1986-0951359L
NO 3,! ?-97
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 25 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, TO PROVIDE FOR ADJUSTMENTS IN WATER AND
SEWER BILLS FOR LOSSES RESULTING FROM HIDDEN WATER LEAKS OR
UNKNOWN CAUSES, PROVIDING FOR A REPEALER CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON HEREBY ORDAINS
SECTION I
That Chapter 25 of the Code of Ordinances is hereby amended
by adding a new Section 25-36 to read as follows
Sec 25-36 Adjustments in Water and Sewer Bills For Losses
Resulting from Hidden Water Leaks, Unknown Causes
Any customer who is billed for a substantial increase in water
usage during any one billing month due to a hidden water leak or
unknown cause may request and receive an adjustment in the amount
billed for water and sewer usage for that month in accordance
with the provisions of this section
1 Definitions For purposes of this section the following
words s all be defined as follows
"Excess usage" shall mean the difference in the
"greatest normal usage" of water at a service
location and the actual amount of water metered and
billed in the billing month for which the adjustment
is requested at the service location
"Hidden water leak" shall mean any leak of a water
pipe, line or other water conveyance equipment
caused by deterioration, corrosion, natural forces,
or other similar cause which is not immediately and
reasonably detectable from the surface of the ground
"Greatest normal usage" shall mean that amount of
water metered at the customer's service location in
the billing month of greatest consumption during the
previous twelve (12) consecutive billing months, or,
if there is less than twelve (12) prior billing
months, the greatest consumption during any prior
billing month, prorated to the number of days in the
billing month for which the adjustment is requested
"Substantial increase in water usage" shall mean an
increase in the amount of water metered and billed
at the customer's service location for the billing
month for which the adjustment is requested which is
in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the "greatest
normal usage" for that service location
2 Written Request Any customer requesting an adjustment
pursuant to t is section shall make the request in writing to the
Customer Service Department on forms provided for that purpose
A request for an adjustment based upon a hidden water leak shall
state the location and cause of the leak, the date it was
discovered, and the date of, and person making the repair, with
attached copies of repair bills A request for an adjustment
based upon unknown causes shall state that the applicant has no
knowledge of the reasons for such excess usage of water at the
service location for which the adjustment is sought All requests
shall be submitted within thirty (30) days of the due date of the
monthly bill for which an adjustment is sought
3 Adjustment Allowed A request for an adjustment in a
monthly ill for water and sewer usage shall be granted if it
meets the following conditions
a A request, with all required information, is filed
within the required time,
b The requested adjustment is for a monthly billing
in which there was a substantial increase in
water usage resulting from a hidden water leak or
unknown cause, and
c There has not been an adjustment made in the
monthly billing for water and sewer usage at the
same service location within the prior twelve
(12) months under the provisions of this section
4 Amount of Ad ustment If an adjustment is granted under
this section, the customer s account shall be adjusted by billing
the customers for the excess usage of water and sewer at the ser-
vice location for the month in which the adjustment is granted at
a reduced rate of $0 70 per thousand gallons of water and $0 50
per thousand gallons of sewage
SECTION II
All ordinances or parts of ordinances in force when the pro-
visions of this ordinance become effective which are inconsistent
or in conflict with the terms or provisions contained in this
ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of any such conflict
SECTION III
That this ordinance shall become effective immediately upon
its passage and approval /
PASSED AND APPROVED this the day of 1986
MAYO
CITY F DENTON, TEXAS
ATTEST
CHARLOTTEtALLEN, CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM
DEBRA ADAMI DRAYOVITCH, CITY ATTORNEY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
BY ® 1 V 1 tY~/W~
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