Arcata Municipal Code Art. 5 Main Extensions

The following rules are established:

(a) DETERMINATION. Upon receipt of any application for water service or request for an application form, the Environmental Services Department shall determine whether in its judgment a main extension is necessary to provide service. A main extension shall be installed in the manner provided in this Article whenever, in the judgment of the Environmental Services Department, such main extension is necessary to provide regular water service to property described in such application or request.

(b) APPLICATION. Any owner of one or more lots or parcels or subdivider of a tract of land where, in the opinion of the Director of Environmental Services, one (1) or more main extensions is required, desiring regular water service to serve such property, shall make a written application therefor to the Environmental Services Department, said application to contain the legal description of the property to be served and tract number thereof, and any additional information which may be required by the Environmental Services Department, and be accompanied by a map showing the location of the proposed connections.

(c) INVESTIGATION. Upon receipt of the application, the Environmental Services Department shall make an investigation of the proposed extension, and reject, amend or approve the application.

(d) CITY LINE. All extensions thus provided for, in accordance with these regulations, shall be and remain the property of the City.

(e) EXTENT AND DESIGN. All main extensions shall extend to the far property line of developed property; provided, however, that in any particular case where the Director of Environmental Services and the City Engineer determine that compliance with this restriction is impractical for topographical reasons, and for said reasons recommend in writing to the City Council that such compliance be not required in said case. All main extensions shall be subject to design approval by the Environmental Services Department. (Ord. 1516, eff. 8/16/2019; Ord. 1567, eff. 3/22/2024)

The City will provide all main extensions upon application for service and approval thereof by the Environmental Services Department. (Ord. 1516, eff. 8/16/2019)

If, in the opinion of the Environmental Services Department, the cost thereof is in excess of what the City is prepared to advance, or it questions the economic advantage to the City of making such advance, it shall determine the cost of such extension including all engineering, inspection and other expenses attributable to the line. (Ord. 1516, eff. 8/16/2019)

When the Environmental Services Department so determines, the applicant shall advance the amount of such estimate, and the line shall be installed by the Environmental Services Department. If the amount of the advance deposit exceeds the actual cost of construction, engineering, legal, inspection and other charges attributable to the extension, the balance shall be refunded to the property owner. If the amount of the deposit is insufficient to pay all the costs of construction, engineering, legal, inspection and other charges attributable to the extension, the property owner shall advance a sum sufficient to pay all such costs to the City prior to the acceptance of the extension by the Environmental Services Department. Where, in the opinion of the Director of Environmental Services, it is in the best interest of the City to have construction and/or engineering performed by properly licensed private contractors or engineers, rather than by City personnel, work shall be thus performed. The deposit shall be in the form of cash or bond, or a combination of both, form and amounts to be determined by the Director of Environmental Services. (Ord. 1516, eff. 8/16/2019)

The Director of Environmental Services may, as provided by State law, recommend that the City Council enter into an agreement to reimburse a subdivider, school district or other person for a portion of the cost of extending community water mains. Such agreements shall be in effect for a maximum period of five (5) years after the date of such agreements. (Ord. 1516, eff. 8/16/2019)