Chapter 13.08 WATER SERVICE

The water served will be water from various sources including the municipal reservoir, the Putah South Canal of the Solano Project, and the North Bay Aqueduct of the State Water Project. Mineral quality of water will vary from time to time and place to place depending upon the source being used. Information on the average mineral quality is available from the director. Water delivered from the potable water system will be water treated by facilities operated under permit from the California Department of Public Health. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-111).

13.08.020 Types of service.

Water service from the city water system is either general water service or special water service. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-114).

Article II. General Water Service

13.08.030 Application – Contents.

A. A person desiring service from the water system shall apply for it. The director shall prescribe the form of the application. The application shall set forth:

1. The signature of the applicant or his authorized representative;

2. The address and location of the premises to be served;

3. The address to which bills are to be mailed;

4. The purpose and use of the water to be consumed, if other than residential;

5. The date upon which the applicant will be ready for service;

6. An estimate of the maximum instantaneous water demand;

7. The applicant’s agreement to comply with this article and all the rules and regulations governing the system;

8. Such other information considered proper by the director.

B. The city is not obligated to provide water service until the application is approved by the director. The applicant is not obligated to take service for any period of time in excess of that upon which the minimum charges for the account are based. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; amended during 2004 republication; prior code § 14-118).

13.08.040 Water use without application.

A person who takes possession of a premises and uses water without applying for water service is liable for the water delivered from the date of the last recorded meter reading. If proper application for service is not made within 24 hours after notification to do so by the director or if accumulated bills for water service are not paid upon presentation, the director may discontinue water service without further notice. Additionally, a tampering fee will be assessed in accordance with BMC 13.16.090. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-117).

13.08.050 Deposit.

Repealed by Ord. 23-04. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-119).

13.08.060 Continuity of service.

The city will exercise reasonable diligence and care to deliver a continuous supply of water; however, the city is not liable for interruptions, shortage, or insufficient supply or for loss, inconvenience, or damage occasioned thereby. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-113).

13.08.070 Water pressure.

In general, water will be delivered from the distribution system at gauge pressures ranging from approximately 20 to 100 pounds per square inch; however, the city does not guarantee to maintain a specific pressure or range of pressures. The city is not responsible for inconvenience, loss or damage resulting from variations of pressure. Service to an area where pressure is less than 20 pounds per square inch is considered special service and each such service shall be covered by an agreement. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-112).

13.08.080 Refusal or limitation of service.

A. The director may refuse to furnish water or may discontinue water service to a premises for one or more of the following reasons:

1. To protect the city or the water system or both from fraud and abuse;

2. The requested water services demand may be detrimental or injurious to the water service of other customers;

3. The distribution facilities are inadequate to supply the requested water service demand.

B. The director may limit the total quantity of water furnished to a premises or may establish the time and the demand rates at which water may be taken or will be furnished to a premises, even though a limit or maximum use may not appear on the application or permit for the water service. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-116).

13.08.090 Resale of water.

No person may resell or remeter for the purpose of cost proration or sell water purchased from the city without specific authorization, except for service to temporarily moored vessels for their own use. The resale cost may not exceed the cost of purchase from the city plus the cost of delivery. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-115).

13.08.100 Discontinuance and restoration of service.

A. The city may discontinue water service for nonpayment of a bill 60 days after original due date. The city shall give written notice of its intention to discontinue service for nonpayment at least seven days in advance of actual disconnection.

B. The city may discontinue water service without notice:

1. Where evidence of tampering with or misuse of water system facilities is found or where apparatus, appliances or conditions are, in the opinion of the director or public health agency, found to be dangerous or injurious. Service may be restored after corrective measures have been taken.

2. When service was obtained by fraudulent means or water is used through an unauthorized connection. Service will be restored when the requirements of the city are complied with, and full payment is made to the city for services rendered.

3. For failure to comply with the requirements of these regulations, this article or the rules and regulations governing the system.

C. Water service may be disconnected at the request of the customer, effective not less than two days after receipt by the city of a request for discontinuance. When the request is not received, the customer is required to pay for water service until such time that the city receives the notice or evidence which justifies discontinuance of water service at some other date.

D. Service which is disconnected may be restored upon correction to the satisfaction of the director of the condition causing discontinuance of service, and upon payment of all applicable fees and charges established by city council resolution. (Ord. 23-04 § 1; Ord. 17-10 § 15; Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-120).

Article III. Special Water Service

13.08.110 Compliance.

Each applicant for special water service is subject to all the requirements of applicants for general water service, unless otherwise prescribed by the director, and to all special requirements set forth in this article. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-191).

13.08.120 Public fire hydrants – Inside city.

A. The director shall have hydrants for public fire protection installed within the city. Hydrants are a part of local distribution facilities, and their construction is governed by all requirements applicable to local distribution facilities.

B. No person may open or use a public fire hydrant without authorization to do so. A hydrant may be operated only with an approved spanner wrench or special tool. Each hydrant outlet shall be capped when not in use. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-192).

13.08.130 Public fire hydrants – Outside city.

The director shall have hydrants installed for public fire protection on water system extensions outside the city boundaries. Insofar as practicable, such hydrant installation shall be designed to provide the same degree of fire protection as a new system extension inside the city. The director shall require as a condition of approval of the outside fire hydrant installation an agreement from the public fire protection agency within whose jurisdiction the hydrant is located. The agreement shall provide for the location and design of the hydrant installation and provide for the payment of appropriate hydrant fees levied by the city. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-193).

13.08.140 Public fire hydrants – Private use.

A. The director may permit the private use of a public fire hydrant on a temporary basis upon issuance of a permit.

B. The permit shall be exhibited upon the work while water is taken. The permit shall state the period during which water may be taken, and the location of the hydrant which may be used. If the hydrant is outside the city limits, the applicant shall obtain written approval of the fire protection agency having jurisdiction over it.

C. Water taken from a hydrant shall be metered, unless otherwise permitted by the director. Water used from a hydrant shall be billed and paid for at the same rates as for general water service plus 25 percent of the commercial rate. The minimum charge is the same as those applicable to a two-inch meter. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-194).

13.08.150 Private fire hydrants.

A fire hydrant located on private premises and constructed and maintained by the applicant may be connected to the water system upon approval of the director. A connection to a private fire hydrant installation is subject to all requirements governing connections to automatic fire sprinkler systems. A new connection to a private fire hydrant shall be used only for that purpose. An existing connection which serves a fire hydrant and an automatic fire sprinkler installation together may continue in service with the approval of the director. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-195).

13.08.160 Automatic fire sprinkler systems.

A. The city may offer a connection for service to an automatic fire sprinkler system subject to limitations of the ability of the water distribution system to provide the desired service. Unless otherwise ordered by the director, a fire sprinkler connection shall be constructed by the city at the expense of the applicant. The sprinkler connection shall be of at least two-inch diameter. Each sprinkler connection shall have an approved detector check valve furnished by the applicant and a bypass meter installed by the city at the expense of the applicant. Wherever possible, the detector check valve installation shall be located adjacent to the front boundary of the parcel being served.

B. Water furnished through a fire sprinkler connection shall be used only for firefighting purposes and for authorized testing of fire protection facilities. Fire system testing shall be conducted during normal business hours. The water department shall be notified at least one day prior to testing. There is no charge for water taken through the detector check valve and used for extinguishing accidental fire. All water taken through the bypass meter on a fire sprinkler connection shall be charged for at a rate equal to twice the rate for general water service through a meter of the same size as the bypass meter, except that the minimum monthly charge does not apply. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-196).

13.08.170 Low pressure service.

A. Premises located where distribution system pressure corrected to the highest elevation of regular water use or water-using appliances is normally or frequently less than 20 pounds per square inch cannot be adequately served. Such service is considered low pressure service. Low pressure service will be provided only upon approval by the director and upon agreement by the applicant to:

1. Accept substandard service;

2. Make no protest of assessment district or other proceedings whose objective is improvement of the water system; and

3. Make any reapplication or alterations of equipment necessary to utilize an alternative water service connection upon request by the director.

B. The rates and charges for low pressure service are the same as those for general water service. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-199).

13.08.180 Temporary service.

A. The city may provide temporary water service upon approval of the director. Rates and charges for temporary service are the same as those for general service except as otherwise provided. Whenever practical, water furnished through a temporary service connection shall be metered. A permit for a temporary service connection is valid for a period of not more than 120 days after installation. The city may extend the permit upon request. The temporary service shall be discontinued and dismantled or removed upon termination of the permit period or completion of use.

B. The applicant for temporary service shall make a cash deposit before issuance of a permit for a temporary service connection. The cash deposit shall equal the estimated cost of water to be used during the entire period of service.

C. After discontinuance of the temporary service and when the connection is dismantled, the remainder of deposited funds shall be refunded upon request without interest after deduction of unpaid water and construction charges. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-197).

13.08.190 Untreated water service.

The city will provide untreated water from certain water system facilities to the extent that such service has no deleterious effect on operation of the remainder of the water system. Untreated water shall not be used for drinking or other domestic purposes. Untreated water service inside the city shall be provided only to premises which are served by an active potable water service. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-198).

13.08.200 Special contract service.

The city may provide special water service when it is in the public interest to do so. When special service cannot appropriately be provided under this article, the city may provide water as a special contract service. The director shall recommend the terms and conditions of each contract for special contract service to the city council for approval. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-200).

13.08.210 Service outside city.

A. Except as provided in BMC 13.08.200, the city may provide water service to premises outside the city boundaries only upon approval of the director and written agreement by the applicant to make no written protest of annexation proceedings. Service provided outside the city is subject to all rules and regulations applicable to the same service provided inside the city.

B. The rates and charges for service provided outside the city are the rates and charges for similar service inside the city, plus 25 percent of the rates and charges.

C. All other conditions of service outside the city are the same as for service inside the city. (Ord. 12-11 § 1; prior code § 14-201).