Nevada City Municipal Code Art. II Service

Only the owner of real property may apply for water service and the owner shall be liable to pay for the water until the service is discontinued. The owner of the real property may authorize the city to send the bill for water usage directly to his or her tenant but the owner shall still remain liable for the cost of the water service and the decision as to whether to discontinue water service shall be solely that of the owner of real property. This procedure shall apply only to new applications for water service. Water service already in existence shall be handled under the same procedures as in the past; however, once existing service is discontinued and a new user desires water then the procedure adopted by this chapter shall be followed.

(Ord. 88-3 § 1, 1988)

A. The city council shall, by resolution, establish water rates to be charged, or the method by which the water rates shall be fixed by the water collector, and formulate such rules and regulations for the guidance of the water collector as the council may deem necessary.

B. All charges for water shall be due and payable quarter-annually in advance, except that when water meters are installed and metered rates are in effect, such charges shall be due and payable monthly after the meters are read and upon delivery of the water bill to the consumer.

(Ord. 79-2 § 1, 1979; Ord. 291 § 3, 1959)

A. Delinquency.

1. Each water bill shall be due and payable upon presentation, and shall become delinquent fifteen (15) days after the date of mailing. If the bill is not paid within sixty (60) days of the delinquency date, service many be discontinued. Service discontinued because of non-payment shall not be resumed until all bills, plus reconnection fees have been paid. Any charge or expense required by any provision of this Title 13 to be borne or paid by the consumer may be billed with any bill for service and if not paid when due the entire bill shall be deemed delinquent for the purpose of this Chapter.

2. Where water has been shut off from any premises for nonpayment of a water bill, it shall not be turned on again until payment has been made in full, or a promissory note and agreement for payment has been signed by the responsible person, or upon authorization by the city manager. The City Council may, by resolution or motion, adopt a policy for discontinuation of residential water service. Such policy may include, but may not be limited to, additional procedures concerning billing, discontinuation of service, notifications, restoration of service, contesting or appealing a bill, extensions and alternative payment arrangements, protections available to qualified low-income customers, and related matters. To the extent a policy adopted pursuant to this section conflicts with any provisions of this Chapter, the policy shall control.

3. The chief of police, or his representative, upon request, shall accompany the superintendent of public works, or his authorized representative, for the purpose of shutting off the water from the premises of anyone who has violated any of the provisions of this chapter, or who has become delinquent in the payment of his water bill.

4. In all cases the owner of the property to which water is supplied shall be responsible for the payment of the water bill. All charges for water shall be a charge upon the property to which such water is supplied, and shall constitute a lien upon such property.

5. The lien created shall be recorded with the county recorder. The lien shall continue until the charge and all penalties thereon are fully paid or the property sold therefor.

B. Penalties.

1. The basic penalty shall be a charge of ten percent of each month's charges for the first month delinquent.

2. In addition to the basic, there shall be due and payable a penalty of one-half of one percent per month for nonpayment of the basic charges and basic penalty.

3. On the first day of the calendar month following the date of payment specified in the bill the charge shall become delinquent if the bill or that portion thereof which is not in bona fide dispute remains unpaid.

4. All such charges and penalties may be collected as provided in the Revenue Bond Law of 1941 (Government Code § 54300 et seq.).

(Ord. 83-6 § 1, 1983; Ord. No. 2020-03, § 1, 2-26-2020)

The city's responsibility for the delivery of water to any user shall end at the property line of the user.

(Ord. 291 § 5 (part), 1959)

A. Every user of water shall use it economically and, during the irrigation season, shall use the same for irrigation only during the hours which may be prescribed by the city council.

B. No person shall use, or cause to be used, any city water for the purpose of sprinkling streets or alleys except such person, or persons, as may be authorized by the superintendent of public works.

C. No person, or persons, shall allow any water to run to waste from any hose, pipe or hydrant, or in any other manner at any time, or use the same for irrigation outside of the hours which may be prescribed by the city council; and should any person continue to allow water to be wasted in violation of this section, the water shall be shut off forthwith from the premises and shall not be turned on again until assurances satisfactory to the city have been obtained.

(Ord. 291 § 5 (part), 1959)

No one except a properly authorized agent of the city shall turn on or shut off water to any premises without a permit from the water collector.

(Ord. 291 § 5 (part), 1959)

A. No person whose water service pipe is connected directly or indirectly to a water main of the city, shall allow any other person to connect any pipe or hose to his service pipe without authorization from the water collector.

B. No person shall attach or cause to be attached any water service pipe or hose to any pipe whatsoever than the water mains of the city without authorization from the water collector.

(Ord. 291 § 5 (part), 1959)

No person shall place upon, or about, any fire hydrant, water gate, curbstock or stopcock connected with the city's water system, any building material or other obstruction so as to prevent free access to the same at all times.

(Ord. 291 § 5 (part), 1959)

No person other than authorized employees of the city or members of the fire department shall open any fire hydrant or attach any hose thereto for any purpose without first obtain written permission of the chief of the fire department or the superintendent of public works.

(Ord. 291 § 5 (part), 1959)

In case of fire, water users shall shut off all irrigation, or any steady flow of water being used, when the fighting of any fire reasonably necessitates the same.

(Ord. 291 § 5 (part), 1959)

The city shall at all times have the right of ingress to and egress from the premises of any water user at all reasonable hours for any and all purposes connected with the supply of water, and the exercise of any and all right secured to it by law and the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 291 § 5 (part), 1959)

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Ord 90-4 § 3 (part), 1990: Ord. 291 § 6, 1959)