Modesto Municipal Code Ch. 1 Water Rates and Regulations

The management, control and care of the municipal water system of the City shall be vested in the Director of Utilities under the general direction of the City Manager.

(Ord. No. 1069-N.S., amended by Ord. 1050-C.S., Ord. 3133-C.S., § 1, and Ord. 3368-C.S., § 1, effective 12-9-04; Ord. 3678-C.S., § 1, effective 10-26-17)

As used in this chapter, the following terms have the meaning set forth below unless the context indicates otherwise:

"Customer" means a person who, according to the City's records, receives water service to a parcel of property.

"Person" means any natural person, firm, joint venture, joint stock company, partnership, public or private association, club, company, corporation, business trust, organization, public or private agency, government agency or institution, school district, college, university, any other user of water provided by the City, or the manager, lessee, agent, servant, officer or employee of any of them or any other entity which is recognized by law as the subject of rights or duties.

"Property Owner" means the owner of a parcel whose name and address appears on the last Stanislaus County equalized secured property tax assessment roll, or in the case of any public entity, the State of California, or the United States, means the representative of that public entity at the address of that entity known to the City.

"Water User" means any person obtaining water from the municipal water works.

(Ord. 3678-C.S., § 1, effective 10-26-17)

Editor's note— Ord. 3678-C.S., § 1 effective October 26, 2017, repealed the former § 11-1.02, and enacted a new § 11-1.02, as set out herein. The former § 11-1.02, pertained to administration of funds and derived from Ord. 1069-N.S., amended by Ord. 1050-C.S., and Ord. 2663-C.S., § 1, repealed by Ord. 2877-C.S., § 2, effective 12-16-93.

(a) Water from the municipal water works shall be delivered to property owners both within and without the corporate limits of the City in accordance with the terms of this chapter. The City will furnish the service complete from its main to the property owner's property line, in case of an alley; to the curbline from a street main when the sidewalk is adjacent to property owner's property line; and to the back of sidewalk from a street main when the sidewalk is adjacent to the curbline. The property owner shall furnish, install and maintain all piping to the City service.

(b) Property owners' responsibility. Property owners are responsible for water used on their parcels or premises, although payments will be accepted from non-property owner water users. When payments are not received in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the service may be disconnected and shall not be restored until the delinquent water charges, including the cost of water delivered, applicable surcharges, as well as the cost of reconnecting the service, have been paid.

(c) Property owners shall be responsible for the maintenance of water pipes, water faucets, water plumbing fixtures, and all other water services appliances from the point the water meter exits into the plumbing of the property owner. No property owner, water user or manager or any other person responsible for the day-to-day operation of any parcel or premises shall fail to initiate steps to repair any leaking, broken or defective pipes, faucets, plumbing fixtures, other water appliances, sprinklers, watering or irrigation systems within twenty-four (24) hours after the property owner, water user or manager or other responsible person knew or should have known of such leaks, breaks or defects.

(Ord. 1069-N.S., amended by Ord. 1050-C.S., effective 10-28-70; Ord. 3678-C.S., § 1, effective 10-26-17)

Water service installation charges shall be paid by a requesting property owner or water user and shall be in accordance with a schedule approved by the Council from time to time by resolution.

The Director of Utilities is hereby authorized to waive the water service installation charges and require water services to be installed in conjunction with the subdivision of land by developers of subdivisions.

(a) Connection Charge. At the time that a property is connected to the City water system, the property owner or water user shall pay a proportionate share towards the construction and maintenance of the City water system. Payment shall be in accordance with a schedule approved by the Council from time to time by resolution.

(b) Payment of Connection Charge. In the case of new subdivisions or parcel maps, this charge shall be paid at the time of filing the final subdivision or parcel map. If no parcel or subdivision map is required for the development of the property, then the fee shall be collected upon the issuance of the building permit.

(Ord. 1069-N.S., amended by Ord. 404-C.S., Ord. 475-C.S., Ord. 1050-C.S., Ord. 1271-C.S., Ord. 1726-C.S., Ord. 2088-C.S., § 1, Ord. 2440-C.S., § 1, Ord. 3133-C.S., § 1, Ord. 3368-C.S., § 1, effective 12-9-04, and Ord. 3370-C.S., § 1, effective 12-23-04; Ord. 3678-C.S., § 1, effective 10-26-17)

In addition to the water service installation charges imposed by Section 11-1.04 of this chapter, and in case of metered services, the meter costs imposed by Section 11-1.06 of this chapter, water main connection charges shall be paid in accordance with this section.

(a) Territory Within the City. For water service in all areas within the City, the water main connection charge to existing mains shall be in accordance with a schedule approved by the Council from time to time by resolution.

(b) Territory Outside the City. For water services in territory outside the City limits, the water main connection charge to existing mains shall be in accordance with a schedule approved by the Council from time to time by resolution. The City Manager shall, upon the recommendation of the Director responsible for utility system planning, request City Council approval of extensions of water into unincorporated areas. In considering applications for furnishing water service to property located outside the City limits, the City Manager may impose such reasonable conditions to the granting of such privilege as the City Manager deems to be in the best interest of the City. City Manager shall establish the conditions and City Council shall approve said conditions from time to time by resolution. Any agreements for the provision of such water service shall be approved as to form by the City Attorney. Exception: The City Manager's decision on the extension of water services into unincorporated areas shall be final without City Council approval in all cases where no service upgrades to the city's existing utility system are required, and the property to be served is within the former Del Este Water service area, and areas defined from time to time by City Council resolution.

(c) Main Extensions. Where water main extensions are required before water service can be provided outside the City, the City may require an agreement with the person desiring water service which shall provide the basis upon which water mains will be constructed and financed. Such an agreement, among other things, may include the requirement of annexation of any territory so served to the City at the earliest opportunity.

(d) Allocation of Costs. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) above, the Director of Utilities is hereby authorized to approve and process applications for water service to portions of parcels of land in accordance with the rates specified in the above subsections subject to all of the following terms and conditions:

(1) That the property involved can reasonably be served by the municipal water system.

(2) The total area of such parcels of land to be served shall be not less than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet, and the portion of the parcel to be served shall not be less than six thousand (6,000) square feet in area.

(3) A fee shall be paid to the City and shall accompany the application for the purpose of covering the costs of inspection of the premises to make the determination specified in subsections (d)(1) and (2) above, and said fee shall be in accordance with a schedule approved by the Council from time to time by resolution.

(4) Connection fees shall be payable based on the size of the portion of the parcel to be served and shall be paid in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Municipal Code.

(5) Water service fees shall be payable in accordance with the Municipal Code provisions relating to water service generally.

(6) The portion of the area to be served shall be recorded by means of a sketch map on the water service card filed in the Public Works Department.

(7) In addition to the remedies for violations of the provisions of this Code, as an additional and alternate remedy, the Director of Utilities shall have the authority to immediately discontinue water service without requirement of notification in the event that the Director shall determine that water supplied to serve the area under the permit is used on other premises.

(e) Water Mains Installed by Developers. Notwithstanding the charges set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the Director of Utilities is hereby authorized to waive the square footage portion of the water main connection charge and require water mains to be installed in conjunction with the subdivision of land by the developers of subdivisions as follows:

(1) All water mains shall be sized in accordance with current City of Modesto Standard Specifications.

(2) All six (6) inch and eight (8) inch diameter mains and appurtenances thereto, such as, but not necessarily limited to, fire hydrants, blowoffs, valves and valve boxes shall be furnished and installed by the developer.

(3) All ten (10) inch and larger water mains and all water pumping stations shall be furnished and installed by the City.

(4) The cost of installation of all fire hydrants, whether connected to water mains installed by the developer or by the City, shall be the responsibility of the developer. Where fire hydrants are installed by the City, the developer shall pay to the City a fee for such installation, the amount of which shall be established by the City Council from time to time by resolution.

(f) Water Connection Charges to Subdivisions. Normally all water mains smaller than ten (10) inches in inside diameter, and appurtenances thereto, will be installed by the developers of subdivisions as set forth in subsection (e)(3) of this section. From time to time, however, in its best interest, the City may elect to install all water mains, and appurtenances thereto, in a particular subdivision.

In the event the City so elects to install all water mains, and appurtenances thereto, water service shall be provided only if the developer of said subdivision agrees that if the water main connection charges set forth in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section have not been paid for eighty (80) percent of all lots within said subdivision within three (3) years and ninety (90) days from the date of recordation of the final map, or within three (3) years of the completion of installation of the waterlines by the City, whichever is the longer period of time, the developer or his/her assignees shall forthwith pay to City water main connection charges for all lots for which said fees have not been paid. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, the City may enter into special agreements with developers of industrial subdivisions which shall provide the basis upon which water mains shall be constructed and financed.

(Ord. 1069-N.S., amended by Ord. 233-C.S., Ord. 428-C.S., Ord. 563-C.S., Ord. 1050-C.S., Ord. 1271-C.S., Ord. 1443-C.S., Ord. 1726-C.S., § 1, Ord. 2088-C.S., § 1, Ord. 2764-C.S., § 2, Ord. 3133-C.S., § 1, and Ord. 3368-C.S., § 1, effective 12-9-04)

(Ord. 3566-C.S., § 1, effective 7-5-12; Ord. No. 3611-C.S., § 1, effective 1-9-15; Ord. 3678-C.S., § 1, effective 10-26-17)

(a) All hotels, lodging houses, single-family dwellings located within the City's outlying water systems, multiple-family dwellings, campgrounds, office buildings, eating houses, commercial establishments, industrial plants, theaters, hospitals, laundries, dance halls, warehouses, bus stations, milk plants, manufacturing establishments, service stations, wash racks, cooling systems and any or all other places offering services to the public or commodities for sale, as well as owners of gardens using water for irrigation of flowers and vegetables to be used commercially, must be equipped with meters as soon as possible and shall be charged for water on the metered rate as specified by resolution of the City Council.

(b) New single-family dwellings issued a building permit on or after October 1, 1991, within the City of Modesto water system shall be equipped with a meter.

(c) Where clusters of single-family dwellings are located on a single parcel of property, service may be provided by a metered connection for each individual unit or a single metered connection serving all units under one (1) ownership.

(d) All buildings of any kind whatsoever, whether industrial, commercial or residential, heretofore or hereafter equipped with water using heat pumps or refrigeration units shall be equipped with meters and shall be charged for water on the metered rate as specified by resolution of the City Council.

(e) Each swimming pool and bathing pool heretofore or hereafter constructed shall be metered except those located on residential property and equipped with a filtering system meeting the standards approved by the Community Development Director; provided, further, that every swimming pool and bathing pool heretofore or hereafter constructed which is used commercially or by a closed membership association or corporation shall be metered. The connection fee and water rates for pools required to be metered shall be as provided for other metered connections.

(f) For all metered services, the City will furnish, install and maintain all meters, with the property owner or water user to pay the cost of the meter, installation and maintenance. The cost of meters and installation shall be in accordance with a schedule approved by the Council from time to time by resolution and on file in the offices of the City Clerk, Director of Utilities and Finance Director. In the case of existing meters under the ownership of the property owner, the City will assume responsibility for maintenance and replacement of the meters upon receipt of transfer of title from the owner. Said title shall be in a form satisfactory to the Director of Utilities.

(Ord. 1069-N.S., amended by Ord. 665-C.S., Ord. 1050-C.S., Ord. 1443-C.S., Ord. 2763-C.S., § 1, Ord. 3133-C.S., § 1, Ord. 3316-C.S., § 1, Ord. 3368-C.S., § 1, and Ord. 3370-C.S., § 1, effective 12-23-04; Ord. 3678-C.S., § 1, effective 10-26-17)

(Ord. 1069-N.S., amended by Ord. 428-C.S., Ord. 1050-C.S., Ord. 1271-C.S., Ord. 1291-C.S., Ord. 1443-C.S., Ord. 1464-C.S., Ord. 1619-C.S., Ord. 1620-C.S., and Ord. 1929-C.S., § 1, repealed by Ord. 2877-C.S., § 2, effective 12-16-93)

When it is necessary to use water temporarily in connection with any type of construction or other operation at a place where the water supply is inadequate for such purposes, application may be made to the Finance Department for a permit to use water from a fire hydrant. No person shall use water from, or connect any apparatus to, a fire hydrant without first obtaining a permit.

Each permit shall specify the terms and conditions of use and the fire hydrant or hydrants authorized to be used. No person shall attach to the operating stem or cap of a fire hydrant any wrench or tool that is not approved by the Public Works Department for use on fire hydrants. In addition to any other remedy available to the City, any wrench, connecting apparatus, valve, hose, or other item attached to a fire hydrant in violation of this section shall be subject to removal and confiscation by the City.

(Ord. 1069-N.S., amended by Ord. 812-C.S., Ord. 1050-C.S., Ord. 3133-C.S., § 1, and Ord. 3368-C.S., § 1, effective 12-9-04)

(Ord. 1069-N.S., amended by Ord. 1050-C.S., and Ord. 2088-C.S., § 1, repealed by Ord. 2877-C.S., § 2, effective 12-16-93)

(Ord. 1069-N.S., amended by Ord. 15-C.S., 1050-C.S., 1271-C.S., and Ord. 1929-C.S., § 1, repealed by Ord. 2877-C.S., § 2, effective 12-16-93)

(Ord. 1069-N.S., amended by Ord. 430-C.S., Ord. 850-C.S., and Ord. 1050-C.S., repealed by Ord. 2877-C.S., § 2, effective 12-16-93)

(Ord. 1069-N.S., amended by Ord. 1050-C.S., repealed by Ord. 2877-C.S., § 2, effective 12-16-93)

(Ord. 1069-N.S., amended by Ord. 1050-C.S., and Ord. 2195-C.S., § 1, repealed by Ord. 2877-C.S., § 2, effective 12-16-93)

In addition to all other provisions and requirements of this chapter, the Council may, from time to time by resolution, establish additional rules and regulations concerning the operation of the municipal water system, the use of water, and water conservation. These provisions shall apply to all property owners, customers and water users regardless of whether the property owner, customer, or water user shall have a contract for water service with the City or not. Failure to comply with any provision, requirement, rule, or regulation under this chapter shall be unlawful and may be punishable as an infraction.

(a) Should the Director of Utilities, or his/her designee, determine that any water user has committed acts which violate the regulations of the drought contingency plan, as provided by resolution, the water user and property owner shall be notified in the following manner:

(1) Shall be served with a notice of violation either personally, by mail, or by posting such notice at the water user's, customer's or property owner's business or place of residence. Such notice shall:

(i) Identify the date, time, and circumstances of violation.

(ii) Notify that further violations may result in penalty fees being assessed.

(2) Should a water user violate the regulations of the drought contingency plan after being served with a notice of violation, that water user and property owner shall be served with a notice of intention to impose a penalty. Said notice shall:

(i) Identify the date, time, and circumstances of violation;

(ii) State the amount of penalty to be imposed;

(iii) Advise the water user, customer or property owner of his/her appeal rights as provided herein.

The notice of intention to impose a penalty shall be served in the same manner as the notice of violation.

(3) After a notice of intention to impose a penalty is served, a penalty shall be assessed to the utility account of the water user in an amount as set by Council resolution from time to time. Penalties will be assessed for violations occurring within a one (1) year time period and will be progressive in nature. The penalty may be collected in the same manner as any unpaid water service charges.

(4) A water user, customer, or property owner shall have the right to appeal either the notice of violation or the imposition of the penalty assessed to his/her utility account. The water user or property owner must request an appeal hearing in writing within fifteen (15) days from the date of service of the notice of violation; or within fifteen (15) days of the service of the notice of intention to impose a penalty. The request for hearing shall be addressed to the Director of Utilities and shall be deemed served only when received by the City. Failure to properly serve the request for hearing within the fifteen (15) day period shall be deemed a waiver of the right to appeal the matter, and the penalty will be assessed against the property owner's, customer's or water user's account.

(5) The appeal hearing shall be held before the Director of Utilities, or his/her designee, who shall make a factual finding on the existence of a violation in this matter. The water user, customer, or property owner shall be allowed to present such witnesses and evidence as he/she may desire and may be represented by an attorney or other representative of his/her choosing. The hearing officer shall give written notice by mail to the property owner, customer or water user of the date and time of the appeal hearing. Said hearing shall not be held sooner than ten (10) days from receipt of the request for hearing and not longer than thirty (30) days. The decision of the hearing officer shall be final. If a violation is found the penalty shall be assessed to the property owner's, customer's or water user's account.

(6) The City Council hereby designates the Water Division personnel as the persons authorized to investigate violations and to serve any notices required by the provisions of this subsection.

(b) All water services installed shall have a wheel valve where the service pipe enters the house and/or structure.

(c) No person shall supply water in any way for use outside of the premises to which the service is assigned or appurtenant except by permission from the Director of Utilities.

(d) Access to service connections and water meters must be provided at all times.

(e) All water users, customers and property owners must keep the service pipes in good order at their own expense and may be held liable for damages which may result from their failure to do so. When leaky faucets or fixtures are discovered and not immediately repaired, the water service may be disconnected. Authorized employees of the City of Modesto shall be admitted at all reasonable hours to all parts of any premises supplied with water, except the interior of dwellings, but including the meter box, to see that the regulations contained in this chapter are observed and complied with.

(f) It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with the City service lines, valves or meters or to construct a bypass around a meter or service.

(g) In making plumbing connections, the water user, customer and property owner shall comply with the regulations of the State and County Department of Public Health and the State Water Resources Control Board. Such regulations prohibit (1) unprotected cross-connections between a public supply and any unapproved source of water and (2) water service to premises where there is a possibility of contaminated water backflowing into the public water system. In addition, approved backflow assemblies shall be installed on water services when (1) another source of water, whether cross-connected or not, is in use or is available for use; or (2) contaminating liquid substances of any kind are used, produced or processed. The City's Cross Connection Specialist or designee shall determine the type, design and layout of backflow prevention assemblies required at each premises; and the assemblies shall be installed at the expense of the water user, customer and property owner. The control assemblies shall be inspected, tested and approved by the City's Cross Connection Specialist or designee as a condition of service to the premises.

(h) Regulations of the State Water Resources Control Board require the water user and property owner at premises on or for which backflow prevention assemblies are installed to inspect these assemblies for water tightness and tested for reliability at least once per year or more often depending on conditions and to take corrective actions as required to maintain the integrity of the domestic water system.

(1) As a condition of connection to the municipal water system, the City reserves the right at all time to inspect and test all backflow prevention assemblies maintained by water users and property owners and to undertake corrective actions up to and including termination of water service to a non-compliant water user and/or property owner until the corrective action is taken. All costs incurred by the City performing such tests and taking such corrective action shall be a cost of the water user and property owner as set forth below. If a City inspection cannot be made without undue difficulty because of an obstruction or other interference, the property owner and/or water user will be notified and requested either to correct the condition or have the inspection made at his/her own expense and witnessed by the City.

(2) Annually, the City will provide customers or property owners of any premises on or for which backflow prevention assemblies are installed with a "Notification of Annual Compliance Testing" which shall require that the backflow assembly be tested within thirty (30) days of the notice. Inspections and testing shall be done by persons certified with the State of California as a Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester and on the City's certified testers list. City will be notified of the results of the test and any corrective action taken by the Tester.

(3) If testing indicates that the assembly(s) fail, the City shall notify the property owner, customer or water user of the inspection findings, listing the corrective actions to be taken. Within thirty (30) days of this inspection findings notice, property owner, customer or water user must complete all corrective actions including the installation of backflow assemblies and provide notice to the City of such corrective action taken.

(4) If no inspection or testing is arranged to be performed by the property owner and/or water user within thirty (30) days of Notification of Annual Compliance Testing, the City will arrange testing, necessary repairs and if necessary order that the property owner, customer or water user replace a failed backflow assembly(s) with all costs and fees incurred to be charged as provided in subsection (6).

(5) Whenever after providing the notices set forth above, the City is required to undertake inspection, testing or corrective action of a backflow prevention assembly due to the failure of the property owner, customer or water user to arrange to have such inspection, testing and or corrective action taken, the property owner, customer or water user shall incur a processing fee charge and shall be required to reimburse all costs incurred by the City.

(6) All processing fees, any other fees and all costs incurred by the City for the corrective actions required to be made in order to be in compliance and costs incurred by the City enforcing and/or implementing the provisions of this subsection (h) shall be invoiced to the property owner, customer or water user separate from the water user's utility billing account and shall become a civil debt of the owner and water user to the City. After invoice, any amount unpaid shall be collected pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 6 of Title 11 of the Municipal Code.

(i) When the City finds water uses that represent a clear and immediate hazard to the potable water supply that cannot be immediately abated, the City shall institute the procedure for discontinuing water service. Conditions or water uses that create a basis for water service termination shall include, but are not limited to, the following items:

(1) Property owner, customer or water user refusal to install a required backflow assembly device,

(2) Property owner, customer or water user refusal to test a backflow assembly device,

(3) Property owner, customer or water user refusal to repair a faulty backflow assembly device,

(4) Property owner, customer or water user refusal to replace a faulty backflow assembly device,

(5) Direct or indirect connection between the public water system and a sewer line,

(6) Unprotected direct or indirect connection between the public water system and a system or equipment containing contaminants,

(7) Unprotected direct or indirect connection between the public water system and an auxiliary water system,

(8) A situation which presents an immediate health hazard to the public water system.

For conditions 1-4, The City will take corrective actions at the customer, water user or property owner's expense including applicable fees. The City shall reserve the right to terminate water services to the affected property owner, customer or water user until the corrective action is taken.

For conditions 5-8, the City will take the following steps: (1) make reasonable effort to advise property owner, customer or water user of intent to terminate water service; and (2) terminate water supply and lock service valve. The water service will remain inactive until correction of violations has been approved by the City's Cross Connection Specialist or designee.

(j) Independent fire sprinkler systems and private fire hydrant systems shall have a "double-check detector backflow assembly" installed in the service. If the City's Cross Connection Specialist or designee determines that an independent fire sprinkler system or private fire hydrant system is being used for other than fire prevention and suppression purposes, he/she may install an appropriate backflow assembly. The cost of such installation shall be paid by the property owner, customer or water user.

(k) When a water connection fee is paid for a particular parcel, it shall be credited to subsequent owners of that parcel. Refunds shall be made for duplicate payments. Additional fees will be required where there are zoning, use or density changes that will increase the fees.

(l) If a property owner, customer or water user refuses or fails to eliminate a cross-connection and disconnecting water service would cause significant disruption to building occupants and/or emergency response agencies, the Director of Utilities may test, repair and/or replace a Backflow Prevention Assembly, or take other required action to eliminate the cross-connection. The property owner, customer or water user shall be required to pay for all costs of such action.

(m) Whenever the Director of Utilities determines that an existing or potential unprotected cross-connection poses an imminent risk of hazard to the Public Water System and requires immediate abatement, the Director of Utilities may immediately shut off water service to the property at the meter until the cross-connection has been eliminated and necessary payments have been made for turn-on services as specified under regulations adopted by the Director of Utilities.

(Ord. 1069-N.S., amended by Ord. 430-C.S., Ord. 850-C.S., Ord. 1050-C.S., Ord. 1443-C.S., Ord. 1619-C.S., Ord. 1620-C.S., Ord. 1971-C.S., § 1, Ord. 2088-C.S., § 1, Ord. 2440-C.S., § 1, Ord. 2607-C.S., § 1, Ord. 2656-C.S., § 1, Ord. 2704-C.S., § 1, Ord. 2711-C.S., § 1, Ord. 2725-C.S., § 1, Ord. 2734-C.S., § 1, Ord. 2763-C.S., § 1, Ord. 2877-C.S., § 1, Ord. 3133-C.S., § 1, Ord. 3280-C.S., § 1, and Ord. 3368-C.S., § 1, effective 12-9-04; Ord. 3678-C.S., § 1, effective 10-26-17)

The Director of Utilities is hereby empowered to make interpretations of this chapter whenever a question may arise as to the necessity for, type of manner or method in which materials, meters or backflow control assemblies shall be installed. Said interpretation shall be in writing, and a copy thereof shall be filed in the office of the Director.

(Ord. 1069-N.S., amended by Ord. 1050-C.S., Ord. 3133-C.S., § 1, and Ord. 3368-C.S., § 1, effective 12-9-04; Ord. 3678-C.S., § 1, effective 10-26-17)

The Director of Utilities shall keep complete records of all permits issued and other official work performed under the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 1069-N.S., amended by Ord. 1050-C.S., Ord. 3133-C.S., § 1, and Ord. 3368-C.S., § 1, effective 12-9-04; Ord. 3678-C.S., § 1, effective 10-26-17)