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Water Meters

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County tit. 15, div. I, ch. 15.16, art. IV
in effect

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.16.370 Required.

15.16.370 - Required. All water service connections, unless otherwise specified in this title, shall be metered with a meter of such size and make as may be approved by the director. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the director for good cause shown, every meter and the portion of every service line connecting such meter to a public main shall be located within the public right-of-way or in a dedicated easement. For meters and connecting service line segments located other than in the public right-of-way or dedicated easement, every customer served by such meter shall, as a condition of receiving service, be deemed to have (i) granted to the department and its employees and contractors the right at all reasonable times to access, read, repair, maintain, and replace the meter and connecting service line and any associated fixtures or fittings for which the department is responsible; and (ii) waived any claim against the metropolitan government for damages relating to the exercise of such right using reasonable care. (Ord. BL2022-1580 § 1, 2023; prior code § 40-1-55)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.16.380 Size restrictions.

15.16.380 - Size restrictions. No single meter shall be permitted larger than two inches in size, unless, in the judgment of the director, a larger single meter is justified. Larger connections shall be made in batteries of two-inch, three-inch or four-inch meters as may be required by the department. The director may require a battery of one-inch meters on a two-inch service. When setting a battery of meters, a gate valve shall be installed on each side of each meter within the meter box. (Prior code § 40-1-62)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.16.390 Furnished by department—Exceptions.

15.16.390 - Furnished by department—Exceptions. Meters one inch or less in size shall be furnished by the department for installation on residential domestic service connections of consumers or customers. All meters above one inch in size shall be furnished by the consumer or customer. (Ord. BL2015-1057 § 1, 2015; prior code § 40-1-56)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.16.400 Installation and repair.

15.16.400 - Installation and repair. The installation, except on new service installations, repair and disconnection of all water meters shall be performed by employees of the department only. All meters above one inch in size shall be maintained by the department at the expense of the consumers or customers. The department shall have the right at any time to remove and repair a defective meter. (Prior code § 40-1-57)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.16.410 Meter repairs—Owners billed when.

15.16.410 - Meter repairs—Owners billed when. A. When any water meter larger than one inch in size is repaired by the department for any person, the cost of such repairs shall be billed by the billing and assessment division of the department and entered as a charge against such person in the same manner as assessments for water are entered. All money derived from such meter repairs shall be placed to the credit of the general ledger account of the department's miscellaneous refunds. The department shall have authority to expend, out of such miscellaneous refunds, upon properly executed vouchers, such sums as may be deemed necessary in the operation, maintenance and expansion of the department. B. The cost of labor and materials in connection with such repairs shall be billed with the next regular billing for water consumed and shall become due and payable at the same time the bill for water is due. Failure to pay such cost of meter repairs within thirty days shall give the department the right to discontinue service to the location supplied by the meter which was repaired. (Prior code § 40-1-58)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.16.420 Improper meter size—Authority of director to require change.

15.16.420 - Improper meter size—Authority of director to require change. Whenever, in the judgment of the department, a meter or connection is found to be too large to register accurately the amount of water consumed, or is too small to withstand the demand made upon the meter, the director may require, upon service of a ten-day notice, that the owner or agent reduce or enlarge the size of the meter or connection or both, and upon failure of the owner, agent, consumer or customer to comply with these requirements, the water may be turned off and shall not be turned on until full compliance has been made with all regulations and rules of the department pertaining to the supplying of water to consumers. (Prior code § 40-1-63)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.16.430 Separate meters required for each premises.

15.16.430 - Separate meters required for each premises. A. Every consumer and every customer shall have a separate meter for his premises. No pipes shall cross from one lot or yard to another. B. All single residences or residences in one enclosure and not classed as tenement property shall be required to have a separate and distinct connection to the metropolitan government's main. Wherever there shall be found more than one house supplied from one pipe without the permission of the director, the department shall have the water turned off immediately, and the same shall not be turned back on until separate connections have been made. Under no circumstances shall there be more than one service connection made to any one house or premises without the permission of the director. (Prior code § 40-1-64)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.16.450 Meter boxes—Specifications.

15.16.450 - Meter boxes—Specifications. Meter boxes shall be built of whole brick and shall have concrete bottoms. The mortar used shall be one part cement and two parts sand. The dimensions of the box shall conform to the standard frame and plate, drawings of which are on file in the office of the director. The plate and frame shall be cemented on top of box. The depth from the top of the box to the top of the service pipe shall be two feet, and the top of the box shall be level with the ground or sidewalk. The box shall be plumb, straight and square with the street. (Prior code § 40-1-60)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.16.460 Meter setting—Prohibited fittings.

15.16.460 - Meter setting—Prohibited fittings. In setting the meter, a brick shall be placed crosswise on the bottom of box for the meter to rest on. The regulation curb cock shall be placed in front of the meter, and no ells, tees or other fittings shall be used between the curb cock and the meter other than necessary bushings to connect the meter to the curb cock and to connect the outlet side of the meter to the part of the service continuing on into the premises. (Prior code § 40-1-61)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.16.470 Exposure of meters to cold or contamination prohibited.

15.16.470 - Exposure of meters to cold or contamination prohibited. Meters must not be exposed to danger from freezing or contamination. It is unlawful to cover or obstruct any water meter either permanently or temporarily. (Prior code § 40-1-66)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.16.480 Repair of meter—Owner's responsibility when.

15.16.480 - Repair of meter—Owner's responsibility when. If meters are damaged by freezing, hot water, etc., either by carelessness or neglect of the owner or occupant of the premises or their agents, the owners or occupants shall pay for the repairs of such damages, but the cost of ordinary maintenance of meters one inch in size and smaller shall be borne by the department. Such damage shall be billed to the consumer or customer with his regular water bill and shall be due and payable at the same time as the water bill. Failure to pay for such repairs shall be deemed good and sufficient reason for the department to discontinue service and not restore the same until the consumer or customer has complied with all the regulations and rules of the department pertaining to the supplying of water to consumers. (Prior code § 40-1-59)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.16.490 Interference with meters prohibited.

15.16.490 - Interference with meters prohibited. It is unlawful for any person, except a duly authorized employee of the department, to interfere with any meter used for the measurement of water. (Prior code § 40-1-67)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.16.500 Preventing employees from reading or inspecting meters prohibited.

15.16.500 - Preventing employees from reading or inspecting meters prohibited. It is unlawful for any person to hinder or prevent a regularly authorized employee of the department from inspecting or reading a meter for the measurement of water furnished by the department. (Prior code § 40-1-68)
Source: Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Metropolitan Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tn/metro_government_of_nashville_and_davidson_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_TIT15WASEOTPUSE_DIVIGERE_CH15.16WAMASECOME_ARTIVWAMEFetched: 10/28/2026

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