13.44 — WATER MAINS

It shall be the duty of every person as owner or subdivider of a single lot, subdivision or tract of land desiring water service to such lot, subdivision or tract of land, to file written application therefor with the Public Works Department, Water Division. (Ord. 13-84; Ord. 03-25, 2/25/2025)

• A. Each applicant for service to more than a single lot, such as for a subdivision, shall furnish to the Water Department copies of the map of the proposed subdivision, or other such development, as approved by the City. The Public Works Department, Water Division, shall design the required water system with the necessary mains, valves, fire hydrants, etc., indicating sizes and locations. Charges and estimated costs shall be based upon the water system so designed.

• B. A plan check fee which shall represent the cost to the City for the processing of development plans, including engineering, clerical and administrative personnel utilized to design the required water system and review other required plans or drawings, prepare invoices and otherwise service the development, shall be as set forth by resolution of the City Council. Said fee will be applicable to all developments and shall be invoiced with other applicable Public Works Department, Water Division, charges and payable prior to issuance of building permit or City Council approval of final tract map.

• (Reso. 7419; Ord. 13-84; Ord. 19-96; Ord. 03-25, 2/25/2025)

• A. Whenever land is to be developed, any easements needed for water mains which may be appurtenant thereto or which may be used exclusively thereon shall be deeded to the City in consideration for the City approving any application for City water to be placed on such development. Said deed to the City shall be executed before any such application shall be approved by the City Council.

• B. The Public Works Department, Water Division, in no instance, shall install or permit to be installed any mains, meters or other facilities off the City property or on property over which the City has no easement.

• (Ord. 13-84; Ord. 19-96; Ord. 03-25, 2/25/2025)

All water mains inside of a subdivision or any other similar development shall be as designed by the Public Works Department, Water Division, and shall be installed to City specifications, under City inspection, by the developer at his or her cost. All water main installations shall be performed by a contractor possessing a California Class A license or C-34 specialty license. The material used by the developer for water mains shall conform to the "Specifications for Water System Materials" and to the "Public Works Department Water Division Department Standard Drawings," as approved by the Water Manager.

(Ord. 13-84; Ord. 19-96; Ord. 03-25, 2/25/2025)

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City of Orange, CA

PUBLIC UTILITIES

§ 13.44.050

§ 13.44.070

• A. The applicant shall pay to the Public Works Department, Water Division, prior to issuance of a building permit, or prior to final map approval in the case of a tract, fees for inspection services related to the installation of water mains and appurtenances, as set forth by resolution of the City Council.

• B. In case a water main of larger diameter is required, as covered otherwise in this title, for transmission, the City shall pay for the increased cost of installation by negotiation with the developer or his or her contractor.

• C. In case a water main serving one side of a street is installed by a developer and it is evident that the same main will eventually serve the other abutting property, a proportional cost shall be negotiated.

• D. Upon the completion of the installation of any mains or appurtenances, the same shall become and remain the property of the City. Prior to final acceptance of the water mains and appurtenances by the City, the developer shall provide to the City a verified Construction Cost Statement which itemizes the developer's costs for construction of water mains and appurtenances.

• (Ord. 13-84; Ord. 19-96; Ord. 03-25, 2/25/2025)

• A. Application for water service to any tract or development involving on-site mains shall also require that the developer furnish a cash or security bond to cover the total estimated cost to the applicant of such mains.

• B. Such bond shall be furnished prior to final tract map approval in case of tracts and before building permits are issued in all other types of developments.

• C. Bonds will be released only after all work has been completed and any additional charges, including those for water used prior to occupancy have been paid.

• D. In case there are unoccupied structures or otherwise inactive meter service accounts on the property and the cash or surety bond is to be released, cash deposits must be made for such individual meter services.

• E. Sureties on such bonds shall meet Best's Key Rating Guide as required by the City and shall be admitted to conduct business in California.

• (Ord. 13-84; Ord. 19-96)

• A. Each property requiring water service shall be assessed a water main connection charge based upon the type and acreage of the property to be served in accordance with fees established by resolution of the City Council.

• B. Water main connection charges shall be payable prior to final tract approval or prior to issuance of a building permit in the case of service applications not involving approval of a tract map.

• C. "Acreage" is defined as the area of any lot, parcel, subdivision or other property exclusive

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City of Orange, CA § 13.44.070

ORANGE CODE

§ 13.44.110

of any existing dedicated street rights-of-way.

• D. Water main connection charges for commercial and industrial developments with multistory structures shall be based upon total building floor area. A multi-story structure is defined as three or more stories above ground level. The total building floor area shall be the gross floor area for all buildings, as shown on the plans submitted to City for approval, measured to the nearest square foot. The water main connection charge under this section shall be as set forth by resolution of the City Council.

• E. New developments or other requests for service to properties in East Orange that are also within the boundaries of the East Orange Water District or the Irvine Ranch Water District shall also pay directly to those agencies their respective water main connection charges and other applicable fees. Evidence of such payment shall be required prior to final map approval or prior to meter installation for service applications not involving a tract.

• (Reso. 7491; Ord. 13-84; Ord. 19-96)

All hot taps required on existing City mains to provide water service to any lot, parcel or subdivision shall be performed by City crews at the developer's expense in accordance with the fee schedule established by resolution of the City Council. (Reso. 7491; Ord. 19-96)

The City may extend existing mains to proposed developments at City expense or may enter into an agreement with the developer or developers for the extension in the same manner as if the mains were inside of a subdivision or similar development. In such case, the developer shall file a statement with the Public Works Department, Water Division, showing his or her costs so that, if at a later time connections are made to said mains by persons whose lands abut, then the Water Department shall collect the applicable charge and refund the developers or their heirs or assigns, the applicable charge, but not more than his or her cost; provided, however, that unless connections are made to the mains and payments therefor are made within 10 years after completion of the mains, then the charges shall be collected, but shall not be disbursed to the persons who installed the main, and the payments shall belong to the City. (Ord. 13-84; Ord. 19-96; Ord. 03-25, 2/25/2025)

In all cases where an installation is requested of the Public Works Department, Water Division, for any purpose not covered by other provisions of this title or other ordinances, and such request is granted, the cost of such installation by the Public Works Department, Water Division, shall be paid by the applicant.

(Ord. 13-84; Ord. 19-96; Ord. 03-25, 2/25/2025)

The City may at any time replace existing water mains with larger mains when either the actual or anticipated development in the area adjacent to or near such mains makes such existing mains inadequate; provided, the persons connected to the old mains which become inadequate because

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City of Orange, CA

PUBLIC UTILITIES

§ 13.44.110

§ 13.44.140

of the increased development shall not be required to contribute to the cost thereof. (Ord. 13-84)

When the Water Manager determines that it is necessary to replace or relocate water mains located in public street or highway rights-of-way, the City shall reconnect all water services to such mains replaced or relocated at no cost to the property owner; provided, however, when, in the opinion of the Water Manager, water mains located outside of public street or highway rights-of-way are required to be replaced or relocated onto public street or highway rights-ofway, the City shall provide water service of equivalent size off the new water main within the public right-of-way and it shall be the consumer's responsibility to connect to the new water main at the expense of the consumer and within 120 days after the completion of the new water main. At the end of the 120 day period, the City shall have the right to disconnect water service and abandon the former water main.

(Ord. 13-84; Ord. 19-96)

No person shall make any false or fraudulent application, statement or report to the City under the provisions of this title.

(Ord. 13-84; Ord. 19-96)

The City Council may establish water service costs and rates, all costs of water mains and the charges to be made therefor, cost of installing water utility lines and all other costs established by this code under Titles 13.04 through 13.44, by a resolution of the City Council or by ordinance. (Reso. 6581; Ord. 13-84; Ord. 19-96)

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City of Orange, CA

PUBLIC UTILITIES

§ 13.56.010

§ 13.56.050