Fort Jones Municipal Code Ch. 13.16 Water Service

Nothing herein shall require any person to accept town water service if the person lawfully utilizes water service from an adequate private system or source.

(Code 1987, § 13.10.040)

No person shall allow water from any private water system or source to be connected to the town system without first obtaining from the director a permit to do so, and in no event in any manner by which water from the private system or source could impart contamination into the town system by way of backflow. The property owner, as well as the person using the water, is responsible for all costs incurred to install equipment to prevent such backflow. If the owner or water user fails to do so, the town may do so and charge the property owner or water user for the costs and expenses for doing so.

(Code 1987, § 13.10.050)

(a) It shall be the duty of the director to mail a notice of delinquency to any water user whose delinquent bill has not been paid within 60 days after it was issued. If the address of the party to whom the bill was sent is different than the address at which the service is rendered, the director shall also cause a copy of the notice to be mailed to the latter. In addition, a copy of the notice shall be personally delivered and posted on the property so served.

(b) The notice of delinquency shall advise the addressee that unless subject bill is paid in full, or the water user appears at the office of the director to contest the bill at a date and time to be specified on the notice, service will be disconnected three business days after the date so specified.

(c) If the bill remains unpaid as of the date and time specified, and the director has not found that circumstances exist which would excuse such payment in full, the director shall disconnect the subject water service. Any person so affected may appeal the decision of the director to the town council.

(Code 1987, § 13.10.070)

(a) Defective plumbing. It is unlawful for any water user to waste water, derived from the town water system. The director shall have the right to inspect or cause to be inspected the water outlets on any premises to which town water is provided to see that no water is wasted. If it is found that water is being wasted because of broken or defective plumbing, faucets, or outlets, the director shall notify the water user to repair the same within 48 hours after notification, or within the time specified by the director. In the case of a ruptured line where, in the opinion of the director, excessive water is being wasted, the water service shall be ordered terminated until repairs are made.

(b) Usage. It is unlawful for any water user to waste water derived from the town's water system. It shall be presumed that water is being wasted when any of the following conditions exist:

(1) When the user allows water to disburse from a pipe or water hose freely across any surface without a sprinkler head having been attached to the pipe or water hose.

(2) When the user washes down asphalted or concrete surface such as a parking lot, gas station island, driveway, or sidewalk.

(3) When watering or irrigation is allowed to continue on the water user's premises for a period longer than four hours during a 24-hour period.

(4) When a water user allows water to run over or across a sidewalk or curb, and disburse onto a town street, alley, or adjacent area for a period of more than 30 minutes.

(5) When a water user allows water to be used for the source of cooling, except a properly installed evaporative cooler or cooling towers.

(Code 1987, §§ 13.10.080, 13.10.090)

Any violation of this chapter shall constitute an infraction, to be punished according to the provisions of state law in existence at the time of the violation.

(Code 1987, § 13.10.100)