The purpose of county's Cross-Connection Control Program is to prevent the occurrence of backflow into the county's water system by identifying actual and potential cross-connections and taking action to protect the system from these hazards. The county's Cross-Connection Control Program is established in accordance with the State Water Resources Control Board's (Water Board) Cross-Connection Policy Handbook (CCCPH), which provides the standards that apply to all California PWSs as defined in California's Health and Safety Code Section 116275 (h).
(Ord. 6344-B, 11/4/2025)
The water user shall cooperate in: (1) the timely and accurate completion and return of the initial and follow up hazard assessments provided by county to identify if a cross-connection exists on the water user premises necessitating a BPA; (2) county's installation of a BPA at the water user premises, as may be required; and (3) county's annual inspection of any BPA installed by a county representative. Water user shall not install any enclosure that obstructs access to the BPA without prior written authorization from the director of the department of public works (engineer). Additionally, the water user is responsible for notifying the engineer of any backflow events occurring on the water user premises and any changes on the water user premises that could increase the risk of backflow into the county water system.
(Ord. 6344-B, 11/4/2025)
"Backflow prevention assembly" or "BPA"
means 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"
means 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.
"Change of circumstances"
means when evidence exists of improvements made to a water user premises and/or there has been an application approved by the county for a building permit, grading permit, or other discretionary approval that involves an improvement to a water user premises.
"County water system"
is the county public water system within and affecting county's Zone of Benefit No. 6 (Sheridan Water) and Eastern Regional Landfill Water System extending up to the water user's service connection.
"County"
means the county of Placer, state of California.
"Cross-connection"
means 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.
"Hazard assessment"
means an evaluation of a water user premises designed to evaluate the types and degrees of hazard at a water user's premises.
"Public water system" or "PWS"
has the same meaning as defined in Cal. Health and Safety Code (Section 116275(h).
"Water user premises"
means the property under the ownership or control of a water user and is served, or is readily capable of being served, with water via a service connection with a public water system.
"Water user"
means a person or entity who is authorized by the county to receive water from the county PWS.
"Water user's service connection"
means the point where a water user's piping is connected to the public water system beginning at the downstream end of the curb stop.
(Ord. 6344-B, 11/4/2025)
A. 
To evaluate the potential for backflow into the county water system, water user shall cooperate in timely and accurately responding to county's initial hazard assessment questionnaire.
B. 
Subsequent to the initial hazard assessment described in subsection A, water user shall cooperate with the county in responding to subsequent hazard assessment questionnaires for the water user's premises as may be required in accordance with the CCCPH and/or if any of the following criteria are present:
1. 
If a water user premises changes ownership, excluding single-family residences;
2. 
If a water user premises is newly or re-connected to the county water system;
3. 
If evidence exists of changes in the activities or materials on a water user's premises;
4. 
If backflow from a water user's premises occurs;
5. 
If the Water Board requests a hazard assessment of a water user's premises; or
6. 
If county concludes an existing hazard assessment may no longer accurately represent the degree of hazard.
C. 
A water user's failure to timely return a hazard assessment questionnaire to the county shall subject the water user's premises to an onsite hazard assessment inspection pursuant to Section 13.10.080 of this article.
(Ord. 6344-B, 11/4/2025)
If the findings from county's hazard assessment determine an actual or potential cross-connection exists at the water user premises, water user shall cooperate in permitting a County representative to install a BPA at the water user premises.
In the event a water user fails to provide a county representative with access to the water user premises to install a BPA, County shall be permitted to enter upon the water user premises to install a BPA as set forth in to Section 13.10.080 of this article.
It is unlawful for any person to connect a BPA at a water user premises as all BPAs subject to this article shall be installed by a County representative.
(Ord. 6344-B, 11/4/2025)
Upon reasonable written notice to the water user provided by county, water user shall permit a county representative to inspect and field test all BPAs installed by a county representative under this article annually.
In the event a water user fails to provide a county representative with access to the water user premises to complete its inspection and field test, a county representative shall be permitted to enter upon the water user premises as set forth in to Section 13.10.080 of this article.
(Ord. 6344-B, 11/4/2025)
A. 
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article, or any amendments thereto, shall be served with a written notice by the engineer (except as provided in subsection B of this section), stating the nature of the violation and fixing a time limit for the satisfactory correction thereof.
B. 
If the engineer determines that a violation of any of the provisions of this article, or any amendments thereto, results in a public hazard or a menace to the public health or safety, the Engineer may enter upon the water user premises without notice and do everything necessary to abate such hazard or menace to the public health or safety. The actual cost incurred by the engineer in taking such abatement action shall be a legal charge against the violator.
C. 
Any water user willfully violating this article by preventing the installation of a BPA when required by the county shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than $1,000, or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
D. 
Any water user willfully violating this ordinance by preventing the installation of a BPA when required by this article and/or by modifying, relocating, removing, bypassing and/or tampering with a BPA installed by a county representative shall provide county with the right to obtain an order of abatement permitting a county representative to properly secure the installation of a BPA.
E. 
The violator of any of the provisions of this article, or any amendments thereto, shall become liable to the county for expense, loss, or damage to the county by reason of such violation.
F. 
The county has the right to discontinue water service at the water user premises if a county representative is prevented from installing a BPA, if a BPA required by this article is removed, bypassed, tampered with, modified or if there is an unprotected cross-connection on the water user premises. In the event the county discontinues water service at a water user premises, restoration of water service will only occur after the issues necessitating discontinuation of water service are rectified.
(Ord. 6344-B, 11/4/2025)
The following schedule of charges and fees shall apply to property within Zone of Benefit No. 6 (Sheridan Water). The charges and fees are based upon a flow rate of one equivalent dwelling unit (EDU). For the purposes of this section one EDU shall be defined as the amount of flow used by one single-family residence as determined by the county from time to time. Calculation of a charge and fee for a use that is billed at a rate other than one EDU shall be based upon the schedule set forth in subsections D.1, D.2, F, G, and I of Section 13.12.240. Any county determination made prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this article related to the number of EDUs existing on a water user premises for the purpose of establishing connection and water user fees shall not be adjusted by this article unless a change of circumstances exists. In the event of a change of circumstances, the county shall be permitted to re-evaluate a water user premises to determine the number of EDUs existing on the water user premises.
Effective Date of New Water User Fee
Percentage Increase from Prior Year
Estimated Water User Fee Increase from Prior Year ($/Mo/EDU)
Estimated Monthly Rate ($/Mo/EDU)
July 1, 2025
5%
$3.57
$75.04
July 1, 2026
W/S/T Index - Max 5%
$3.75 - Max
$78.79 - Max
July 1, 2027
W/S/T Index - Max 5%
$3.94 - Max
$82.73 - Max
July 1, 2028
W/S/T Index - Max 5%
$4.14 - Max
$86.87 - Max
New Connection Fee: = $3,717 per EDU.
(Ord. 6344-B, 11/4/2025)
If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase of this article, or any part thereof, is found to be invalid for any reason, such a decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this article. The board hereby declares that it would have passed each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase, even if one or more of them is declared invalid.
(Ord. 6344-B, 11/4/2025)