15.04.095 - FINANCE DIRECTOR'S AUTHORITY TO ADJUST WATER AND SEWER BILLS
A. The Finance Director or the Finance Director's Designee is authorized to adjust water and/or sewer bills for metered service customers in accordance with the following procedure: 1. When the customer has suffered a service break or leak in the portion of the service between the water meter and the external entrance to the premises or the first branch off of the service line, whichever occurs first. 2. No adjustment for water bills shall be allowed for any leaks or service breaks that occur after the external entrance to the premises. This shall include, by way of example and not limitation, leaks in toilets, faucets, water heaters, and spigots. An adjustment for the sewer bill may be made after the external entrance to the premises when it can be demonstrated that the excess water consumption did not enter the sanitary sewer system. 3. Each metered service shall only be allowed one administrative adjustment during the life of that metered service. 4. The break or leak in the service line and its repair must be documented in a manner that is acceptable to the Finance Director or the Finance Director's designee. Documentation shall include a licensed plumber's itemized invoice, repair order, City of Bellingham Public Works Department inspection documentation or other documentation as necessary to support the adjustment request and to document any repairs. 5. A request for an adjustment shall be on form(s) provided by the Finance Department. 6. The Finance Director's Designee shall determine the amount of the adjustment in his or her discretion. The adjustment amount shall not exceed 50% of the amount determined to be the excess usage charge for water and 100% of the excess usage charge for sewer, provided that the excess water consumption did not enter the sewer system. No adjustment for sewer charges shall be allowed if the excess consumption entered the sewer. Historical records may be used to assist in the determination of the adjustment amount. B. Any determination made under this section may be appealed in accordance with the procedures in BMC 15.04.120. [Ord. 2002-03-016]
