Chapter 15.04 — WATER SYSTEM—GENERAL PROVISIONS1

1 Editor’s Note: For statutory provisions pertaining to the municipal operation and/or regulation of the city’s

water supply, see Gov. Code §38730 et seq. For regulations governing the establishment and personnel of the

water department see Ch. 2.20 of this code; for regulations governing the establishment and personnel of the

water commission see Ch. 2.16 of this code.

The following terms when used in this chapter shall have the following respective meanings:

A. "Applicant" means any prospective consumer applying for water service;

B. "Charter" means the Charter of the city as amended and in force and e[ect on the date of passage of the

ordinance codiWed in this section;

C. "City" means the city of Petaluma, a municipal corporation organized and existing under its Charter and the

Constitution of the state of California;

D. "Consumer" means any person, Wrm, company, corporation, partnership, association, the city, any public

corporation, political subdivision, city, county, district, the state of California or the United States of America, or

any department or agency of any thereof, billed for water furnished by the water system. The singular in each use

shall include the plural;

E. "Council" means the council of the city provided for in the Charter;

F. "Date of presentation" means the date upon which a bill or notice is mailed or delivered personally to a

consumer;

G. "Domestic service," "commercial service," "industrial service" and "metered service," mean the furnishing of

water for household residential purposes, including water used for sprinkling lawns, gardens and shrubbery, for

watering livestock, for washing vehicles and for other similar and customary purposes. "Commercial service"

means the furnishing of water to premises where the consumer is engaged in a trade. "Industrial service" means

the furnishing of water to premises for use by a consumer in manufacturing or processing activities. "Metered

service" means the furnishing of water by measured quantities;

H. "Main extension" means the extension of water distribution pipelines, including service connections, beyond

existing facilities;

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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I. "Manager" means the manager of the water department or other person designated by the council to

perform the services or make the determinations permitted or required under this chapter to be made by the

manager;

J. "Premises" means any lot, piece or parcel of land, or any building or other structure or any part of any

building or structure having a connection with the water system;

K. "Water" means water furnished through the water system;

L. A "water beneWt district" is a land area that is served by a major reinforcing water main, the reinforcing main

being connected to submains which form a secondary water distribution grid system, thus beneWting such land

area. (Such area to exclude existing streets, highways and public ways.);

M. "Water department" means the water department of the city hereinafter provided for;

N. "Water service" means the services, facilities and water furnished or available to premises by the water

system;

O. "Water system" means the enterprise described in the following measure, together with such additions or

improvements thereto as may be made from time to time:

"MEASURE (A): Shall the City of Petaluma issue revenue bonds in the principal amount of $3,300,000, pursuant to

the Revenue Bond Law of 1941, to provide funds for the acquisition, construction, improvement and Wnancing of

the following enterprise, to wit: A water system for the supply, treatment, storage, transmission and distribution of

water, including lands, easements, reservoirs, water rights, water tanks, water mains, wells, pumps, pumping

equipment, meters, Wre hydrants, storage, treatment, transmission and distribution facilities, and other works,

properties or structures necessary or convenient for a municipal water system for the City of Petaluma?" which

such measure was duly approved by the voters of the city at a special revenue bond election duly called and held

in the city on April 28, 1959.

(Ord. 675 NCS § 1; Ord. 544 NCS § 1; prior code §27.1.)

The water department, under the supervision of the manager, shall supervise all connections to the water system,

shall collect all water bills and charges and all connection and other fees provided for in this article and shall

enforce all of the provisions of this chapter and shall keep an accurate accounting and records showing the

source, amount and disposition of all funds received by the water department under this article. (Ord. 544 NCS

§12; prior code §27.4.)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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15.04.030—15.04.040 Reserved.

2 Editor’s Note: Former Sections 15.04.030 and 15.04.040, previously codiWed herein and containing portions of

Ordinance No. 544 and prior code Sections 27.5 and 27.6 was repealed in its entirety by Ordinance No. 1940.

Any person who has a right to appeal as provided in any section of this chapter or who is dissatisWed with any

determination hereafter made under this article by the water department or the manager may, at any time within

thirty days after such determination, appeal to the council by giving written notice to the manager and to the city

clerk, setting forth the determination with which such person is dissatisWed. The council may, at any time, upon its

own motion appeal from any determination made by the water department or the manager under this article. In

the event of any such appeal, the manager shall transmit to the council a report upon the matter appealed. The

council shall cause notice to be given, at least ten days prior to the time Wxed for such hearing, to all persons

a[ected by such appeal, of the time and place Wxed by the council for hearing such appeal. The council shall direct

the city clerk to mail a written notice, postage prepaid, to all such persons whose addresses are known to the

council. (Ord. 544 NCS § 14; prior code §27.7(a).)

Pending decision upon any appeal relative to the amount of any charge under this article, the person making such

appeal shall pay such charge. After the appeal is heard, the council shall order refunded to the person making

such appeal such amount, if any, as the council determines should be refunded. (Ord. 544 NCS §14; prior code

§27.7(b).)

Notices from the city to any consumer will be given in writing, either delivered to the consumer or mailed to his

last known address, except that where conditions warrant or in any emergency the city may give verbal notice by

telephone or in person. (Ord. 544 NCS §7; prior code §27.8(a).)

Notices from a consumer to the city may be given by the consumer or his authorized representative verbally or in

writing at the oYce of the water department or to an employee or agent of the water department who is

authorized to receive notices or complaints, or may be sent by mail to the water department oYce. (Ord. 544 NCS

§7; prior code §27.8(b).)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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The manager is charged with the enforcement of all of the provisions of this article. (Ord. 544 NCS §8; prior code

§27.9.)