Chapter 13.04
WATER SYSTEM
Sections:
13.04.010 Establishment of provisions—Statutory authority.
13.04.050 Materials and equipment.
13.04.070 Water supply and distribution system.
13.04.080 Service connections.
13.04.100 Plans and specifications.
13.04.120 Fees and inspections.
13.04.140 Replacement of existing water systems.
13.04.150 Replacement and maintenance costs.
13.04.010 Establishment of provisions—Statutory authority.
Pursuant to the authority provided in Section 65302(i) of the California State Government Code, the county establishes the following minimum requirements for domestic and fire fighting water supply and distribution systems within subdivisions. (Ord. 410 § 1, 1981)
13.04.020 Definitions.
For the purpose of this chapter:
A. “Subdivision” means and includes, but is not limited to, the division of any improved or unimproved land as a unit or as contiguous units for the purpose of sale, lease, or financing, whether future or immediate, by any subdivider into fifteen or more parcels of five acres or smaller, or five or more parcels of two acres or smaller. Property shall be considered contiguous units whether or not separated by roads, streets, or utility easements. “Subdivision” includes a condominium project as defined in Section 1350 of the Civil Code, and a community apartment project as defined in Section 11004 of the Business and Professions Code. Staging or phasing of project construction to circumvent this chapter is not permitted.
B. “Water systems” means and includes all wells, springs, reservoirs, tanks, pumps, mains, laterals, valves and fire hydrants necessary to complete the designed and constructed systems. (Ord. 410 § 2, 1981)
13.04.030 Source of water.
The water source shall be adequate to provide a continuous supply of water that is wholesome, potable, in no way harmful or dangerous to health, and insofar as practicable, free from objectionable odors, taste, color and turbidity. The system shall meet the requirements of the California Safe Drinking Water Act. (Ord. 410 § 3, 1981)
13.04.040 Pressure.
The water supply and distribution system shall be so designed and constructed so as to maintain a normal operating pressure at all service connections of not less than twenty pounds per square inch, nor more than one hundred twenty-five pounds per square inch above atmospheric pressure. Provided however, that during periods of hourly maximum demand the pressure at the time of peak seasonal loads may be not less than fifteen pounds per square inch, and that during periods of minimum demand, the pressure may be not more than one hundred fifty pounds per square inch above atmospheric pressure. Variations in pressure under normal operation shall not exceed fifty percent of the average operating pressure. Water distribution systems requiring pumps to maintain minimum pressures required by this section, shall have standby, or backup power systems to maintain the minimum pressures in case of primary power failure. (Ord. 410 § 4, 1981)
13.04.050 Materials and equipment.
Metallic and nonmetallic material may be used separately and in combination to construct component parts of a water system including, but not limited to, conduits, pipes, couplings, caulking materials, protective linings and coatings, services, valves, hydrants, pumps, tanks, and reservoirs; provided:
A. The material shall have a useful service life of at least twenty years;
B. The material shall be capable of withstanding with ample safety factors the internal and external forces to which it may be subjected in service;
C. The material shall not cause the water to become impure, unwholesome or unpotable;
D. Material and equipment shall be so selected as to mitigate corrosion, electrolysis and deterioration;
E. The material shall be approved for use by the county agency(ies) responsible for the approval of public domestic water systems; the responsible agency(ies) will insure that the material used meets the approval of the American Water Works Association. (Ord. 410 § 5, 1981)
13.04.060 Water mains.
All water mains shall be placed in public streets, alleys or easements prior to the surfacing of such streets, alleys, or easements. All water mains shall be installed below the frost line, or at a depth of not less than twenty-four inches (whichever is greater), or be otherwise protected from freezing. Insofar as it is practical, the distribution system shall be designed and constructed in a properly segmented grid or loop system with valves provided at reasonable intervals (not to exceed one block or five hundred feet when feasible) so that repairs may be effected with a minimum of interruption of service to customers. Not more than one fire hydrant may be out of service. Deadend mains shall be avoided insofar as practical, and a means shall be provided to flush any deadends that may be installed in the mains. All water distribution systems shall be so designed and installed that connection to other water distribution systems will be required to connect to each other for fire protection purposes. (Ord. 410 § 6, 1981)
13.04.070 Water supply and distribution system.
The water supply and distribution system shall be so designed and constructed that it will supply at least five hundred gallons per minute for a continuous period of at least two hours at any fire hydrant in the system while the system is in normal operation without reducing the water pressure in any part of the system below twenty pounds per square inch above atmospheric pressure. The system shall also be capable of being dedicated to a private water company, public water district, or county service area; said private water company, public water district, or county service area shall insure that the water rates, quality and quantity will remain reasonable, and that maintenance of the water distribution system will be adequate. (Ord. 410 § 9, 1981)
13.04.080 Service connections.
A service connection pipe of at least three-quarters of an inch shall be placed to each lot from the water main and satisfactorily marked prior to the surfacing of the streets and alleys affected. Service pipes shall be laid to a depth sufficient to prevent freezing and not less than twenty-four inches except at its termination in connection with a meter or a customer’s piping. (Ord. 410 § 7, 1981)
13.04.090 Fire hydrants.
Fire hydrants shall be placed so that no point in any of the streets fronting on lots serviced by the water distribution system is farther than three hundred feet from the nearest hydrant. Each fire hydrant shall be installed within a public right-of-way and shall have a gate valve between the water main and the riser. Fire hydrants shall be of the traffic type with break-off flange. Fire hydrants shall be of a type and size approved by the county fire marshal or his successor in responsibility, and have two two-and-one-half inch outlets and one four-and-one-half inch outlet with national standard hose threads and fire hydrant barrels shall not be less than six inch inside diameter. Fire hydrants shall be of the California Dry Barrel type and shall open to the left. Fire hydrants shall be located not more than six feet from the edge of the roadway and no more than three feet above or below the roadway and the four-and-one-half inch outlet, shall be no less than eighteen inches above the ground level. The location of fire hydrant installation is subject to approval of the fire protection agency having the responsibility in that area. No water main serving any fire hydrant shall have an inside diameter of less than six inches. (Ord. 410 § 8, 1981)
13.04.100 Plans and specifications.
Prior to the approval of any final map, the subdivider shall submit to the county engineer plans and specifications of the water supply and distribution system prepared by a civil engineer, registered in the state, of sufficient detail to enable the county engineer, county fire marshal or his successor in responsibility, and county health officer to ascertain whether such systems conform to the standards set forth herein and to engineering standards and practices.
A. Additional Requirements. The county engineer or county fire marshal, or his successor in responsibility, may require additional requirements for water systems having unusual problems, as a prerequisite to their approval of the final map.
B. If the water system is in a public utility district or will be connected to a mutual water company, approval by the utility will be required. (Ord. 410 § 10, 1981)
13.04.110 Building permits.
Prior to the issuance of any building permits for any subdivision covered by this chapter, the water distribution system shall meet the requirements for fire flow established by the county board of supervisors. (Ord. 410 § 11, 1981)
13.04.120 Fees and inspections.
Plan check and installation inspection fees in the amount of three percent of the estimated total cost of the project will be collected by the public works department upon submission of the project plans for checking. Installation inspections will be conducted by the public works department and the respective utility company or district as mentioned in Section 13.04.100. (Ord. 410 § 16, 1981)
13.04.130 Installation costs.
All installation costs for new water supply and distribution systems shall be the responsibility of the subdivider. (Ord. 410 § 14, 1981)
13.04.140 Replacement of existing water systems.
Whenever existing water systems within a subdivision are replaced, Sections 13.04.020, 13.04.030, 13.04.050, 13.04.080 and 13.04.090 shall apply. (Ord. 410 § 13, 1981)
13.04.150 Replacement and maintenance costs.
All replacement and maintenance costs for existing water supply and distribution systems shall be the responsibility of the public or private entity having control of the water supply and distribution system. (Ord. 410 § 15, 1981)
13.04.160 Exceptions.
Deviation from the requirements of this chapter may be granted by the county board of supervisors, with recommendations by the public works department and the county fire marshal, or his successor in responsibility. (Ord. 410 § 12, 1981)
13.04.170 Enforcement.
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by either the department of public works, the fire marshal or his successor in responsibility, or the health officer. (Ord. 410 § 17, 1981)