Who maintains the water line and meter at a Tempe business? City Code 33-38

Subsection (a) is the quote above. The water consumer maintains all water lines and connections "within this property," except as provided elsewhere in the chapter.

Subsection (b) covers the meter. All meters, "except in cases where they are willfully injured by the consumer," are maintained and repaired by the City at its expense.

Subsection (c) is about access. An authorized City employee or contractor "shall be allowed free and unimpeded access to all exterior service connections" on property served by the City's public water system, for maintenance or inspection of meters and privately-owned service lines.

Subsection (d) is the enforcement clause. If an authorized City employee is refused admittance, or is hindered or prevented from inspecting the water system on the premises, the Financial Services Director "may cause the water to be turned off" after giving 24 hours' notice to the owner or occupant.

Four nearby sections matter to a repair:

• 33-39. Water meter boxes must be installed so the access cover is exposed and not lower than the finished grade. Community Development must deny final approval and certificate of occupancy of any building until this is met.
• 33-40. Anyone receiving City water who wants to change or alter the existing water connection must give the Financial Services Director a statement of the changes and receive written permission first.
• 33-44. No one may break or remove a meter seal or willfully injure or destroy a meter. No one may destroy, obstruct or injure a meter box, remove it except to inspect meter readings, destroy its lid, or place refuse or debris in it.
• 33-45. The City may require or conduct replacement or repair of all or part of a service connection not made of suitable material under industry regulations that may pose a risk to service levels, public health or water quality.

• Water consumer. The customer receiving City water. The chapter does not define the word separately.
• Within this property. The code does not say where "property" begins in relation to the meter. A reading: the private side of the connection. Tempe's text does not use a side-of-the-meter phrase, so a break near the meter box is worth confirming with the City before assuming either way.
• Service connection. The line that carries water from the City main to the property. Section 33-17(c) says every service line connected to the City must be of suitable material under federal regulations and the Maricopa Association of Governments specifications.
• Unit of service. Section 33-16 defines it as each separate occupancy, house, store or building that is or could be served by the City system, and 33-17(b) lets the Financial Services Director decide when a separate connection, meter box and turn-off valve is required.

Any customer on the City of Tempe's water system. For a multi-tenant commercial property the code does not split the duty between landlord and tenant, so the lease decides that between them.

It does not make the consumer responsible for the meter itself, which the City maintains at its expense, except where the consumer willfully injured it.

A leak found at the meter box. A manager sees water pooling around the box. The code splits the work: the City repairs meters at its expense, and the consumer keeps up lines and connections within the property. Which side of the meter the leak is on decides who calls a plumber, so photograph it and ask the City before digging.

A remodel that moves the connection. A tenant improvement adds a restroom group and the designer wants to relocate the service. Section 33-40 requires a statement and the Director's written permission before changing an existing connection.

The edge case: the closed gate. A fenced yard blocks the meter. Subsection (c) gives City crews free and unimpeded access to exterior service connections, and (d) allows a shutoff after 24 hours' notice if they are refused or hindered. The shutoff authority sits with the Financial Services Director, not the field crew.

A new building at final. The meter box lid was poured below the finished slab. Section 33-39 denies final approval and the certificate of occupancy until the lid is exposed and at or above grade.

1. 1Find the meter and take a reading, then check whether it moves with every fixture shut off. The meter leak test FAQ walks through it.
2. 2If the leak is at or past the meter box, ask the City before excavating, because the meter is the City's to maintain.
3. 3For a leak within the property, hire a licensed plumber and keep the invoice. Under 33-123, a leak left after it should have been discovered can draw surcharges.
4. 4Before moving or altering a connection, send the statement to the Financial Services Director and wait for written permission.
5. 5Keep meter boxes clear: no debris, no covered lids, no pavement over the cover.
6. 6If a notice about service line material arrives, ask what the City found and by when. Section 33-45 lets the City require replacement.

• Applying the owner-side-of-the-meter rule to Tempe. Glendale and Scottsdale draw the line at the meter. Tempe's text says "within this property."
• Paying for meter repairs. The City repairs meters at its own expense unless the consumer willfully injured them.
• Blocking access. Refusing entry can lead to shutoff after 24 hours' notice.
• Pouring over the lid. Meter boxes must have the cover exposed and not below grade.
• Treating a lid or seal as scrap. Breaking a seal or destroying a lid is prohibited under 33-44.

The city's code text governs; this page explains it.