Oxnard Municipal Code Art. I General Provisions

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings:

(A) ACTIVE SERVICE - A service connected from the premises to the water main, is turned on and through which water may readily be drawn.

(B) APPLICANT - A person applying for water service.

(C) BILLING DATE - The date the meter is read, or, for unmetered accounts, the date the bill ismailed.

(D) CITY-OWNED RECYCLED WATER FACILITIES - The city-owned facilities intended to provide for the delivery of recycled water only, that are separate from any potable water distribution system, up to and including the point of connection to the customer's on-site recycled water facilities which point of connection is usually the meter assembly at the customer's point of service.

(E) CONSUMER - A person receiving water from the city.

(F) CUSTOMER - Any person applying for water service and responsible for payment of waterbills.

(G) INACTIVE SERVICE - An active service, but which has been shut off and is currently in a state of nonuse.

(H) MANAGER - The manager of the water resources division.

(I) MANDATORY RECYCLED WATER USE AREA - Any area within each recycled water use area which is designated for mandatory recycled water use by the recycled water master plan.

(J) ON-SITE RECYCLED WATER FACILITIES - The customer-owned facilities used to make use of recycled water, that are separate from any potable distribution system, downstream of the point of connection from the city-owned recycled water facilities.

(K) POTABLE WATER - Water that conforms to federal, state, and local standards for human consumption.

(L) RECYCLED WATER - Highly purified water that, as a result of the treatment of wastewater, is suitable for a direct beneficial use, subject to the restrictions in article IX of this chapter and applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

(M) RECYCLED WATER MASTER PLAN - The plan to be developed and periodically updated by the water resources division manager, which provides detailed procedures, rules and regulations to implement the policies and mandates of article IX of this chapter.

(N) RECYCLED WATER USE AREA - An area identified in the recycled water master plan that can presently or may in the future use recycled water in lieu of potable water.

(O) SEALED SERVICE - An existing service which has never been activated and which does not have a meter installed.

(P) TEMPORARY SERVICE - Any service installed for a defined period of time and which will be abandoned at the expiration of the period of time.

(Q) WASTEWATER - Water discharged from city customers into the city wastewater collection system that contains dissolved or suspended matter.

(R) WATER RESOURCES DIVISION - The water resources division of the city.

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-1) (Ord. No. 1009, 1318, 2728)

(A) In order to avoid costly duplication of facilities, to ensure conservation of water and regulation of the use thereof, to avoid undesirable competition among private suppliers, public agencies and public utilities, and to assure equal service and uniform lowest water rates to all properties within the city, the water division is designated as the sole supplier of water within the city, except as follows:

(1) Water supplied by means of portable containers;

(2) Agricultural and appurtenant domestic uses existing at the time of annexation, when approved by the city council;

(3) Uses which may be authorized by the city council for periods of two years or less; or

(4) By franchise agreement with the city council.

(B) No person or agency other than the water division shall be allowed to install mains or appurtenant facilities above or under a city street for the purpose of supplying water.

(C) Supplying of water within the city is prohibited except as above specified.

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-2) (Ord. No. 1009)

(A) Outside city - The water division shall not serve water outside the city, without prior permission of the city council. When such service is rendered, the service shall be on a temporary basis and shall be subject to the terms of this chapter and all terms and conditions established by the city council.

(B) Outside MWD - Customers within the city but not in the Calleguas Municipal Water District or the Metropolitan Water District shall be required to pay a higher rate than regular city customers. The accumulation of these funds and the permissible expenditures therefrom are set forth in section 22-61.

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-3) (Ord. No. 1009)

(A) No person shall open, meddle with, tap, break, turn off or on, damage or endanger any fire hydrant, valve, water service, meter, main pipe or facility used in connection with the city water system, without prior permission of the public works director. Any person authorized to operate fire hydrants shall use only an approved spanner wrench. Except in emergencies, no water shall be drawn from a fire hydrant without the use of an auxiliary control valve.

(B) No person shall place upon or about a fire hydrant any object, material, debris or structure of any kind that shall prevent free access to the fire hydrant at all times.

(C) All contractors or persons working in a street, alley or water easement in such manner as to necessitate relocation, removal or protection of a water main or facility, shall make written application to the water division for such relocation, removal or protection. The application shall be made ten days in advance of the work to be done and shall be accompanied by a deposit to cover the cost of the work to be done. Water division facilities which are moved for the convenience of the city will be paid for by the city out of an appropriate fund, subject to the approval of the city manager.

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-4) (Ord. No. 1009)

(A) The city manager shall prescribe from time to time as he shall deem necessary or desirable, additional rules and regulations relating to the conditions of service, the applications, administration and interpretation of rates, and to the sale of water by the city and of products, commodities and service incidental thereto, and the charges to be made therefor.

(B) Such rules and regulations shall be of a general application, not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter.

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-5) (Ord. No. 1009)

(A) Any person aggrieved by any act, determination, rule or regulation of the water division or city manager may appeal therefrom to the city council by filing a written notice of appeal with the city clerk within 30 days after receiving notice of such act or determination, rule or regulation.

(B) After hearing the objections of such person and giving due consideration thereto, the city council may confirm, amend, alter, modify or correct such action, determination, rule or regulation, and its action shall be final and conclusive.

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-6) (Ord. No. 1009)

Any duly authorized agent of the water division shall have the right of ingress to and egress from the consumer's premises at reasonable hours for any purpose reasonably related to the furnishing of water service and the exercise of any and all rights secured to it by law or this chapter, including inspection of the consumer's piping and equipment. Such agents shall, carry an identification card issued by the city.

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-7) (Ord. No. 1009)

Any person who violates any provision of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, and is subject to the penalties provided herein and in section 1-10.

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-8) (Ord. No. 1009)