The word "premises" is defined to include any structure, building, residence, house or other establishment using water; and in the case of any lot or parcel of land on which there is more than one structure, building, residence or house shall be considered as separate premises and shall be metered separately; in cases where there is a business and a residence in one building or structure or under one roof, each such separate business quarters and residences quarters shall be considered as separate premises, and charges shall be made to each such separate premises for water supplied to each such separate premises irrespective of number of, or size of, meters. This same requirement shall apply to apartments and multiple dwelling units, i.e., charges shall be made to each unit irrespective of number of, size of, meters.
(Ord. 82-14, 1982)
A. 
Water System. The City of Plymouth has heretofore, since the first day of June, 1952 and does now own and operate a municipal water system.
B. 
Clerk. The Clerk of the City of Plymouth shall be the Clerk of the municipal water system.
(Ord. 82-14, 1982)
A. 
The City of Plymouth will furnish and install a water meter at the property line of persons requesting water service. Before any meter shall be installed, all service lines must complete from the City's main to the property line, as determined by the Public Works Department. The following schedule of costs shall be paid by persons requesting such service connection:
5/8″ standard dwelling unit meter
$125.00
Special inspections
25.00
Service lines or mains
Time & material
The City shall charge the costs of time and materials for all services in excess of the installation of the meter at the size above set forth.
B. 
Before any water shall be delivered to any premises not receiving water service, an application upon a form to be supplied by the City Clerk shall be made and a deposit equal to two monthly charges, plus $25, shall be paid to the City Clerk to be credited on the closing bill.
(Ord. 82-14, 1982; Ord. 99-03 § 1, 1999)
For services outside the City, line turn-offs and/or meters will be placed at a point near the City limits line and all pipe lines beyond said City limits shall be constructed and maintained by the person or persons to whom service is rendered. Applications for all services outside the City must be approved by the City Council. The rate to be paid for all water service furnished beyond the City limits shall be negotiated.
(Ord. 82-14, 1982)
Any extension of existing City water mains or line shall be at the cost of the owner of the property to be served, and shall become the property of the City. Extensions completed by the property owner shall be pre-approved and inspected by the Public Works Department.
(Ord. 82-14, 1982; Ord. 99-03 § 1, 1999)
All water connections made to the water distribution system shall be metered.
(Ord. 82-14, 1982)
Whenever a meter is determined to be inoperative, the bill for water services shall be determined by averaging the bills for the prior six months of metered usage. In the event that there is not six months of prior metered service available, the bill shall be the average of however many months prior metered service are available.
(Ord. 2002-02 § 1)
All water services must be provided with an independent shut-off valve on the property side of the service, installed and paid for by the user; and in order to expedite necessary replacement and repair, the user shall provide shut-off valves in front of all faucets and taps upon the premises served.
(Ord. 82-14, 1982)
A. 
No unauthorized person shall turn on or off, or otherwise molest, any City-owned water line or service cock, tap or seal.
B. 
No person shall connect any pipe or instrument with any City-owned main or pipe for purpose of taking water therefrom with intent to evade payment therefor.
(Ord. 97-13 § 1, 1997)
A. 
Every customer of the water system shall pay a monthly service charge based on meter size and pay for water consumed consistent with the following rate schedule:
City of Plymouth Water Rate Schedule
 
FY 05-06
FY 06-07
FY 07-08
FY 08-09
FY 09-10
FY 10-11
Uniform Commodity Rate ($/CCF1)
$3.43
$3.43
$3.43
$3.43
$3.97
$4.61
Monthly Service Charges ($/month)
3/4″ meter
$1.00
$7.77
$15.60
$24.70
$28.65
$33.23
1″ meter
$1.23
$12.48
$25.47
$40.58
$47.07
$54.60
1 1/2″ meter
$1.93
$24.16
$49.94
$79.93
$92.72
$107.56
2″ meter
$2.80
$38.23
$79.42
$127.34
$147.72
$171.35
3″ meter
 
$71.08
$148.26
$238.05
$276.13
$320.32
4″ meter
$7.37
$117.99
$246.58
$396.16
$459.55
$533.08
6″ meter
$12.09
$235.18
$492.16
$791.10
$917.67
$1,064.50
Note:
1.
1 CCF = 100 cubic feet = 748 gallons.
B. 
Exemptions. Every customer may be exempted from payment of any charge imposed by this section upon written request of the customer to be voluntarily disconnected from the water system and payment of a disconnection charge not to exceed the actual cost of removing the water meter and disconnecting from the water system. Provided, however, that exemption of users served by a master meter shall require the disconnection of all users served by the same master meter.
C. 
Any future new or increased fees or charges for water service may be adopted by resolution.
(Ord. 2006-05 § 4; Ord. 2021-01 § 3)
A. 
The physical properties comprising the water system, have been, and are in an advanced state of disrepair; the supply and quality of water to be used for domestic purposes is not, because of a lack of proper filtering and treatment facilities, presently or prospectively adequate for the health, safety and general welfare of the residents of the City of Plymouth. The reconstruction, rehabilitation and augmentation of such water facilities will inure to the benefit of the entire City, regardless of whether individual parcels are currently served by the water system, provided such parcels are in proximity to the water system and water is made immediately available to such parcels upon demand.
In addition, such parcels benefit from the availability of fire services regardless of whether individual parcels are currently served by the water system, provided such parcels are in proximity to the water system.
B. 
Each parcel of land adjacent to a water main or line that is not subject to the rates charged in Section 14.08.090 because it is not connected to the water system, shall pay three dollars per month to the City as a standby charge to assist in the maintenance and operation of the water system.
(Ord. 2003-03 § 2)
Monthly water bills for water services shall be due and payable on the first day of the month following the close of the billing period and shall be delinquent if not paid within 15 days from that date. Upon delinquency, a penalty of 10% of the balance due for that billing period shall be charged. When the water service is disconnected for nonpayment of any bill, service shall not be resumed until all prior charges have been paid in full, including the late penalty plus a $50 reconnection charge. Under an account established by a tenant for residential use, the City shall not seek to recover any charges or penalties for the furnishing of water to or for the tenant for the tenant's residential use from any subsequent tenant due to nonpayment of charges by a previous tenant. The term "subsequent tenant" shall not include any adult person who lived at the residence during the period that the charges or penalties accrued. Service to subsequent tenants shall not be furnished on the account of the landlord or property owner unless the property owner consents through a written agreement. This section shall not prohibit the City from recovering unpaid service charges and/or penalties assessed against tenants from property owners. The City may use any and all legal remedies available to collect unpaid charges and/or penalties from tenants and/or property owners, including, but not limited to, the procedures set forth in Chapter 13.25 of this Code related to unpaid sewer charges being placed on the tax roll.
(Ord. 82-14, 1982; Res. 91-2, 1991; Ord. 96-14 § 1, 1996; Ord. 2016-02 § 1; Ord. 2024-06, 9/12/2024)
The City may discontinue water service for any of the following reasons:
A. 
Delinquency in the payment of any bill, except that residential service shall not be discontinued for nonpayment in any of the following situations:
1. 
The payment has been delinquent for less than 60 days;
2. 
During the pendency of any investigation by the City of a customer dispute or complaint;
3. 
When a customer has been granted an extension of the period for payment of a bill;
4. 
On the certification of a licensed physician that to discontinue service will be life-threatening to the customer, the customer is financially unable to pay for service within the normal payment period and the customer is willing to enter into a payment plan as specified in the City's policy for discontinuation of residential service for nonpayment.
B. 
The unauthorized taking of water or the taking of water in excess of the amount paid for.
C. 
Failure of the customer to maintain his or her facilities in a suitable condition to prevent waste of water.
D. 
Violation by the customer of such other City rules or regulations, as may be hereafter specified by the City.
(Ord. 96-14 § 2, 1996; Ord. 2024-06, 9/12/2024)
Prior to any proposed discontinuance of residential service for nonpayment of an account delinquent for at least 60 days, and at least 7 business days before discontinuation of residential water service for nonpayment, the City shall mail a notice, postage prepaid, to the customer to whom the service is billed or contact the customer by telephone. The notice shall advise the customer of the delinquency and the impending proposed discontinuance of service. Service may not be discontinued sooner than seven days after the City's mailing of such notice of delinquency and intent to discontinue service. If mailing of the written notice is returned through the mail as undeliverable, the City shall place in a conspicuous place a notice of imminent disconnection of residential service for nonpayment and the City's policy for discontinuation of residential service for nonpayment.
(Ord. 96-14 § 2, 1996; Ord. 2024-06, 9/12/2024)
A. 
Whenever the City furnishes residential service through a master meter in a multi-unit residential structure, mobile home park or farm labor camp where the owner, manager or farm labor employer is listed by the City as the customer of record, the City shall make every good-faith effort to inform the residential occupants, by means of a written notice posted on the door of each residential unit at least 10 days prior to discontinuance of water service when the account is delinquent. The notice shall also inform the residential occupants that they have the right to become customers of the City without being required to pay the amount due on the delinquent account. For detached single-family dwellings, written notice shall be provided at least seven days prior to discontinuation of water service.
B. 
Nothing in this section shall require the City to make service available to residential occupants unless each residential occupant agrees to the City's terms and conditions of service and meets the requirements of the City's rules and regulations. If one or more residential occupant is willing and able to assume responsibility for the entire account to the satisfaction of the City, or if there is a physical means, legally available to the City, of selectively discontinuing service to those residential occupants who have not met the requirements of the City's rules and regulations, the City shall make service available to the residential occupants who have met those requirements.
(Ord. 96-14 § 2, 1996; Ord. 2024-06, 9/12/2024)
A. 
Whenever the City furnishes any individually metered residential service to residential occupants in a multi-unit residential structure, mobilehome park or permanent residential structures in a labor camp, as defined in Section 17008 of the Health and Safety Code, where the owner, manager or operator is listed by the City as the customer of record, the City shall make every good-faith effort to inform the residential occupants, by means of a notice, when the account is delinquent, that service will be discontinued in 10 days. The notice shall further inform the residential occupants that they have the right to become customers of the City without being required to pay the amount due on the delinquent account.
B. 
Nothing in this section shall require the City to make service available to residential occupants unless each residential occupant agrees to the terms and conditions of service, and meets the requirements of law and the City's rules. If one or more residential occupants is willing and able to assume responsibility for the entire account to the satisfaction of the City, or if there is a physical means, legally available to the City, of selectively discontinuing service to the residential occupants who have not met the requirements of the City's rules, the City shall make service available to the residential occupants who meet the requirements.
(Ord. 96-14 § 2, 1996)
Any residential customer may appeal or request a review of any water bill within five days of receiving the disputed bill or written notice that water service will be discontinued. However, no such appeal or review rights shall apply to any bill for which an appeal or request for review has been made. The appeals process shall be specified in the City's policy for discontinuation of residential service for nonpayment.
(Ord. 96-14 § 2, 1996; Ord. 2024-06, 9/12/2024)
If a payment agreement is authorized by the City, no discontinuance of water service shall be affected for any residential customer complying with such agreement, if the customer also keeps the account current as charges accrue in each subsequent billing period. If a residential customer fails to comply with a payment agreement, the City shall not discontinue water service without giving final notice to the customer at least five business days prior to discontinuance of the conditions the customer is required to meet to avoid discontinuance, but the notice shall not entitle the customer to further investigation by the City.
(Ord. 96-14 § 2, 1996; Ord. 2024-06, 9/12/2024)
Except in emergency situations covered by Section 14.08.119.5, at least 10 days before discontinuing nonresidential service, the City shall provide the customer with a written notice which shall specify the reason for the proposed discontinuance and inform the customer of the procedure for and the availability of the opportunity to discuss the reason for the proposed discontinuance with a City representative who is empowered to review disputes, to rectify errors and to settle controversies pertaining to such proposed discontinuance of service. The name and phone number of such representative shall be included in any such notice of proposed discontinuance given to a customer.
(Ord. 96-14 § 2, 1996)
The City shall make available to its residential customers who are 65 years of age or older, or who are dependent adults as defined in Welfare and Institutions Code Section 15610(b), a third-party notification service, whereby, in addition to the notification provided pursuant to Section 14.08.112, the City will attempt to notify a person designated by the customer to receive notification when the customer's account is past due and subject to discontinuance. The notification shall include information on what is required to prevent discontinuance of service. The residential customer shall make a request for third-party notification on a form provided by the City, and shall include the written consent of the designated third party. The notification does not obligate the third party to pay the overdue charges, nor shall it prevent or delay discontinuance of service.
(Ord. 96-14 § 2, 1996)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, water service may be discontinued immediately without notice for any situation which presents an immediate health hazard to the public water system. The water service shall be locked and remain inactive until corrective action has been approved by the City. The City shall attempt to contact the customer by telephone and shall mail a certified letter to the customer as soon as reasonably possible to set forth the reasons for the emergency.
(Ord. 96-14 § 2, 1996)
The water charges herein specified will be charged against vacant or untenanted buildings unless written notice of the vacancy and a request for discontinuance of service is made at the office of the City Clerk, in which case Section 14.08.100 hereof would apply and the meter disconnected. In the case of apartments or multiple dwellings its minimum rate shall apply when the individual unit vacant is served by a separate meter.
(Ord. 96-14 § 2, 1996)