Editor's note: Ord. 1695 retitled Ch. 9.35.
A. 
For the purpose of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall mean:
Approved Water Supply:
a water source that has been approved by the California State Water Resources Control Board for domestic use in a public water system and designated as such in a domestic water supply permit issued pursuant to Section 116525 of the California Health and Safety Code, as may be amended from time to time.
Backflow Prevention Assembly or BPA:
a mechanical assembly designed and constructed to prevent backflow, such that while in-line it can be maintained and its ability to prevent backflow, as designed, can be field tested, inspected and evaluated.
Backflow:
an undesired or unintended reversal of flow of water and/or other liquids, gases, or other substances into a public water system's distribution system or approved water supply.
Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook or CCCPH:
the Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook adopted by the California State Water Resources Control Board pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 116407, as may be amended.
Cross-Connection Control Specialist:
a person certified as a cross-connection control specialist by the California-Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) or other organization recognized by the State Water Board, in accordance with the requirements of the Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook (CCCPH), to manage and implement the cross-connection control plan and evaluate the hazards inherent in supplying a customer's water system.
Cross-Connection:
any actual or potential connection or structural arrangement between a public water system, including a piping system connected to the public water system and located on the premises of a water user or available to the water user, and any source or distribution system containing liquid, gas, or other substances not from an approved water supply.
Designated Irrigation Days:
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:
the director of public works or the designee thereof.
Local Health Agency:
Orange County Health Care Agency.
State Water Board:
the California State Water Resources Control Board.
Water User:
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 the current Cross Connection Control Policy Handbook (CCCPH) and not defined in subsection A shall have the meaning set forth in such state law provision and/or the current CCCPH.
(Ord. 1515; Ord. 1720, 10/13/2025)
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 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)
A. 
No person shall make or maintain a cross-connection with the city water system.
B. 
Backflow prevention assemblies (BPAs) 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.
5. 
The type and use of materials handled and present, or likely to be, on the user premises.
6. 
Conditions that increase the likelihood of a backflow event (e.g., hydraulic gradient differences impacted by main breaks and high water-demand situations, multiple service connections that results in flow-through conditions, etc.)
7. 
User premises accessibility concerns or constraints.
C. 
No backflow prevention assembly 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 city council shall from time to time by resolution adopt cross-connection standards that further establish the city's requirements for design, construction, installation, and maintenance of backflow prevention assemblies, in order to comply with and implement the requirements of the Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook, as may be amended.
E. 
The Director shall maintain policies and procedures consistent with the purpose of this section, and appoint at least one person certified as a cross-connection control specialist or designee to administer the provisions of this section, and any other rules and regulations adopted by the city pursuant to this section.
F. 
Any water user shall comply with all provisions of this section, the city's cross-connection control standards, and any permit or order of the director issued in accordance therewith.
G. 
The city may discontinue or refuse to supply water and/or sewer service to any premises that is not in strict compliance with: (i) the requirements of this section, any rules, regulations, permit or order issued under the authority of this section; or (ii) if it is found that a required backflow prevention assembly has been removed, bypassed, or otherwise modified; or (iii) if unprotected cross-connection(s) otherwise exist on the premises. 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 or other violation of this section or applicable rules, regulations or conditions of any permit or order. The city may refuse to restore such service to the premises until the cross-connection is controlled through the proper installation and testing of an approved backflow prevention assembly and all other violations are eliminated.
H. 
In addition to the foregoing, any violation of this section shall be subject to the penalties and remedies set out in this section and Chapter 1.15 of this code.
(Ord. 1515; Ord. 1720, 10/13/2025)