A. 
The following rules and regulations apply in the unincorporated areas of the County wherever the County is furnishing water service to its inhabitants with its County water utility.
B. 
These rules and regulations are enacted by the County pursuant to its authority granted by NMSA §§ 4-36-10, 4-37-1, and 3-26-1 et seq., and by County Resolution Nos. 95-38, 96-36 and 97-27.
C. 
These rules and regulations are intended to promote safe and adequate service to the public and to provide standards for uniform and reasonable practices. The rules and regulations herein established shall remain in effect until amended or superseded by subsequent ordinance or resolution.
D. 
Doña Ana County does not assume any responsibility to serve or extend its water facilities to serve additional customers located outside the service area boundaries as defined by the County.
Water service for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and other purposes will be furnished under conditions as stated in these rules and regulations. Service to a customer will be provided at the rates set forth in the applicable rate schedules.[1]
A. 
Residential service.
(1) 
Residential service shall include water service to a single house or to a multiple dwelling unit or condominium if separate piping is installed for each dwelling unit so that water service to each unit can be metered and billed separately, and provided meters are grouped and numbered as specified in Rule No. 9.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See § 324-29.
(2) 
Where premises are used for both residential and commercial purposes, the water service will be billed under the applicable commercial rate schedule. When separate piping is installed to permit separately metering the water service to each class of service, billing will be rendered in accordance with the applicable rate schedule.
(3) 
Any establishment acknowledged or advertised as a business, professional or commercial enterprise will be classified as nonresidential.
(4) 
Each service will be metered and billed separately or as otherwise agreed.
B. 
Commercial service.
(1) 
Commercial service shall include water service to all types of establishments, including multiple-family residential, not included in the "residential" classification, mobile home parks served by common service line(s), retail, offices, hotels, motels, shopping centers, and laundromats, none of which use water in the manufacturing process.
(2) 
Only one premises or business will be served through one service line, except a group of buildings under one management and control and provided that each building or service requirement is an integral part of and necessary to the operation of the establishment and provided meters are grouped and numbered as specified in Rule No. 9.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: See § 324-29.
(3) 
Each service will be metered and billed separately or as otherwise agreed.
C. 
Industrial service.
(1) 
Industrial service shall include water service to a manufacturing or process facility which is engaged in producing a product.
(2) 
Each service will be metered and billed separately or as otherwise agreed.
D. 
Institutional service.
(1) 
Institutional service shall include water service to government buildings, hospitals, schools and other facilities that provide public and quasi-public services.
(2) 
Only one premises or business will be served through one service line, except a group of buildings under one management and control and provided that each building or service requirement is an integral part of and necessary to the operation of the establishment and provided meters are grouped and numbered as specified in Rule No. 9.[4]
[4]
Editor's Note: See § 324-29.
(3) 
Each service will be metered and billed separately or as otherwise agreed.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Art. III, Rate Schedules, of this chapter.
A. 
Responsibility of the County. The County will own, operate and maintain the complete water system up to the point of delivery.
B. 
Responsibility of the customer.
(1) 
The customer shall install, own and maintain all facilities from the point of delivery and up to and within the connected facility or unit.
(2) 
The customer or property owner must exercise due care for the protection of the property of the County on the customer's premises.
(3) 
The customer agrees, in accepting service, that only a County employee shall be allowed to make an internal or external adjustment of the County meter or any other piece of apparatus that is the property of the County.
(4) 
Facilities or equipment necessary for special requirements shall be installed and maintained by the customer.
A. 
The County shall not be liable for damage to any customer of a County-owned water system due to stoppage, obstruction, breaks, failure of supply, interruption of service or any other cause outside the direct control of the County.
B. 
A statement to the effect provided for in Subsection A above is included in the terms and conditions described on the application for water service and user agreement.
A representative of the County shall have the right to ingress to and egress from the customer's premises at reasonable times for the purpose of inspecting, maintaining, testing, reading, changing, installing, or removing its meters. If such representative, after showing proper credentials and identification, is refused admittance or hindered or prevented from performing the above duties, the water service may be discontinued until free access is given in accordance with Rule No. 13[1] and/or the customer shall be subject those actions described in § 324-16, Enforcement; penalty.
[1]
Editor's Note: See § 324-33.
The County will adhere to the applicable minimum design and construction standards and technical provisions as established under state law, federal law and/or County ordinances or standards for water facilities.
A. 
Applications for water service shall be made at the County offices or designated location. Applications shall be in a form prescribed by the County, application for water service and user agreement, and shall include specific terms and conditions for which water service will be provided. All applicable administrative charges and one-time charges, as described in Rate Schedules 1 and 2,[1] shall be paid or payment arrangements made prior to approval by the County. The County shall have a reasonable time to provide water service, once the application has been accepted.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Art. III, §§ 324-50 and 324-51.
B. 
The cost to physically connect to the water service line is the responsibility of the customer. The conditions of piping and character of installation on the premises shall be subject to inspection and approval by the County, and if such piping and/or installation is found to be faulty, the County may refuse to provide service until, and after, such faulty installation has been corrected to the satisfaction of the County. The County does not assume the responsibility for such inspections and shall not be held liable for failure of such piping or installations.
C. 
The County reserves the right to limit each customer to a maximum daily average use.
D. 
To enable the County to provide adequate service facilities, the customer may be required to provide quantity information on new construction or alterations sufficiently in advance of the date upon which the customer expects water service to commence.
E. 
The County shall supply service within a reasonable time after the application or agreement is approved, and after any necessary permits have been obtained. It is the responsibility of the customer to comply with all applicable codes and to obtain the necessary permits from governmental authorities. If, due to circumstances beyond the control of the County, service cannot be furnished within a reasonable length of time, the customer shall be advised promptly regarding the delay.
F. 
New or additional service will be limited to the available unreserved capacity in production, transmission and distribution facilities, and commensurate with the County's available water rights.
A. 
Where service connections are available, temporary service will be furnished under the County's established rules, regulations, and rates for the type of service required; provided, however, that the customer shall pay, in addition to the cost of service rendered under its applicable rate, the cost of installing and removing, or of connecting and disconnecting the necessary facilities required to provide such service.
B. 
The rate to be charged for temporary water service will be in accordance with the County's existing applicable rate schedules.[1] Water service for specialized use shall be considered as a special case when not covered by a specific filed rate schedule.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Art. III, Rate Schedules.
C. 
Where water service is supplied directly to a mobile/manufactured home or other temporary or portable structure, the County shall require that the application for service and user agreement be in the name of the owner of the property on whose land the mobile/manufactured home or other portable structure is located. In such case, the monthly bill may be billed to the tenant as may be requested by the property owner, but the property owner will be held responsible for any unpaid charges.
D. 
Where water service is supplied to an individual mobile/manufactured homes and other portable structures, the customer shall pay for the installation and removal cost of providing this service.
E. 
The County reserves the right to furnish or not to furnish water service for any type of temporary or special service and, further, to define the conditions under which the water will be provided. Continuous service under normal conditions to existing customers shall take priority over customers receiving temporary service.
A. 
The service connection shall be constructed in accordance with the technical provisions as identified in § 324-9. The cost of the construction is the responsibility of the customer and is subject to inspection by the County.
B. 
Operating pressures within the range of 20 pounds to 125 pounds per square inch can ordinarily be made available in areas contiguous to existing lines and at the pressures indicated for normal operations. Where applications for service are received involving service to elevations either above or below the established elevation, special engineering and economic studies may be required that could result in other than normal equipment requirements to provide such service. All circumstances will be taken into account in determining the feasibility of rendering water service and, where feasible, extensions will be made subject to the provisions outlined in Rule No. 24, Line Extension Policy.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See § 324-44.
C. 
One water service line for each dwelling shall be installed on the premises except when a building contains more than one unit requiring separate meters, provided all meters are grouped adjacent to each other and are individually numbered and identified according to the units served.
D. 
The customer shall install a service line in accordance with the Uniform Plumbing Code, Mechanical Code or other state or County requirements.
E. 
A cross-connection with any other source of water is prohibited to be made to a customer's piping which is connected to the County's lines.
F. 
When the operating water pressure is determined by the customer to be less than required, the customer shall install a booster pump and pressure storage tank on the customer's yard line. The design for any such installation, including an approved backflow preventer, shall be prepared and submitted by an engineer to the County for approval; such approval must be received prior to construction.
G. 
When the operating water pressure is determined by the customer to be greater than required, the customer shall install an adjustable pressure-regulating device in the customer's yard line approved by the County.
H. 
Piping and plumbing installations made by the customer or under responsibility of the customer shall conform with the Uniform Plumbing Code, Mechanical Code or other state or County requirements.
I. 
In the case of multiple dwelling units or condominiums, service can be rendered by a single connection or by individual meters for each dwelling unit, provided the meters are grouped and numbered in accordance with Subsection C.
J. 
A backflow prevention device may be required as determined by the Utilities Director to be installed on the customer side of the service connection. The requirement for a backflow device shall be decided by the Utilities Director on a case-by-case basis and shall conform to the Uniform Plumbing Code, Mechanical Code or other state and County requirements. If required by the Utilities Director, the device shall be tested for proper operation annually and the results submitted to the County within 10 days of the required date of testing. Any malfunction found in the device will be corrected within three working days of the test.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
The County will specify the meter location and point of delivery to any premises, at the curb, property line or alley, and the customer shall contact the County for exact information locating the point of delivery before any piping of customer's system has been started.
A. 
Water service provided by the County to any customer shall be used only in connection with such customer's residence, dwelling, or building to which the County has authorized a water service connection and for which a customer account exists. The customer connection must comply with technical provisions identified in § 324-9, be properly permitted and be successfully inspected by the County Utility and other local inspection authority.
B. 
Additional facilities shall not be connected to the existing service nor shall service be piped from one residence, dwelling, or building to another residence, dwelling or building without first obtaining a written permit, authorization and/or statement of requirements from the County, and without first complying with any such requirements.
C. 
Should a connection be completed in violation of the previous Subsections A and B, the connection will be considered unauthorized and the following actions shall be taken by the County Utility:
(1) 
Applicable charges, as described in Water Rate Schedules 1 and 2,[1] shall be doubled;
[1]
Editor's Note: See Art. II, §§ 324-50 and 324-51.
(2) 
The connection will be subject to inspection and, if construction is not acceptable, the connection shall be removed and reinstalled in accordance with the technical provisions identified in Article I of this chapter; and
(3) 
The property owner will be subject to those actions as described in § 324-12, Nonpayment of fees, charges and/or rates, and/or § 324-16, Enforcement; penalty.
A. 
The County will strive to furnish adequate, efficient and reasonable service. The customer should report interruption or any problems of service promptly to the County. The County will endeavor to restore or repair service within a reasonable time.
B. 
The County will use reasonable diligence to furnish a regular and uninterrupted water service; however, interruptions or problems may occur or service may be curtailed or fail as a result of circumstances beyond the control of the County, including but not limited to those caused by public enemies, accidents, strikes, legal processes, or damages, repairs or changes in the County's transmission or distribution facilities. The County will endeavor to give reasonable notice in advance of any planned effort.
C. 
Customers whose service requirements exceed those normally provided should advise the County and contract for additional facilities as may be required.
A. 
Customers who intend to move from premises or discontinue the use of water services or in any way terminate their liability shall give the County or its designated agent reasonable notice of such intentions. The customer will be liable for water service charges for the premises until such notice is given and the County has conducted the final meter reading. Upon receipt of such notice, the County will read the meter within a reasonable period of time or within approximately five working days. The owner of the premises will be subject to the minimum fixed charge up to the time of the final meter reading.
B. 
The County reserves the right to interrupt service for a reasonable period for maintenance and repairs to its property or equipment.
C. 
The County may discontinue water service to a customer without prior notice:
(1) 
In the event of a condition determined by the County to be hazardous.
(2) 
In the event of customer use of equipment in such a manner as to adversely affect the County's equipment or the County's service to others.
(3) 
In the event of customer's tampering with, damaging, or destroying the equipment furnished and owned by the County.
(4) 
In the event of unauthorized use of service.
D. 
The County may discontinue water service to a customer with prior notice for:
(1) 
Nonpayment of a delinquent account.
(2) 
Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of a settlement agreement.
(3) 
Refusal to grant access at reasonable times to equipment installed upon the premises of the customer for the purpose of inspection, maintenance or replacement.
(4) 
Failure to comply with conditions specified by the County and/or the application for service and user agreement required to obtain County water services.
(5) 
Violation of and/or noncompliance with the County's rules on file with the office of the County Clerk and approved by the governing body.
(6) 
Failure of the customer to fulfill contractual obligations for utility service and/or facilities other than settlement agreements.
E. 
The notice of discontinuance required by this rule shall Include the following:
(1) 
A statement of the reason(s) why the County has issued notice to discontinue water service.
(2) 
The title(s), address, telephone number(s) and working hours of the personnel at the County responsible for carrying out the rights herein prescribed.
(3) 
Notice that the customer may obtain a review by County personnel to address the reasons for the discontinuance of service.
(4) 
Notice that a complaint may be filed with the Utilities Director if the customer disagrees with the County's determination of the facts on which the proposed discontinuance is based. If the customer requests a review by the County, discontinuance of service shall be stayed during the review.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
(5) 
The amount owed and the date by which the customer must either pay the amount due or make other arrangements with the County concerning payment of the charges, including arrangements for a settlement agreement. The service period over which said amount was incurred, the date, and the amount of the last payment shall be available upon request.
(6) 
Notice that the County will not discontinue service to any residence where, upon adequate proof, the County determines a seriously ill person or person whose life may be endangered by discontinuance of service resides.
(7) 
Notice of a reconnection charge in accordance with the Water Rate Schedule 4, Special Charges.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Art. III, § 324-53.
F. 
The County shall not discontinue service for:
(1) 
Failure of a customer to pay for special services.
(2) 
Failure of a customer to pay for service received at a separate water service point, residence or location. However, in the event of discontinuance or termination of service at a separate water service point, residence or location, the County may transfer any unpaid balance due to any other service account of the customer.
(3) 
Nonpayment of the disputed amount of a bill.
(4) 
Delinquency in payment for service to a previous occupant of the same premises unless a court has found the new customer is legally liable for the debt of the previous occupant.
(5) 
Failure of a customer to pay the bill of another customer as guarantor thereof.
G. 
Any customer whose service is involuntarily disconnected may be required to pay a reconnection charge in addition to all charges before being reconnected to the County's utility systems.
H. 
The County employee sent to discontinue utility service shall be empowered to receive full payment, by check or money order, of delinquent bills and, upon receipt of the full payment in a form acceptable to the County, said employee shall be empowered to cancel the discontinuance order.
I. 
When a customer has indicated to the County an inability to pay utility charges, has not been chronically delinquent, and can provide some evidence and/or documentation of hardship such as medical or other extenuating circumstances, the County shall attempt to arrange an installment plan for the payment of past-due utility charges. While an installment plan is being negotiated, the County shall not discontinue service to such customer. In the event that either negotiation of the installment plan is discontinued or progress in its negotiation is stalled, the County may proceed with discontinuance of service.
J. 
Utility service to a customer may be discontinued only during the hours from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and may not be discontinued less than 24 hours prior to a holiday or weekend unless the County's designated business office is open for receipt of payment of past-due charges and County personnel are available to restore such service upon payment during said holiday or weekend.
Notice by the County to the customer may be given verbally, in person or by telephone, or in writing. A mailed written notice will be deemed received three business days after mailing to the customer's billing address. Hand-delivered written notice shall be deemed effective immediately upon delivery to the service address.
A. 
Inquiries or complaints concerning the application or interpretation of rates, charges and regulations may be made to the County Utilities Department or designated agent by telephone, in person, and/or in writing. The inquiry or complaint shall be documented as received in the County's Customer Inquiry Log. County staff or the designated agent will make every attempt to investigate, respond, and resolve the issue in a timely manner.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
B. 
In the event that the customer is not satisfied with the action of such County representative, the customer may direct a written complaint to the Utilities Director. Such written complaints shall be fully investigated, and the Utilities Director shall provide a written decision in an effort to resolve or satisfy the inquiry or complaint of the customer. Any customer who does not file a written complaint with the Utilities Director within 30 days of the decision or action of the County representative, which is the subject of the complaint, shall waive any right to contest such decision or action.
C. 
Any customer who is dissatisfied with the Utilities Director's written decision may, within 30 days of the date of said written decision, file an appeal to the Board, which shall hold a public hearing to review the Utilities Director's decision. The Board may uphold, reverse or modify the Utilities Director's decision.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
The rates and charges to be paid to the County for water service will be the rates and charges legally in effect, approved by and on file with the office of the County Clerk. Complete schedules of all rates and charges legally in effect will be kept at all times at the County Utilities Department, where they will be available for public inspection. Attached hereto are Rate Schedules 1 through 5, which shall be in effect with the effective date of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Art. III, Rate Schedules.
A. 
The County may require a security deposit or other guarantee of payment as condition of new or continued service to a residential customer, specifically in the case of service:
(1) 
To a residential customer, who has not previously had utility service with the County;
(2) 
To a chronically delinquent residential customer of the County;
(3) 
To a residential customer who is being reconnected following discontinuance of service by the County; and
(4) 
To a residential customer who, without authority, has interfered with or connected to the County water system.
B. 
Commercial and industrial customers shall be required to make a deposit.
C. 
Institutional customers may be required to make a deposit if determined necessary by the County.
D. 
The County reserves the right to require an increase in the amount of a previous deposit pursuant to Rate Schedule 1,[1] if a customer is chronically delinquent.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Art. III, § 324-50.
E. 
Customers who have not been delinquent for the twelve-month period from the date of deposit or guarantee will receive a credit to their account. If the customer fails to qualify for a refund of the deposit on the first anniversary date of the deposit, that account may be reviewed on each subsequent anniversary date of the deposit. The amount of the deposit shall be credited if the customer has not been delinquent during the preceding 12 months.
F. 
Each customer posting a security deposit shall receive in writing at the time of tender of deposit a receipt as evidence thereof. The receipt shall contain the following minimum information:
(1) 
Name of customer.
(2) 
Date of payment.
(3) 
Amount of payment.
(4) 
Statement of the terms and conditions governing the payment, retention, interest and return of deposits.
G. 
The County shall maintain records of deposits and issue receipts of deposits in accordance with applicable requirements of state law and regulations.
A. 
Bills will be rendered by the County or designated agent to the customer under the applicable rate schedule.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Art. III, Rate Schedules.
B. 
When billing for multiple services at a residence, the use and charge attributable to each service shall be clearly set forth on the bill. Utility service to multiple locations billed to a single residential customer shall be separately stated for each location.
C. 
All bills for water service are due when rendered, and are payable within 30 days from the date of the bill, and if not so paid the bill shall be considered delinquent.
D. 
A customer shall be given at least 15 calendar days from the date the bill is deemed delinquent before the County may discontinue utility service, pursuant to the requirements of Rule 13[2] and a late charge assessed according to Rate Schedule 4.[3]
[2]
Editor's Note: See § 324-33.
[3]
Editor's Note: See Art. III, § 324-52.
E. 
If the last day for payment of a bill falls on a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday, or any other day when the offices of the County regularly used for the payment of customer bills are not open to the general public, the final payment date shall be extended through the end of the next business day.
F. 
The terms "month" and "regular billing period" as used herein and in the rate schedules are hereby defined as a thirty-day period or the elapsed time between two successive meter readings approximately 30 days apart.
G. 
For calculating variable charges and in the event of the stoppage of, or the failure by any meter to register the full amount of water consumed, or of the inaccessibility of the meter, the customer will be billed for such period on an estimated consumption based upon use of water in a similar period of like use.
A. 
Conditions.
(1) 
The County shall not render a bill based on estimated water use to a customer unless:
(a) 
The utility is unable to obtain access to the customer's premises through no fault of its own for the purpose of reading the meter.
(b) 
A meter is defective or has been evidently tampered with or bypassed.
(c) 
Weather conditions prohibit meter readings or where other force majeure conditions exist.
(2) 
If the County is unable to obtain an actual meter reading for these reasons, the County shall attempt to contact the customer and obtain access to the premises.
B. 
If the County underestimates a customer's water use and subsequently seeks to correct the bill, the customer shall be given an opportunity to participate in an installment plan with regard to the underestimated amount.
C. 
Meters will be read at regular intervals; however, if a meter reading is missed, the County may bill the customer on an estimated consumption, and the difference shall be adjusted when the meter is again read. The basis for this estimate shall be the normal consumption for corresponding periods in the preceding year and/or normal consumption of preceding months.
A. 
The County agrees to promptly investigate any question as to accuracy of bills for service rendered. If the bill is in error, the County shall submit a corrected bill, which reflects an increase to the customer as promptly as circumstances permit, or give credit on a subsequent bill rendered to the customer in the amount of any overcharge. The County will use its best efforts to explain the error to the customer.
B. 
An equitable adjustment of the charges may be made in the event of an unforeseen or extraordinary circumstance not occasioned by the customer.
A. 
Settlement agreements shall be in writing and at the discretion of the County. When the County and a customer settle a dispute or when a customer does not dispute liability for an outstanding bill or bills but demonstrates an inability to pay the outstanding bill or bills when due, the County and the customer shall enter into a settlement agreement to pay the amount of the bill. The County is not required to enter into a settlement agreement with a chronically delinquent customer. However, if a chronically delinquent customer can demonstrate to the County that the customer does not have adequate financial resources to pay the outstanding bill without participation in the settlement agreement and because the customer has a low income and is elderly, disabled, or subject to other special considerations, the County shall give special consideration to such a customer in determining whether to extend a settlement agreement to that customer.
B. 
Every settlement agreement, involving an inability to pay an outstanding bill in full when payable according to Rule No. 18,[1] shall provide that service will not be discontinued if the customer pays a reasonable portion of the outstanding bill upon signing the settlement agreement and agrees to pay the remaining outstanding balance in reasonable installments until the bill is paid. For purposes of determining reasonableness, the parties shall consider:
(1) 
The size of the outstanding balance;
(2) 
The customer's ability to pay;
(3) 
The customer's payment history;
(4) 
The time that the balance has been outstanding;
(5) 
The reasons why the balance has been outstanding; and
(6) 
Any other factors relevant to the customer's service.
[1]
Editor's Note: See § 324-38.
C. 
A settlement agreement to pay an outstanding past-due balance on a bill does not relieve a customer from the obligation to pay future bills on a current basis.
D. 
If the customer has entered into an installment plan pursuant to a settlement agreement, the customer shall receive a statement of:
(1) 
The actual service charges incurred for the current billing period;
(2) 
The amount of the installment payment due;
(3) 
The total amount due [sum of (1) and (2)]; and
(4) 
An acknowledgment of previous installment payments.
E. 
If a customer fails to comply with a settlement agreement, the County may discontinue service after notifying the customer by delivery of written notice that the customer is in default of the settlement agreement, stating the nature of the default and that unless a payment which brings the settlement agreement current is made within seven days from the date of notice, the County will discontinue service on a specified date.
F. 
The County and a customer may renegotiate the terms of a settlement agreement.
A. 
Ownership of meters. All meters used in connection with metered service shall be furnished and installed by certified personnel or by the County at the expense of the customer, all of which are maintained and owned by the County.
B. 
Meter testing. Upon request by a customer, the County shall make a test of the meter. A report of the results of the test shall be made to the customer within a reasonable time after completion of the test, and a record of the report, together with a complete record of each test, shall be kept on file at the County.
C. 
Accurate or slow meters. When a meter is found to be accurate, within 2% as a weighted average of the total volume of flow at all test rates, or slow, the County shall assess a meter testing charge in accordance with Rate Schedule 4.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Art. III, § 324-53.
D. 
Fast meters. When a meter is found to be fast, in excess of 2% as a weighted average of the total volume of flow at all test rates, the customer shall be issued a credit to its account for charges reflected by the incorrect reading for previous months as determined affected by the County Utilities Director.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
E. 
The County reserves the right to test meters at any time during business hours and to enter the premises of a customer if necessary for that purpose.
A. 
If an existing customer is planning further development, which will use unusually large quantities of water, the County shall be consulted in advance for its approval of such additional service and for the terms and advice as to conditions under which the water will be supplied to the premises of the customer.
B. 
Resale of water service or the furnishing of water service to others by customers will not be permitted except where such resale or furnishing of service is provided for in the applicable rate schedule and in a written agreement between the customer and the County.
C. 
The County reserves the right to limit the size of service connections and to prohibit the customer's waste or the flow of excessive quantities of water that exceed or strain the capacity of the County facilities. Noncompliance of this rule by a customer shall constitute grounds for discontinuing service in accordance with Rule No. 13, Discontinuance and Denial of Restoration of Service.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See § 324-33.
D. 
The County reserves the right to impose restrictions or limitations on water services should an outside governing or regulatory body impose similar restrictions on the County.
The purpose of this section is to define the terms and conditions for a County water line extension to serve an applicant. Applicants for subdivision development shall refer to and comply with Chapter 300, Subdivision of Land,[1] as well as this chapter.
A. 
Application.
(1) 
The applicant requesting water service requiring a line extension must request such service in writing. The request shall describe the following:
(a) 
Number of new connections proposed;
(b) 
Classification of proposed connections;
(c) 
Water use projections; and
(d) 
Property, plat, and/or subdivision details.
(2) 
The County Utilities Director shall review the application and make a recommendation to the Board for Board consideration and approval as to the availability and feasibility of providing such service. The terms and conditions shall be set forth in a line extension agreement to be executed by the County and the applicant.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
B. 
Conditions of a line extension.
(1) 
The County may extend or approve the line extension in the streets, alleys, and/or easements, within the service areas, in order to permit connections by an applicant seeking water service. The extension will be made from the nearest adequately sized water line.
(2) 
All line extensions shall be installed to the farthest property line of the lot or parcel to be developed or connected. All meters shall be installed in a manner approved by the County.
(3) 
The size and capacity of the line extension shall be determined by the capacity needs to meet the projected development. In the event the County requires a larger line size than is required to serve the applicant's needs, the County may absorb the difference in investment between the applicant's required line size and the line size required by the County. In no event shall the line extension be based on lines smaller than those needed for the applicant's fire service requirements. The minimum distribution line size for adequate fire protection is eight inches' diameter. The County shall be the sole judge of proper line sizing.
(4) 
All lines will be constructed in existing public roads, streets, County-owned land, alleys, or easements. The applicant shall furnish such rights-of-way as are required without charge to the County within property owned by said applicant and shall assist the County in securing other rights-of-way necessary to provide service through property not owned by said applicant.
(5) 
The County shall review, approve and inspect all design and construction of proposed line extensions. All line extensions shall be in accordance with and in compliance with all applicable technical provisions of County, state and federal laws. Where the water system is connected to a municipal system, water and sanitation district, or other system not owned by the County, the line extension will additionally be in accord with and will comply with applicable municipal codes, ordinances and regulation of that municipality, the water and sanitation district, or other system.
C. 
The total cost for the line extension as set forth shall be paid by the applicant. The costs shall be subject to future refunds to that applicant, if water service is provided to a new customer, under the following terms and conditions:
(1) 
Connection is within 10 years from the date of the original line extension agreement between the County and applicant.
(2) 
The new customer's property abuts applicant's line extension (other than at the end of applicant's line extension where the new customer's line extension is to begin).
(3) 
The County connects the line extension for said new customer's water service to applicant's line extension.
(4) 
The applicant's line extension is necessary for domestic or fire flow service to a new customer.
(5) 
The refund amount to the applicant shall be determined based on a front-foot basis for individual lots or on an acreage basis for undeveloped tracts. The amount shall be calculated as a percentage of the footage and/or acreage for the total parcels already connected and to be connected to applicant's line extension.
(6) 
Refunds made under this provision shall not exceed the amount of applicant's contribution to construction less that portion needed to serve applicant.
D. 
The determination of whether the line extension for a new customer's water service should be connected to an existing line extension shall be made by the County at its discretion based on engineering considerations and the County's plans for the development of its water system.
E. 
Where extenuating circumstances exist and at the sole option of the County, an extension may be made under a special long-term contract, provided the contract terms are such that no adverse effects will be imposed on the County's existing customers.
F. 
Special conditions which affect the furnishing of water service to an applicant, such as elevation, terrain, capacity and other conditions resulting in increased costs to the County in providing water service, shall be taken into consideration by the County, and the cost thereof shall be included in estimating the cost of providing service.
G. 
In addition to the costs for the line extension, the applicant must pay the administrative set-up charge and the one-time charge as established in the Water Rate Schedule.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See Art. III, §§ 324-50 and 324-51.
H. 
The County shall not under any condition be required to make an extension that would be unprofitable and thereby cause undue hardship to existing customers.
I. 
The provisions of this rule apply to connections to line extensions already in existence and line extensions installed after the effective date of this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: Chapter 300, Subdivision of Land, was repealed 12-13-2016 by Ord. No. 287-2016. For current provisions, see Ch. 350, Unified Development Code.
The purpose of this section is to define the County policy for accepting ownership and operation and maintenance of water infrastructure and facilities constructed by a developer or other person or entity after an approved development or building process as outlined in Chapter 250, Land Use and Zoning, Chapter 300, Subdivision of Land,[1] and the building permit process.[2]
A. 
All infrastructure to be transferred will be agreed upon prior to approvals as set forth in this section. Acceptance of the infrastructure and facilities shall be at the County's sole discretion.
B. 
All infrastructure to be transferred must have been constructed in accordance with Chapter 250, Land Use and Zoning, Chapter 274, Use of Rights-of-Way, Chapter 300, Subdivision of Land,[3] this chapter, and applicable County design standards.
[3]
Editor's Note: Chapter 250, Land Use and Zoning, and Ch. 300, Subdivision of Land, were repealed 12-13-2016 by Ord. No. 287-2016. For current provisions, see Ch. 350, Unified Development Code.
C. 
After final inspection and final certification by the County, the developer will provide as-built drawings, hard-copy and electronic versions, for the infrastructure to be transferred.
D. 
The developer will provide easements and title documents to the County on forms provided by the County or approved by the County.
[1]
Editor's Note: Chapter 250, Land Use and Zoning, and Ch. 300, Subdivision of Land, were repealed 12-13-2016 by Ord. No. 287-2016. For current provisions, see Ch. 350, Unified Development Code.
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 142, Building Code.
A. 
It is the County's policy to acquire water rights in sufficient quantity to properly and legally provide water service to existing and new development within the unincorporated areas of the County as served by the County Utility.
B. 
Water rights may be acquired by requiring developers to provide a sufficient quantity and quality of water rights necessary to supply their subdivisions and developments with water over a forty-year period. This acquisition of water rights may occur in phases as the development is approved and built out.
C. 
In the case of a subdivision or other land division, as defined in Chapter 250, Land Use and Zoning, Chapter 300, Subdivision of Land,[1] or the building permit process, the County Water Utility will provide water service under the following terms and conditions:
(1) 
Prior to the approvals required in Subsection C above, the developer will meet with the County Utilities Department to determine if and under what terms and conditions water service can be provided. The Utilities Director will make a recommendation to the Board for consideration and approval if service should be provided and under what terms and conditions. These terms and conditions will include the County's line extension policy,[2] water rights acquisition policy, infrastructure transfer policy,[3] rate schedules, standards for construction, and any other issues determined to be applicable at the time, including related water service issues.
[2]
Editor's Note: See § 324-44, Rule 24: Line Extension Policy.
[3]
Editor's Note: See § 324-45, Rule 25: Infrastructure Transfer Policy.
(2) 
If the County determines that it can provide the water service to the development within a reasonable time frame, and under terms and conditions acceptable to the developer and the County, the developer will quantify the proposed development's water requirements according to Chapter 300, Subdivision of Land, § 300-48, Water supply guidelines.[4] The quantifications required in § 300-48 will be used as the basis for determining infrastructure size and configuration, supply requirements, operating pressure requirements, and water rights acquisition requirements.
[4]
Editor's Note: Chapter 300, Subdivision of Land, was repealed 12-13-2016 by Ord. No. 287-2016. For current provisions, see Ch. 350, Unified Development Code.
(3) 
Prior to final approval by the County, the developer and County Utilities Director will provide evidence of agreement on all of the issues outlined in Subsection C(1) and (2) above. The agreement will be on a form provided by County Utilities Department.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
(4) 
Upon final approval by the County and prior to commencement of construction, the developer will provide the following items:
(a) 
Evidence that all easements identified have been provided to the County.
(b) 
Electronic versions of all engineering drawings.
(c) 
Evidence of water rights acquisition, transfer and approval by the Office of the State Engineer, for bona fide consumptive use water rights for the forty-year period described in Chapter 300, Subdivision of Land,[5] and legal transfer of said water rights to Doña Ana County. All water rights offered to the County must be acceptable to the County and completed in accordance with the Office of the State Engineer requirements.
[5]
Editor's Note: Chapter 300, Subdivision of Land, was repealed 12-13-2016 by Ord. No. 287-2016. For current provisions, see Ch. 350, Unified Development Code.
(5) 
At the County's sole discretion, the developer may provide payment in lieu of water rights at the rate of the current market value.
(6) 
Where extraordinary circumstances exist and at the sole discretion of the County, the developer may provide financial instruments in lieu of the requirements set forth in Subsection C(5) above, including cash, bond, or other form of instrument acceptable to the County, such that no adverse effects will be imposed on the County.
[1]
Editor's Note: Chapter 250, Land Use and Zoning, and Ch. 300, Subdivision of Land, were repealed 12-13-2016 by Ord. No. 287-2016. For current provisions, see Ch. 350, Unified Development Code.
A. 
In order to assure proper operation of fire hydrants, no water shall be drawn through fire hydrants for any other purpose than fire protection, except as provided by special permit from the County and in accordance with Rate Schedule 5.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Art. III, § 324-54.
B. 
In the event the County's main line is inadequate to provide fire hydrant service as requested by the customer, refer to Rule No. 24, Line Extension Policy, Subsection C(4).[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See § 324-44.
A. 
A customer desiring private fire protection service, in addition to regular water service, shall request the service in writing to the County prior to construction of the fire protection service.
B. 
If water main facilities are available for such service as determined by the County, the customer shall install, at the customer's expense, a complete and separate piping system approved by the County extending and connecting to the County's facilities. This may include a meter box of sufficient size to house the necessary valves, meters, piping, etc., all of which shall be as specified by the County. The location of this pit will be determined by the County.
C. 
In the event the County's water mains are inadequate to provide the requested fire protection service or if extension of a main is required, refer to Rule No. 24, Line Extension Policy.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See § 324-44.
D. 
The customer shall be charged in accordance with Rate Schedule 5.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See Art. III, § 324-54.
A. 
The County may restrict the drilling of new domestic water wells within its designated service areas as provided for in NMSA § 3-53-1.1 and in accordance with the mandatory connection requirements set forth in § 324-6 of this chapter.
B. 
Similarly, where an existing structure, subject to mandatory connection requirements, is being served by an existing well on the property and if the existing well fails, the County may restrict redrilling of the well for domestic use, consistent with NMSA § 3-53-1.1.