Sec. 11.5. (a) As an alternative to the penalties provided in section 11 of this chapter, the board may require that the water utility providing water service to a delinquent user discontinue service until payment of all overdue user fees, together with any penalties provided in this section, are received by the municipality.

(b) If a fee established is not paid within the time fixed by the board, the board or its designee shall send notice to the delinquent user stating:

(1) the delinquent amount due, together with any penalty;

(2) that water service may be disconnected if the user continues not to pay the delinquency and any penalty; and

(3) the procedure for resolving disputed bills.

The municipality shall provide by ordinance a procedure for resolving disputed bills that includes an opportunity for a delinquent user to meet informally with designated personnel empowered to correct incorrect charges. Payment of a disputed bill and penalties by a user does not constitute a waiver of rights to subsequently claim and recover from the municipality sums improperly charged to the user.

(c) If the user fails to pay the delinquent amount or otherwise resolve the charges as specified in subsection (a), the board or its designee shall give written notice to the water utility serving the user to discontinue water service to the premises designated in the notice until notified otherwise. The notice must identify the delinquent sewer user in enough detail to enable the water utility to identify the water service connection that is to be terminated. Upon receipt of the notice, the water utility shall disconnect water service to the user.

(d) Water service may not be shut off under this section if a local board of health has found and certified to the municipality that the termination of water service will endanger the health of the user and others in the municipality.

(e) The water utility that discontinues water service in accordance with an order from the board or its designee does not incur any liability except to the extent of its own negligence or improper conduct.

(f) If the water utility does not discontinue service within the time fixed by the board after receiving notice from the municipality, the utility is liable for any user fees incurred after receipt of notice to discontinue water service and that are not collected from the user.

As added by P.L.349-1985, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.55-1988, SEC.14; P.L.64-1989, SEC.4; P.L.93-1993, SEC.9; P.L.98-1993, SEC.6; P.L.257-2019, SEC.165.