Petaluma Municipal Code Ch. 15.08 Connections to Water Supply System

An applicant for water service shall connect with the water system only after obtaining a permit to do so and shall

pay connection charges as established from time to time by city council resolution and water capacity fees

adopted pursuant to Chapter 19.28. (Ord. 2444 NCS §2, 2012; Ord. 1252 NCS §1, 1977; Ord. 770 NCS §1; Ord. 721

NCS §1; Ord. 675 NCS §2; Ord. 589 NCS § 1; Ord. 544 NCS § 11; prior code §27.11.)

An applicant for water service whose premises fronted on a water distribution main in existence prior to

September 1, 1959, shall pay connection fees as set forth in Section 15.08.010, with the exception, however, that

any such applicant shall be entitled to a three-fourths-inch meter connection fee credit upon the Wrst water service

installation made at his request, but shall pay the service and meter charges as set forth in Section 15.08.010.

(Ord. 770 NCS § 1; Ord. 721 NCS § 1; Ord. 675 NCS §2; Ord. 589 NCS §1; Ord. 544 NCS § 11; prior code §27.11.)

Any applicant for water service whose premises were once connected to and served by water from a water

distribution main shall be entitled to have his premises reconnected to the water system without the requirement

of paying a connection fee; provided, the application shall have been received within Wve years of the last

disconnection and be an application for the same size meter service as existed on the date of disconnection. In the

event the applicant shall request a larger meter size than existed at the time of disconnection (and the application

is made within Wve years of disconnection), then, and in that event, the applicant shall receive a connection fee

credit equal to the connection fee applicable to the former existing meter size. Applicants entitled to the

provisions and credits of this section shall pay service and meter charges as set forth in Section 15.08.010. (Ord.

770 NCS §1; Ord. 721 NCS §1; Ord. 675 NCS §2; Ord. 589 NCS § 1; Ord. 544 NCS § 11; prior code §27.11.)

Any applicant for water service or private Wre service including the subdivider applicant, shall be given a three-

hundred-twenty-Wve dollar connection fee credit per each six thousand Wve hundred square feet within the parcel

of land or subdivision lot to be served, provided that the service to the premises is through a water main

extension constructed by and Wnanced by the applicant in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and

article or constructed by an assessment district that includes the parcel of land to be served within its district

boundaries. In no case, however, shall the total credit exceed the total connection fee. (Ord. 1252 NCS §2, 1977;

Ord. 770 NCS §1; Ord. 721 NCS §1; Ord. 675 NCS §2; Ord. 589 NCS §1; Ord. 544 NCS §11; prior code §27.11.)

An applicant for water service for the purpose of providing private Wre protection service shall not be required to

pay a connection fee if the premises to be served front upon a water distribution main in existence in September,

1959, and the manager determines the water distribution main is adequate in size for the private Wre protection

connection service requested. An applicant for water service for the purpose of providing private Wre protection

service whose premises to be served front upon a water distribution main installed after September 1, 1959, or

front upon a water distribution main installed prior to September 1, 1959, but determined to be inadequate in size

for the service desired, shall pay a service connection charge pursuant to Section 15.08.110 based on actual cost,

as determined by the manager. (Ord. 1355 NCS §1, 1979; Ord. 770 NCS §1; Ord. 721 NCS §1; Ord. 675 NCS §2; Ord.

589 NCS §1; Ord. 544 NCS §11; prior code §27.11.)

Applications for private Wre protection service shall be considered separately from applications for water service

generally. (Ord. 770 NCS §1; Ord. 721 NCS §1; Ord. 675 NCS §2; Ord. 589 NCS §1; Ord. 544 NCS §11; prior code

§27.11.)

Each applicant for water service may be required to sign, on a form provided by the water department, an

application which shall set forth:

A. Date and place of application;

B. Location of premises to be served;

C. Date applicant will be ready for service;

D. Whether the premises have been heretofore supplied with water from the water system (either before or

after acquisition by the city);

E. Purpose for which service is to be used;

F. Address to which bills are to be mailed or delivered;

G. Whether applicant is owner or tenant of, or agent for, the premises;

H. Such other information as the water department may reasonably require.

The application is only a written request for service and does not bind the applicant to take service for a period of

time longer than that upon which the rates and minimum charges of the applicable rate schedule are based;

neither does it bind the city to serve, except under reasonable conditions.

Applications for service to premises located outside the city limits shall be accompanied by a fee as may be

established from time to time by resolution of the city council.

Failure by any person or any consumer to Wle his application, containing the information required by this chapter,

shall constitute a violation of this chapter. No application shall be conclusive as to the matters therein set forth nor

shall the Wling of any application preclude the city from collecting from the consumer responsible for payment (as

provided in this chapter) by appropriate action such sum as is actually due and payable for water service under

the provisions of this chapter. Each application shall be subject to veriWcation by the manager. Any person who

takes possession of and uses water from the water system without having made application for service pursuant

to this chapter shall be held liable for the full amount of the service rendered.

Two or more parties who join in one application for service shall be jointly and severally liable for payment of bills

and shall be billed by means of single periodic bills. (Ord. 1150 NCS §1, 1974; Ord. 544 NCS §11; prior code §27.12.)

The city may refuse an applicant for service under the following conditions:

A. If the applicant fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter,

B. If the intended use of the service is in the opinion of the manager of such a nature that it will be detrimental

or injurious to service furnished to existing consumers;

C. If in the judgment of the manager an applicant’s installation for utilizing the service is unsafe or hazardous or

of such a nature that satisfactory service cannot be rendered;

D. If service has therefore been discontinued for fraudulent use, service will not be rendered until the manager

has determined that all conditions of fraudulent use or practice have been corrected.

When an applicant is refused service under the provisions of this section, the manager shall inform him of the

reason for the refusal to serve him and of his right of appeal to the council under this article. (Ord. 544 NCS §9;

prior code §27.13.)

consumers.

Consumers making any material change in the size, character or extent of the utilizing equipment or operations

for which the city is supplying water service shall immediately give the water department written notice of the

extent and nature of the change. (Ord. 544 NCS §11; prior code §27.14.)

The city may require a written contract with any consumer as a condition precedent to water service in any case

where unusual quantities of water or construction of special facilities are or will be required. (Ord. 544 NCS §11;

prior code §27.15.)

Except for any connection made pursuant to Section 15.08.120, the water department will, upon payment of the

applicable connection charge, furnish and install a service connection of suitable capacity from its water main to

the curb line, or at its election, to the property line of any premises for which a connection to the water system is

requested, provided such premises abut upon a public street or existing water main right-of-way on which a water

main of the water system is located. (Ord. 544 NCS § 11; prior code §27.16.)

All main extensions constructed or hereafter to be constructed pursuant to Sections 15.08.120 through 15.08.150

shall extend across the full width of the street frontage of the property to be served. All main extensions shall have

an inside diameter of not less than eight inches unless otherwise permitted by the manager. Prior to the

commencement of construction of any mains or main extension under this section, the manager may require

changes to be made in the plans and speciWcations; in any event, no construction of mains shall be commenced

one hundred and eighty days after the manager approves the applicant’s plans and speciWcations unless the plans

and speciWcations shall have been resubmitted to the manager for further approval or modiWcation as needed.

(Ord. 675 NCS §3; Ord. 589 NCS §1; Ord. 544 NCS §11; prior code §27.17.)

applicant and manager.

The actual construction of water main extensions will be done by the water department. The manager may permit

the applicant to construct the main extension subject Wrst to executing an agreement, as a condition precedent to

the city’s acceptance of the main, which agreement shall provide, among other things, the following:

A. Agreement Contents. The applicant shall execute and Wle an agreement between himself and the city agreeing

to complete all improvement work as required by the manager and this chapter, to the satisfaction of the

manager, within the period speciWed by the manager, and providing that if he shall fail to complete such work

within such period, the city may complete the same and recover the full cost and expense thereof from the

applicant. Such agreement shall also provide for inspection of all improvements by the manager and

reimbursement to the city for the cost of such inspection by the applicant. Such agreement may also provide:

1. For the construction of the improvements in units,

2. For an extension of time under conditions therein speciWed,

3. For the termination of the agreement upon the completion of proceedings under an assessment district

act for the construction of improvements deemed by the manager to be at least the equivalent of the

improvements speciWed in the agreement and required to be constructed by the applicant, and

4. For progress payments to the applicant, or his order, from any deposit money which the applicant may

have made in lieu of providing a surety bond, as provided by the following section; provided, however, that no

such progress payment shall be made for more than ninety percent of the value of any installment of work;

and provided, that each such installment of work shall be completed to the satisfaction of the manager.

B. Performance Bond or Cash Deposit. Every applicant shall also Wle with the agreement required by subsection

(A) of this section to assure his full and faithful performance thereof a bond for such sum as the manager may

deem suYcient to cover the cost of improvements required under this chapter and inspection thereof. Such bond

shall be executed by a surety company authorized to transact a surety business in the state, and shall be

satisfactory to and be approved by the city attorney as to form and the manager as to suYciency. In lieu of such

bond the applicant may deposit with the city treasurer cash in an amount Wxed as aforesaid by the manager. In

the event any applicant fails to complete all improvement work in accordance with the terms of the agreement or

fails to reimburse the city for the cost of inspection thereof, the city shall have the right to require the applicant or

his bondsmen to complete such work and improvement as required by such agreement; upon failure so to do

within thirty days after notice in writing of such default, the city shall have the right to complete such improvement

work, and the applicant and his bondsmen shall be jointly and severally liable to the city for the cost of completing

such improvement work or such inspection. In any case, if the amount of surety bond or cash deposit shall be less

than the cost and expense incurred by the city, the applicant shall be liable to the city for the di[erence. No

refunds, progress payments from cash deposits or releases of surety bond or cash deposit posted shall be made

except upon certiWcation by the manager that work covered thereby has been satisfactorily completed.

(Ord. 675 NCS §3; Ord. 589 NCS §1; Ord. 544 NCS §11; prior code §27.17(1).)

In any case where application for water service (other than private Wre protection service or any public Wre hydrant

service) requires a main extension, except in a case involving an application to serve a subdivision, tract or

organized service district, the water department will extend the city’s water mains to a new consumer upon

payment by him in cash as a connection charge of the reasonable estimated cost of extension (including

connection charges as established in Sections 15.08.010 through 15.08.060), and if required by the water

department, any costs of increasing the size of capacity of the city’s existing water mains or any other facilities

used or necessary for supplying the proposed extension. The application shall be accompanied by a fee of one

hundred dollars or eight percent of the estimated cost of the extension, whichever is the greater. The size, type,

quality of materials, location of mains and contract plans and speciWcations for the same will be prepared by the

manager, and the actual construction will be done by the water department or a person acceptable to the

manager. Applicant may, subject to the approval of the manager, cause to be prepared contract plans and

speciWcations for the construction of the main or mains in such form and detail as the manager may specify. In

such event, a fee of two percent of the estimated cost of construction shall accompany the application in lieu of

the one hundred dollars or eight percent as set forth above. No portion of the application fee herein required shall

be refundable for any reason unless the applicant otherwise qualiWes for a refund agreement under the provisions

of this chapter pertaining to subdivision maps and has made a Wnal map of record. Adjustment of any substantial

di[erences between the estimated and the reasonable actual cost of such extension, will be made within ninety

days after completion of the extension. Such connection charge shall not be otherwise subject to refund. (Ord. 675

NCS §3; Ord. 589 NCS §1; Ord. 544 NCS §11; prior code §27.17(2).)

Any applicant for a main extension to serve a new subdivision, tract, or organized service district (other than

private Wre protection service or any public Wre hydrant service) will be required to pay to the city in cash as a

connection charge, before construction is commenced, the estimated reasonable cost of installation of water

mains and necessary Wttings, gates and housings therefor from the nearest existing main and if required by the

manager, any costs of increasing the size or capacity of the city’s existing mains or any other facilities used or

necessary for supplying the proposed extension. At such time as meters are to be installed in a subdivision, tract,

or organized service district, the applicant requesting meters shall be required to pay the connection charge (as

established in Sections 15.08.010 through 15.08.060) which pertains to meters; provided, always, that all other

installations and costs have been made and deposited as per the requirements of the water department. The

application shall be accompanied by a fee of one hundred dollars or eight percent of the estimated cost of the

extension whichever is the greater. The size, type, quality of materials, location of mains and contract plans and

speciWcations for the same will be prepared by the manager and the actual construction will be done by the water

department or a person acceptable to the manager. Applicant may, subject to the approval of the manager,

cause to be prepared contract plans and speciWcations for the construction of the main or mains in such form and

detail as the manager may specify. In such event, a fee of two percent of the estimated cost of construction shall

accompany the application in lieu of the one hundred dollars or eight percent as set forth above. No portion of the

application fee as required in this section shall be refundable for any reason unless the applicant shall qualify for a refund agreement under the provisions of this chapter pertaining to subdivision maps Wled prior to June 30, 1961,

and made a Wnal map of record on or before July 31, 1966. Adjustment of any substantial di[erences between the

estimated and the reasonable actual cost of such installation will be made within ninety days after completion of

the installation. Connection charges shall not be subject to refund from and after July 1, 1961, except for those

applicants who have fulWlled the following conditions:

A. Tentative Subdivision Map. Applicant must have Wled, in accordance with Title 20 of this code, a tentative

subdivision map on or before June 30, 1961.

B. Final Maps. Applicant must have completed his subdividing and caused Wnal maps of record to be recorded in

the oYce of the county recorder of the county, on or before July 1, 1966. Final maps of record considered

hereunder must be directly derived from and cover only the land area described in the tentative maps mentioned

in subsection (A). Final maps Wled hereunder are to be considered an exception only if the same are derived and

obtain their validity from the tentative map Wled pursuant to the provisions of subsection (A) and at all times prior

to July 1, 1966, or its Wnal recordation, be in a condition considered current in accordance with the applicable

subdivision laws.

C. Refund Agreement. Applicants having complied with conditions (A) and (B) are entitled to enter into a refund

agreement with the city to cover that subdivision which is a matter of record on or before July 1, 1966.

(Ord. 675 NCS §3; Ord. 589 NCS §1; Ord. 544 NCS § 11; prior code §27.17(3).)

An applicant for a water main extension, who installs a water main extension of beneWt to properties other than

that owned by the applicant, may be entitled to be reimbursed for his costs incurred in an amount not to exceed

the actual cost of the installation. The applicant desiring to be reimbursed shall petition the council in writing for

an agreement whereby his costs may be reimbursed. The petition shall set forth in reasonable detail the reasons

for the request for reimbursement, a statement of actual costs incurred, and such other matters as may be

required by the council. (Ord. 1873 NCS §1; Ord. 675 NCS §4; prior code §12.17.1.)

The applicant desiring to be reimbursed for his cost incurred by reason of installation of a water main extension to

serve a subdivision to be constructed by the applicant and the water main is or will be of beneWt to properties

outside the subdivision, may be reimbursed, at the discretion of the city council, for his cost.

A. Resolution of Intent. At its discretion, the council may adopt a resolution of intention to provide for said

reimbursement.

B. Term of Resolution of Intention. Said intention to enter into the reimbursement agreement shall become null

and void on the sixty-Wrst day after the date of notiWcation to the applicant by the city of the Wnal acceptance of

the o[-site watermain public improvement, if the applicant has not entered into the appropriate agreement.

C. Calculation. If the council approves the applicant’s request for a reimbursement agreement, upon completion

of the o[-site water main, the applicant shall submit to the director of engineering a statement of the actual costs

incurred. The reimbursement shall be calculated as a front footage charge and shall be collected from those

properties who will utilize the water main extension constructed by the applicant. The reimbursement shall be

collected by the city for the beneWt of the applicant.

(Ord. 1873 NCS §2.)

The reimbursement agreement, shall be approved by council resolution, shall be executed by the city and the

applicant for reimbursement, and shall contain the following information:

A. The method by which the applicant shall be reimbursed; that is, collection of fees for the beneWt of applicant;

B. A statement as to the actual cost incurred for construction of the o[-site water main;

C. A notation that the reimbursement shall be made by means of collection of a front footage charge from those

properties connecting to the watermain installed by the applicant.

D. The payment schedule and term which shall be:

1. Payment once yearly without interest over a period of not more than ten years.

2. At the expiration of ten years, or earlier as established by the agreement, no further reimbursements

shall be made to the applicant and all charges levied and collected thereafter shall belong to the city;

E. A statement noting that the applicant for reimbursement shall not be reimbursed for more than the cost of

the o[-site waterline; nor, shall he be reimbursed for any costs incurred within or attributable to his own property.

Reimbursements shall not apply to on-site improvements to subdivisions or organized service districts. A

subdivider may be entitled to reimbursement for o[-site main extensions located outside the subdivision or tract.

The director of engineering shall determine what are o[-site water main extensions;

F. All water services shall be constructed at the sole cost of the applicant.

G. Such other reasonable terms and conditions as the city may from time to time require.

(Ord. 1873 NCS §3.)

The city may, from time to time and as found necessary, establish water beneWt districts in and about the city and

in and about the area served by the water department. Water beneWt districts shall be established by the city by

resolution of the city council in areas where the manager Wnds that it is necessary to install major mains having an

inside diameter of twelve inches or more and of a length of one thousand feet or more. (Ord. 675 NCS §5; prior

code §27.17.2.)

Applicants desiring water service in a water beneWt district shall pay connection charges as established by Sections

15.08.010 through 15.08.060, and shall, in addition to these charges, pay an acreage charge which shall be

established as to amount by dividing the di[erence between the total installation costs of the major main and the

estimated current installation costs of an eight-inch-diameter main by the number of acres in the water beneWt

district. The determination of this acreage charge as computed by the manager shall be Wnal. The acreage charge

provisions of this section shall not apply to properties previously having paid acreage charges. (Ord. 675 NCS §6;

prior code §27.17.3.)

An applicant having installed a major main extension in a water beneWt district may be entitled to be reimbursed

for his costs incurred in an amount not to exceed the actual cost of installation less the connection charges and

acreage charges applicable to the applicant’s own property. The applicant desiring to be reimbursed shall petition

the water commission, in writing, for consideration in this regard. The manager shall submit a report, in writing, on

the petition to the water commission and the report shall contain his recommendations. If the water commission

Wnds that the applicant should be reimbursed for the cost incurred, then and in that event, the same shall be done

only upon the execution of a written agreement between the applicant and the city. Such agreement shall be upon

terms and conditions as follows:

A. The city shall agree to collect acreage charges and connection fees as provided for in this chapter for the

beneWt of the applicant over a period of not more than ten years;

B. The installing applicant shall not be reimbursed for more than the total costs of the major main less the

acreage charge and connection charges applicable to applicant’s own property in the water beneWt district;

C. The city will reimburse the applicant once yearly without interest, the acreage and the connection fees

attributable to the major main for a period of ten years with no reimbursement to be made to the applicant ten

years after the date of the agreement. Upon the expiration of the agreement, all charges levied and collected shall

belong to the water department;

D. Such other reasonable terms and conditions as the city council and water commission shall require.

(Ord. 675 NCS §7; prior code §27.17.4.)

All meters and service connections shall be installed by the water department, subject to payment of applicable

connection charges. No rent or other charge shall be paid by the city for any meter or other facilities located on a

consumer’s premises. (Ord. 544 NCS §11; prior code §27.18.)

All service connections, meters, main extensions and installations paid for by applicants and all other facilities

furnished by the water department or the city, whether located wholly or partially on public or private property,

shall be and remain the property of the city and the water department shall have the right to repair, replace and

maintain the same and the right to remove the same upon discontinuance of service. The manager or other duly

authorized agent of the water department shall have at all reasonable times the right of ingress to and egress

from any consumer’s premises for any purpose properly relating to the furnishing of water to the consumer. Any

inspection work or recommendations made by the water department or its agents in connection with plumbing or

appliances or any use of water on the consumer’s premises, either as a result of a complaint or otherwise, will be

made without charge. No agent or employee of the water department or the city shall accept any personal

compensation from a consumer or applicant for any services rendered. (Ord. 544 NCS §11; prior code §27.19.)

When a consumer receiving service at the water system main or service connection must by means of a pump of

any kind elevate or increase the pressure of the water received, the pump shall not be attached to any pipe

directly connected to the main or service pipe. Such pumping or boosting of pressure shall be done from a sump,

cistern, or storage tank which may be served by but not directly connected with the water system distribution

facilities.

Exception: With prior approval of the city engineer and the Wre marshal, a booster pump may be connected to the

private property side of the city meter and/or backXow preventer if such pump is designed with control systems

and/or engineered calculations showing it will not allow the pump to reduce the city pressure below twenty

pounds per square inch. In low pressure areas said installation(s) shall be evaluated for cumulative impacts to the

city water main pressures and approved by the city. (Ord. 2402 NCS §2, 2011; Ord. 2085 NCS §1, 1999; Ord. 544

NCS §11; prior code §27.21.)

Quick closing or opening valves shall not be installed on any consumer’s pipes which are directly attached to the

water system mains or service pipes. A consumer whose operation requires the use of a quick opening or closing

valve must operate such device from a tank, cistern, sump or other facility which may be served by but not directly

connected with the water system distribution mains or service pipes. (Ord. 544 NCS §11; prior code §27.22.)