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7. METERS, METER RENTS, CONSUMPTION AND WATER ACCOUNTS.
(a) Meters will be provided and maintained by the water authority, and all repairs, except those necessitated by wilful damage or negligence, will be made by the water authority free of cost to the
consumer,
(b) The consumer shall be held solely responsible for the safe custody of the meter whilst it is fixed on the inside service supplying his premises with water, and he shall pay the cost of fixing and removing the meter.
(c) The water authority shall have the right to prescribe the size of meter or meters, and the number of meters which shall be fixed to any premises.
(d) The water authority may in his discretion change a meter at any time.
(e) Meter rents are shown in Appendix I and are payable annually in advance. Notice to pay will be given in Form C. When a meter is fixed after 1st January a proportionate rent for the period up to 31st December shall be payable in advance.
(f) In the event of the removal of a meter (otherwise than for the purpose of repair, alteration or testing) a refund equivalent to the rent for the unexpired portion of the year will be made, on production of a certificate by the water authority stating the date of removal of the meter.
(g) Meters will be read at such times as the water authority may direct. Whenever a meter is read a memorandum of the reading will be left at the premises supplied through it.
(h) For the purpose of determining the periodical consumption the first reading of the meter may be taken not more than 10 days before or after the first day of the period and the last reading of the meter may be taken not more than 10 days before or after the last day of the period. If the meter is removed or the supply terminated during the period, then the last reading shall be taken.
(i) The reading used as the last reading of any period shall be used as the first reading of the ensuing period.
(j) If the consumer doubts the accuracy of the meter which measures his water supply then the meter will, on receipt of Form I duly signed by the consumer, be tested by the water authority. The consumer, or any person appointed by him, may be present when the meter is tested. The results of the test shall be binding both on the water authority and on the consumer, and the quantity of water indicated by the meter from the first reading of the period shall be corrected according to the results of the test.
(k) If the meter is found to indicate correctly, or less than the correct amount, then a fee as laid down in Appendix I shall be paid by the consumer for testing the meter, plus the cost of removing and refixing the meter. If the meter be found to indicate more than the correct amount then no fee nor charges shall be paid by the consumer for removing, testing and refixing the meter.
(1) A meter shall be considered to be correct when its inaccuracy does not exceed three per cent,
(m) If a meter is found to be out of order, or if it is removed for repair or alteration, the fact will be noted on the memorandum mentioned in paragraph (g) of this regulation. On fixing a new meter or refixing the old meter, a second memorandum will be left at the premises. The consumption for the time that the meter was out of order or for the time that the service was without a meter will be calculated according to the average daily rate of consumption that obtained during the period between any two successive readings whilst the meter was in good order prior to the removal of the meter, or, at the discretion of the water authority, according to the average daily rate of consumption during the period between the two successive readings immediately succeeding the fixing of a new meter or the refixing of the old meter.
(n) Accounts for amounts due for chargeable water will be delivered on Form B, quarterly or at such other periods as the water authority may deem expedient.