§ 74-84. Penalties and enforcement.
(a)
No customer shall use or allow the use of water in violation of the restrictions on outdoor water use contained in or promulgated pursuant to section 74-82.
(b)
The water system shall be the enforcement authority for this section. The chairman may also authorize other county departments as may be deemed necessary to support enforcement. Upon a first violation of the outdoor water use restrictions pursuant to this section, a written notice will be posted by a designated water system employee or other authorized representative at the property where the violation occurred. Such notice shall constitute the initial warning to the customer at such address, and no administrative penalty will be imposed. Thereafter, notice of said violation shall be sent by first class mail to the customer of record. The customer receiving water service will be subject to administrative penalties for unauthorized use of water and/or unauthorized use of service as follows:
First violation—Written warning
Second violation—$100.00 fine
Third violation—$250.00 fine
Fourth and subsequent violations—$500.00 fine and possible disconnection.
Separate offenses shall be deemed to be committed on each day a violation occurs or continues.
(c)
Any administrative penalties imposed pursuant to this section may, at the discretion of the department director under extraordinary circumstances, be waived or reduced.
(d)
Any administrative penalties imposed pursuant to this section shall be payable to the Paulding County Water System on the date of issuance of any notice of noncompliance, and shall not be affected by the filing of any appeal. Any such administrative penalties shall become a part of the customer's regular bill for service. Failure to remit payment as required will subject the customer to a termination of service.
(e)
Criminal and alternative penalties. Any violation of this section may be enforced by a citation or accusation returnable to the magistrate court of the county pursuant to section 1-19 of the county Code or by any other legal means as set forth in this article.
(Res. No. 16-53, § 1(B), 12-13-2016)