The area surrounding the meter box must be accessible by District personnel at all times, and be kept clear of all obstructions, including vehicles. The area must be kept free of weeds, plants or other vegetation and may not be blocked by fences, brick or block walls, or any other structure.  In the event of an emergency, the District may, at the owner’s expense, and without notification, remove any obstruction to make repairs.

Meter installation

Meters are installed in the street easement or road right-of-way and are owned by the District.  The property owner indicates where the meter is to be installed, and the District will comply if possible. The registers are factory sealed when installed, and no seal, lock or other District property/equipment including the gate valve, meter, angle stop, locking device, mxu or wiring is to be altered or tampered with, except by an authorized District employee.  A meter box is installed when the meter is installed.  The District will not be responsible for replacing meter boxes that are destroyed, altered or missing.

Meter testing (calibration)

Meters are factory tested prior to installation. If you subsequently want to have the meter serving your premises tested, you’ll first have to pay the required bench calibration charge. The District employs certified testers and owns a test bench, which is tested for accuracy by the Department of Weights and Measures.  If the meter registers out of the acceptable range according to American Water Works Association (AWWA) standards, the bench calibration charge will be refunded and the District will determine if an adjustment is due.  If the bench calibration shows that the meter is registering within the acceptable range, the District will not refund the bench calibration charge.

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 as determined by the District.

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Responsibility for facilities

All facilities installed by the District for supplying water service are the property of the District, and with the exception of the meter box, 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, is guilty of a misdemeanor and 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 courtesy valve located in or near the meter box. 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.

Customer valves

To help control the flow of water to the customer’s premises, the District provides a courtesy valve on the customer’s side of the water meter in the meter box. This valve enables the customer to turn off the water to their property.  This valve will not be used by the District to turn water 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 without notice, 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.