The fund of the City, known and designated as the "municipal waterworks fund" as of the adoption of the ordinance from which this section derives, is continued and re-established. Except as otherwise required by this chapter, all receipts of the Utilities division, collected under the terms of this chapter, shall be placed in the municipal waterworks fund. All expenses incurred by the City in the management, control and operation of the Utilities division, including but not limited to operating expenses, maintenance and repair expenses, capital outlays, right-of-way acquisition, debt service, administration and legal expenses, reasonable charges or use of City facilities, repayment of loans to other City funds, and billing and accounting costs shall be paid out of the municipal waterworks fund. The City Manager shall determine what portion of joint expenses of salaries and overhead shall be allocable to the fund.
(Prior Code § 20-28; Ord. 88-22 § 2(G), eff. 1/5/89; Ord. 2005-01, eff. 3/3/05; Ord. 2018-02 § 2, eff. 4/5/18)
Each occupied structure and any unimproved parcel shall be served water through a separate metered connection; except, that structures on property under one ownership, office buildings, hotels, motels, apartment houses, courts and multifamily dwellings may be served by a single metered connection.
(Prior Code § 20-29)
Water service lines will be installed in size and at the location desired by the applicant; provided, that the minimum size service line and meter shall meet the requirements of the standard plans of the City. Service installations will be made only for properties abutting upon public distribution mains, and the Director of Utilities may require the extension of a distribution main or the completion of a distribution main tie-in to a second existing distribution main to the meter location inside the curb line if on a public street, or at the property line if on an alley.
(Prior Code § 20-30; Ord. 2005-01, eff. 3/3/05; Ord. 2019-09, eff. 12/19/19)
All connections up to and including the meter shall at all times remain the property of the City, and all connections beyond the meter toward the occupancy shall be the sole responsibility of the property owner or occupant, both as to the original installation and as to maintenance and upkeep.
(Prior Code § 20-30)
(a) 
Before any structure or any unimproved parcel is connected to the City's water distribution system for the first time there shall be charged and collected by the City, from the person requesting such connection, a fee which is directly proportional to the size of the water meter to which the structure or parcel will be connected. The charges for the various meter sizes shall be in accordance with the Schedule of Fees and Charges set out following the text of this Code, provided however that such fees shall be subject to annual adjustment as provided in this chapter.
(b) 
Before an existing service connection is enlarged, there shall be charged and collected by the City from the person requesting such connection a fee for the connection in the amount of the difference between the new service connection charge and the existing connection charge.
(c) 
Revenues raised by payment of the water connection fee shall be placed in a separate account. These revenues, and any interest earned on them, shall be used only to:
(1) 
Pay for the City's construction of reservoir expansions, transmission and distribution main expansions, wells, pumps and motors as identified in the above study or update thereof, or to reimburse the City for those facilities built by the City with funds it advanced from other sources; or
(2) 
Reimburse the developers who have been required or authorized to install such facilities whose cost exceeds their connection fee obligation under this section.
(Prior Code § 20-31; Ord. 88-22 § 2(G), eff. 1/5/89; Ord. 2017-01 § 65, eff. 3/9/17)
[1]
Editor's Note: Section 8-10.05 was amended by request of the City Attorney during codification.
(a) 
At the time of application to connect any structure or parcel to the City's water distribution system, there shall be charged and collected by the City, from the person requesting such connection, a reimbursement fee component which is equal to the proportional amount of capital facilities constructed by the Department of Utilities (DOU) and financed by the City's water fund, as calculated by the Director of Finance and the formula in Section 8-10.05.1(b). The Director of Finance shall calculate the reimbursement component of the City water connection charge on a regular basis as water fund payments are made to the DOU. The charges for the various meter sizes shall be in accordance with reimbursement fee text of this Code, provided, however, that such fees and formulas may be modified from time to time by ordinance.
(b) 
Reimbursement formula.
RFn
=
[RFn-1 + (4,900/16,200) Cn] (1 + In-1)
 
 
TDUeq
RFn
=
Reimbursement Fee for one Dwelling Unit Equivalent (DUeq) for the year of calculation.
RFn-1
=
Reimbursement Fee for one DUeq for the year prior to the year of calculation.
Cn
=
Actual SWP cost for the year of calculation. (Includes the sum of DOU capital cost + DOU fixed O&M costs and CCWA fixed O&M costs + City's finance costs - any payment to reduce annual capital and O&M costs.)
TDUeq*
=
Total estimated number of new development dwelling unit equivalents.
In-1
=
Average Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) interest rate for the year prior to calculation.
NOTES:
*
Projected Development average annual water use = 8.48 mgd 1 DUeq=393 gpd.
 
Therefore: TDUeq = 8,480,000/393 = 21,578
DUeq for various meter sizes:
Meter Size
No. of DUeq
5/8″ x 3/4″
1.0
3/4″ x 3/4″
1.4
1″
2.3
1 - 1/2″
5.5
2″
10.7
3″
30.0
4″
40.3
(c) 
Reimbursement component of the water connection fees shall be collected at time of application for meter installation. If a water meter should be removed and monthly service charges discontinued, reimbursement fees for this period of disconnection shall be collected at time of reconnection to the water system.
(d) 
Reimbursement Fee paid pursuant to this section shall be segregated and placed in water funds capital accounts for the facilities for which the fees are collected. Monies from these funds shall be expended solely for the design, construction, and acquisition of the corresponding Facilities and Equipment, including reimbursement for such expenditures and any financing mechanism used to finance the cost of capital improvements.
(e) 
If the City has growth reimbursement fees which are uncommitted within five years of collection, it shall make certain findings, on a yearly basis, to retain the fees or refund the fees. The findings shall identify the purpose to which the fee is to be put, and demonstrate a reasonable relationship between the fee and the purpose for which it was charged. If this finding cannot be made, the portion of uncommitted fees shall be refunded to the current record owner(s) of the development project(s) on a pro rata basis, according to a refund plan approved by the City Council. If the administrative costs of refunding exceed the amount to be refunded, the fees may be used for another project serving the development that was charged the fee.
(Ord. 94-7, eff. 4/14/94; Ord. 2005-01, eff. 3/3/05; Ord. 2009-22, eff. 11/5/09; Ord. 2017-01 § 66, eff. 3/9/17)
Prior to adjusting the fee for a water connection, or prior to adding a new water connection charge, notice shall be given in conformity with Section 2-24.101 et seq. of Title 2 of this Code.
(Prior Code § 20-31.1; Ord. 83-1061 § 3, eff. 11/17/83; Ord. 88-22 § 2(G), eff. 1/5/89)
(a) 
The rates to be charged and collected for quantities of water by the City for all classes of service for every consumer in the City shall be at the minimum charges and meter rates established as provided in this chapter.
(b) 
If the amount to be charged for a quantity of water is not a multiple of five cents (5¢), the amount of the billing shall be either increased or decreased to the nearest multiple of five cents (5¢).
(Prior Code § 20-32)
The minimum charge per month for the various meter sizes is provided to be amended by resolution of the City Council, as set out in the Schedule of Fees and Charges within this Code, and are subject to annual adjustment as provided for in this chapter.
(Prior Code § 20-32(a); Ord. 91-32 § 1, eff. 2/6/92)
The metered rate charges are provided to be amended by resolution of the City Council, as set out in the Schedule of Fees and Charges within this Code, and are subject to annual adjustment as provided in this chapter.
(Prior Code § 20-32(b); Ord. 91-32 § 1, eff. 2/6/92)
Consumers outside the City, when authorized by the Council, shall be charged at two times the rates provided for in Section 8-10.09; provided, that in the case of governmental entities outside the City, service of water to such entities, when authorized by the Council, shall be charged only at the single rate provided for in Section 8-10.09.
(Prior Code § 20-32(b))
All water sold in load or tank quantities will be delivered at the public works center unless otherwise permitted by the Director of Utilities, and such quantities shall be charged for and collected at the rate provided for in this chapter per 1,000 gallons or 133.6 cubic feet; provided, that the City shall be under no obligation to sell water as provided in this section.
(Prior Code § 20-32(c); Ord. 2005-01, eff. 3/3/05)
[1]
Editor's Note: Section 8-10.11 was amended by request of the City Attorney.
City residents of projects initially receiving water service from Golden State Water Company on or after the effective date of this Chapter shall pay a monthly Supplemental Water Charge based on the amount of water used to allow the City to recover its ongoing variable costs for supplying State Water Project water for conveyance. The Supplemental Water Charge shall be in addition to Golden State Water Company's Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved water rate for Santa Maria District water services and shall be collected on Golden State Water Company's customer billing and immediately forwarded by Golden State Water Company, in full, to the City. The total rate to be paid by City residents subject to this Section shall be equivalent to the City's water rate as described in Section 8-10.07, less Golden State Water Company's CPUC-approved water rate charge.
(Ord. 2004-19, eff. 12/16/04; Ord. 2019-09, eff. 12/19/19)
Permission may be granted by the Director of Utilities to take water from fire hydrants where the water is needed for construction purposes, and he shall have installed a meter at a fire hydrant, providing the consumer pays an installation charge as provided by resolution of the City Council, as set out in the Schedule of Fees and Charges within this Code, and pays for all metered water at the rate set forth in this section.
(Prior Code § 20-32(e); Ord. 2005-01, eff. 3/3/05)
[1]
Editor's Note: Section 8-10.12 was amended by request of the City Attorney.
(a) 
Private fire protection service lines plus the appropriate cross-connection control device with meter shall be furnished and installed by the property owner in accordance with the most current established standards of the State and county health departments. Installation shall be in accordance with City standards.
(b) 
Monthly rates for private fire protection detector meter maintenance, reading, recording and repairs shall be as provided in the Schedule of Fees and Charges within this Code.
(c) 
No charge will be made for water used in extinguishing accidental fires. Water lost through leakage or in testing or used other than to extinguish accidental fires, shall be paid for by the applicant at double the rate charged for water for domestic or general use.
(d) 
Private fire protection services that are combined with water for domestic or general use shall have the bypass meter considered the same as a general use water service, with all charges being made according to the applicable connection charge and rates.
(e) 
The applicant shall be responsible for the maintenance and testing by a certified tester of the cross-connection control devices and appurtenant equipment excepting the detector meter, which will be maintained by the City at the expense of the applicant for recording the water registered.
(f) 
The City assumes no responsibility for loss or damage because of lack of water or pressure and merely agrees to furnish such quantities and pressures as may be available in its general distribution system at the time of use or demand.
(Prior Code § 20-33; Ord. 2003-02, eff. 3/6/03; Ord. 2005-01, eff. 3/3/05; Ord. 2019-09, eff. 12/19/19)
The installation of any air-conditioning, refrigerating or cooling unit larger than three tons rated capacity and using water to conduct away its heat shall not be permitted unless water re-circulation equipment or other means of water conservation approved by the Director of Utilities is used. Such equipment having a discharge of more than 11/2 gallons of water per minute per ton of rated capacity will not be permitted.
(Prior Code § 20-34; Ord. 2005-01, eff. 3/3/05)
(a) 
Whenever a consumer vacates any premises, he shall immediately give written notice to the City. Upon receipt of such notice, the City shall, as soon as possible and in no event later than 72 hours from receiving the notice, shut off the water from the premises and read the water meter. The consumer shall then be presented with all unpaid bills for water due the City up to that time. The charge for the final month or portion thereof shall be computed as follows:
(1) 
If the water is shut off as provided in this section in the first third of the consumer's billing month, the charge shall be 1/3 of the minimum charge for the meter size used, plus the regular rates for all water used over 1/3 of the minimum amount.
(2) 
If the water is shut off as provided in the second third of the consumer's billing month, the charge shall be 2/3 of the minimum charge for the meter size used, plus the regular rates for all water used over 2/3 of the minimum amount.
(3) 
If the water is shut off as provided in this section in the last 1/3 of the consumer's billing month, the charge shall be computed as if service had been rendered for the entire month.
(b) 
Any water, sanitation or sewage service customer shall be responsible for the charges therefor from the time such service is commenced until he has notified the City in writing to discontinue such service.
(Prior Code § 20-35)
(a) 
No person other than an official or employee of the Utilities Department shall turn on water from the City mains without a written permit from the Director of Utilities.
(b) 
When the meter registration shows a consumption after the service has been officially disconnected, the owner of the property shall be held responsible for such consumption, plus a service charge as provided in the Schedule of Fees and Charges within this Code, and the water shall not be resumed to such premises until all bills have been paid.
(c) 
Violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable as provided in Section 1-6.01 of this Code.
(Prior Code § 20-36; Ord. 2003-02, eff. 3/6/03; Ord. 2005-01, eff. 3/3/05)
(a) 
No person shall interfere with or in any manner tamper with any water meter, pipeline or water service facility of the Utilities Department, and in the event that any person interferes with or tampers with any of the same so that repairs or adjustments are necessary, water service to such person shall be discontinued until the cost of making the necessary repairs or adjustments shall have been paid in advance and, in addition, such person shall be deemed to have violated this chapter. No bypass or connection between a water meter and a water main shall be made or maintained without the permission in writing of the Director of Utilities. It is unlawful for any person, other than the authorized agents and employees of the Utilities Department, to turn on water after it has been turned off at any meter or connection, or for any reason to take or use water without notifying the Director of Utilities, or to cut in or make connections with the water mains without permission in writing of the Director of Utilities.
(b) 
No person other than an employee of the Utilities Department or of the Fire Department shall tie-in to an existing water main, alter by opening or closing, in total or in part, any valve or blowoff, or in any manner tamper with the water production, storage and distribution system without a written permit from the Director of Utilities.
(c) 
Violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable as provided in Section 1-6.01 of this Code.
(Prior Code § 20-37; Ord. 2003-02, eff. 3/6/03; Ord. 2005-01, eff. 3/3/05)
Prior to installation, each meter will be factory tested by and no meter found to vary more or less than set out in guidelines of the American Waterworks Association under conditions of normal operation will be placed in service.
(Prior Code § 20-38(A)(1); Ord. 2005-01, eff. 3/3/05)
(a) 
A customer may, giving not less than two weeks' notice, request the Utilities Department to test the meter serving his premises.
(b) 
The Utilities Department may require the customer to deposit an amount to cover the reasonable cost of test, as provided in the Schedule of Fees and Charges within this Code.
(c) 
This deposit will be returned if the meter is found to register more than 2% fast. The customer will be notified not less than five days in advance of the time and place of test.
(d) 
A customer shall have the right to require the Utilities Department to conduct the test in his or her presence, or in the presence of his or her representative.
(e) 
A written report giving the results of the test will be shown to the customer within 10 days after completion of the test.
(Prior Code § 20-38(A)(2); Ord. 2005-01, eff. 3/3/05)
When, upon test, a meter is found to be registering more than 2% fast, under conditions of normal operation, the City will credit to the customer the full amount of the overcharge, based on corrected meter readings for the period, not exceeding six months, that the meter was in use.
(Prior Code § 20-38(B); Ord. 2005-01, eff. 3/3/05)
The City may bill the customer for water consumed while the meter was not registering. The bill will be computed upon an estimate of consumption based either upon the customer's prior use during the same season of the year, or upon a reasonable comparison with the use of other customers receiving the same class of service during the same period and under similar circumstances and conditions.
(Prior Code § 20-38(C); Ord. 2005-01, eff. 3/3/05)
The City shall in no way whatsoever be responsible for any damage to person or property because of any leakage, breakage or seepage from or accident or damage to any meter or pipe situated within any private premises, and the City shall not be responsible for any leakage, breakage or seepage from any pipe situated between any meter properly installed at the curb and the private premises served thereby, nor shall the City be responsible for or on account of any damage, injury or loss occasioned directly or indirectly by the existence of any meter or pipe situated upon private property.
(Prior Code § 20-40)
The Director of Utilities, any officer, or health officer, or his or her designee, shall at all times upon proper authorization or inspection warrant have the right of ingress and egress to the consumer's premises at all reasonable hours for any purpose reasonably connected with the furnishing and conservation of water, for the inspection of the entire water system upon such premises, and for the inspection of all plumbing on the premises relating to sewage.
In the event City access to the customer's meter is prevented due to tampering or physical obstruction, the customer may, at the City's discretion, be charged an average rate based on the customer's past usage or typical usage in the City for the time while access is prevented. The customer's rate shall be adjusted to reflect actual usage if actual usage is discovered.
(Prior Code § 20-41; Ord. 2003-02, eff. 3/6/03; Ord. 2005-01, eff. 3/3/05)
The City reserves the right to shut off the water from any premises, or from any part of the distribution system, as long as necessary, without notice to the consumer, or interrupt sewer service at any time when the welfare of the City may require it; but, in all cases of extension or connections, the water or sewer divisions shall notify consumers of the necessity of shutting off water or interrupting sewer service and of the probable length of time thereof.
(Prior Code § 20-42)
(a) 
Public fire hydrants shall be placed, maintained and repaired by the Utilities Department. Any persons, other than representatives of the City, damaging such hydrants shall liable for such damages.
(b) 
Fire hydrants are provided for the sole purpose of extinguishing fires, and shall be used otherwise only as provided for in this chapter, and shall be opened and used only as authorized by the City.
(c) 
All persons desiring to use water through fire hydrants, or other hydrants owned or controlled by the City, shall be required to obtain a permit from the Director of Utilities, who shall issue no such permit to any person who is in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, or whose indebtedness to the City under this chapter is delinquent; and all such persons having permits for use of water from fire hydrants must provide hydrant wrenches for the operation of such fire hydrants.
(d) 
Permits for the use of water through the fire hydrants of the City may be cancelled by the Director of Utilities on evidence that the holder thereof is or has violated the privileges conveyed under the permit. Such notices of cancellation shall be in writing officially delivered to the persons to be notified, and shall be immediately effective and enforced.
(Prior Code § 20-43; Ord. 2005-01, eff. 3/3/05)
All bills for any service rendered under this Chapter shall be due and payable on the mailing date thereof, which date shall be plainly stamped upon each bill. Bills unpaid by the due date shall thereupon be deemed delinquent beginning on the following calendar day. Water service may be shut off from the premises of such a delinquent consumer pursuant to the City's written policy, which shall be in accordance with the Water Shutoff Protection Act (Heath and Safety Code § 116900 et seq.)
(Prior Code § 20-44; Ord. 2017-01 § 68, eff. 3/9/17; Ord. 2019-09, eff. 12/19/19)
Disputed accounts where a significant excess of water has been metered, and upon investigation by the Utilities Department, it is found to have been due to hidden leaks or causes not detectable by the consumer in the exercise of ordinary care, may be adjusted by the Director of Utilities on the basis of the average consumption indicated from past records for a like period, plus an amount as provided in the Schedule of Fees and Charges within this Code for excess water metered or lost; provided, that the consumer shall furnish sufficient evidence to the satisfaction of the Director of Utilities that corrective measures have been taken.
(Prior Code § 20-46; Ord. 2005-01, eff. 3/3/05)
(a) 
Each and every consumer shall maintain in good repair all his water pipes, faucets, valves, plumbing fixtures or any other appliances, at all times to prevent waste of water.
(b) 
Where any consumer willfully neglects to make such necessary repairs, the water shall be shut off and sealed by the Utilities Department and shall not be turned on again until repairs have been made to the satisfaction of the Department, and a turn-on fee as provided in the Schedule of Fees and Charges within this Code is paid by the consumer to the City.
(Prior Code § 20-47; Ord. 2005-01, eff. 3/3/05)
(a) 
To promote water conservation and prevent water waste, each of the following actions is prohibited, except where necessary to address an immediate health and safety need or to comply with a term or condition in a permit issued by a state or federal agency:
(i) 
The application of potable water to outdoor landscapes in a manner that causes runoff such that water flows onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, private and public walkways, roadways, parking lots, or structures.
(ii) 
The use of a hose that dispenses potable water to wash a motor vehicle, except where the hose is fitted with a shut-off nozzle or device attached to it that causes it to cease dispensing water immediately when not in use.
(iii) 
The application of potable water to driveways and sidewalks.
(iv) 
The use of potable water in a fountain or other decorative water feature, except where the water is part of a recirculating system.
(b) 
Where any consumer willfully and negligently wastes water through the misuse of sprinklers or any other outdoor watering facilities, the water may be shut off and sealed by the Utilities Department, and shall not be turned on again until a turn-on fee as provided in the Schedule of Fees and Charges within this Code is paid by the consumer.
(Prior Code § 20-48; Ord. 2005-01, eff. 3/3/05; Ord. 2014-07, eff. 10/2/2014)
The rates provided for in this Chapter may be amended from time to time by resolution of the Council. Water rates shall be based upon a periodic cost of services and rate study, with mid-cycle calculations performed in-house, ensuring the rates reflect the cost to operate and maintain the system.
(Prior Code § 20-48.2; Ord. 2017-01 § 70, eff. 3/9/17; Ord. 2024-05, eff. 5/16/2024)