Red Bluff Municipal Code Art. I General Provisions

The Water Department for managing and operating the municipal waterworks of the city is hereby established, which shall be under the control of the City Council.

(`61 Code, § 24.1) (Ord. 304, passed 5-21-1956; Am. Ord. 966, passed 2-7-2006)

(A) The City Manager shall, as the Water Department requires, appoint the Director of Public Works and all other employees, and shall fix their compensation and prescribe their duties.

(B) The Director of Public Works shall be held responsible for the enforcement of the rules, regulations of the Water Department and the carrying out of the same under the direction of the City Manager.

(`61 Code, § 24.2) (Ord. 304, passed 5-21-1956; Am. Ord. 966, passed 2-7-2006)

The accounts and records for the Water Department shall be kept on the forms and in the manner that may be designated by the Director of Finance and all money collected by the Water Department shall be deposited with the Director of Finance.

(`61 Code, § 24.3) (Ord. 304, passed 5-21-1956; Am. Ord. 966, passed 2-7-2006)

Any person desiring to be supplied with water shall make application in writing on the prescribed form and shall sign the same and state the location, the purpose and use of the water requested.

(`61 Code, § 24.4) (Ord. 304, passed 5-21-1956; Am. Ord. 966, passed 2-7-2006)

(A) If the person desiring to be supplied with city water service shall have been a regular paid up consumer of water for the period of one year, he or she shall not be required to make a deposit, but if he or she shall not have been the regular paid up consumer for the period, he or she shall pay a deposit as established by City Council resolution, which shall be deposited in the Water Fund. Except as set forth below, when the consumer shall have timely paid his or her water bill in full for a period of one year, the deposit shall be applied to his or her account. If water service is discontinued at the consumer's request, any deposit held by the city shall first be applied to any outstanding balance due on the account; any surplus shall then be refunded to the consumer.

(B) In order to facilitate collection of delinquent accounts, including assignment to collection agencies, the city requests that consumers provide their driver's license number, if any, and Social Security number. This information is not to be made public by the city. Any consumer unwilling to provide their driver license and/or Social Security number will be required to keep the deposit described above on account with the city for the entire length of water service.

(`61 Code, § 24.7) (Ord. 304, passed 5-21-1956; Am. Ord. 776, passed 4-21-1987; Am. Ord. 849, passed 1-5-1993; Am. Ord. 934, passed 6-18-2002; Am. Ord. 958, passed 3-1-2005; Am. Ord. 966, passed 2-7-2006; Am. Ord. 981, passed 11-20-07)

Applicants for water service shall be required to pay for water service on a monthly basis and at the charge established by City Council resolution.

(`61 Code, § 24.8) (Ord. 304, passed 5-21-1956; Am. Ord. 420, passed 2-19-1963; Am. Ord. 849, passed 1-5-1993; Am. Ord. 934, passed 6-18-2002; Am. Ord. 958, passed 3-1-2005; Am. Ord. 966, passed 2-7-2006)

If water for commercial purposes varies in use on a parcel of property, a separate metered service for each use may be required at the discretion of the Director of the Public Works.

(`61 Code, § 24.10) (Ord. 304, passed 5-21-1956; Am. Ord. 759, passed 3-18-1986; Am. Ord. 958, passed 3-1-2005; Am. Ord. 966, passed 2-7-2006)

Each consumer shall have, on his or her own premises, a gate valve in a place of easy access for the convenient shutting off of the water supply. A charge as established by City Council resolution will be made to consumer for each time a stopcock of the city is used for such purpose for the benefit of a consumer.

(`61 Code, § 24.11) (Ord. 304, passed 5-21-1956; Am. Ord. 759, passed 3-18-1986; Am. Ord. 849, passed 1-5-1993; Am. Ord. 908, passed 6-20-2000; Am. Ord. 934, passed 6-18-2002; Am. Ord. 958, passed 3-1-2005; Am. Ord. 966, passed 2-7-2006)

Each consumer is responsible to keep his or her water system free from leakage or waste. Upon failure to do so, the Director of Public Works may shut off the water supply to the premises. The water may be shut off only after 24 hours notice is given to the occupant pursuant to § 24.22.

(`61 Code, § 24.12) (Ord. 304, passed 5-21-1956; Am. Ord. 359, passed 3-18-1986; Am. Ord. 908, passed 6-20-2000; Am. Ord. 958, passed 3-1-2005; Am. Ord. 966, passed 2-7-2006)

The employees of the Water Department shall have the right to enter upon any premises, at proper hours, for the purpose of inspecting the water supply system, seeing that the rules for use of water are complied with or for inspecting meters, collecting meter readings or installing or removing meters.

(`61 Code, § 24.13) (Ord. 304, passed 5-21-1956; Am. Ord. 908, passed 6-20-2000; Am. Ord. 958, passed 3-1-2005; Am. Ord. 966, passed 2-7-2006)

(A) The city and the Water Department will not be responsible for the breaking of any pipe or service valve or for any other interruption of the supply of water by reason of the break, or by reason of the breaking of machinery or stoppage for necessary repairs.

(B) When extensions, replacements or repairs to the system are planned, and time permits, users affected by temporary disruption of service will be notified by written notice, either delivered to the property or by mailing the notice to the address.

(`61 Code, § 24.14) (Ord. 304, passed 5-21-1956; Am. Ord. 759, passed 3-18-1986; Am. Ord. 908, passed 6-20-2000; Am. Ord. 958, passed 3-1-2005; Am. Ord. 966, passed 2-7-2006)

City water for use in construction is only available for projects within the city limits and may be obtained in accordance with the following criteria:

(A) Contact the Finance Department at City Hall to obtain written authorization for construction water service.

(B) Construction water may be obtained through one of two methods:

(1) The use of a construction hydrant water meter.

(a) Contact the Finance Department at City Hall and complete the paperwork to obtain an approved construction meter;

(b) Pay the established meter deposit amount and non-refundable availability charge;

(c) Return the construction hydrant meter to the Finance Department on the first of each month for reading and billing, per the established rate structure;

(d) Return the meter to the Finance Department upon completion of work or if no usage is recorded for a period of 60 days; and

(e) Should a meter not be returned to the city within the 60 day period, a daily penalty charge will be imposed.

(2) The use of the Red Bluff Corporation Yard overhead fill facility.

(a) Contact the Finance Department and complete the paperwork for authorization to obtain water from the corporation yard facility;

(b) Pay the non-refundable availability charge;

(c) Corporation yard personnel must sign off for each load of water obtained;

(d) On the first of each month the city will bill the responsible party for water obtained at the corporation yard; and

(e) Authorization to obtain water from the corporation yard will be valid for 60 days. Upon request the Finance Department may extend the use up to 60 additional days providing the water account is current.

(C) Failure to adhere to program guidelines may result in the Public Works Director denying the use of future construction water services.

(D) Anyone found taking water from a city fire hydrant or the corporation yard facility without proper written authorization from the Finance Department will be cited in accordance with § 24.8-1.

(`61 Code, § 24.15) (Ord. 304, passed 5-21-1956; Am. Ord. 759, passed 3-18-1986; Am. Ord. 908, passed 6-20-2000; Am. Ord. 958, passed 3-1-2005; Am. Ord. 966, passed 2-7-2006)

In case of fire alarm all water being used for irrigation and car washing shall be immediately shut off and any authorized city employee may enter upon any premises within the city for the purpose of closing any hydrant or water outlet that may be open at the time.

(`61 Code, § 24.16) (Ord. 304, passed 5-21-1956; Am. Ord. 958, passed 3-1-2005; Am. Ord. 966, passed 2-7-2006)

All sums received and collected by the Finance Department shall be posted daily in the appropriate water fund. All expenses incurred by the city in the management and handling of the water department, improvements, additions, and repairs thereto, shall be paid out of such funds.

(`61 Code, § 24.17) (Ord. 304, passed 5-21-1956; Am. Ord. 908, passed 6-20-2000; Am. Ord. 934, passed 6-18-2002; Am. Ord. 958, passed 3-1-2005; Am. Ord. 966, passed 2-7-2006)

The use or drilling of individual or community water wells is prohibited within the city’s municipal water system service area without the permission of the city and the county health department. Properties within the city that are without service should construct the appropriate facilities and extend water main lines of sufficient size to accommodate the water needs of the site. The city may participate in the cost of water facility extensions that provide an increased benefit for other users in the area as determined by the Director of Public Works.

(`61 Code, § 24.18) (Ord. 731, passed 12-20-1983; Am. Ord. 908, passed 6-20-2000; Am. Ord. 958, passed 3-1-2005; Am. Ord. 966, passed 2-7-2006)