Placerville Municipal Code Ch. 3 Waterworks System

The municipal waterworks is hereby declared to be under the direct superintendence of the superintendent of public works, subject to control and rules and regulations as may, by resolution of the council from time to time, be prescribed. (Ord. 605, 3-10-1924)

For newly established utility service accounts, or as a condition to reconnecting utility service to an account for which service was terminated for nonpayment of utility service invoice, the applicant may be required, at the discretion of the finance director, to deposit a sum of money prior to establishing the account or reconnecting service, which sum shall be based solely on the credit worthiness of the applicant as determined by the finance director. Any such deposit shall be subject to the provisions of section 10009.6 of the California Public Utilities Code and shall not exceed twice the estimated average periodic bill. (Ord. 1603, 10-25-2005)

7-3-2A: ESTABLISHMENT OF RATES:

The council shall establish the rates to be charged for the sale and use of water from the municipal waterworks, and said rates may be changed from time to time, by resolution of the council, when they deem such change necessary or for the best interest of the city. (Ord. 605, 3-10-1924)

Effective April 15, 1988, the water rates in the city shall, on a bimonthly basis, be as follows:

(Res. 4920, 5-10-1988)

7-3-2B: WATER BOOSTER PUMP STATION CHARGES:

(A) In the event it is necessary to install or maintain a water booster pump in order to provide water service, then the owners of the property receiving such service shall pay an additional prorated charge, to be determined by the city engineer, to reimburse the city for the installation, energy costs, repair, maintenance and replacement of said water booster pump. (Ord. 1420, 7-28-1987)

(B) If the water booster pump station is already in service, then the area served by the water booster pump station shall carry an additional charge to the city in order to reimburse the city for energy costs only. (Ord. 1306, 7-27-1982)

The sale of water to consumers within the city shall always be governed by such rules and regulations as the council shall adopt, and the council may change the rules and regulations from time to time by resolution. (Ord. 1331, 8-23-1983)

Any consumer of water may, upon notice to the superintendent of public works, have installed a water meter of suitable size for the service desired, and pay the fee prescribed in section 7-3-17 of this chapter, and thereafter the rates to be charged and collected shall be as set forth by resolution of the council. (Ord. 605, 3-10-1924)

Utility service charges include charges for water service, wastewater service, or both, for residential or commercial users.

(A) Utility service account payment shall be due upon receipt of invoice. Utility service charges are payable bimonthly and shall become delinquent twenty (20) days from the date of mailing of the utility account invoice. Delinquent accounts will be subject to a late charge of twenty dollars ($20.00). Water and sewer service charges are inseparable and the failure to pay either charge on a utility service invoice will result in the termination of water and sewer services. Termination of services shall be pursuant to division 5, chapter 1, article 1, commencing with sections 10009 through 10011 of the Public Utilities Code of the state of California. In the event that a utility service account remains delinquent and a turnoff order is issued, a disconnection/reconnection charge as determined by resolution of the city council shall be paid for each occasion that the city has to disconnect and/or reconnect service discontinued for nonpayment of utility service invoice. No service which has been discontinued for nonpayment of utility service charges shall be reconnected until all current and delinquent utility charges are paid. In cases when delinquent utility charges remain unpaid, the city shall have the right to lien against the real property and/or cause legal action to be brought against the utility account holder. When a previous tenant leaves without paying a delinquent utility invoice, the city may require that subsequent service be furnished under the name of the owner on record of real property or his/her agent. (Ord. 1634, 12-14-2009)

(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (A) of this section, a utility service customer may avoid late charges and termination of service by paying one-half (1/2) of the invoice amount of utility service charges before the delinquency date as set forth in subsection (A) of this section, and the remaining one-half (1/2) of said utility service invoice amount within thirty (30) days after the delinquency date set forth in subsection (A) of this section. In this event, it is the responsibility of the customer to notify the finance department of the city of Placerville of their intent to pay utility service charges pursuant to this section. The utility service customer will not receive an additional bill for the remaining fifty percent (50%) of the utility service invoice amount and it will be the customer's responsibility to pay said amount within the thirty (30) day period set forth herein. (Ord. 1603, 10-25-2005)

Consumers shall prevent all unnecessary waste of water. During periods of drought or water shortage, the council may, from time to time, adopt emergency water conservation policies. Any person wilfully or negligently wasting water or violating any emergency water conservation policy, while such policies are in effect, shall be guilty of an infraction and shall be subject to having his/her water supply turned off, and shall not be allowed to purchase water from the city until he/she gives satisfactory proof that the wastage has ceased and has paid the sum of fifty dollars ($50.00) to have the supply reconnected. (Ord. 1441, 5-24-1988)

All consumers of water shall keep their service pipes, plumbing, and stopcocks free from leakage at their own expense and will be held liable for any damage which may result from failure to comply herewith. (Ord. 1331, 8-23-1983)

The water collector or any officer of the city shall have the power at all times during reasonable hours to make examination of the premises of any consumer of water to designate the rates as herein established and to inspect the water pipes and their appurtenances. (Ord. 605, 3-10-1924; amd. Ord. 1331, 8-23-1983)

Application for the use of water from the water system must be made on printed forms provided for that purpose, which can be secured from the finance department. Should any consumer of water desire water for an additional purpose not stated in the original application, a new application must be made. (Ord. 1634, 12-14-2009)

All utility service accounts and bills shall be recorded in the name of the person(s)/entity requesting utility service. However, when service is provided to a multi-unit residential structure or other similar structures, as set forth in sections 10009 and 10009.1 of the California Public Utilities Code, residential occupants of such structures shall have the right to become customers pursuant to the provisions of sections 10009 and 10009.1 of the California Public Utilities Code. (Ord. 1603, 10-25-2005)

No one, except the superintendent of public works or his/her representative shall make any connections or turn the water on or off from any building or premises. (Ord. 1331, 8-23-1983)

(A) The council reserves the right to shut off the water in mains for the purpose of repairs and will not be responsible for any damage arising therefrom, and the city will not be responsible for the breaking of any pipe or service cock, or any other interruption of the supply of water by reason of the breaking of pumps or machinery or stopping for necessary repairs.

(B) All disconnections must be made by screwing on a metallic cap or plug.

(C) The council reserves the right at any time to require the use of self-closing faucets in cases where they may deem it necessary. (Ord. 605, 3-10-1924; amd. Ord. 1331, 8-23-1983)

The finance director shall be ex officio water collector and shall use due diligence in the collection of the water service charges and fees; and deposit the same with the treasurer each day. Water service charges shall be charged for all premises where turned on, whether occupied or not until such time as the water is ordered turned off. (Ord. 1634, 12-14-2009)

The treasurer shall place all monies collected from water consumers to the credit of a special fund which is hereby created and shall be called the "water fund". (Ord. 605, 3-10-1924)

Water meter installation fees shall be as the city council may from time to time establish by resolution 1 . (Ord. 1014, 9-12-1972)

It shall be the policy of the city to require water meters to be installed on city property adjacent to the property line of the property where the water is to be used. If in the opinion of the superintendent of public works there are circumstances in individual cases which indicate that it would be less burdensome and more advantageous to the city and the property owner to have the water meter at a place within the property line, this may be done provided that there is either an easement or written agreement which has been accepted by the city council. (Ord. 1331, 8-23-1983)

If there be a request from any one or more persons outside the city to use the water system of the city, the city council shall then consider each such request upon its own merit. Any determination made by the city council with respect to any one or more requests shall in no way be binding upon the city with respect to any other requests.

(A) If the city should allow any land outside the city to hook onto the water system of the city, then the following regulations shall apply:

1. The water lines to the city water line shall be constructed by and at the expense of the person or persons requesting the water service.

2. Any water line constructed shall be constructed according to sound engineering practices and to the standards of the city. The city engineer shall be the sole judge of whether the construction is according to sound engineering practices and according to city standards.

3. Any water line constructed pursuant to this chapter shall be of sufficient size to provide for future construction and shall be properly engineered to permit minimal maintenance. The adequacy of the size shall be determined solely by the city engineer.

4. The city shall inspect and supervise the installation of any water line constructed pursuant to this chapter. The person or persons requesting the water line shall pay all charges including overhead to the city for such inspection and supervision. This charge shall be paid within ten (10) days after the request is made by the city.

5. Anybody receiving water services pursuant to this chapter shall pay two (2) times the normal connection charge and two (2) times the monthly service charge.

6. Additionally, anybody receiving water services as established by this chapter shall pay the city an in lieu tax equal to that which a person who is a resident of the city would pay for services received which are not available outside the city. The amount of such in lieu tax shall be computed each year by the city for each person receiving water services under the provisions of this chapter. At the option of the city this charge could be paid either monthly with the water service charge or semiannually on the tax bill. Anybody paying an in lieu tax for a sewer connection will not be required to pay any additional in lieu tax as a result of the water connection.

(B) Anybody requesting a water service to the city as set forth in this chapter shall file a written statement with the city that he shall agree to any future proposed annexation to the city of the land receiving water services if requested to do so by the city. If any future property owner of the land refuses to sign a petition to annex to the city, the water service may be terminated by the city by giving the property owner thirty (30) days' prior written notice that if he does not sign the petition his water service will be terminated.

(C) If any owner of real property receiving water services pursuant to this chapter should fail to comply with anything contained in this chapter, the city may then terminate water services after thirty (30) days' written notice to the property owner with respect to the real property outside the city owned by such defaulting owner. (Ord. 1061, 7-9-1974)

Extensions of water lines from the city main to the customer's property line shall be at the customer's cost. The customer shall make a deposit based upon a cost estimate by the city. At the completion of the installation, the public works superintendent shall submit an invoice based on actual materials, including the meter, labor and equipment used, and charge this against the deposit. If the deposit was too large, the customer will be refunded the difference, if it is too small, the customer shall pay the difference. (Ord. 1143, 2-14-1978)

In addition to the normal water connection charge, there shall be a capital improvement charge which shall be paid at the same time as the connection charge is paid. In the event more than one dwelling unit or business is receiving water service through the same connection to the city water system, there shall be an additional capital improvement charge for each dwelling unit or business commencing with the second dwelling unit or business. Exception: apartments shall pay seventy five percent (75%) of the capital improvement charge(s) noted above. Said capital improvement charge(s) are based upon requirements of the El Dorado irrigation district (EID) as detailed in the "agreement between city and EID for a water supply" and to the city for local water system capital improvements. Distribution of the funds generated by the capital improvements shall be directed to the EID for regional water system capital improvements, and to the city for water system capital improvements. The amount of capital improvement charges and distribution of said funds shall be set by council resolution and may be changed from time to time by the city council, when they deem such change necessary or for the best interest of the city. (Ord. 1560, 5-11-1999)

(A) Persons other than the city may desire to alter and/or extend the city's water facilities to make water and/or fire protection, as required by title 3, chapter 10 of this code, available to properties lying beyond existing facilities. The person desiring to alter and/or extend such water facilities must make an application with the city engineer requesting that such facilities be altered and/or extended and must file plans and specifications showing how the facilities are to be altered and/or extended. Such alterations and/or extensions may be constructed by the applicant if the city engineer approves the application, plans and specifications.

(B) In the event the city engineer determines that properties, other than the property being developed by the person constructing the water facilities, benefit from the construction, the city may enter into an appropriate reimbursement agreement with the person constructing the water line and/or fire protection. Said agreement shall provide that the city shall, but without liability therefor, endeavor to collect by way of connection charges and/or development fees and reimburse to such developer so much of the construction costs of said water facilities as may be practicably collected from the property owners on the basis of the extent to which said water facilities shall benefit their respective properties. (Ord. 1343, 12-13-1983)

(C) Each reimbursement agreement with the developer shall be authorized by the council in the same manner as other contracts. Such reimbursement agreement and the rights therein granted shall be assignable by the person constructing such water line in the first instance.

(D) All rights for reimbursement under any reimbursement agreement shall terminate on the tenth anniversary of the date of the agreement, and the city shall thereafter retain any fees charged for connection to the system.

(E) The area to be benefited shall be determined by the city engineer, and a map designating the area to be benefited shall be attached to all reimbursement contracts.

(F) The determination of benefits may be based either on area or front foot charges, whichever is determined to be most equitable by the city engineer, and the appropriate allocations of construction costs shall be based upon the benefits to be derived from each parcel of property. The determinations of benefits and allocations of cost by the city engineer shall be final and conclusive. (Ord. 1144, 2-14-1978)

(G) Fees shall be paid as required by section 4-8-1 of this code to defray the costs incidental to the processing of plans and for the inspection of such work. (Ord. 1263, 5-26-1981)

(H) All charges to be made pursuant to this section shall be in addition to the meter installation fee required by section 7-3-17 of this chapter. (Ord. 1144, 2-14-1978)

(I) The developer or applicant shall pay all of the initial costs of constructing an extension to the water and/or installing any fire protection devices as set forth pursuant to this section. The parties within the area that will benefit from the extension to the water and/or the installation of fire protection devices shall pay their proportionate share of the cost at such time as they connect to the extension of the water line or as part of the payment of any required development fees. (Ord. 1343, 12-13-1983)

(J) It shall be unlawful for any person to break, damage, destroy or tamper with any water line, structure, appurtenance or equipment which is a part of the waterworks system of the city. Any violation shall be subject to penalty section 1-4-5 of this code. (Ord. 1355, 5-8-1984)