Escalon Municipal Code § 13.04.020 Management and control of system

A. The management, control, and care of the city water system shall be vested in the city council and administered by the city manager, director of public works, and city engineer.

B. The city shall own and operate the water system serving designated areas within and without the corporate limits of the city and may purchase existing systems or construct new works as may be necessary to supply to the people within and without the corporate limits of the city an adequate and safe domestic water supply. The city council shall designate the areas within and without the corporate limits of the city which shall receive water service from the Escalon water system. The city shall endeavor to supply a safe, potable, continuous and sufficient supply of water at proper pressure to all customers at all times.

(Ord. 231 § 2(A), 1984; Ord. 581 § 3 (Exh. A), 2020)

A. Whenever necessary to make an inspection to enforce any provision of this chapter, or whenever the city has reasonable cause to believe that there exists in any building or upon any premises any condition which violates this chapter, city employees may enter such building or premises at all reasonable times to inspect same or to perform any duty imposed by this chapter; provided, that if such building or premises is occupied, the city employee shall first present proper credentials and request entry; and if such building or premises be unoccupied, the city shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other persons having charge or control of the building or premises and request entry. If such entry is refused, the city shall have recourse to every remedy by law to secure entry.

B. When the city shall have first obtained a proper inspection warrant or other remedy provided by law to secure entry, no owner or occupant or any other person having charge, care, or control of any building or premises shall fail or neglect, after proper request is made as herein provided, to promptly permit entry therein by the city employees for the purpose of inspection, examination, or repair pursuant to this chapter. Any person violating this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Ord. 231 § 2(B), 1984)

It shall be the responsibility of all water users to prevent contamination of or damage to water meters or water systems by reason of their use of water and water equipment, and if required by the city shall install and maintain, at their expense, backflow preventers, check valves, surge tanks, or other devices prescribed by the city in order to avoid contamination of or damage to the water meters or system.

(Ord. 231 § 2(C), 1984)

Any person, including public entity, who damages any city water line, meter, fire hydrant, or appurtenant facility shall immediately report the location and extent of the damage to the city. The city shall thereupon repair the damage and charge the costs of such repair to the person or utility who caused the damage.

(Ord. 231 § 2(D), 1984)

The following acts shall be prohibited:

A. No person shall make connection with the system without first obtaining a permit from the city.

B. No unauthorized person shall turn on or off or otherwise interfere with any water line, fire hydrant, or appurtenant facility.

C. No person shall make any alteration to any conduit, pipe, or other fixture connecting with city mains, or to connect pipes when they have been disconnected, or to turn water off or on at the premises without the permission of the city.

D. No person shall construct a bypass around any meter or service.

E. No person shall supply city water from his premises to another premises without written authorization by the city.

F. No person shall install or maintain any pipe, faucet, hose bib, fixture, or appliance connected to the water system in such condition or state of disrepair that water may be, or is, lost or wasted.

G. No person shall waste water.

H. It is unlawful for any person to operate, alter, change, remove, disconnect, connect with, use water from or interfere in any manner with any fire hydrant owned or used by the city without first obtaining written permission from the director of public works.

(Ord. 231 § 2(E), 1984; Ord. 414 § 1, 1995)