Sec. 19-59. Termination of service with notice.

(a)     Grounds for termination with notice. Water service to a customer may be terminated by the city, upon ten days advance written notice, for any of the following reasons:

(1)     Customer violation of any of the provisions of this article;

(2)     Failure of the customer to meet or maintain the city water department's credit and deposit requirements;

(3)     Failure of the customer to provide the city reasonable access to its water department equipment and property;

(4)     Failure of a customer to pay a delinquent bill for water service;

(5)     Failure of bank to honor customer's check for any reason.

(b)     Termination for nonpayment of delinquent bill. If any bill for a water rate, charge and/or fee made to the customer pursuant to this article is not paid within the first 30 days after it is due, the customer shall be given written notice specifying that the bill is past due. If no payment has been received within ten days, the customer shall be given written notice specifying that the bill is delinquent, and outlining the procedure by which the customer may challenge the accuracy of the bill. If a delinquent bill is not paid, and no challenge has been made to the accuracy of the bill within ten days of the notice of delinquency, the water supply will, without further notice, be turned off, and not turned on until all sums due are paid in full, together with a charge for reconnection after delinquency as provided in section 19-84.

(c)     Tagging meters. The water department shall affix a red tag to any meter closed for delinquency. The tag shall be affixed by using wire, plastic or other similar materials, which must be cut to be opened once it has been affixed. The tag shall read "Tampering with a water meter is a violation of Nogales City Code Section 19-85 and is punishable by a fine of not less than $25.00." The number of the meter to which the tag is affixed shall also be written on the tag.

(d)     Reconnection of service. In no case shall any individual or plumber turn on the water supply to any building, or any supply pipe, where the supply has been turned off for the nonpayment of the monthly water bill or for the violation of any provision of this article. All water that has been turned off by the city water department shall be turned on again by the employees or agents of the city water department.

(e)     Violation for tampering with meter. It shall be unlawful for a person to tamper with a water meter or a tag affixed to a water meter close for delinquency. Any person violating any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than $25.00 nor more than $250.00 for the first offense