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Customers warned against tampering water meters
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Posted on Dec 28 2005
The Water Task Force is reminding customers not to tamper with or bypass the water meter installed on or within their premises.
WTF is issuing this reminder after confirming reports that some customers were digging up the water meters and were installing another pipe so water consumed will not be registered or read by the meters.
“This action is against the CUC regulations. We don’t want to threaten these people but remind them that their actions hinder the program in trying to pressurize water within the island,” said WTF program manager Don Smith.
The water meters installed by WTF to residences and businesses on Saipan are the property of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation. Article XI Section 1 of the Regulations Governing the Use of CUC Water System states that “the customer shall exercise reasonable care to prevent damage to meters and other equipment of CUC upon said premises and shall in no way interfere with the operation of same.”
Section 2 states that “any damage to water mains, service connections, valves, fire hydrants, or other property of CUC shall be paid for by the person or organization responsible for the damage.”
Section 3 further states that “the customer shall be liable for any damage to a meter or other equipment or property of CUC caused by the customer or his tenants, agents, employees, contractors, licensees or permittees, on the customer’s premises and CUC shall be promptly reimbursed by the customer for any such damage upon presentation of a bill therefore. In the event settlement for such damage is not promptly made, CUC reserves the right to discontinue water services to such premises.”
Smith also acknowledged that customers who are doing this may not be aware of the importance of this project. He reminded people that water meters are installed to encourage water conservation among the residents because with the water meters, customers will pay based on their actual water usage.
The water meter installation project is still ongoing and is part of WTF’s mission to develop a strategic plan to pressurize the entire water system on Saipan, develop sustainable pressurization throughout the island and eventually deliver potable water to all CUC customers. (PR)
