of the city, or any reservoir of the city, or to tap any water service pipe, or take, draw or receive water from any water main, pipe or hydrant of the city without paying the established water rental therefor, or in anywise to trespass upon the public property of the water department.

(Ord. No. 62-4, § 2; Code 1962, § 31-4)

There shall be at least one meter on each lot or parcel of real property which is improved with a dwelling or building thereon, except where one building occupies more than one lot, then only one meter for such building shall be required.

(Ord. No. 62-4, § 2; Code 1962, § 31-5)

All water meters are the property of the city, and the city shall maintain and repair them when, in its judgment, such repairs are needed.

(Ord. No. 62-4, § 2; Code 1962, § 31-6)

Any consumer of water may require, upon deposit of one dollar ($1.00) at the office of the finance department, that the meter through which domestic water is being furnished to such consumer be tested by the city for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not it is registering correctly the water being delivered through it. If, upon such test, the meter shall be found to register over three (3) per cent more water than actually passes through it, another meter shall be substituted therefor by the city, and the deposit of one dollar ($1.00) returned to the person making the application and deposit, and the water bills for the current month adjusted in an equitable manner by the finance department. If, upon such test, the meter is found to register under three (3) per cent more water than actually passes through it, the one dollar ($1.00) deposit shall be retained by the city and deposited in the water fund.

(Ord. No. 62-4, § 2; Code 1962, § 31-7)

It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with or cut off or remove a water meter from any water service, where it has been installed, without first receiving written permission from the water supervisor of the city. Such permission shall be granted only for the purpose of tests, replacements, repairs to meter or service pipes, readjustments of service or similar emergency.

(Ord. No. 62-4, § 2; Code 1962, § 31-8)

All hydrants erected in the city for the purpose of extinguishing fires therein are hereby declared to be public hydrants; and no person (except members of the fire department for the uses and purposes of the fire department, only, and those authorized by the city) shall open any of such hydrants or draw or attempt to draw water from the same, or in any way or manner interfere with or injure any of such hydrants.

(Ord. No. 62-4, § 2; Code 1962, § 31-9)

The city council reserves the right and power to, and may from time to time by resolution adopt rules and regulations for the operation and maintenance of the water department of the city, and for furnishing water to users; and by resolution may establish and modify from time to time the rates, charges, deposits, and collections including penalties and procedures all relating to the installation, maintenance and termination of water service; and may from time to time by resolution prescribe rules for the extension of water mains within the boundaries and outside the boundaries of the city.

(Ord. No. 62-4, § 2; Code 1962, § 31-10; Ord. No. 80-19, § 1)