Water meters and laterals to meters from the District’s distribution lines are the property of the District. All lines and facilities beyond the meter are the property and the responsibility of the property owner.
(Res. No. 2020-02, adopted 5/20/20)
The District will take orders for installation of new meters only when the applicant has a building permit for that use. For a property needing water for which no building permit is required, a request for service shall be made to the Board of Directors, which shall have the power to determine whether water is presently needed for such property and whether a new connection should be permitted.
(Res. No. 2020-02, adopted 5/20/20)
The District shall endeavor to maintain water pressure in District lines at no less than the minimum required by the California law except in an emergency. Where higher than normal pressure exists, the customer shall furnish and maintain, at his or her own expense, a pressure regulator.
(Res. No. 2020-02, adopted 5/20/20)
Resale of water by a District customer for use on property other than that customer’s property is prohibited.
(Res. No. 2020-02, adopted 5/20/20)
Water may be supplied through a master meter to multiple residential, commercial or agricultural units existing on a single county assessor’s parcel. Sub-metering and sub-billing will be permitted. The District will not establish the rates at which water is resold.
The meter accuracy, accuracy of meter reading, or accuracy of billing or collection are not the responsibility of the District. The sub-metering and sub-billing of water does not relieve or shift the responsibility of the property owner from paying the bills to the District.
Section 16.5.1. 
Multiunit Residential Structures. As a condition of new water service, each newly constructed multiunit residential structure or newly constructed mixed-use residential and commercial structure for which an application for one or more water service connections is submitted after January 1, 2018, shall measure the quantity of water supplied to each individual residential dwelling unit. The measurement may be by individual water meters or submeters. Except as otherwise provided by law or District policy, the owner shall be required to install and read submeters, unless the District agrees in writing to install and/or read individual meters.
The owner of the structure shall install submeters that comply with all laws and regulations governing the approval of submeter types or the installation, maintenance, reading, billing, and testing of submeters, including, but not limited to, the California Plumbing Code. Installation of submeters shall be performed by one of the following: (A) a contractor licensed by the Contractors’ State License Board who employs at least one journey person who has graduated from a state-approved apprenticeship program; or (B) a registered service agency that has registered with the Department of Food and Agriculture. The District reserves the right, but shall not be required to, fund or assume responsibility for ensuring compliance with any law or regulation governing the approval of submeter types or the installation, maintenance, reading, billing, or testing of submeters and associated onsite plumbing. (SB7, 9/2016; Water Code Section 537.1.)
(Res. No. 2020-02, adopted 5/20/20)
Waste of water is prohibited. The District may terminate service, restrict or reduce water service, and may remove the meter, of any customer knowingly wasting water. The District may establish fees and penalties for waste of water. Waste of water may include excessive use which may be determined by the District pursuant to its water supply shortage regulations, as may be amended from time to time. (Water Code Section 366.)
(Res. No. 2020-02, adopted 5/20/20)
No person, except a duly authorized employee of the District, shall be permitted to turn on or turn off the water at any connection or open or close any gate valve or other device for regulating the flow or measurement of water in the District’s pipelines. Only duly authorized employees of the District shall connect or disconnect any customer’s service.
(Res. No. 2020-02, adopted 5/20/20)
Any damage occurring to a meter or other appliances, pipes, appurtenances, or property of the District caused by an intentional act or by the negligence or neglect of the customer shall be paid for by the customer upon presentation of a bill therefor. Any other person or company damaging District property shall be billed for the costs of repair thereof, which shall be paid within 60 days of the bill date.
District inspection and line location staff are available to mark the location of underground District facilities. Customers are advised to consult with District staff before commencing construction or landscape work.
(Res. No. 2020-02, adopted 5/20/20)
Employees and agents of the District shall have unrestricted access at reasonable hours to all premises supplied by the District to inspect the supply system, meter, or other measuring apparatus and to see that the rules and regulations of the District regarding the taking, use or waste of water are being observed.
(Res. No. 2020-02, adopted 5/20/20)
For the protection of the District and public water supplies, many offenses are by State law made misdemeanors for which the offender may be criminally prosecuted. These include:
(a) 
Section 498, Penal Code: Taking water without authority or by making unauthorized connections.
(b) 
Section 592, Penal Code: Taking water from flume or reservoir.
(c) 
Section 607, Penal Code: Injuring tanks, flumes, reservoirs, etc.
(d) 
Section 624, Penal Code: Breaking, digging up, obstructing, or injuring pipes, etc.
(e) 
Section 625, Penal Code: Taking water after works have been closed or sealed.
(f) 
Section 4455, Health and Safety Code: Bathing (swimming) in lakes or reservoir.
Civil Code Sections 1882—1882.6 permit the District to file a civil action for damages for the unauthorized taking of District water, illegal and unauthorized connections to any facilities owned or used by the District, or tampering or interference with District property or facilities, and permit the recovery of three times the amount of actual damage, plus the costs of suit and reasonable attorney’s fees.
Any violation of the District’s Administrative Code shall be cause for the Board, acting by and through its General Manager, to apply such penalties as may be provided by law, or to take any other action as deemed appropriate, including but not limited to, the discontinuance of water service.
(Res. No. 2020-02, adopted 5/20/20)