WATER AND SEWER SERVICE BILLING PROCEDURES

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County tit. 15, div. I, ch. 15.48

in effect

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.010 Applicability of rates and charges.

15.48.010 - Applicability of rates and charges. The department shall charge for all water provided by the department and consumed by each consumer and customer and shall charge for the sewerage services provided by the department and made available to each customer. The charges for water and sewerage services shall be made according to meter measurement of water consumed or otherwise as provided by this chapter and at the rates established by Chapters 15.32 and 15.44. (Prior code § 40-1-111)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.020 Meter reading and billing procedure.

15.48.020 - Meter reading and billing procedure. A. After a customer has requested water or sewerage service and complied with the applicable provisions of this title, the standard terms of service contemplated by Metropolitan Code of Laws Section 15.12.020, and the rules and regulations of the department, the water shall then be turned on and the meter shall be read. B. This procedure of reading and billing shall continue until the consumer or customer shall direct that service be discontinued at the specified location or until the department shall discontinue service on account of the failure of the consumer or customer to comply with the regulations of the department, the standard terms of service, or the provisions of this title. C. Any consumer who shall move into any premises without first notifying the division of billing and collection of the department, requesting that the meter supplying the premises be read shall be held responsible for all charges for water and sewerage services measured by water passing through the meter since the last previous reading, unless the same has been paid for by the former tenant. (Ord. BL2005-867 §§ 3, 4, 2005; Ord. 94-1242 § 1, 1994; prior code § 40-1-112)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.030 Deposits—Service initiation fees.

15.48.030 - Deposits—Service initiation fees. A. Any nonresidential consumer or customer who secures water and/or sewerage services from the department shall pay a deposit, post a bond, secure a certificate of deposit, present a letter of credit or other legal instrument to insure payment of the account based upon charges for two months' estimated usage. However, the director of the department may require any amount of deposit, bond or letter of credit higher than a two-month estimate where it is deemed necessary from past experience to insure the metropolitan government against loss of revenues. B. Residential customers currently with deposits who have paid ten of the last twelve consecutive monthly billings from the department prior to the gross bill date, in accordance with Section 15.32.190, shall have their deposit credited to their account. The credit will be applied to customer's accounts at a time determined by the director of the department of water and sewerage services. Upon termination of an account where the deposit has not been credited to the account, the deposit shall be applied toward the payment of any outstanding indebtedness to the department and any remaining part of such deposit shall be refunded. C. Residential customers establishing accounts and transfers of residential accounts after the adoption of the ordinance codified in this section shall be required to pay a nonrefundable service fee of twenty-five dollars. The director, or his representative, may still require a deposit be placed with the department if the payment history of any customer justifies that a deposit is needed to prevent potential revenue losses at any time. (Ord. 93-822 § 1, 1993)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.035 [Surcharge.]

15.48.035 - [Surcharge.] A ten percent surcharge shall be added to both the water and the sewer portion of each customer's bill each month, with amounts collected from such surcharge authorized for use in funding water and sewer, capital improvements, and debt obligations related to improvements, alterations, and extensions of the water and sewerage systems. (Ord. BL2019-45 § 11, 2019)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.040 Government housing projects.

15.48.040 - Government housing projects. For the purpose of supplying water and sewerage services to a federal, state, county or municipal housing project, the director is authorized to specify as many meters and service connections as he may deem necessary to properly supply and measure the consumption of water by such projects, and the department is authorized to pool the individual readings of the service meters into a lump-sum reading for each project separately. The lump-sum reading shall be used as a basis for arriving at the rate upon which the combined water and sewerage bill shall be calculated for each project separately. (Prior code § 40-1-135)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.050 Establishment of billing districts—Authority of department.

15.48.050 - Establishment of billing districts—Authority of department. For the purpose of systematically and efficiently reading meters and billing accounts, the proper officials of the department may establish or divide the territory supplied by water into such reading or billing districts as they may deem necessary, and the department is authorized to extend, readjust or modify the boundary limits of any zone when, within the discretion of the proper officials thereof, it is deemed necessary to so do. (Prior code § 40-1-116)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.060 Combined bills rendered to all consumers.

15.48.060 - Combined bills rendered to all consumers. There shall be rendered to all consumers and customers, subject to the rates and charges established in Chapters 15.32 and 15.44, a periodic combined water and sewerage services bill. All charges shall be itemized on the combined bill. The combined bill shall be rendered to all consumers or customers, regardless of whether such consumer or customer is utilizing, or has the benefit of, any one or the other or both of the services, the rates for which are provided for in Chapters 15.32 and 15.44. The total amount of the combined water and sewerage services bill shall be paid when due, and failure to make payment of the entire combined bill shall cause the bill to become delinquent as to all charges. (Prior code § 40-1-114)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.070 Billing period.

15.48.070 - Billing period. Whenever, in the judgment of the department, it is deemed advisable, accounts may be billed monthly or bimonthly, and accounts may be transferred from a monthly basis to a bimonthly basis or vice versa at the election of the director. (Ord. 94-1242 § 2, 1994)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.080 Bills mailed to property served—Exception.

15.48.080 - Bills mailed to property served—Exception. Unless a request of a special mailing address is signed and placed on file in the office of the division of billing and collection of the department, all bills and charges shall be addressed to the property supplied. Failure to receive a water bill or a water and sewerage bill shall not entitle the owner, consumer or customer to be relieved of the payment of the gross amount. (Prior code § 40-1-119)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.090 Inoperative meters—Estimation of water usage.

15.48.090 - Inoperative meters—Estimation of water usage. All water bills and combined water and sewerage service bills, other than flat rate assessments for unmetered water, shall be rendered by the department in accordance with monthly, bimonthly or quarterly meter readings except under the following circumstances and conditions: A. Where meters have been found not registering flow or become inoperable during any one billing period, the properly authorized officials of the department shall have the right to render to the consumer or customer an estimated bill based upon the water consumption and/or sewerage flow for service charged to the account during the same billing period one year previous, provided the conditions of consumption and service use are the same for both periods. If the consumption and/or sewer flow are not a normal amount, the consumption and/or sewer flow for the average of the three previous months of normal usage will be used. B. Each estimated bill shall contain a notation on the bill explaining that the bill has been estimated in accordance with this section, and if the consumer or customer is dissatisfied with such an estimation, it shall be incumbent upon consumer or customer to prove to the department, by affidavit, that the use of water, during the period for which the bill was estimated, was different than the corresponding usage during the same billing period one year previous or previous three-month average of normal usage. Upon the presentation of such satisfactory proof, the director of the department may authorize the bill be adjusted based upon any basis that they may deem equitable and just to the consumer or customer and to the department jointly. C. Estimated meter readings may be rendered when the director determines it is necessary to estimate the meter readings to render a monthly or bimonthly bill. (Ord. BL2006-1095 § 4, 2006; Ord. 99-1498 §§ 1, 2, 1999; Ord. 94-1242 § 3, 1994)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.100 Meter readings recorded on bill.

15.48.100 - Meter readings recorded on bill. In the case of meter assessments, there shall be given the readings of the meter of each consumer or customer showing the quantity of water used and the charge therefor and for sewerage services; provided, that if it should be impossible to give meter readings, a notation shall be made on the bill as provided for in Section 15.48.090. (Prior code § 40-1-120)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.110 Collection—Mailing of bills.

15.48.110 - Collection—Mailing of bills. After the meters have been read for a particular zone or district and the bills have been calculated from the readings and the amounts have been charged to the proper accounts, the director shall then proceed to collect, or cause to be collected, these accounts. There shall be mailed or delivered to the address of each consumer and customer appearing on the ledgers, taking street by street, a bill for the water and sewerage services provided the consumer or customer, and the bill shall show on its face in bold type that if the amount of the bill is not paid within fifteen days from the date of the bill, the water will be turned off. (Prior code § 40-1-118)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.120 Payment—Pay stations.

15.48.120 - Payment—Pay stations. All bills or money due the department shall be payable to the department at the office of the division of billing and collection and other established pay stations. The director shall have the authority to enter into agreements with local businesses to act as pay stations for the department; provided, however, that such local businesses have first been approved by the metropolitan council by resolution. (§ 1 of Amdt. 1 to Ord. 88-613, 1/17/89; Ord. 88-613 § 1, 1990; prior code § 40-1-115)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.130 Temporary service—Minimum charge.

15.48.130 - Temporary service—Minimum charge. Where water is furnished temporarily for only a portion of the billing period, no charge less than the minimum bill for that period shall be made. (Prior code § 40-1-134)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.140 Adjustments—Exception to procedures.

15.48.140 - Adjustments—Exception to procedures. In the event it should not be reasonable to apply any of the procedures for adjusting bills specified elsewhere in this title, the proper officials of the department shall arrive at an estimated normal bill in a manner most equitable to the consumer or customer and the department. (Prior code § 40-1-126)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.150 Successive adjustments when.

15.48.150 - Successive adjustments when. Two successive adjustments may be given only in the event that a leak in question may be reflected in the consumption of a preceding or succeeding month. (Ord. 94-1241 § 3, 1994; prior code § 40-1-127)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.160 Adjustments—Preparation of ledgers.

15.48.160 - Adjustments—Preparation of ledgers. Water accounts and sewerage accounts may be adjusted by the department or changed in accordance with the rules and regulations contained in this article before or after the water and sewerage ledgers or accounts receivable have been prepared; provided, that such adjustments or changes shall be made with a correction voucher signed by the proper official or officials of the department. (Prior code § 40-1-128)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.170 Adjustments—Due to incorrect meters.

15.48.170 - Adjustments—Due to incorrect meters. A. At the written request of an owner, consumer or customer, the department shall test the meter supplying the premises, and the result of the test shall be reported to the owner or consumer in each case. B. If the testing of the meter on a flow equal to one-eighth of the diameter of the service line shows that it fails to register correctly within two percent, the charge to the consumer or customer shall be adjusted according to the variation of registration from one hundred percent, but such adjustments shall apply to the current period, only, unless it is apparent to the department that the consumption of a previous period has also been affected by the same cause. C. In the event a consumer or customer has paid an amount greater than the actual water and/or sewer usage due to an incorrect meter, the department shall reimburse the consumer or customer upon request rather than applying a credit to the consumer or customer's account. (Ord. BL2007-1435 § 1, 2007; prior code § 40-1-124)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.180 Adjustments—Concealed leaks and vandalism.

15.48.180 - Adjustments—Concealed leaks and vandalism. A. Where concealed leaks have been discovered and repaired and an affidavit, on a form approved by the department, stating the leaks were concealed and that the leaks could not have been detected by the consumer or customer by employing reasonable care and supervision of their plumbing and that the leaks were of such a size as to cause the consumption as shown on the bill in question and that the plumbing system is now free from leaks, the consumer or customer shall either (1) be given a credit on the water portion of fifty percent of the excess caused by such leakage above the average monthly bill for the previous year, or (2) if the consumer or customer has already paid a higher bill due to a concealed leak, be reimbursed in an amount equal to fifty percent of the excess caused by such leakage above the average monthly bill for the previous year, provided the conditions of consumption and service used are the same for both periods of consumption, but in no case shall the adjusted bill for single-family residential dwellings be more than twice the average monthly bill. The consumer or customer shall either (1) be given a credit on the sewer portion of the bill of fifty percent of the excess caused by such leakage above the average monthly bill for the previous year, or (2) if the consumer or customer has already paid a higher bill due to a concealed leak, be reimbursed in an amount equal to fifty percent of the excess caused by such leakage above the average monthly bill for the previous year, provided the conditions of consumption and service used are the same for both periods of consumption if the leaking water returned to the sanitary sewer. The consumer or customer shall be given a full credit on the sewer portion based upon the monthly average for the previous year, the conditions of consumption and service being the same for both periods of consumption if the leaking water did not return to the sanitary sewer. In no case shall the adjusted bill for single-family residential dwellings be more than twice the average monthly bill. Under no circumstances will a leak adjustment be given more than twice during a calendar year unless approved by the director or proper officials of the department. Customers requesting an adjustment to their bill for excessive water and/or sewerage usage caused by the act of vandalism shall provide in writing all facts known regarding the act. It shall be within the discretion of officials of the department to decide the amount of the adjustment if warranted. B. It shall be within the discretion of the department to decide what constitutes a concealed leak; provided, that in no case where there is water-cooled refrigerating equipment or other equipment, which, by its characteristics, is liable at any time to waste or use abnormal quantities of water, shall adjustments reducing water bills or combined water and sewerage bills be made. C. No consumer using metered water shall be entitled to any reduction when he has been notified by an employee of the department of the existence of a leak within his plumbing and fails to take steps to have the same repaired immediately. (Amdt. 1 to Ord. BL2007-1435 § 2, 2007; Ord. BL2007-1435 § 2, 2007; Ord. 94-1241 §§ 1, 2, 1994; prior code § 40-1-125)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.190 Adjustments—Errors in meter readings.

15.48.190 - Adjustments—Errors in meter readings. The department shall have the right to readjust or correct bills where errors in meter readings have been established, and such correction shall be made upon the basis of the correctly established reading as it should have been had not the error been made. (Prior code § 40-1-122)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.200 Estimating bill—Defective meters.

15.48.200 - Estimating bill—Defective meters. Where meters are found to be leaking against the consumer or customer, so as definitely to affect the consumption of water, they shall be considered defective, and the procedure in determining the bill to be rendered the consumer shall be the same as if the meter had been found dead or inoperative. (Prior code § 40-1-123)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.210 Payment due—Net and gross bills.

15.48.210 - Payment due—Net and gross bills. The net billing of all accounts, both quarterly and monthly, shall be paid within twenty days after the billing date. After twenty days have expired, the gross bill shall then be due and payable. No discount shall thereafter be given under this chapter except as allowed in the judgment of the director or his designee upon a showing of good cause for the delay in payment. (Ord. BL2012-333 § 6, 2013; prior code § 40-1-129)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.220 Payment—Time extensions—Restoration of service.

15.48.220 - Payment—Time extensions—Restoration of service. A. Any extension of time of payment of any net or gross bill shall be granted only by the proper officials of the department upon the presentation of satisfactory and sufficient reason by the consumer. B. Any customer whose water service is disconnected for failing to pay for water or sewer service rendered by the department or failing to follow the requirements of this chapter or the department's rules and regulations must pay a reconnection charge in the amount of sixty dollars. No water service disconnected under this section shall be reconnected until the responsible customer has paid the full amount owed the department, including the reconnection charge. (Ord. BL2019-45 § 12, 2019; Ord. BL2012-333 § 7, 2013; Ord. 93-567 § 1 (part), 1993; prior code § 40-1-130)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.230 Delinquent bills—Discontinuance of service—Service charges.

15.48.230 - Delinquent bills—Discontinuance of service—Service charges. The water service of any customer who, despite proper notice, has failed to pay for water or sewer service when and as required under this chapter or the department's rules and regulations may be disconnected by the department. Such customer shall become liable to pay the reconnection charge specified in section 15.48.220(B) at the time when an employee of the department is dispatched for the purpose of disconnecting the customer's service, regardless of whether the disconnection is accomplished. (Ord. BL2012-333 § 8, 2013; Ord. 93-567 § 1 (part), 1993; prior code § 40-1-131)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.240 Restoration of service following payment of account.

15.48.240 - Restoration of service following payment of account. Whenever any delinquent consumer or customer, whose supply of water has been turned off, pays the sum due into the department, the department, without delay, shall have the supply turned on; provided, that the consumer or customer shall have complied with all rules and regulations of the department pertaining to the supplying of water to consumers or water and sewerage service to customers. (Prior code § 40-1-132)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.250 Unauthorized reconnection—Disconnection of supply pipes.

15.48.250 - Unauthorized reconnection—Disconnection of supply pipes. When the water supplied to any person, whether metered or unmetered, has been cut off for nonpayment of the water bill or of the combined water and sewerage bill, and is afterwards found turned on, without the knowledge or consent of the department, the supply pipe to such premises shall be disconnected at the main, and water shall not again be turned on until the entire amount due for water or sewerage, or both, by the party liable, has been paid, together with the costs of closing and opening the pipes at the main, which charge for costs shall not exceed actual costs incurred by the department, pursuant to Section 2.40.110, provided, however, in the event said costs exceed the amount. (Amdt. 1 to Ord. 94-1243, 2/7/95; Ord. 94-1243 § 1, 1995; prior code § 40-1-133)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.260 Payment—Returned check charge.

15.48.260 - Payment—Returned check charge. A handling charge of thirty dollars shall be assessed against the maker or drawer of any check that is dishonored by the financial institution on which the check is drawn. (Ord. BL2012-333 § 9, 2013; Ord. 93-583 § 2, 1993; Ord. 93-513 § 2, 1993)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.270 Reinstatement charge following temporary disconnection.

15.48.270 - Reinstatement charge following temporary disconnection. The charge for reconnecting water service that has been disconnected at the request of the customer shall be thirty-five dollars if service is reconnected on the same day as requested and twenty-five dollars if reconnected on any subsequent day. (Ord. BL2012-333 § 10, 2013; Ord. 93-972 § 2, 1993)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.280 Reserved.

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.290 New account connection—Same day service charge.

15.48.290 - New account connection—Same day service charge. In the event a customer establishes a new account for water service, the department shall bill and collect a charge of thirty-five dollars from such customer if connection is requested and accomplished on the same day the customer becomes eligible for service. (Ord. BL2007-1457 § 11, 2007)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.48.300 New water meter installation inspection charge.

15.48.300 - New water meter installation inspection charge. The department shall develop a schedule of charges for services performed in connection with inspection, maintenance and repair of meters. The schedule of charges shall not exceed the department's actual costs incurred in providing such services. The department shall bill and collect in accordance with the schedule of charges, which may be amended from time to time to reflect changes in the department's actual costs of providing the services contemplated herein. A copy of the schedule of charges, and any change thereto, shall be filed with the metropolitan clerk, furnished to each member of the metropolitan council and made available upon request to any citizen of Davidson County. Charges under this subsection may be waived pursuant to a written departmental policy encouraging water conservation, environmental stewardship and other practices that benefit the metropolitan government. (Ord. BL2022-1374 § 1, 2022; Ord. BL2019-45 § 13, 2019; Ord. BL2007-1457 § 12, 2007)

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_CH15.48WASESEBIPRFetched: 10/28/2026