§ 36-95. Leaks—Relief for charges.

(a)

It is the obligation and duty of each customer of the city's utility services to:

(1)

Maintain the customer's pipes and service apparatuses in a good and sound manner;

(2)

Inspect for leaks and other defects periodically; and

(3)

Arrange for the prompt repair of leaks in a good and workmanlike manner.

(b)

The customer's duty applies to all pipes, even if the pipe is underground or otherwise not readily visible unless otherwise specifically provided in this Code.

(c)

It is the city's policy to charge customers for utility services distributed to the customer, even when a customer uses utility services inadvertently, such as when services are consumed due to leaks in the customer's pipes or service apparatus, even if the leak was underground or otherwise not readily visible to the customer.

(d)

Notwithstanding the city's general policy requiring that a customer pay for utility services distributed to the customer, regardless of the cause, the city may, in its discretion, provide monetary relief to the consumer for services consumed due to an undetected leak, but only by giving the customer a credit on the customer's utility bill, and only in limited circumstances, as provided in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 2004-002, § 1, 8-2-2004; Ord. No. 2006-06, § 1, 8-7-2006)