La Verne Municipal Code Ch. 13.12 Water Service Regulations

The regulations provided in this chapter are fixed and established for the governing of water service by the city.

(Prior code § 7220)

See Section 22 of Resolution No. 84-102 on file in the office of the city clerk.

(Prior code § 7220.01)

A. A single-family residence or business lot occupied by one private business concern, with a regulation meter shall constitute a service connection. No person shall run any water from any meter or service connection to any other consumer whether on the same lot or property or not, for which the rate or rates have not been paid or the rules and regulations have not been complied with. No change in the use of the water shall be made after the filing of the application until the requirements of Resolution No. 84-102, or its successor resolution, on file in the office of the city clerk, have been met except that the utility director may give such written authority when and to the extent that the same is required by the public convenience and necessity to serve a beneficial temporary purpose without detriment to the city.

B. No person shall sell, furnish or supply water which is not purchased or received from the city to any person or to any premises within the city or within any area hereafter annexed to the city, except when, to the extent that, and for the purpose that such water was sold, furnished or supplied to such person or premises prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter or prior to the annexation of the premises to the city. The prohibitions of this section shall not apply within any area of the city or any annexation in which the city council has declared by resolution that it does not intend to supply or furnish city water so long as such resolution is in effect.

(Prior code § 7220.02)

See Section 18 of Resolution No. 84-102 on file in the office of the city clerk.

(Prior code § 7220.06)

When a service has been shut off continuously for a period of two years or more, it shall be presumed to be abandoned. Subsequent service to this property shall be treated as a new service.

(Prior code § 7220.07)

See Section 21 of Resolution No. 84-102 on file in the office of the city clerk.

(Prior code § 7220.08)

See Section 15 of Resolution No. 84-102 on file in the office of the city clerk.

(Prior code § 7220.09)

Upon presentation of proper identification, any officer, inspector, foreman, authorized employee or representative of the city on official business shall be allowed free access at all reasonable hours to any premises supplied with city water. Any person who, as owner or occupant of any premises, refuses or prevents inspection by an authorized employee of the city may, after service of a twenty-four-hour notice of intention, have all water shut off.

(Prior code § 7222)

In order to promote the public health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the city, the rules and regulations provided in Sections 13.12.100 through 13.12.210 are established for the protection of the city water system and facilities.

(Prior code § 7225)

No person, firm or corporation shall waste or cause, permit or allow to be wasted any water in any cooling system, ornamental fountain, or any other similar kind of device whatsoever, nor shall any person, firm or corporation fail, refuse or neglect to recirculate the water to any of the devices; provided, further, that it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to fail, refuse or neglect to recirculate the water to any of the devices; provided, further, that it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to cause, permit or allow any water furnished through the facilities of the city water system to be wasted into the streets or any other public property from excessive lawn sprinkling operations, commercial or domestic irrigation, car washing or any other manner whatsoever.

(Prior code § 7225.01)

It is unlawful for any unauthorized person, firm or corporation to draw, cause to be drawn, permit to be drawn or allow to be drawn for any purpose whatsoever any water from any fire hydrant in the city, except in compliance with this code.

(Prior code § 7225.03)

See Section 4 of Resolution No. 84-102 on file in the office of the city clerk.

(Prior code § 7225.04)

Any person, firm or corporation found guilty of tapping, opening, connecting to, permitting or allowing to be turned on in any way water service connection after the same has been turned off by the city shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Prior code § 7225.05)

Any person, firm or corporation found guilty of tapping, opening or connecting to, or causing, permitting to allow to be tapped, opened or connected to any water main or pipe of the city water system without first having made application to the city and received written authorization therefor shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Prior code § 7225.06)

All services and all water meters installed by the city or connected to the city water system shall at all times, remain the property of the city. The expense of maintenance, repair and renewal of such services and meters due to the wear of normal service shall be borne by the city; provided, however, that any expense occasioned by any wilful or negligent act on the part of the consumer, or any member of his or her family, or guest, or any person in his or her employment shall be charged to such consumer. No person, firm or corporation shall tamper with, remove or cause, permit or allow to be tampered with or removed, any meter where same has been attached to any part of the city water system without first having made written application to the city and received a written permit therefor. Without the written permit, any person, firm or corporation shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Prior code § 7225.07)

Any cooling or refrigerating system using water as a condensing medium shall be equipped with water conservation devices in accordance with accepted engineering practice to discharge water from condensing apparatus at the maximum practical temperature. On any evaporative cooler of five thousand C.F.M. capacity or larger, recirculating pumps shall be required to provide for recirculation and conservation of water. All precooling coils and water-cooled condensing machines shall be equipped with pressure-actuated water control valves. No discharge of water from any cooling or refrigerating system shall be greater than six gallons per minute.

(Prior code § 7225.08)

Any person who supplies or feeds water directly into any stationary boiler, hydraulic elevator, power pump, or any other power device shall first file written application with the city and be issued a permit there-for. The issuance of the permit shall be conditioned upon full and continued compliance with any and all safety measures or provisions the city may require.

(Prior code § 7225.09)

A. Cross-connections, as defined by the state Health and Safety Codes, are prohibited, except when approved by the city, which approval shall only be given after:

1. Written application to the city by the consumer for a cross-connection; and

2. Backflow prevention devices approved by the city are properly installed by the consumer on his or her plumbing at a location and in a manner satisfactory to the city.

B. If and when the safety and the protection of the water system or any appurtenance thereof so requires, check valves or other devices approved by the city shall on demand of the city be installed immediately by the consumer at his or her own expense on the downstream side of such consumer's water meter. Any consumer connected to the city water system is prohibited from making, having or permitting any and all connections with any other water supply, public or private; provided, however, that subject to the approval of the State Health Department, the city may maintain emergency connections with other public utilities supplying water.

C. A program for cross-connection control will be established by resolution of the city council from time to time.

(Prior code § 7225.10; Ord. 758 § 1, 1988)

Any bypass or connection around the meter between the service of a consumer and the city main shall be and is prohibited.

(Prior code § 7225.11)

All shut-off valves, curb stops or corporation stops are installed by and for the use of the city. No unauthorized person shall use or tamper with such shut-off valves, curb stops or corporation stops. The city may, at the expense of the consumer install on the consumer's side of a meter a valve for the use of the consumer. The valve becomes the property of the consumer and its maintenance, repair and replacement shall be at the consumer's expense.

(Prior code § 7225.12)

Any person, firm or corporation who damages or destroys any mains, fittings, services, valves, meters or other appurtenances of the city water system shall be charged with all costs of repairs and/or replacement of same. In addition, such person, firm or corporation shall be charged for any and all water which may be lost or wasted as a result of his or her act, and further, the person, firm or corporation may be prosecuted by the city in a civil and/or criminal action.

(Prior code § 7225.13)