Inyo County Municipal Code Ch. 4.16 Distribution System Extensions and Enlargements

Extensions or enlargements, of the county's distribution system special features and public fire hydrants which are necessary to make water service of a permanent character available to applicants, will be made in accordance with the provisions set forth in this chapter.

(Ord. 1008 § 1, 1999)

The county generally will install distribution system facilities only in public streets, alleys, roads, and highways and other public and private property where satisfactory rights-of-way can be obtained without involving purchase or lease of land by the county.

(Ord. 1008 § 1, 1999)

The county will install a water main in a private street or alley to provide service to premises along such street or alley only under the following conditions:

A. Approval by the county engineer;

B. Rights-of-way which are satisfactory to the county are provided at no cost to the county;

C. Applicant or applicants shall pay the full cost of the installation; and

D. The county shall have no obligation for maintenance or repair of the surface of such street or alley, except for the repair or replacement of surfacing required to be cut or removed by the county for the purposes of maintaining, repairing, replacing or removing such mains or attachments.

(Ord. 1008 § 1, 1999)

All extensions of the county's water distribution system, however provided for, shall become property of the county, under control of the county. Title to any such facilities constructed by others shall be transferred to the county upon acceptance of such facilities by the county.

(Ord. 1008 § 1, 1999)

Except as provided in Section 4.16.060, the following charges for main extensions shall be paid in addition to all other applicable charges under this title, including charges for service connections, meter installations, etc.:

A. Every applicant for a new service connection shall, unless the equivalent thereof has otherwise been paid with respect to the premises to be served, pay per lineal foot of such premises on the street in which the main is located, the current cost per lineal foot of the main of a size determined by the county engineer to be adequate to service the premises.

B. An applicant for an extension from an existing main shall pay the full cost of a main of a size determined by the county to be adequate to serve the premises.

C. Refunds without interest will be made to applicant or his assigns at the rate of one-half of the amount advanced per lineal foot of main, per frontage foot of the property of each additional customer subject to the charge under subsection A of this section, who is served from the extension within ten years from the date the advance is made by the applicant. The total amount of the refund shall not exceed the amount advanced.

D. Street intersections and frontages of premises entitled to service from the main to be extended, shall be excluded from the measurements for any extension.

(Ord. 1008 § 1, 1999)

In lieu of the charges otherwise provided for in Section 4.16.050, the county may require the applicant to pay up to the full cost of any extensions or necessary enlargement or addition to water distribution facilities to serve premises outside of the service area or where, in the opinion of the county, the estimated revenue from the service to be provided does not justify the additional cost necessary for local distribution facilities, or where the extension is for the sole benefit of the applicant.

(Ord. 1008 § 1, 1999)

When service required by an applicant for other than domestic service requires replacing an existing main with one of larger size, the applicant may be required to pay up to the full cost of such replacement, less credit for the expired life of the existing system.

(Ord. 1008 § 1, 1999)

When facilities in addition to those required for extension of the distribution system under the county's normal design standards are required specifically to provide capacity, pressure or storage for the requested service, the applicant shall pay the cost of such facilities in addition to other regularly applicable charges under this title, together with any additional operating and maintenance expenses associated with such special features.

(Ord. 1008 § 1, 1999)

The local fire chief shall designate the size and location of all public fire hydrants to be installed. The cost of installing such public fire hydrants shall be paid by the applicant for the extension or enlargement of mains upon which the hydrant is to be located.

(Ord. 1008 § 1, 1999)

All charges provided by this chapter applicable to an extension or enlargement of water distribution facilities or the installations of special features or public fire hydrants, shall be paid in advance by the applicant therefor before such are made by the county.

(Ord. 1008 § 1, 1999)

An applicant for service requiring main extensions may, at the county's sole discretion, have the option of having such extensions and service connections installed by him under private contract. Such facilities installed by an applicant must be installed in accordance with the terms and conditions of an agreement between the applicant and the county. The material installed and the work performed must comply with the plans and specifications approved by the county and shall be subject to county inspection at all times. The county shall pressure test and disinfect the installation. All costs in connection with such facilities installed under private contract shall be paid by the applicant, including the costs of the county. The applicant shall pay in advance the county charges for engineering and inspection services, pressure testing and disinfection, materials, and general and administrative expenses and other costs in accordance with the accounting practices of the county. Upon completion of the installation in accordance with the agreement, title to the facilities shall be transferred to the county by the applicant upon acceptance of such facilities by the county.

(Ord. 1008 § 1, 1999)