Editor's note: Ord. 1695 retitled Ch. 9.35.
A.
Backflow:
Designated Irrigation Days:
Director:
Local Health Agency:
Water User:
For
the purpose of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall
mean:
a flow condition, caused by a pressure differential, that
causes the flow of water or other liquids, gases, mixtures or substances
into the distributing pipes of the city water system from any source
other than an approved water supply.
even-numbered days shall be the designated irrigation days
for properties having an address ending in an even number; odd-numbered
days shall be the designated irrigation days for properties having
an address ending in an odd number.
director of public works/city engineer or the designee thereof.
Orange County Health Department.
a person who obtains water from the city water system.
B.
Any word or phrase used in this chapter that is defined in the Health and Safety Code Section 116275 or in California Code of Regulations Title 17, Section 7583 and not defined in subsection A shall have the meaning set forth in such state law provision.
(Ord. 1515)
Water shall not be supplied from the city water system to a
property until the owner thereof has applied and received approval
for a water service connection. An application shall not be processed
unless accompanied by an application fee in an amount set by city
council resolution.
(Ord. 1515)
Upon approval of a water service connection, the director shall
issue a permit authorizing the subject property to be connected to
the city water system. The charge for water service shall commence
from the date of meter installation.
(Ord. 1515)
The rates, fees and charges for services, facilities and water
furnished by the city water department shall be as set by city council
resolution.
(Ord. 1515)
A.
Billing
and meter reading shall be performed by the city every 2 months. Full
payment of a bill is due within 20 days after the invoice date. The
charge shall become delinquent if the bill, or that portion thereof
not in bona fide dispute, remains unpaid on the 36th day after the
invoice date.
B.
The
director shall comply with the provisions of the city water utility's
official policy on discontinuation of residential water service, as
adopted by city council resolution and on file in the office of the
city water department, as well as provisions of applicable law, when
issuing delinquency notices or terminating water service to a residential
user.
C.
The
basic penalty for nonpayment of water service charges by the due date
shall be 10% of each month's charges for the first month delinquent.
In addition to the basic penalty, there shall be a penalty of 0.5%
per month for nonpayment of the charges and basic penalty.
D.
Once
water service has been terminated, the service of a delinquent user
shall not be resumed until the user's account has been made current
and the applicable a reinstatement fee has been paid. The reinstatement
fee amount shall be set by city council resolution, subject to limitations
set forth in the policy on discontinuation of residential water service.
The director may remove a meter, and take any other appropriate action,
upon determining that terminated water service has been unlawfully
restored. This paragraph shall not apply to the furnishing of water
to a subsequent tenant, or to the furnishing of water to the property
owner in the event the tenant vacates the premises.
E.
Tenant
residential users shall submit a security deposit prior to establishing
an account. The security deposit shall be in an amount determined
by the director. The security deposit shall not exceed 3 times the
estimated average monthly bill if water is billed separately to the
user, or twice the average periodic payment if the user pays for water
as a part of his or her rent. In the event of nonpayment of all or
a portion of the bill, the security deposit shall be applied to the
final bill issued when water service is terminated. No property owner
or subsequent tenant shall be liable for any charges or penalties
for water service furnished to a delinquent tenant residential user.
This subsection shall not apply to master-metered apartment buildings.
F.
In addition
to any other remedy provided in this chapter for the enforcement and
collection of delinquent bills, all charges and penalties shall be
a lien against the property to which the water service was furnished.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the city shall not impose a lien on
residential properties for the delinquent rates or charges of a tenant,
except for master-metered apartment buildings.
(Ord. 1515; Ord. 1524; Ord. 1682)
When repair or replacement of water meters, service pipes, curb
cocks and other fittings installed by the city is necessary due to
the act or neglect of the owner or occupant of the premises, the expense
therefor shall be charged to the owner of the premises.
(Ord. 1515)
A.
Any
water user may request testing of the meter governing the provision
of water. Requests shall be made on a city-provided form and shall
be accompanied by a deposit in an amount set by city council resolution.
B.
Upon
receipt of a complete meter testing application, the director shall
cause the meter to be tested for the purpose of ascertaining whether
it accurately registers the water delivered through it. If such meter
is found to register over 3% more water than actually passes through
it, then another meter shall be substituted, the deposit shall be
returned to the user and the water bill for the current period shall
be adjusted in such manner as deemed appropriate by the director.
Otherwise, the deposit shall be forfeit and the water bill shall be
paid as issued.
(Ord. 1515)
When necessary, the director may remove a meter or shut down
water service temporarily for the purpose of testing or repairs. If
another meter is not substituted therefor, the charge for water service
during the period of such removal shall be computed pro rata upon
the amount of water consumed during the preceding calendar month or
upon the rate for sale of water where no meter is installed.
(Ord. 1515)
No private fire line shall be used for any purpose other than
extinguishing fires unless the line is equipped with a full-flow meter.
Regular meter rates shall be charged when the line is so equipped.
The director shall impose a charge for any unauthorized use of water
through a private fire line, which charge shall not be less than $100.
(Ord. 1515)
A.
Except as provided in subsection B, fire hydrants shall be used exclusively for extinguishing fires and for flushing water mains under the jurisdiction of the fire department or the director.
B.
With
the prior written authorization of the director, a public or building
contractor may connect to a fire hydrant. The charge for water used
by such contractors shall be as set by city council resolution.
(Ord. 1515)
No person shall damage any water meter, service pipe, curb cock
or other fitting installed by the city. No person shall remove a meter,
service pipe or connection without the prior written consent of the
director.
(Ord. 1515)
Each water service user shall prevent water waste and shall
keep service pipes, fixtures, stopcocks and other plumbing apparatus
at its premises in good condition.
(Ord. 1515)
City water meters shall be left open and uncovered at all times,
and city representatives shall have access to the meters at any reasonable
hour for the purpose of inspection, testing and repair.
(Ord. 1515)
No person shall ground any electric wire upon a water main,
water pipe or service connection.
(Ord. 1515)
No sewer pipe or sewer ditch shall be placed nearer to any water
main or service pipe than is allowed by state law and the standards
of the director.
(Ord. 1515)
Any water pipes or service connections required to be moved
in order to comply with this chapter shall be relocated on the order
of the director. Any cost associated with the relocation shall be
paid by the owner of the property.
(Ord. 1515)
No person shall construct or maintain an irrigation ditch or
storm flood control ditch without the prior written consent of the
director.
(Ord. 1515)
A.
No person
shall make or maintain a cross-connection with the city water system.
B.
Backflow
prevention devices shall be installed on each property that has any
of the following:
1.
A
substance, other than an auxiliary water supply approved by the director
and local health agency as an additional source, that is handled in
such fashion as may allow entry into the city water system.
2.
Internal
cross-connections that cannot be permanently controlled to the satisfaction
of the director and the local health agency.
3.
Intricate
piping arrangements making it impracticable to ascertain the existence
of cross-connections.
4.
A
high probability of hazardous cross-connections.
C.
No backflow
prevention device shall be removed, relocated or replaced without
the prior written approval of the director. The director may condition
any approval to ensure that the removal, relocation or replacement
is not detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare.
D.
The
director may summarily terminate water service to a property if necessary
to eliminate a clear and immediate hazard to the city water system.
The director shall afford the water user a hearing on the necessity
for such termination if a request is filed within 10 days of the termination.
The director may, following reasonable notice and an opportunity for
a hearing, terminate water service to a property when there is a non-immediate
hazard to the city water system.
(Ord. 1515)
