All meters on services of consumers within, or without, the city limits, until otherwise authorized by the city, shall be and remain the property of the city and will not be removed unless the use of water on the premises is to be entirely stopped or the service connection discontinued or abandoned. In all cases where meters are lost, injured or broken by carelessness or negligence of owners or occupants of premises, they shall be repaired or replaced, by or under the direction, of the director, and the cost charged against the owner or occupant, and in case of nonpayment the water shall be shut off and will not be turned on until such charge and the charge for turning off and turning on the water are paid. In the event of the meter getting out of order or failing to register properly, the consumer shall be charged on an estimate made by the city on the average monthly consumption during the last three months that the same was in good order or from what the city may consider the most reliable date at its command. (Ord. 016/2021 § 2; Ord. 1260, 2002; Ord. 327, 1954)