A new account fee as determined by resolution of the Board will be assessed on a customer on the first bill. The District requires at least twenty-four hours' notice of water service turn on. If a customer contacts the District the same day that the customer wants service turned on, then the customer will have an additional charge assessed on the next water bill. If the customer requests service on holidays, weekends, or after five p.m. on weekdays to have water turned on the same day, then a charge must be paid to the District on the following normal working day.
(Ord. 51, 10/7/2025)
The District will provide a continuity of service fee option only for landlords who wish to retain water service to rental properties during periods of vacancy. The continuity of service must be requested by the landlord and a fee, as determined by a resolution of the Board, paid to the District. The water bill will be sent to the landlord's address and the landlord will be billed for the continuity of service fee.
(Ord. 51, 10/7/2025)
The District shall charge each customer a monthly delivery charge for each service connection with a meter in such amounts as provided by resolution of the Board as adopted from time to time.
(Ord. 51, 10/7/2025)
When a water meter for a residential unit is required to provide standby capacity for an automatic fire extinguishing system, the delivery charge will be determined according to this section. In cases where a meter that restricts the capacity of the connection and measures total water consumption is installed, the delivery charge will be based on the meter size. For fire extinguishing systems with a meter that is in place only to inform the District when water is drawn through the service line, and does not restrict water flow, the charge will be based on the service line size. The delivery charge to provide water for an automatic fire extinguishing system is required when: (a) the automatic fire extinguishing system is required by law, including any requirement imposed as a condition of development, permit, or occupancy; and (b) the Fire Chief, Fire Marshal, or Building Official of the City has provided a written statement verifying the requirement for additional meter size. The determination under this section shall be made at the time the meter is first obtained or at the time a meter is replaced with one of greater size because of the later installation of the automatic fire extinguishing system.
(Ord. 51, 10/7/2025)
The District rate structure shall be approved by the Board. Rates shall be set at a level sufficient to pay for water purchases, maintenance and operations, debt service, replacement funding, adequate reserves, and to meet objectives established by the Board.
A. 
Residential Water Rate. The residential water rate is a tier rate per unit of water used where one unit equals seven hundred forty eight gallons.
B. 
Commercial/Nonresidential. The commercial/nonresidential water rate is a flat rate per unit of water used where one unit equals seven hundred forty-eight gallons.
C. 
Agricultural Water Rate. The agricultural water rate shall comply with the rate reduction and rules and requirements adopted by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the San Diego County Water Authority in relation to cost and availability of imported water. Once a customer is authorized to take water service on an Agricultural Water Rate, that customer must comply with water supply reductions under Chapter 3.04 of this Code when the Board declares Stage 2 or higher water conservation stages.
D. 
The Recycled Water Rate. The recycled water rate is a flat rate per unit of recycled water used where one unit equals seven hundred forty eight gallons and applies only to the delivery of recycled water to the customer.
(Ord. 51, 10/7/2025)
Meters shall be read and billings rendered monthly. The billing period is thirty days and is based on the meter reading date. The date on which the bill is deemed delinquent shall be indicated on the bill.
(Ord. 51, 10/7/2025)
In addition to any other remedy provided for in this chapter for the enforcement and collection of any water and recycled water rates, charge, fee or account, all rates provided for in this title shall be charged against the property on which it is furnished and against the property owner, and shall be a lien against the premises to which any water or recycled water may be supplied, and a charge against the property owner and the property occupant using the water. Subject to the District's Residential Water Shutoff Protection Policy for Nonpayment of Charges, if charges, if for any cause any sums owing for water service become delinquent, the water or recycled water shall be cut off and in no case shall it be turned on to the same property until all such delinquencies shall have been paid in full. Such property owner and occupant shall be severally responsible to the District in an action brought by the District in any court of competent jurisdiction for the amount of all such money as may be due and unpaid, together with all applicable penalties and costs. No change of ownership or occupation shall affect the application of this chapter. This section shall not apply to nonpermanent water service connections.
(Ord. 51, 10/7/2025)
Upon the written request or call to the City's Utility Billing Department, by the customer or occupant of a building or premises to have the water shut off on the supply side of the meter, the District shall have the water shut off and, at the time, record the reading of the meter and render a bill in a sum which shall be the greater of the amount of water used according to the rates and charges provided for, or for the monthly minimum charge due for the fractional part of the month.
(Ord. 51, 10/7/2025)
A. 
Fast Meters. When, upon test, a meter is found to be registering fast within the tolerances set forth in Section 2.12.050B, the District shall refund to the customer the amount of the overcharge based upon corrected meter readings for the period the meter was in use, but not to exceed a period of six months.
B. 
Slow Meters. When, upon test, a meter is found to be registering slow beyond the tolerances set forth in Section 2.12.050B, the District shall bill the customer for the amount of the undercharge based upon corrected meter readings for the period the meter was in service, but not to exceed a period of six months.
C. 
Failed Meter Reads. In the event a water meter fails to register during any month, a charge will be made based upon the three-month average amount of water used during the same period for the previous year. In the event there was no meter at the location during the previous year, a charge will be made upon an estimate fixed by the District, which shall be paid by the customer.
D. 
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 shall be computed back to, but not beyond, such date.
(Ord. 51, 10/7/2025)