Chapter 5.05
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sections:
5.05.010 Words and phrases.
For the purpose of the rules and regulations used herein, the present tense shall include the future; all words in the plural number shall include the singular number; and all words in the singular number shall include the plural number. (Ord. 392 § 2 (Exh. A), 2020)
5.05.020 Severability.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of these rules and regulations is for any reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions. (Ord. 392 § 2 (Exh. A), 2020)
5.05.030 Definitions.
A. “Agricultural water use” means water which is delivered and used for the growing or raising, in conformity with recognized practices of husbandry, for the purposes of commerce, trade or industry, or for use by public educational or correctional institutions, of agricultural, horticultural, or floricultural products, and produced for the following:
1. Human consumption or for the market, or the feeding of fowl or livestock produced for human consumption or for the market; or
2. The feeding of fowl or livestock for the purpose of obtaining their products for human consumption for the market.
B. “Applicant” means any person or group of persons who initiates a request for water service from the district.
C. Backflow Prevention Assembly (BPA). A general term referring to all types of backflow prevention assemblies including, but not limited to, double check valve backflow prevention assembly (DC), double check detector backflow prevention assembly (DCDA), reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly (RP) and reduced pressure principle detector backflow prevention assembly (RPDA). An approved BPA is any backflow prevention assembly that is found on the current list of approved backflow prevention assemblies maintained by the University of Southern California Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research.
D. “Board” means the board of directors of Western Municipal Water District of Riverside County.
E. “Capacity charge” means a charge for public facilities in existence at the time a charge is imposed or charges for new public facilities to be acquired or constructed in the future that are of proportional benefit to the person or property being charged, including supply or capacity contracts for rights or entitlements, real property interests, and entitlements and other rights of the district involving capital expense relating to its use of existing or new public facilities. A “capacity charge” does not include a commodity charge.
F. “Cost” means labor, materials, equipment, transportation, supervision, engineering and overhead expenses.
G. “Cross-connection” means an unprotected actual or potential physical connection between a potable water system used to supply water for drinking purposes and any source or system containing unapproved water or a substance that is not or cannot be approved as safe, wholesome, and potable. By-pass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel or change-over devices, or other devices through which or because of which backflow could occur, shall be considered as cross-connections.
H. “Customer” means an individual, company, association, partnership, or public or private corporation to whom the district provides service.
I. “Customer lateral” means the customer’s facilities necessary to serve water from the connection at the meter assembly.
J. “Developer” means any person, group of persons, or business developing property within the district.
K. “District” means the Western Municipal Water District of Riverside County.
L. “Long service” means a service connection greater than 60 feet and less than 100 feet.
M. “Main” means a water distribution pipeline together with its appurtenances.
N. “Meter” means any device used for measuring the quantity of water delivered to a customer.
O. “MWD” means the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
P. “Nonpotable” means water which does not meet the drinking water standards as specified under the California Safe Drinking Water Act. Nonpotable water includes the following:
1. “Recycled water” means wastewater which, as a result of treatment, is suitable for uses other than potable. The use of recycled water is subject to applicable rules and regulations including, but not limited to, California Water Code Section 13500 et seq. Recycled water may also be a blend of recycled water and untreated water.
2. “Untreated water” means raw surface or groundwater that has not been treated and does not meet drinking water standards as specified under the California Safe Drinking Water Act.
Q. “Notice of completion” means legal notice recorded with the county recorder upon completion of a project.
R. “Owner” means holder of legal title to the property or facility; or the executor, administrator, guardian or trustee of title holder.
S. “Potable/treated water” means water which has been treated to meet the drinking water standards as specified under the California Safe Drinking Water Act.
T. “Premises” means a lot or parcel, or contiguous lots or parcels, of real property under one ownership.
U. “Site” means any area within a customer’s property which is served or has the potential to be served water by the district.
V. “Water budget” means the maximum, site-specific volume of potable water allotted during a billing period for customer use that is priced in the lowest two rate tiers.
W. “Water service connections” means the physical water facilities that are the property of the district including those consisting of one of the following:
1. The service lateral assembly, which includes the tap to the main, connection valve or corporation stop, zero- to 60-foot service lateral, and curb stop or line setter; and
2. The meter assembly, which may include the meter, meter box or vault, a valve on the customer’s side of the meter, and a backflow prevention assembly.
X. “Water resource management measures” means water use requirements designed to increase the efficient use of water or reduce water demand. These measures may be required on new or existing development, and may be required as a condition of annexation to the district or a condition of general water service. These measures may include, but are not limited to, appliances and plumbing fixture selection; landscape plant choices; irrigation system enhancements; or more stringent water budgets. These measures may be implemented and/or enforced by the district as a result of requirements placed on the district by the state of California, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the county of Riverside, and/or cities in which the district provides water service. (Ord. 392 § 2 (Exh. A), 2020)
5.05.040 Appeals process.
The board will hear, at any regular or adjourned meeting of the board, any appeals or comments that any customer, property owner or member of the public may wish to make. The subject of the appeals or comments, however, must be relevant to the affairs of the district, and may be subject to reasonable time constraints. As to any matter requiring action by the district or a decision by the board, and unless the procedures of the following sentence have been followed, the matter will be assigned to staff for study and referral back to the appropriate board committee and/or to the board as a whole for subsequent actions. Any person who contacts staff or any member of the board regarding any matter, requesting an appearance before the board, will be given the option of putting his request in writing prior to appearing. Staff will provide information regarding schedules and deadlines for submission of written material in order to meet the deadline for agenda preparation and to permit sufficient time for staff to develop information on the request and submit it to the appropriate committee and/or to the board. These procedures will enable the request to be a line item on the agenda and give the appropriate board committee and/or the board an opportunity to make a decision at that time. (Ord. 392 § 2 (Exh. A), 2020)
5.05.050 Notices.
A. To Customers. Notices from the district will normally be given in writing, and either delivered to the premises or mailed to the customer at the last known address. Where conditions warrant, and in emergencies, notification may be given by either telephone or messenger.
B. From Customers. Notice to the district may be given by the customer, or an authorized representative, in writing at the district’s administrative offices in Riverside. (Ord. 392 § 2 (Exh. A), 2020)