Fairfield Municipal Code Art. 22.35 Water Meters

Where replacements, adjustments, disconnection, or service shutoff for any water meters are necessary by the act, neglect or carelessness of the owner or occupant of any premises or anyone they employ, any expense thereby caused to the FMU shall be placed on the water bill.

(Ord. No. 2025-13, § 1 (Exh. A))

Customers may request a test to be made of the meter service serving their premises. Testing shall be conducted in conformance with American Water Works Association Manual M6, Chapter 5. Arrangements for such test shall be made within five working days after receipt of the request. The customer shall be notified twenty-four hours before the time set for the test. The request for meter tests must be accompanied by a cash deposit for the respective meter size, in accordance with fee schedule as adopted from time to time by city council.

If the results of the meter test determine that the meter is:

A. Registering not more than two percent faster or slower than the actual quantity of water passing through it, the deposit shall be retained by FMU;

B. Registering more than two percent over registration, an accurate meter shall be installed, the deposit refunded and the water bills adjusted to correct the error discovered;

C. Registering more than two percent under registration, an accurate rate meter shall be installed, the deposit refunded and the customer billed for the amount of the undercharge;

D. In any event, the adjustment for overcharge or undercharge shall not exceed a period of six months or that during which it was measuring service to the customer, whichever is the lesser.

(Ord. No. 2025-13, § 1 (Exh. A))

A. Erroneous meter readings. Whenever a meter fails to register correctly, the customer shall be charged for a minimum service charge and for an estimated amount of water used, based upon the customer’s prior consumption during the same season of the year, if conditions were unchanged, or upon a reasonable comparison with use of other customers during the same period receiving the same class of service under similar circumstances.

B. Obstructing water meters. In accordance with section 22.6, it shall be unlawful for anyone to enclose a water meter with a fence, wall, hedge or otherwise obstruct access to water service meters and metering equipment. Upon the failure or refusal of the owner or customer to remove any such unlawful obstruction within a reasonable length of time, thirty days unless prevented by extenuating circumstances, after written notification to do so, the FMU director shall, at his option, order:

1. The discontinuance of water service to the premises until the obstruction is removed; and

2. The customer to pay for the city cost for removal of the obstruction, including the cost of labor, equipment, materials, and administrative costs.

(Ord. No. 2025-13, § 1 (Exh. A))