Chapter 15.04 GENERAL PROVISIONS

The purpose of the provisions set out in Division 1 of this title is to promote and obtain a reasonable minimum level of fire protection performance for water supply facilities constructed, replaced, extended or rehabilitated to serve new subdivisions and residential, commercial and industrial improvements in the City. Nothing in this Division 1 shall regulate any activity where the City is preempted by statutory law for the State of California or regulation of the Public Utilities Commission for the State of California. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.025 Provisions Not Exclusive.

The provisions of this Division 1 are not intended to augment, supplant or parallel any provisions of the Health and Safety Code of the State of California or order of the Public Utilities Commission pertaining to water supply except as to fire protection. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.030 Limitations to Applicability of Provisions.

The provisions of this Division 1 are not intended to cause unnecessary hardships or practical difficulties inconsistent with economic feasibility and normal development, nor shall they be construed to require the replacement or abandonment of existing water facilities prior to the expiration of their economic utilization. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.040 Civil Liability Not Imposed on Utilities.

This Division 1 shall not impose upon water utilities, and they shall not be subject to any civil liability, either for damages or otherwise, which liability would not exist if the ordinance codified in this Division 1 had not been adopted. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.050 Time Limits—Extension Permitted When.

Any time limit provided for in this Division 1 may be extended by mutual consent of the officer or department concerned and the permittee or applicant, or other person affected. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.060 Amendment or Modification of Provisions—Notice Requirements.

Not less than 10 days prior to the adoption of any ordinance amending or modifying this Division 1 in any way so as to impose any additional regulation upon, or so as to increase any existing regulation of any water utility or other person, either expressly or by implication, the City Clerk shall notify in writing all water utilities which are either registered with the City Engineer, received an authorization from the City Engineer, or have filed with the City Clerk written request for such notification. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.065 References Apply to All Amendments and Additions.

Whenever reference is made to any portion of the ordinance codified in this Division 1, such reference applies to all amendments and additions thereto now or hereafter made. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.070 Records to Be Kept—Location and Availability.

The water utility shall keep on record at its principal office the current effective water utility certificates of registration or water utility authorizations. The engineer shall keep on record in his office current copies of water utility certificates of registration and water utility authorizations, together with copies of the accompanying reports, plans and specifications. Said records shall be made available during regular working hours. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.075 Delegation of Powers.

Whenever a power is granted to or a duty is imposed upon the engineer, the health officer, the forester and fire warden, the director of planning or any other City officer by provisions of this Division 1, the power may be exercised or the duty may be performed by a deputy of the officer or an person authorized pursuant to law by the officer, unless this Division 1 expressly provides otherwise. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.080 Enforcement Authority.

The City Engineer shall enforce all applicable provisions of this Division 1, and for such purpose shall have the powers of a peace officer. Such powers shall not limit or otherwise affect the powers and applicable duties of the Fire Department. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.090 Inspectors—Identification Required.

Inspectors will be provided with suitable means of identification, and shall identify themselves upon request when entering upon the work of any contractor or property owner for any inspection or work required by Division 1 of this Title 15. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.100 Resisting Activities of Authorized Officials.

A person shall not, in the City, during reasonable hours, refuse, resist or attempt to resist the entrance of the City Engineer, his designee, or other City officer into any place in the performance of any duties conferred upon him by this Division 1 or by other applicable law. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90.)

15.04.110 Violation—Penalty.

Every person violating any provision of Division 1 of this title is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction is punishable by fine not exceeding $500.00 or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.120 Severability.

If any provision of the ordinance codified in this Division 1, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance should be held invalid, the application of other provisions, or the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

Part 2. Definitions

15.04.130 Applicability of Definitions.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions in this Part 2 of this Chapter shall govern the construction of the provisions of Division 1 of this title. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.135 Building Permit.

“Building permit” means the permit issued pursuant to the Building Code as now and hereafter amended. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.140 Customer.

“Customer” means any person, firm, association or governmental agency supplied or entitled to be supplied with water service by a water utility. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.150 Director of Planning.

“Director of Planning” means the Community Development Director of the City. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.160 Distribution System.

“Distribution system” means the network of conduits used for the delivery of water by the utility to the customer’s connection. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.170 Easement.

“Easement” means the right-of-way in which the water utility has the right to install and maintain water mains or waterworks, or both. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.175 Electrical Permit.

“Electrical permit” means the permit issued pursuant to the Electrical Code as now and hereafter amended. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.180 Encroachment Permit.

“Encroachment permit” means the utility encroachment permit issued by the State of California, Department of Public Works, Division of Highways, for permission to excavate, construct and/or otherwise encroach on any state highway. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.190 Engineer.

“Engineer” means the City Engineer. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.200 Excavation Permit.

“Excavation permit” means the permit issued pursuant to the Highway Permit Ordinance, as now and hereafter amended. This permit to excavate, construct and/or otherwise encroach in the public highway will be issued by the City Engineer. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.205 Fire Department.

“Fire Department” means the Fire Department of the City of Santa Clarita or that entity with which provides fire suppression and related services. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.210 Grantee.

“Grantee” means the person to whom a certificate of registration or water utility authorization is granted, and any person to whom it lawfully is assigned. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.230 Health Officer.

“Health officer” means the designated official who provides health services to the City. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.240 Highway.

“Highway” means any public highway, freeway (except a state freeway), street, road, alley, lane, court or walk, or other public easement, and above and below the same, which now exists or which may hereafter exist in the City. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.250 Main Extensions.

“Main extensions” means the extension of water mains beyond existing facilities, exclusive of service connections. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.260 Main Line Valve.

“Main line valve” means any valve used to control the flow of water in a distribution water main or to a fire hydrant, but does not include the valve to a service connection. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.270 Metered Service Connection.

“Metered service connection” means the service connection, including meter and meterbox. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.280 Required Area.

“Required area” means that term as defined in the Zoning Code for the City. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.290 Service Connection.

“Service connection” means the pipeline or conduit, including valves and other equipment installed in place, necessary for conducting water from the grantee’s water main to the meter or meter location installed on or near the property line, but does not include the meter or meter box. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.300 Source.

“Source” means all components of the facilities utilized in the production, treatment, storage and delivery of water to the distribution system. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.310 Subdivider.

“Subdivider” means “subdivider” as defined in the Subdivision Ordinance. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.320 Transmission Water Mains.

“Transmission water mains” means those lines from source facilities to distribution facility, and may be either pressure or gravity mains. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.330 Water Mains.

“Water mains” means any pipe or conduit laid along in any highway, easement, or within the water utility’s property, to be used for the transmission or distribution of water, but does not include service connections or service laterals. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.340 Water System.

“Water system” means the source-facilities’ transmission pipelines and the distribution system, and shall include all those facilities of the water system under the complete control of the utility, up to the customer’s connection. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)

15.04.350 Water Utility.

“Water utility” means any person, firm, private, quasi-public or public agency supplying or purporting to supply, other than at wholesale, water for any purpose other than irrigation or water replenishment to more than one retail customer or stockholder over which the City has the power to regulate. The term “water utility” includes a corporation delivering water only to its stockholders, whether such corporation or such stockholders own the water delivered. This Division 1 does not apply to the supplying of water:

A. At wholesale; or

B. To water utilities, or

C. For underground water replenishment; or

D. For underground water conservation; or

E. For irrigation. (Ord. 90-18, 7/24/90)