Petaluma Municipal Code Ch. 15.12 Water Services Supplied by City

The territory served by the city shall be all territory within the boundaries of the city now or at any time hereafter

served by the water system, and, at the discretion of the council, any other territory outside the boundaries of the

city in which the city at the time has water distribution pipelines. (Ord. 544 NCS §2; prior code §27.10.)

The city shall not be responsible for the installation or maintenance of any water lines beyond the end of its

service connection or meter.

The city will not be responsible for any loss or damage caused by any negligence or unlawful act of any consumer

or any other person in installing, maintaining, supplying or using any appliances, facilities or equipment for which

water or water service is furnished by the city. Each consumer shall be held responsible for damage to the city’s

meters and other property comprising any part of the water system resulting from use or operation of any

appliances or facilities on such consumer’s premises, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,

damage caused by steam, hot water or chemicals. (Ord. 544 NCS § 11; prior code §27.23.)

A. It is a violation of this article for any person to tamper with any of the property comprising the water system.

B. Charges and penalties may be imposed for any tampering or damage to water system property.

(Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 544 NCS §11; prior code §27.24.)

Separate premises under single control or management shall be furnished water through separate individual

service connections unless the city elects otherwise. Separate houses, buildings, living or business quarters on the

same lot, piece or parcel of land or on adjoining lots, pieces or parcels of land, under a single control or

management shall be furnished water, at the option of the consumer exercising such control or management, by

either of the following methods:

A. Through separate service connections to each such house, building, or living or business quarter; or

B. Through a single service connection to supply all of such houses, buildings and living and business quarters,

in which case only one monthly minimum charge shall be applied and the responsibility for payment of charges

for all water furnished shall be assumed by the consumer having such control or management.

(Ord. 544 NCS §3; prior code §27.25.)

Except by special agreement with the city no consumer shall resell any water furnished by the city through the

water system. (Ord. 544 NCS §3; prior code §27.26.)

A. Any residential consumer’s water service may be discontinued for nonpayment of a bill for water service

furnished in accordance with the city of Petaluma policy for collection and discontinuation of service for

nonpayment as adopted on September 20, 2021, pursuant to Resolution No. 2021-158 NCS and as such policy

may be amended from time to time.

B. Any nonresidential consumer’s water service may be discontinued for nonpayment of a bill for water service

furnished if the bill is not paid within sixty days after the billing date.

C. A consumer’s water service, whether residential or nonresidential, may also be discontinued for nonpayment

of a bill for water service furnished at a previous or di[erent location served by the city, in accordance with

subsection A or B of this section.

D. No nonresidential service will be discontinued under this section until at least seven business days after a

delinquent and impending discontinuation notice is mailed to such consumer stating the city’s intention to

discontinue service.

(Ord. 2791 NCS §3, 2021; Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 544 NCS §8; prior code §27.27.)

The city may refuse to furnish water and may discontinue service without notice to any premises where apparatus,

appliances or equipment using water is found by the manager to be dangerous or unsafe or where the use of

water on such premises is found by the manager to be detrimental or injurious to the water service furnished by

the city to other consumers, or where the manager Wnds that negligent or wasteful use of water exists on any

premises which a[ects the city’s water service. The city shall have the right to refuse or discontinue water service

to any premises if necessary to protect itself against fraud or abuse. (Ord. 544 NCS §8; prior code §27.28.)

15.12.071—15.12.078 Reserved.

1 Editor’s Note: Former Sections 15.12.071 through 15.12.078, previously codiWed herein and derived from

Ordinance No. 2114 NCS, were repealed in their entirety by Ordinance No. 2316 NCS.

In the event of violation of any terms of this chapter (except under Sections 15.12.060 and 15.12.070) the water

department may disconnect the premises to which such violation relates from the water system after Wrst

notifying in writing the person causing, allowing or committing such violation, specifying the violation and, if

applicable, the time after which (upon the failure of such person to prevent or rectify the violation) the manager will exercise his authority to disconnect the premises from the water system; provided, that such time shall not be

less than Wve days after the deposit of such notice in the United States Post OYce at Petaluma, Sonoma County,

California, addressed to the person to whom notice is given; provided, however, that in the event such violation

results in a public hazard or menace, then the manager may enter upon the premises without notice and do such

things and expend such sums as may be necessary to abate such hazard, and the reasonable value of the things

done and the amounts expended in so doing shall be a charge upon the person so in violation. (Ord. 544 NCS §8;

prior code §27.29.)

Any consumer may have his water service discontinued by giving notice to the water department requesting

discontinuance not less than two days prior to the requested date of discontinuance. Each such consumer shall

pay all water charges up to and including the date of discontinuance stated in such notice. In any case where such

notice is not given, the consumer shall be required to pay for water service until two days after the water

department has knowledge that the consumer has vacated the premises or otherwise discontinued water service.

The city shall make a reconnection charge for restoring water service to any consumer whose water service has

been discontinued at this request. Such charges shall be set according to Chapter 15.16. (Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993;

Ord. 1661 NCS §1, 1986; Ord. 1137 NCS §1, 1974; Ord. 544 NCS §9; prior code §27.30.)

Whenever any premises have been disconnected from the water system for any violation of this chapter, such

premises shall not be reconnected to the water system until all delinquent charges have been paid, together with

a reconnection charge and until credit is established pursuant to Chapter 15.16. (Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord.

1661 NCS §2, 1986; Ord. 1137 NCS §1, 1974; Ord. 544 NCS §8; prior code § 27.31.)

A. The city will exercise reasonable diligence to provide continuous and adequate water service to consumers

and to avoid any shortage or interruption of delivery of water, but cannot guarantee complete freedom from

interruption. The water department shall have the right to suspend water service temporarily to make necessary

repairs or improvements to the water system. In each case of temporary suspension of service the water

department will notify the consumers a[ected as soon as circumstances permit and will prosecute the work of

repair or improvement with due diligence and with the least possible inconvenience to consumers.

B. During any period of threatened or actual water shortage the city shall have the right to apportion its

available water supply among consumers in such manner as appears most equitable under the circumstances

then prevailing and with due regard to public health and safety.

C. The city shall not be liable for interruption, shortage or insuYciency of water supply or water pressure or any

loss or damage occasioned thereby.

(Ord. 544 NCS § 10; prior code §27.32.)

Every meter will be tested prior to being installed and no meter will be placed in service if found to register more

than two percent fast or slow. (Ord. 544 NCS §4; prior code §27.33(1).)

A. A consumer may, with at least one week’s notice, require the city to test the meter serving the premises.

B. No charge will be made for such a test, except where a consumer requests a test within six months after

installation of the meter or more often than once a year, in which case the consumer will be required to deposit

with the city an amount according to Chapter 15.16.

(Ord. 1940 NCS §2, 1993; Ord. 544 NCS §4; prior code §27.33(2).)

The city will endeavor to supply water at the curb or property line in adequate quantities to meet the reasonable

needs and requirements of consumers. (Ord. 544 NCS §3; prior code §27.34.)

The city will endeavor to supply water at the curb or property line at proper working pressures to meet the

reasonable needs and requirements of consumers. (Ord. 544 NCS §3; prior code §27.35.)

Whenever water is furnished for human consumption the city will endeavor to supply at all times a safe and

potable water. (Ord. 544 NCS §3; prior code §27.36.)

All water supplied consumers will (except as hereinafter otherwise speciWed) be measured by means of suitable

standard water meters. A cubic foot will be the unit of measurement, unless otherwise provided for in the rate

schedules hereinafter set forth. (Ord. 544 NCS §3; prior code §27.37.)

The Wre protection service connection will be installed by the city at the cost of the applicant. Such cost shall not be

subject to refund.

If a distribution main of adequate size to serve a private Wre protection system in addition to all other normal

service does not exist in the street or alley adjacent to the premises to be served, then a service main from the

nearest existing main of adequate capacity will be installed by the city at the cost of the applicant. Such cost shall

not be subject to refund.

Service under this chapter is for private Wre protection systems to which no connections for other than Wre

protection purposes are allowed and which are regularly inspected by the underwriters having jurisdiction, are

installed according to speciWcations of the city, and are maintained to the satisfaction of the city. The city may

install the standard detector type meter approved by the Board of Fire Underwriters for protection against theft,

leakage or waste of water. (Ord. 544 NCS §3; prior code §27.38.)

Hydrants owned by the city will be installed, maintained, painted, inspected and relocated at the expense of the

city from funds other than revenues of the water system. (Ord. 544 NCS §3; prior code §27.39.)

Hydrants owned by the public authority will be installed, maintained, painted, inspected and relocated at the

expense of the public authority. The city will install and own the tee in the main, the hydrant branch and the

control valve.

Hydrants owned by the city will be maintained by it. The public authority will pay for the relocation of any hydrants

owned by the city.

Number of outlets in standard outlets will be limited to two two-and-one-half-inch outlets and one four-and-one-

half-inch outlet for residential, and one two-and-one-half-inch outlet and two four-and-one-half-inch outlets for

commercial. (Ord. 2713 NCS §2 (Exh. A), 2020; Ord. 544 NCS §3; prior code §27.40.)

Fire hydrants will be attached to the city’s distribution mains only as authorized by the proper public authority.

Such authorization must designate the ownership, size, and type of hydrants and speciWcally state the location at

which each is to be installed. (Ord. 54 CS §3; prior code §27.41.)