Whenever in this chapter the words or phrases defined in this section are used, they shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the following definitions (unless in the given instance, the context wherein they are used shall clearly impart a different meaning):
"Applicant"
means any prospective consumer applying for water service.
"Consumer"
means any person, firm, company, corporation, partnership, association, the city, any public corporation, political subdivision, city, county, district, the state of California or the United States of America, or any department or agency of any thereof, billed for water furnished by the water system. The singular in each case shall include the plural.
"Department"
means the department of public works of the city.
"Developer"
means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association or governmental agency other than the city that installs any parts of or connects any services to any point in the city water system for the purpose of extracting water from the city water system.
"Director"
means the operations services director of the city or other person designated by the city manager to perform the services or make the determinations permitted or required under this chapter to be made by the director.
"Distribution main"
means an intermediate main serving more than one developer or neighborhood, normally larger than eight inches and smaller than 16 inches and to which service lines may be attached.
"Dwelling unit"
means any single-family dwelling of one or more rooms suitable for residential occupancy by any number of persons living together as a single family, including single-family dwelling units, and each group of rooms constituting a dwelling unit for a single family in any multiple-dwelling structure.
"Finance department"
means the finance department of the city.
"In-tract main"
means a water main within the physical boundaries of a lot or subdivision.
"Local main"
means a water line serving a single developer or neighborhood, normally eight inches or smaller, but may include larger sizes, to which all service lines are attached.
"Master meter"
means one meter that is subsequently connected to multiple submeters.
"Meter"
means a city-installed water meter.
"Mixed-use residential and commercial structure"
means a structure containing two or more dwelling units (but excepting low-income housing, housing at a place of education, long-term care facilities, time-share property and residential care facilities for the elderly, as defined in California Water Code Section 537(a), as amended).
"Multiunit residential structure"
means a structure containing two or more dwelling units (but excepting low-income housing, housing at a place of education, long-term care facilities, time-share property and residential care facilities for the elderly, as defined in California Water Code Section 537(a), as amended).
"Non-functional turf"
means any turf that is not functional turf, and includes turf located within streets rights-of-way and parking lots, as defined in Section 10608.12 of the California Water Code.
"Perimeter main"
means a water main in a street or right-of-way on or about the border of a lot or subdivision which is or may be shared by two or more developers.
"Premises"
means any lot, piece or parcel of land or any building or other structure or any part of any building or structure having a connection with the water system.
"Service, commercial"
means the furnishing of water to premises where the consumer is engaged in a trade or business.
"Service connection"
means any connection on private property to a service line for the purpose of extracting water from the city water system.
"Service, domestic"
means the furnishing of water for household residential purposes, including water used for sprinkling lawns, gardens and shrubbery, for watering livestock, for washing vehicles and for other similar and customary purposes.
"Service, industrial"
means the furnishing of water to premises for use by a consumer in manufacturing or processing activities.
"Service line"
means the supply line extending from the local or distributing main to the property line and includes the meter.
"Service, metered"
means the furnishing of water by measured quantities.
"Service, municipal"
means furnishing water for municipal or other public use.
"Submeter" or "submetering"
means a property-owner installed device to measure water supplied for the exclusive use of the particular dwelling unit installed after a city-installed meter; which is in compliance with California Civil Code Section 1954.201 through 1954.219, as amended.
"Transmission main"
means any of the larger mains shown on the city master plan, or otherwise designated by the city, and which shall not normally have any service line directly attached.
"Valley floor zone"
means that area within or without the city roughly between the elevations of 315 to 430 feet and served or capable of being served by gravity from the main storage facilities of the city water system located at elevations approximately 485 to 535 feet.
"Water"
means water furnished by the water system.
"Water facilities"
means all of the necessary component parts of a water system including pipe, fittings, valves and hydrants.
"Water main extension"
means a water main connecting a developer's lot or subdivision with a nonadjacent water main and which benefits or will benefit lands on one or both sides of the main that are not part of the developer's lot or subdivision. "Water main extensions" are also sometimes referred to as "off-tract mains."
"Water service"
means the services, facilities and water furnished or available to premises by the water system.
"Water system"
means the existing municipal water system of the city, together with the improvements thereto, including works and facilities for the storage, transmission and distribution of water, including pumping plants, lift stations, reservoirs and water storage facilities, water mains, pipelines, pipes, meters, pumps, equipment, and other works, properties or structures necessary or convenient for improvements to the existing municipal water system, together with such additions, extensions, betterments or improvements thereto as may be made from time to time.
(Prior code § 2-16.01; Ord. 2000 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2171 § 2, 2017; Ord. 2289, 1/9/2025; Ord. 2295, 7/15/2025)
A. 
The city will endeavor to supply water at the curb or property line in adequate quantities and at proper working pressures to meet the reasonable needs and requirements of consumers.
B. 
Whenever water is furnished for human consumption, the city will endeavor to supply at all times a safe and potable water.
C. 
All water supplied consumers will be supplied by metered service and will be measured by means of suitable standard water meters. A cubic foot will be the unit of measurement for metered service.
D. 
All water rates and charges shall become effective immediately, as to all premises then connected to the water system. All such rates and charges shall become effective against all premises not then connected to the water system immediately upon such connection.
E. 
No water and no services or facilities of the water system shall be furnished to any consumer or to any person free of charge; provided, however, that the city may without charge use water for park irrigation, street cleaning, firefighting and testing, maintenance and repairing the water system, and for similar municipal purposes.
F. 
Except by special agreement with the city or city-authorized submetering, no consumer shall resell any water furnished by the city through the water system.
G. 
The city will exercise reasonable diligence to provide continuous and adequate water service to consumers and to avoid any shortage or interruption of delivery of water but cannot guarantee complete freedom from interruption. The department shall have the right to suspend water service temporarily to make necessary repairs or improvements to the water system. In each case of temporary suspension of service, the department will notify the consumers affected as soon as circumstances permit and will prosecute the work of repair or improvement with due diligence and with the least possible inconvenience to consumers.
H. 
During any period of threatened or actual water shortage the city shall have the right to apportion its available water supply among consumers in such manner as appears most equitable under the circumstances then prevailing and with due regard to public health and safety.
I. 
The city shall not be liable for interruption, shortage or insufficiency of water supply or water pressure or any loss or damage occasioned thereby.
(Prior code § 2-16.02; Ord. 2289, 1/9/2025)
A. 
The department of public works shall have jurisdiction, supervision and control of the water system and of the construction of all improvements, additions, extensions and betterments thereto hereafter constructed or acquired, and shall operate and maintain the water system and all improvements, additions, extensions and betterments thereto.
B. 
Subject to the general control of the council and the city manager of the city, the water system shall be under the direct supervision of the director.
C. 
The department, under the supervision of the director, shall supervise all connections to the water system, and the finance department shall collect or cause to be collected all water bills and charges and all connection and other fees provided for in this chapter, and the directors of both departments, respectively, are charged with the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter and the director of the finance department shall keep or cause to be kept an accurate accounting and records showing the source, amount and disposition of all funds received from the water system under this chapter.
D. 
The city shall cause to be issued and shall maintain in good standing a surety bond conditioned upon the full and prompt deposit by the director of the finance department and all other employees of the finance department of all revenues from the water system.
(Prior code § 2-16.03)
The territory served by the water system of the city shall be all territory now within the boundaries of the city and, at the discretion of the council, any other territory as the city may determine.
(Prior code § 2-16.04)
A. 
Any person whose premises are not connected with the water system upon the date of the adoption of Ordinance 478, March 28, 1967, shall connect such premises or cause such premises to be connected with the water system only after first obtaining a permit to do so from the director and upon payment of the applicable connection charges provided in Chapter 14.08, Water Connections; provided, however, that there shall be no charge for connecting premises for which a service connection has already been installed to the water system, except as this chapter expressly otherwise provides.
Any consumer connecting to the water system on an intermittent or temporary basis, including, but not limited to, use of fire hydrants or blow-offs for construction water, flushing lines, or similar purposes, shall connect to the water system only after first obtaining a permit to do so from the director; there shall be no connection charge pursuant to Chapter 14.08, Water Connections, but there shall be a charge pursuant to Section 14.04.070.
B. 
Each applicant for water service may be required to sign, on a form provided by the department, an application which shall set forth:
1. 
Date and place of application;
2. 
Location of premises to be served;
3. 
Date applicant will be ready for service;
4. 
Whether the premises have been heretofore supplied with water from the water system;
5. 
Purpose for which service is to be used;
6. 
Address to which bills are to be mailed or delivered;
7. 
Whether applicant is owner or tenant of, or agent for, the premises;
8. 
Such other information as the department may reasonably require.
The application is only a written request for service and does not bind the applicant to take service for a period of time longer than that upon which the rates and minimum charges of the applicable rate schedule are based; neither does it bind the city to serve, except under reasonable conditions.
Two or more parties who join in one application for service shall be jointly and severally liable for payment of bills and shall be billed by means of single periodic bills.
C. 
Connections to the water system shall occur as follows:
1. 
For separate houses, including single-family homes, condominiums and townhouses, through a separate service connection to each dwelling unit. For condominiums and townhouses, the director is authorized to allow service using a master meter.
2. 
For multiunit residential structures, or mixed-use residential and commercial structures, on the same parcel, either:
a. 
Through separate service connections to each dwelling unit, or
b. 
Through a single connection with subsequent submetering to each dwelling unit;
3. 
For buildings or business quarters on the same parcel or on adjoining parcels under a single control or management by either of the following methods, as the director shall elect:
a. 
Through separate service connections to each such building or business quarter, or
b. 
Through a single service connection to supply all of such buildings and business quarters, and in which case one monthly minimum charge shall be applied for each such occupied building or business quarter, and the responsibility for payment of charges for all water furnished shall be assumed by the consumer having such control or management. Credit for such vacant units which are not metered separately but together with the occupied units shall be computed by deducting one monthly minimum charge for each vacant unit from the original total monthly bill for all of the units.
D. 
In order to assist in monitoring sewage flows and water conservation, all applicants for service connections shall provide a separate meter and water system for irrigation purposes when an applicant's site qualifies under the City of Pleasanton's Landscape Ordinance thresholds for separate domestic and irrigation metering depending on the size of the irrigated areas, or as otherwise determined in the reasonable discretion of the director for submetered or separately metered sites, and may provide separate meter and water systems for other water consumptive uses which do not have the potential to generate flows to the sewerage system. Any such meter shall be installed in a manner and location satisfactory to the director. Upon request by the applicant, the director may waive, at his or her sole discretion, this requirement if he or she finds that the volume of irrigation water would be minimal and the cost of a separate meter and water system would be disproportionately uneconomical relative to sewer user charges to be saved.
E. 
If, in the opinion of the city, it is doubtful if satisfactory water service can be given, due to location or elevation of the premises, then the city may require a written release from liability for any damage or inconvenience that may occur by reason of insufficient pressure or inadequate volume of water or intermittent supply. The release shall, without further notice from the city, remain in effect for all consumers taking water through the service, until changes, extensions, or betterments may be made to the distribution system by the city.
F. 
Failure by any person or any consumer to file his or her application containing the information required by this chapter shall constitute a violation of this chapter. No application shall be conclusive as to the matters therein set forth nor shall the filing of any application preclude the city from collecting from the consumer responsible for payment (as provided in this chapter) by appropriate action such sum as is actually due and payable for water service under the provisions of this chapter. Each application shall be subject to verification by the director. Any person who takes possession of and uses water from the water system without having made application for service pursuant to this chapter shall be held liable for the full amount of the service rendered.
G. 
The city may require a written contract with any consumer as a condition precedent to water service in any case where unusual quantities of water or construction of special facilities are or will be required; provided, however, that any such contract shall not modify the rate structure provided in this chapter.
H. 
No rent or other charge shall be paid by the city for any meter or other facilities located on a consumer's premises.
I. 
All service connections, meters, main extensions and installations paid for by applicants, and all other facilities furnished by the department or the city, whether located wholly or partially on public or private property, shall be and remain the property of the city, and the department shall have the right to repair, replace and maintain the same and the right to remove the same upon discontinuance of service.
J. 
The city shall not be responsible for the installation or maintenance of any water lines beyond the end of its service connection or meter.
(Prior code § 2-16.05; Ord. 1073 § 1, 1983; Ord. 1175 § 2, 1985; Ord. 2171 § 2, 2017; Ord. 2179 § 2, 2018; Ord. 2289, 1/9/2025)
A. 
The director or other duly authorized agent of the department shall have at all reasonable times the right of ingress to and egress from any consumer's premises for any purpose properly relating to the furnishing of water to the consumer. Any inspection work or recommendation made by the department or its agents in connection with plumbing or appliances or any use of water on the consumer's premises, either as a result of a complaint or otherwise, will be made without charge. No agent or employee of the department or the city shall accept any personal compensation from a consumer or applicant for any services rendered.
B. 
Consumers making any material change in the size, character or extent of the utilizing equipment or operations for which the city is supplying water service shall immediately give the department written notice of the extent and nature of the change and, if necessary, amend their application.
C. 
When a consumer receiving service at the water system main or service connection must by means of a pump of any kind elevate or increase the pressure of the water received, the pump shall not be attached to any pipe directly connected to the main or service pipe. Such pumping or boosting of pressure shall be done from a sump, cistern, or storage tank which may be served by, but not directly connected with, the water system distribution facilities.
D. 
Quick closing or opening valves shall not be installed on any consumer's pipes which are directly attached to the water system mains or service pipes. A consumer whose operation requires the use of a quick opening or closing valve must operate such device from a tank, cistern, pump or other facility which may be served by but not directly connected with the water system distribution mains or service pipes.
E. 
The city will not be responsible for any loss or damage caused by any negligence or unlawful action of any consumer or any other person in installing, maintaining, supplying, or using any appliances, facilities or equipment for which water or water service is furnished by the city. Each consumer shall be held responsible for damage to the city's meters and other property comprising any part of the water system resulting from use or operation of appliances or facilities on such consumer's premises including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, damage caused by steam, hot water or chemicals.
F. 
It is a violation of this chapter for any person to tamper with any of the property comprising the water system.
G. 
It is a violation of this chapter for any person or consumer to waste water obtained from the water system. As used in this subsection, the term "waste" means:
1. 
Use of potable water between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to irrigate grass, lawns, groundcover, shrubbery, crops, vegetation, and trees, with the exception of hand watering and drip irrigation;
2. 
The application of potable water to outdoor landscaping in a manner that causes runoff such that water flows onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, private and public walkways, roadways, parking lots or structures;
3. 
Use of potable water to irrigate outdoor landscaping during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall;
4. 
Use of potable water to wash down sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, open ground or other hard surface areas by the direct application of water thereto, unless needed for health or safety reasons;
5. 
Use of potable water in non-recirculating decorative ponds, fountains and other water features, with the exception of child water-play features;
6. 
Allowing potable water to escape from breaks within the person or consumer's plumbing system for more than eight hours after the person or consumer is notified or discovers the break;
7. 
Use of potable water for outdoor landscaping through a dedicated irrigation meter within the city's recycled water use area unless otherwise exempted by the director of operations and water utilities for existing water customers, or city engineer for new development;
8. 
Any use of potable water in violation of the California Water Code, including, but not limited to, the use of potable water on non-functional turf.
(Prior code § 2-16.06; Ord. 2093 § 1, 2014; Ord. 2097 § 1, 2014; Ord. 2118 § 1, 2015; Ord. 2176 § 2, 2018; Ord. 2295, 7/15/2025)
There is levied and assessed upon all consumers and premises connected with the water system a service charge based upon the size of the city-installed water meter to the premises and a charge based upon the amount of water flow through the city-installed meter, both of which charges shall be paid. The amount of the service charge and the charge for water used shall be in accordance with the amount specified in the resolution establishing various fees and charges for municipal services of the city. The city shall only read city-installed water meters, and not property-owner installed submeters.
(Prior code § 2-16.07; Ord. 1973 § 2, 1983; Ord. 2171 § 2, 2017)
A. 
For a new residential applicant, whether the applicant is the property owner or a tenant of a residential unit that is not master metered, the finance director may require from the applicant a security deposit in an amount not to exceed twice the average periodic (i.e., bimonthly) bill.
B. 
For a new residential applicant for a building that is master metered, the finance director may require from the property owner a security deposit in an amount not to exceed an estimated 12 months' average bills.
C. 
For a new nonresidential applicant, whether the applicant is the property owner or the tenant, the finance director may require from the applicant a security deposit in an amount not to exceed an estimated 12 months' average bills.
D. 
Where the new residential applicant is a tenant in a residence that is not master metered, the finance director shall not require, as a condition of the new applicant's establishing an account and receiving service, that the account be established in the property owner's name unless the property owner consents through a written agreement.
E. 
Where the new residential applicant is a tenant in a residence where the account for the previous tenant has outstanding charges and/or penalties, the finance director shall not require the new applicant to pay those charges/penalties as a condition of establishing an account and receiving service unless the new applicant was an adult living in the residence when the charges/penalties accrued.
F. 
If a portion or all of a bill is not paid, the security deposit shall be applied to satisfy the bill. Any charges/penalties not satisfied from the security deposit may be collected by the city as provided in Section 14.04.130 of this chapter.
(Prior code § 2-16.08; Ord. 1127 § 1, 1984; Ord. 1703 § 1, 1997)
The charges for water furnished or available to premises outside the boundaries of the city shall be in amounts equal to the charges which would be applicable if the premises were located within the city. (Unnumbered prior code section)
A. 
All water charges shall be billed to the owner of the premises upon which charges herein fixed are levied and assessed or to the person who requested connection to the water system, or his or her successor in interest, or to any person requesting that such bill be charged to him or her.
1. 
In the event water usage is recorded on a meter for which no connection has been requested, the owner of the premises shall be responsible for all such water charges; unless it is demonstrated to the city's reasonable satisfaction that during the period of such water usage that the premises was occupied by person(s) or legal entity who had requested that service at the premises be terminated as provided in Section 14.04.120.
B. 
All water charges shall become due and payable at the operations services department on the date of payment specified thereon and shall become delinquent on the day following the current billing due date, except that closing bills, where service is discontinued, will be due and payable on date of presentation, and collection will be made at time of presentation. All bills for water charges will be rendered by the city monthly or bimonthly and will be issued by the operation services department. Meters will be read at regular intervals for the preparation of regular metered service bills and as required for the preparation of opening bills, closing bills and special bills. Each meter will be read separately. It may not always be possible to read meters regularly on the same day of each period. Should a monthly billing period contain less than 27 days or more than 33 days, a pro rata correction in the bill will be made. Proportionate adjustments will be made when other billing periods are used.
C. 
Opening bills, closing bills, monthly bills rendered for a period of less than 27 days or more than 33 days, and other bills requiring proration, will be computed in accordance with the applicable schedule, but the amount of the fixed charge or minimum charge specified therein will be prorated on the basis of the ratio of the number of days in the period to the number of days in the average billing period, based on an average month of 30.4 days. Should the total period of service be less than one month, no proration will be made, and no bill shall be less than the specified monthly fixed charge or minimum charge.
D. 
On each bill for water service rendered by the city to its consumers will be printed substantially the following language:
This bill is due upon receipt and is delinquent if not paid on the day after the current billing due date. If delinquent, service may be discontinued and penalties assessed. A cash deposit and reconnection charge may be required to reestablish service. See Municipal Code §14.04.090.
E. 
The city manager, in consultation with the director of operation services, is authorized to administratively adopt, and amend as needed, a policy setting penalty amounts to be levied on past due and/or unpaid utility bills, as well as a process to waive such penalty amounts.
(Prior code § 2-16.09; Ord. 2192 § 2, 2019; Ord. 2244 § 2, 2023)
A. 
The city will, if no undue hardship to its existing consumers will result therefrom, furnish temporary service under the following conditions:
1. 
The applicant will be required to pay to the city, in advance, the estimated net cost of installing and removing the facilities necessary to furnish the service; and
2. 
Where duration of service is to be less than one month, the applicant may also be required to deposit cash equal to the estimated bill, subject to adjustment and refund or repayment in accordance with actual bill rendered upon discontinuance of service; or
3. 
Where the duration of service is to exceed one month, the applicant may also be required to establish his or her credit in the manner prescribed for permanent service in Section 14.04.070.
B. 
In the event a temporary service becomes permanent, the city will refund to the temporary consumer the amount paid for a temporary service installation upon payment of the applicable connection fee provided for in Chapter 14.08.
(Prior code § 2-16.10)
A. 
The city may refuse an application for service under the following conditions:
1. 
If the applicant fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter; or
2. 
If in the judgment of the director the intended use of the service is of such a nature that it would be detrimental or injurious to the water service furnished by the city to other consumers; or
3. 
If in the judgment of the director the intended use of the service is dangerous or unsafe or of such a nature that satisfactory service cannot be rendered; or
4. 
If in the judgment of the director the intended use of the service would result in a negligent or wasteful use of water which would affect the city's water service.
B. 
The city shall have the right to refuse water service to any premises if necessary to protect itself against fraud or abuse.
C. 
If service has theretofore been discontinued for fraudulent use, service will not be rendered until the director has determined that all conditions of fraudulent use or practice have been corrected.
D. 
When an applicant is refused service under the provisions of this section, the director shall inform him or her of the reason for the refusal to serve him or her and of his or her right of appeal under this chapter.
(Prior code § 2-16.11)
Any consumer may have his or her water service discontinued by giving notice to the department requesting discontinuance not less than two days prior to the requested date of discontinuance. Each such consumer shall pay all water charges up to and including the date of discontinuance stated in such notice. In any case where such notice is not given, the consumer shall be required to pay for water service until two days after the department has knowledge that the consumer has vacated the premises or otherwise discontinued water service. The city shall make a reconnection charge for restoring water service to any consumer whose water service has been discontinued at his or her request. Such charge shall be as set forth in the master fee schedule.
(Prior code § 2-16.12; Ord. 2019 § 1, 2011)
A. 
A consumer's water service may be discontinued for nonpayment of a bill for water service furnished if the bill is not paid within 60 days after it has become delinquent. A consumer's water service may also be discontinued for nonpayment of a bill for water service furnished at a previous or different location served by the city, if such bill is not paid within 60 days after it has become delinquent. No service will be discontinued under this subsection until at least five days after deposit by written notice from the director to such consumer in the United States Post Office of Pleasanton, Alameda County, California, addressed to the person to whom notice is given and stating the city's intention to discontinue service. The city may also provide additional notice about discontinuance of water service by telephone contact, and/or a door hanger with written notice on the main entrance of the building where water service is furnished.
B. 
The city may discontinue service without notice to any premises where a consumer's installation for utilizing the service is found by the director to be dangerous or unsafe or where the use of water on such premises is found by the director to be detrimental or injurious to the water service furnished by the city to other consumers, or where the director finds that negligent or wasteful use of water exists on any premises which affects the city's water service. The city shall have the right to discontinue water service to any premises if necessary to protect itself against fraud or abuse.
C. 
In the event of violation of any terms of this chapter (except subsections A and B of this section), the department may disconnect the premises to which such violation relates from the water system after first notifying in writing the person causing, allowing or committing such violation, specifying the violation and, if applicable, the time after which (upon the failure of such person to prevent or rectify the violation) the director will exercise his or her authority to disconnect the premises from the water system; provided, that such time shall not be less than five days after the deposit of such notice in the United States Post Office at Pleasanton, Alameda County, California, addressed to the person to whom notice is given; provided, however, that in the event such violation results in a public hazard or menace, then the director may enter upon the premises without notice and do such things and expend such sums as may be necessary to abate such hazard, and the reasonable value of the things done and the amounts expended in so doing shall be a charge upon the person so in violation.
D. 
Upon failure of any consumer billed or the owner of any premises to pay any water service charge subsequent to delinquency, the following action shall be taken by the city or the director to enforce such payment:
1. 
In each case where any bill for water service remains unpaid after such bill becomes delinquent, and remains unpaid for 60 days thereafter the director shall: (a) disconnect the premises from the water system for nonpayment of water bills; and (b) cause an action at law to be brought on behalf of the city against the person responsible for payment of such bill to recover the amount of such bill and the costs of such action.
2. 
For situations involving significant unpaid amounts which have been delinquent for a long period of time involving accounts where service was requested by the property owner, the director may impose a lien on the property for the unpaid amount plus penalties as provided in California Government Code Section 43008.
E. 
Whenever any premises have been disconnected from the water system for any violation of this chapter, such premises shall not be reconnected to the water system until all delinquent charges have been paid, together with applicable charges as provided in the master fee schedule, and until a security deposit is established pursuant to Section 14.04.075. When any person's premises have been disconnected from the water system under the provisions of this subsection, the director shall inform him or her of the reason for the disconnection and of his or her right of appeal under this chapter.
F. 
Notwithstanding the measures described above, the city manager, in consultation with the director of operation services, is authorized to administratively adopt, and amend as needed, a policy for discontinuance of residential water service for non-payment as required by California Health and Safety Code Section 116900 et seq. (the Water Shutoff Protection Act). The provisions of such administrative policy shall supersede any conflicting provisions of this chapter.
(Prior code § 2-16.13; Ord. 2019 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2093 § 1, 2014; Ord. 2192 § 2, 2019; Ord. 2216 § 2, 2021)
A. 
Tests On Consumer's Request.
1. 
A consumer may, on not less than one week's notice, request that the city test the meter serving consumer's premises. Where the accuracy of the record of the water meter is questioned by the consumer, such meter may be removed by the city at the consumer's request and shall be tested using a third-party meter testing agency selected by the city. Testing shall be in accordance with then current American Water Works Association M6 Water Meters standard practice.
2. 
Before testing any meter, the consumer requesting the test shall make a deposit with the city in the amount of the estimated cost for the city to remove, replace and have tested the meter in question.
3. 
A report showing the results of the meter test will be furnished to the consumer within 15 days after completion of the test. If consumer disagrees with the report's findings, consumer may pay for a second test and report using a different third-party meter testing agency selected by the city.
B. 
Adjustment of Bills for Meter Error or Leaks.
1. 
Fast Meters. If the test discloses an error against the consumer of more than two percent of the meter's registry, the excess consumption on the three previous readings shall be credited to the consumer's meter account. The city shall bear the entire expense of the test, and the deposit required by this chapter shall be returned to consumer.
2. 
Slow Meters. When, upon test, a meter is found to be registering more than three percent slow, the city may bill the consumer for the amount of the undercharged water based upon corrected meter readings for the period the meter was in service but not exceeding the previous three readings. The consumer who has requested the test shall pay for the meter test and labor to remove the old meter and reinstall an accurate meter. The city shall provide a cost estimate to the consumer prior to any work being done.
3. 
Nonregistering Meters. A nonregistering meter is a meter which has lost the ability to measure water flowing through it. The main indicator of this condition is the flow registering device fails to increment was water passes through the meter. The city may bill the consumer for water consumed while the meter was nonregistering but for a period not exceeding six months at the minimum monthly meter rate, or upon an estimate of the consumption based upon the consumer's prior use during the same season of the year if conditions were unchanged, or upon an estimate based upon a reasonable comparison with the use of other consumers during the same period, receiving the same class of service under similar circumstances and conditions.
4. 
Leaks. The city manager may adopt an administrative policy, "Credit to Utility Bill After Repair of Certain Water Leaks Policy," for utility bill adjustments after a consumer repairs a water leak which was not readily discernable and is beyond the control of the consumer.
5. 
General. When it is found that the error in a meter is due to some cause, the date of which can be fixed, the overcharge or the undercharge will be computed back to, but not beyond, such date.
(Prior code § 2-16.14; Ord. 2167 § 2, 2017; Ord. 2239 § 2, 2022; Ord. 2289, 1/9/2025)
A. 
Notices from the city to any consumer will be given in writing, either delivered to the consumer or mailed to his or her last known address, except that where conditions warrant or in any emergency the city may give verbal notice by telephone or in person.
B. 
Notices from a consumer to the city may be given by the consumer or his or her authorized representative verbally or in writing at the office of the department or to an employee or agent of the department who is authorized to receive notices or complaints or may be sent by mail to the department office.
(Prior code § 2-16.15; Ord. 2289, 1/9/2025)
A. 
Any person who shall have a right to appeal as provided in any section of this chapter or who shall be dissatisfied with any determination hereinafter made under this chapter by the department or the director may, at any time within 30 days after such determination, appeal to the city manager by giving written notice to the director and to the city manager, setting forth the determination with which such person is dissatisfied. After review and determination by the city manager, any person who shall then be dissatisfied with such determination may, at any time within 30 days after such determination, appeal to the council by giving written notice to the city manager and to the city clerk, setting forth the determination with which such person is dissatisfied. The council may, at any time, upon its own motion appeal from any determination made by the director or the city manager under this chapter. In the event of any such appeal to the council, the city manager shall transmit to the council a report upon the matter appealed. The council shall cause notice to be given, at least 10 days prior to the time fixed for such hearing, to all persons affected by such appeal, of the time and place fixed by the council for hearing such appeal. The council shall direct the city clerk to mail a written notice, postage prepaid, to all such persons whose addresses are known to the council.
B. 
Pending decision upon any appeal relative to the amount of any charge under this chapter, the person making such appeal shall pay such charge. After the appeal is heard, the council shall order refunded to the person making such appeal such amount, if any, as the council shall determine should be refunded.
(Prior code § 2-16.16)
All revenues received by the finance department or the city under this chapter, excepting all connection charges provided for in Chapter 14.08, and all refundable deposits made to establish credit, shall be deposited within a reasonable time after receipt thereof in a depository bank of the city, and said sums, together with any interest earned thereon, shall on or before the first business day of each calendar month next succeeding the calendar month in which such revenues shall have been collected, be deposited by the city in the manner and for the purposes provided and with the fiscal agent designated, in or pursuant to that certain resolution adopted by the council on March 27, 1967, entitled:
Resolution Providing for the Issuance of $750,000 Principal Amount of City of Pleasanton 1967 Water Revenue Bonds and of $400,000 Principal Amount of Series A Bonds of Said Issue, and Prescribing the Terms, Conditions and Form of Said Series A Bonds.
(Prior code § 2-16.17)