Chapter 16.04
WATER SERVICES
Sections:
16.04.010 Chapter definitions.
16.04.040 System supply and pressure.
16.04.050 Service connection requirements.
16.04.060 Service connection installation.
16.04.070 Service connection ownership and maintenance.
16.04.080 Service connection changes.
16.04.010 CHAPTER DEFINITIONS.
Unless the context requires otherwise, the following definitions shall be used in the interpretation of this chapter.
(a) “Irrigation service” means the provision of water for agricultural, horticultural or landscape irrigation use only.
(b) “Property owner” means the legal owner of the real estate to which a service connection is made.
(c) “Service area” means any property within the corporate limits of the city and such areas outside the city limits which have been designated by the city council and any other property approved for water service from the city’s water system.
(Ord. 2016-06 § 2 (part), 2016).
16.04.020 SERVICE PROVIDED.
The city will furnish water service in accordance with these regulations to any property within the city’s service area.
The director shall be responsible for assuring that all water service shall comply with the standards set forth in this chapter wherever water service is provided by the city.
The director of the water department is authorized to issue such policies and procedures as necessary and appropriate to provide water services throughout the water service area in a safe, efficient and effective manner.
(Ord. 2016-06 § 2 (part), 2016).
16.04.030 TYPES OF SERVICE.
(a) Regular water service is provided to a property through installed piping from a city water main through water meter(s) to the property’s water facilities. Such service shall be established and charged for through an active customer account.
(b) Bulk water service is provided on an occasional or intermittent basis through bulk water stations. Such service shall be authorized and charged for through permits issued by the water department.
(c) Hydrant meter service may only be available on a short term basis for nonpotable purposes only from a public fire hydrant through a portable meter issued by the water department. Such service shall be authorized and charged for by the water department.
(d) Public fire protection service is water service provided through fire hydrants to organized fire protection agencies under agreements entered into between such agency and the city. Fire hydrants are for use by organized fire protection agencies and by the water department.
(e) Private fire protection service is a separate water service provided to property for the specific purpose of fire protection, as permitted by the water department and the fire protection agency within whose jurisdiction the property falls.
(Ord. 2016-06 § 2 (part), 2016).
16.04.040 SYSTEM SUPPLY AND PRESSURE.
(a) Supply. The water department will exercise reasonable diligence and care to deliver a continuous and sufficient supply of water to the customer at sufficient pressure, and to avoid shortages or interruptions in delivery.
(b) Service Interruptions. The city reserves the right to interrupt service while making improvements and repairs required in the operation of the water system. Whenever it is necessary to schedule an interruption to its service, the department will endeavor to notify all account holders to be affected by the interruption, stating the approximate time and anticipated duration of the interruption. The city shall not be liable for damage which may result from an interruption in service.
(c) Pressure. It is the applicant’s responsibility to obtain information from the department concerning the water pressures that may be expected in their area and to provide and maintain any plumbing and protective devices necessary to use the available water at whatever operating pressure is available in the system. Applicants and customers shall accept such conditions of pressure and service as are provided by the city’s distribution system at the location of the proposed service connection, and hold the city harmless for damage arising out of low, high or fluctuating pressure conditions.
(Ord. 2016-06 § 2 (part), 2016).
16.04.050 SERVICE CONNECTION REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Building Permit. In order to be eligible to receive a water service installation permit, an applicant must possess an approved building permit for the parcel on which the service is requested. The application must include evidence of the building permit. If a new service connection is requested for irrigation services, irrigation and landscape plans are required and shall meet water conservation requirements.
(b) Particular Property. Applications for new service connections must be for a particular and identified property. Service is not assignable to other property, nor transferable between properties.
(c) Principal Frontage. A principal part of the property to be served must front on an available water main. In determining whether the portion of an applicant’s property lying directly along the main constitutes principal frontage, the director’s decision shall be considered final.
(d) Elevation. New service connections will not be considered for properties where meter(s) will be located at an elevation of less than one hundred feet below the overflow level of the reservoir supplying water to the main from which the connection will be made.
(e) Minimum Standards. Water connection permits may be granted only if the water department determines that the property can be connected to a water main of adequate size to provide sufficient pressure and flow to meet the applicant’s needs without directly or indirectly causing service to any existing account holder to fall below the following minimum service standards:
(1) Water pressure must not fall below thirty-five pounds per square inch (thirty-five p.s.i.) during peak hour demand for the city’s system.
(2) Minimum flow at anticipated peak hour demand must be sufficient for safe, dependable supply of all existing domestic, commercial and industrial users.
(3) Fire flow requirements as determined by the fire protection district in which the property is located must be met.
(f) Multiple Units. Service to multiple residential dwelling units or mixed-use commercial units will generally be provided through separately metered connections. Use of a master meter is prohibited when each unit can be plumbed independently and sold separately. However, when the size and/or shape of the property create practical difficulties for (or severely limit) such a development, the director may approve use of a master meter to serve all units, in accordance with department policies and procedures.
(g) One Parcel. Not more than one parcel of real property shall be served from a single service connection. The director may allow for the continuation of a cross-parcel service in certain limited circumstances in accordance with department policies and procedures.
(h) Private Fire Protection.
a. There shall be no connections between a fire protection system and any other water distribution system on the property. There shall be no water used through the fire protection service except to extinguish fires or for testing and maintaining the fire service and appurtenances. Domestic service to the property may be discontinued for violation of the regulations set forth in this section.
b. The city shall not be responsible for the design or adequacy of any private fire protection system.
(i) Authority. The director retains final authority to determine the size, number, configuration, and location of all service connections.
(Ord. 2016-06 § 2 (part), 2016).
16.04.060 SERVICE CONNECTION INSTALLATION.
The installation of service connections shall be at the applicant’s expense and shall conform to standard specifications, requirements, and the payment of applicable fees published by the city. The director shall establish criteria for the issuance of permits and acceptance of work by the city upon completion. The department may charge fees for issuance of a permit as established by resolution of the city council.
(a) Size and Number. Service connections will generally be installed in the size and number requested by the applicant where such requests are determined by the department to be reasonable for effective and efficient service of the parcel in question and the surrounding service area.
(b) Location. Service connections will be installed along principal frontage as near as possible to the location requested by the applicant where such location is readily accessible by rights-of-way capable of accommodating city vehicles and equipment as determined by the department.
(c) Installers. Service connections may be installed only by duly authorized employees or agents of the water department or by a contractor from the water department’s preapproved installer list, to whom a water service installation permit has been issued by the water department.
(d) Warranty. Service connections installed pursuant to the water service installation permit shall, upon acceptance of the work, be subject to a contractor-guaranteed warranty. The terms, including the duration of the warranty shall be established by the department-issued water service installation permit.
(e) Control Valve. The account holder shall provide and maintain control valve(s) on the property side of the service connection for their use, and as required by the water department. Customers shall not operate the city owned control valve. Only department personnel or other authorized representative may operate the city owned control valve.
(f) Customer Owned Plumbing. Privately owned water service facilities shall be equipped with pressure regulating, absorbing, and relief devices as required by California Plumbing Code.
(Ord. 2016-06 § 2 (part), 2016).
16.04.070 SERVICE CONNECTION OWNERSHIP AND MAINTENANCE.
(a) City Owned Water Service Facilities. All service connection facilities (except fire services) located between the meter and the water main, including the meter, meter box, and other pipes and fixtures, whether located on public or private property, are the property of the city. The city is responsible for maintaining, repairing, and replacing such facilities. The property owner shall use reasonable care in the protection of these city-owned water facilities and shall be held responsible for damage to the city’s property when such damage is caused by the property owner, account holder, contractor, or customer or from causes originating on the owner’s property.
(b) Privately Owned Facilities. All service connection facilities located on the property side of the water meter, including the connection from the meter to said facilities, are owned by the property owner and are the responsibility of the property owner to repair, replace and maintain. Property side water service facilities must be maintained by the property owner in good condition to safely withstand fluctuations in pressure and construction and maintenance activities related to the water service including, but not limited to, meter repair and replacement and service connection renewal.
(c) Fire Service Facility Ownership. All fire service connection facilities located in the public right-of-way are the property of the city. The city is responsible for maintaining, repairing, and replacing such facilities. The fire service meter and associated electronics and wiring are also the property of the city, regardless of location.
(d) City Access. Representatives of the water department shall have access to any city-owned meters, service connections, and other water facilities located on private property for purposes reasonably associated with the furnishing of water service. Such access shall be without notice or interference from the owner or occupant of the property.
Representatives of the water department shall have access at reasonable hours (except in emergencies) to property side water facilities such as shut-off valves and exterior hose bibs for purposes reasonably associated with the furnishing of water service. Such access shall be with notice except in the case of emergency.
(Ord. 2016-06 § 2 (part), 2016).
16.04.080 SERVICE CONNECTION CHANGES.
Requests from customers to move or resize meters, service laterals, or service connections must be approved by the department in accordance with department policies and procedures.
The department may require that a customer’s existing service connection(s) be relocated and/or resized in accordance with department policies and procedures to ensure safe, adequate service, and accurate metering corresponding to documented or planned water use.
Fees and charges for relocation and resizing of water services, water meters or service connections shall be as adopted by resolution of city council.
(Ord. 2016-06 § 2 (part), 2016).
16.04.090 FIRE HYDRANTS.
(a) New Fire Hydrants. Where required by the fire protection agency within whose jurisdiction the property falls, new fire hydrants shall be installed at the applicant’s expense and shall conform to standard specifications, requirements, and the payment of applicable fees and charges adopted by resolution of city council.
(b) Relocation of Existing Fire Hydrants. Requests to relocate an existing fire hydrant must be approved by the appropriate fire protection district, the appropriate public works department and the water department in accordance with department policies and procedures and may be subject to applicable charges as adopted by resolution of city council. The relocation of an existing fire hydrant shall be at the expense of the requestor.
(Ord. 2016-06 § 2 (part), 2016).