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City of Vancouver, Washington

Vancouver Municipal Code

Return to Chapter 14.04 WATER AND SEWER USE--REGULATIONS AND CHARGES*

Section 14.04.130 Effect of leakage on bills.

When any customer in any given billing period because of a broken water pipe on his or her premises, has used according to his or her meter, an amount of water which is more than double the average amount of water which had been used on such premises in similar period in prior years, he may apply to the city in writing for an adjustment under this section. If the customer reports that there are broken water pipes on his or her premises which have caused the high consumption of water and if this is verified by inspections by the city, the city shall thereupon reduce the bill in question to the average amount billed to such property for similar periods in previous years plus, for the excess over such average caused by such breakage, a special rate of only twenty cents per hundred cubic feet. A given piece of property shall be entitled to the benefits of this section unless it appears that continued waste of water is due to a continued negligent failure to repair. Reductions shall not be permitted on account of leaking toilets or other plumbing fixtures.

The department may discontinue service to any premises if the owner customer or consumer refuses to make repairs necessary to avoid waste of water. If after reasonable efforts to contact the customer or consumer at the premises are not successful, and it is observable that water is being lost through leakage, the department at its option may terminate water service and shall leave written notice as to its action and the reason therefore. (Ord. M-1421 § 1, 1973)

(M-3755, Amended, 08/28/2006, Sec 6 - Effective 10/01/2006, Prior Text)