La Palma Municipal Code Art. III Service

No person shall tap, open, or connect to or cause, permit, or allow to be turned on, in any way, any water after the same has been turned off by the City.

(Code 1975, § 25-6; Ord. No. 142, § 170)

(a) Classes of service. All services installed by the Water Division shall be classified as follows:

(1) Domestic, commercial, industrial, and irrigation.

(2) Municipal and public use.

(3) Fire protection.

(b) Types of service. The types of service available from the Water Division are:

(1) Metered service.

(2) Temporary service.

(3) Private fire service.

(Code 1975, § 25-19; Ord. No. 142, § 103)

Before water may be supplied to a location:

(1) An applicant (property owner, developer) shall make application to the Water Division for water service.

(2) An applicant shall pay all fees that may be applicable, which may include the front-foot fee, meter, and meter-box installation costs.

(3) Install or cause to be installed a water service connection. This water service connection may include a corporation at the water main, a copper service line or approved equal, curb stop, hot tap, and paving. All work shall be done by a properly licensed contractor licensed by the State of California, and a contractor with a valid City business license. A permit shall be obtained from the Community Services Department by this contractor.

(4) Specifications, fees and costs shall be as approved by the City Council by resolution.

(5) The City shall install only meters and meter boxes for services requiring up to and including the maximum water meter size of two inches. All service lines up to and including the two-inch size shall be installed by the applicant or the applicant's representative. Over the two-inch size, the applicant shall install the service line, the meter and the meter box or vault, and do all work and supply parts necessary to complete the installation.

(6) These costs and procedures shall apply to all users of the City water system, including service installations for domestic, commercial and industrial.

(7) All service lines from the main to the meter location shall be installed by the applicant in accordance with applicable City requirements.

(Code 1975, § 25-21; Ord. No. 142, §§ 120, 180; Ord. No. 78-18, § 1; Ord. No. 82-31, § 15)

(a) When a temporary service is requested, the Water Division shall require the applicant to deposit that sum of money estimated as being required to compensate the City for all water furnished to such applicant during such period of temporary service. In addition to estimated charges for water, the applicant shall also reimburse the City for all costs required in furnishing such service, together with all damages that my occur to the facilities.

(b) The deposit for customers outside the City limits shall be the same as for customers inside the City limits.

(Code 1975, § 25-22; Ord. No. 142, § 120)

Whenever a service is installed by an applicant or by the City for private fire protection, all charges for all labor, fire-detector check or other approved devices, together with all appurtenant materials and engineering, plus administrative overhead costs, shall be paid by the applicant. Such service shall be used only in case of fire or other purposes expressly provided in this section. Use of such private fire protection service for any other purpose expressly authorized by the Water Superintendent shall be a misdemeanor. However, should it be necessary to use water through a fire line meter for the purpose of testing or maintaining a private fire prevention system or fire department, the Water Division shall authorize such use upon the receipt of a written request stating:

(1) Date and time of use.

(2) Purpose.

(3) Estimated quantity of water to be used.

(4) Estimated maximum flow.

Provided, however, that the Water Superintendent may restrict such non-emergency flows which may be detrimental to or tend to dewater the system.

(Code 1975, § 25-25; Ord. No. 142, § 120)

Sales may be made to consumers outside the City limits in accordance with all rules, regulations and rates only on the report of the Community Services Supervisor or the Superintendent as his or her delegate, and with the approval of the City Council.

(Code 1975, § 25-26; Ord. No. 142, § 130)

The Water Division reserves the right to shut off the water in their mains for the purpose of making repairs or for any other purpose found necessary. The City shall not be responsible for any damages which may occur due to water shutoffs. The owner or customer shall be conclusively presumed to have taken all necessary precautions in compliance with the building codes and regulations of the plumbing code in anticipation of emergency shutoffs.

(Code 1975, § 25-27; Ord. No. 142, § 130)

In the event any consumer deems that pressures are inadequate, the consumer shall furnish at his or her own expense whatever devices are necessary to boost the pressure for his or her own premises. In the event water pressures are in excess of any consumer's normal requirements, it shall be the responsibility of such water consumer to install such devices on his or her premises to protect his or her plumbing or to reduce the pressure for his or her particular needs.

(Code 1975, § 25-28; Ord. No. 142, § 130)

(a) Where more than one occupancy is placed on the same parcel of property and each is conducting a separately established residence or business, a water meter shall be required and installed for each occupancy unless otherwise approved by the Water Superintendent.

(b) Whenever one service pipe and meter has been serving more than one occupancy on the same parcel of property owned by one owner and the property ownership is severed, the Water Superintendent may, in his or her discretion, require separate service and meters for each occupancy.

(Code 1975, § 25-29; Ord. No. 142, § 130)