About Your Water Meter

New Construction

How to read your meter

Meter readers ask for your assistance

Meter installation

Meter testing deposit

Non-registering meters

Responsibility for facilities

Damage through leaking pipes and fixtures

Customer valves

Fraud or abuse

Penalty for violation

Meter readers ask for your assistance

The area surrounding the meter box must be kept clear of obstructions and be accessible by District personnel. The area must be kept free of weeds, plants or other vegetation. If vegetation causes an access difficulty, the customer will be notified in writing and have 15 days from the date of the notice to clear the meter access area. At the end of 15 days, if such clearance has not taken place, the District will clear the vegetation. In the event of an emergency, the District may remove vegetation to make repairs without notification.

Meter installation

Meters are installed in the street easement or road right-of-way and are owned by the District. The District seals all registers at the time of installation, and no seal or lock is to be altered or broken, except by an authorized District employee.

Meter testing fee

Meters are tested prior to installation. If you subsequently want to have the meter serving your premises tested, you’ll first have to pay the required meter test fee. You may be present when the meter is tested. If the meter registers more than three percent faster, the meter test fee will be refunded and the District will adjust prior usage up to 12 months; if less than three percent, the District will not refund the meter test fee nor make any billing adjustments.

Non-registering meters

If the District finds that a meter is not registering correctly, the charges for service will be computed at the minimum monthly rate or based on the estimated consumption, whichever is greater, for the period of under-registration limited to a maximum of 12 months.

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Responsibility for facilities

All facilities installed by the District for supplying water service are the property of, and will be maintained, repaired or replaced by the District. Anyone who damages these facilities, including breaking seals or locks, and any property owner who knowingly or negligently permits such damage to occur, will be liable to the District. The District may require an easement or right-of-way for the protection or maintenance of the facilities on private property.

Damage through leaking pipes and fixtures

When a District employee turns on the water to a vacant house or property, he or she will attempt to determine if water is running. If water is running, the employee will shut off the water at the customer’s valve. However, the District’s jurisdiction and responsibility ceases at the end of the service connection and in no case will the District be liable for damages caused by water running from open or faulty fixtures, or from broken or damaged pipes, beyond the District meter connection. In addition, the customer is responsible for payment of all water
that runs through the meter.

Landscape meter installation
A separate landscape meter is required for all commercial and industrial users. Meters will be installed in the street, road or easement right-of-way and owned by the District. All landscape meters connected to domestic water pipelines require a backflow device, owned and maintained by the customer.

Valves

To help control the flow of water to the customer’s premises, the District may provide a valve on the customer’s side of the water meter in the meter box. This valve will not be on and off, except in cases of emergency. The District, at its option, may require the customer to provide a suitable backflow prevention device on the customer’s side of the service connection.

Fraud or abuse

Service may be discontinued, if necessary, to protect the District against fraud or abuse.

Penalty for violation

The District has the right to assess penalties permitted by law and/or discontinue water service to the premises of any customer for failure to comply with any rule or regulation of the District.

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