By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

Tighter rules are in store for county water bill adjustments and cutoff dates.

The Columbus County Board of Commissioners may adopt new rules regarding water bills as early as Monday.

Bills will become due 15 days from the date mailed. If payment is not received by the due date, a $5 fee will be applied.

Bills not paid within five days of the due date could result in terminated service. A $30 service charge applies to reconnect a service cut off for nonpayment.

Adjustments for leaks will be given only once in any given year. The bill must exceed three times the average bill for the preceding six months.

A customer with an average water bill of $25 would have to have a bill greater than $75 to receive an adjustment. An average bill of $25 and a leak that resulted in a $117 bill would result in a $42 adjustment. The customer would pay $75.

Customers who question their meter could request a meter test but would be required to pay a $25 fee. No more than two tests could be conducted a year.

Portable meters for connection to hydrants are provided with a deposit.

Discontinuation of service requires at least a three-day notice and five-day notice if mailed.

Property owners are responsible for water bills of mobile homes or apartment developments. Owners of developments with 10 or fewer units may elect to have a single meter used for the entire project.

No part of the system or piping for county water may be used for or connected to any source of water supply other than those authorized by the Water District Board.

The recommendations come months after figures provided by the water department showed that $96,000 in adjustments to county water customers’ bills had been made from June to November 2006.