Chapter 5.20
APPLICATION FOR WATER SERVICE
Sections:
5.20.010 Application for water service.
5.20.020 Water service to customers other than property owners.
5.20.040 Guarantee deposit refund.
5.20.050 Change in customer’s equipment.
5.20.060 Domestic, commercial and industrial service connections.
5.20.070 Service connections maintenance.
5.20.080 Damages through leaking pipes and fixtures.
5.20.100 Main extension – Approval required.
5.20.010 Application for water service.
The property owner, or an agent designated in writing, shall make application for regular water service by personally signing a service request form provided by the district and pay the necessary acquisition of service fees and service installation charges for connection to the district’s facilities, as prescribed in the latest resolution on fees adopted by the board of directors.
Applicants purchasing meters where the service line is to be installed in the streets are subject to the town of Yucca Valley’s Ordinance No. 260, Encroachment and Excavations, Section 12.60.270, Excavation Repair Requirements. Applicants must acquire appropriate encroachment and/or excavation permits through the town of Yucca Valley, and provide proof of the permit to the Hi-Desert Water District prior to installing such meter with a service line. The applicant shall be responsible to arrange final paving as required by town of Yucca Valley’s requirements. Hi-Desert Water District will complete all necessary excavation, backfill, compaction and temporary paving as required under permit provided by the applicant. [Res. 19-11; Ord. 73 § 6.01, 2002].
5.20.020 Water service to customers other than property owners.
Water service to other than property owners shall be made as follows:
A. Tenant’s Water Service. If a property owner rents the premises to a tenant, the tenant may have water service instituted in the tenant’s name. [Ord. 73 § 6.02, 2002].
5.20.030 Guarantee deposit.
A guarantee deposit will be required from all applicants for service unless the applicant has a satisfactory payment history with the district or can provide proof of satisfactory payment history from a prior water, electric, gas or telephone utility. [Ord. 75, 2005; Ord. 73 § 6.03, 2002].
5.20.040 Guarantee deposit refund.
The district shall refund each guarantee deposit to the customer, with interest, where funds have been on deposit for a 12-month period in a customer’s account and there have been no more than three delinquency charges on that account, no checks returned by the bank for insufficient funds, or no service lock-offs for nonpayment. If an applicant provides written notice to terminate water services, the guarantee deposit will be refunded within 30 days. [Ord. 73 § 6.04, 2002].
5.20.050 Change in customer’s equipment.
Customers who make any material change in the size, character, and/or extent of the equipment or operations utilizing water service, or whose change in operations results in a general increase in the use of water, shall immediately give the district written notice of the nature of the change and, if necessary, amend their application. [Ord. 73 § 6.05, 2002].
5.20.060 Domestic, commercial and industrial service connections.
It shall be unlawful to maintain a connection excepting in conformity with the following:
A. Multiple Dwellings. Multiple houses or buildings constructed subsequent to the adoption of this title, under one ownership and on the same lot or parcel of land, must be supplied through separate metered service connections.
B. Single Connection. Not more than one service connection for domestic or commercial supply shall be installed for one building, except under special conditions.
C. Different Owners. A service connection shall not be used to supply any adjoining property, property across a street, alley, easement, a different owner or a different tenant.
D. Divided Property. When property provided with a service connection is divided, the service connection shall be considered as belonging to the lot or parcel of land which it directly enters. [Ord. 73 § 6.06, 2002].
5.20.070 Service connections maintenance.
The service connection extending from the water main to the meter, meter box and service valve shall be maintained by the district. All pipes and fixtures extending or lying beyond the meter shall be installed and maintained by the owner of the property, including the customer’s gate valve. [Ord. 73 § 6.07, 2002].
5.20.080 Damages through leaking pipes and fixtures.
When turning on the water supply as requested to a house or property which is vacant, the district will make a reasonable attempt to ascertain if water is running on the inside of the building. If such is found to be the case, the water will be left shut off at the curb cock or the private shutoff. The district’s jurisdiction and responsibility end at the property line and the board will in no case be liable for damages occasioned by water running from open or faulty fixtures, or from broken or damaged pipes inside the property line. [Ord. 73 § 6.08, 2002].
5.20.090 Damage to meters.
The district reserves the right to set and maintain a meter on any service connection. The water customer shall be held liable for any damage to the meter due to negligence or carelessness. [Ord. 73 § 6.09, 2002].
5.20.100 Main extension – Approval required.
District approval is required for all main extensions.
A. Application. Any owner of one or more lots and/or parcels or subdivider of a tract of land desiring the extension of one or more water mains to serve such property shall make written application therefor to the district. Said application shall contain the legal description of the property to be served, tract number, and any additional information which may be required by the district, and may be accompanied by a map showing the location of the proposed connections.
B. Investigation. Upon receipt of the application, the district or its authorized agent shall investigate and survey the proposed extension and estimate the cost thereof.
C. Dead-End Lines. No dead-end lines shall be permitted, except at the discretion of the general manager. In cases where circulation lines are necessary, they shall be approved by the district as a part of the main extension.
D. Specifications and Construction. The size, type and quality of materials and location of the lines shall be approved by the district. Actual construction will be performed by the district or its approved contractor.
E. Property of District. Upon completion of such installation, the facilities shall be dedicated and become property of the district.
F. Connections. All connections to buildings and private water systems, as herein provided, shall be provided at applicant’s cost. [Ord. 73 § 6.10, 2002].