Redlands Municipal Code Ch. 13.12 Water Charges

A. The water main frontage charge is established to implement the Redlands general plan and to finance the construction of local water distribution mains and main extensions, by providing for more equitable sharing of costs of those mains. Included are eight inch (8") minimum size water mains or twelve inch (12") minimum size water mains if required for fire flow, required within the development and/or along the frontage of the development and water main extensions from the development to a point where the new mains can tie into two (2) existing water mains.

The frontage charge shall be equal to the frontage charge per foot, as specified by subsection D of this section, multiplied by the total length of all property lines contiguous to street right of way or easement wherein there are water mains accessible to the property.

B. A percentage of the frontage charge collected, set by section 13.24.050 of this title, shall be refunded to the person, or persons, corporation or agency originally paying for said water main to which the connection has been made. See section 13.24.050 of this title for rules governing application for refunds.

C. Twenty five percent (25%) of the sum collected as frontage charges shall be credited to the water fund balance. Seventy five percent (75%) of the sum collected in frontage charges in accordance with this section shall be credited to the reserve for frontage charge reimbursement which shall be established in the water fund. Reimbursements shall be paid out of this reserve. Any accumulation of funds beyond the amount necessary to meet refund obligations shall be credited from time to time, to the reserve for capital in the water fund.

D. Water main frontage charge per foot shall be:

(Ord. 2682 § 4, 2007: Ord. 2655 § 3, 2007: Ord. 2608 § 5, 2005: Ord. 2079 §§ 9, 10, 1989: Ord. 1944 § 1, 1986: prior code § 59103)

A. The city may use a unified billing system for city provided services. The charges for water, wastewater, and refuse service, or any other city provided services, may be billed on one bill and collected as one item. Failure to pay the amount due in full for any of the services may result in the discontinuation of water services.

B. All bills and charges for service shall be due and payable upon presentation and shall become delinquent twenty six (26) days thereafter. If the bill is not paid on, or prior to, said due date, the billing shall be considered delinquent and a late charge shall be levied upon the unpaid balance as follows:

1. For any account with an unpaid balance, a onetime charge of ten percent (10%) of the unpaid balance per service shall be assessed.

2. This charge shall be due and payable immediately upon accrual.

3. Upon request from the customer, one (1) late charge may be waived by city staff once every twelve (12) months.

4. In lieu of imposing a late charge upon a customer's delinquent water service billings, the City may offer to any customer of the city's water service who has a delinquent water service billing the option to participate in the city's automatic payment plan rather than be responsible for the payment of late charges pursuant to subsection 1, above. Such participation, if agreed to by the water service customer, shall be for a period of one (1) year. In the event the customer terminates his or her participation in the automatic payment plan during such one (1) year period, the customer shall immediately become liable for the late charges and penalties that would otherwise have been imposed on the customer's delinquent water service account.

C. Service may be discontinued upon written notice required by law if payment of all charges is not made prior to the date such service becomes delinquent, to the extent authorized by law.

D. If any owner or agent pays for water service on more than one property or unit, service may be discontinued on all properties for failure to pay on any one property. Procedures and charges for restoration of service are set forth by resolution and section 13.12.050 of this chapter.

E. Failure to receive a bill shall not relieve the customer of liability. Any amount due shall be deemed a debt to the city, and any person, firm or corporation failing, neglecting, or refusing to pay said indebtedness shall be liable in a civil action brought by the city in any court of competent jurisdiction for the amount thereof.

F. In addition to any other remedies it may have for the collection of delinquent accounts, the city may cause notice of a hearing on delinquent accounts in accordance with Government Code sections 25831 and 38790.1. Such notice shall be mailed to property owners listed as delinquent accounts not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of the hearing. At the hearing, the city council shall hear any objections or protests of such property owners. The city council may make such revisions, corrections or deletions to the report of delinquent accounts as it deems just, after which, by resolution, the report shall be confirmed. The delinquent charges set forth in the delinquent account report may be placed as a lien on such properties for the amount of such delinquent charges plus legal fees and administration costs. A certified copy of the confirmed report shall be filed with the city clerk for the current tax roll. The lien created attaches upon recordation, in the office of the county recorder, of a certified copy of the resolution of confirmation. All laws applicable to the levy, collection and enforcement of city ad valorem property taxes shall be applicable to such liens. (Ord. 2944 § 1, 2022: Ord. 2903 § 2, 2019: Ord. 2800, 2013)

A. The City shall offer an alternative payment plan to a water service customer under certain circumstances and under terms and conditions set by resolution of the city council. A customer shall be eligible for an alternative payment plan if all three (3) of the following circumstances are satisfied:

1. The customer is willing to enter into an alternative payment schedule with respect to all delinquent charges.

2. The customer is not currently in default on any other pre-existing alternative payment plan under this section.

3. The customer has not been in default on their municipal services account for longer than sixty (60) days.

B. The customer must comply with the payment plan and remain current as charges accrue in each subsequent billing period. The customer may not request further payment plans for any subsequent unpaid charges while paying delinquent charges pursuant to a payment plan. Where the customer fails to comply with the terms of the payment plan for sixty (60) days or more, meaning that the full agreed upon payment is not made toward the unpaid delinquent balance on his or her account, the City may discontinue water service per Section 13.12.020C to the extent authorized by law. (Ord. 2975 § 1, 2025: Ord. 2903 § 3, 2019)

The water charge shall begin when a service is installed and the meter is set. Before the water shall be turned on by the division for any purposes whatsoever, the property owner or his authorized agent shall first sign a form in which he guarantees the payment of future water bills for the services required. The property owner or his authorized agent will be held liable for water used until the division is notified in writing to discontinue the service. (Prior code § 59106)

A person, firm or corporation taking possession of premises and using water from an active service connection without having made application to the division for water service, shall be held liable for the water delivered from the date of the last recorded meter reading, and if the meter is found inoperative, the quantity consumed will be estimated. If proper application for water service is not made upon notification to do so by the division, and if accumulated bills for service are not paid immediately, the service may be discontinued by the division without further notice. (Prior code § 59107)

A. A charge to establish a new account will be collected by the city. The amount shall be established by resolution.

B. Upon request, the city will shut off the water supply without charge for emergency purposes, and it is understood that the city will turn on the water supply after repairs have been made.

C. If the service must be discontinued for nonpayment of bill(s), a charge as set by resolution will be made by the city which must be paid in full prior to restoration of service, including the minimum amount of prepayment as set by this chapter in the event any previous prepayments have already been applied.

D. Any person requesting water service for a premises for which a notice of violation of the California Health And Safety Code or a notice of substandard building has been issued must provide evidence of a current legal right to occupy the premises and clearance by either the development services director or the quality of life director before the restoration of service.

E. If a city representative is prevented from discontinuing service, or if service is turned back on by anyone other than an authorized representative, the city may take any further steps it deems necessary to effect the disconnection and prior to the restoration of service, all delinquent charges and applicable miscellaneous charges must be paid in full before service will be restored as set by resolution, including the minimum amount of prepayment as set by this chapter in the event any previous prepayments have already been applied. (Ord. 2834, 2016)

This section shall apply to sewer and water billings. If a customer is entitled to a refund for any reason, such as overpayment of a closing bill or other just cause, a demand shall be made by the customer for a refund of such overpayment, and subject to verification by the city, a city warrant shall be issued to the customer in the amount of the overcharge. In the event the overpayment was made on a bill which is not a closing bill, the amount overpaid shall be credited to the customer's account.

A. Undercharge: In the case of a discovered sewer or water undercharge, when the undercharge is the result of a city error or omission, there shall be no back charge adjustment for services with meters smaller than or equal to one inch (1") in size. Proper billing shall begin with the first cycle billing after the discovered error and the customer shall be notified in writing of the charge and the reason for the charge. For services with meters which are greater than one inch (1") in size, discovered sewer or water undercharges shall be referred to the director of public works for determination of back charges due.

B. Overcharge: In the case of a detected overcharge, the overcharge shall be adjusted back for a period of up to four (4) years. The customer shall be notified of the charge and the reason for the charge. No interest will be paid on the adjustment.

(Ord. 2903 § 4, 2019: Ord. 1948 § 1, 1986: prior code § 59119)

A. In the event of a complaint by a customer that his or her water bill is excessive, a reread shall be made on the meter and a check shall be made to determine in particular if there are leaks in the meter. Should no leak in the meter be found, then, upon request of the customer, the meter shall be removed and be subject to a test upon it as set forth in detail in section 13.16.030 of this title. In the event the meter tests within the approved limitations, and the customer continues to question the water bill, a personal investigation of said premises served by the meter shall be made by the water superintendent or his appointed representative. Should such investigation find no reason to adjust said bill, the customer may make application (including payment of the application fee established by resolution of the city council) to the board for a final and binding, non-appealable ruling.

B. In the event a customer disputes his or her water bill for any other reason than such bill being excessive for disputed usage, the customer may make application (including payment of the application fee established by resolution of the city council) to the board for a final and binding, non-appealable ruling.

(Ord. 2903 § 5, 2019: prior code § 59120)

A. Prepayment Deposit Required: The city shall require a prepayment from all customers for municipal utility service who have not established credit with the city by having a satisfactory payment record for a one (1) year period. A "satisfactory payment record" means that all payments have been made in full to the city on or before the original due date. The prepayment amount required shall be three (3) times the cost of the estimated monthly service to the customer, or seventy dollars ($70.00), whichever is greater. The prepayment amount shall be applied as a credit to the customer's account at the end of one (1) year, provided the customer has maintained a payment record for water service satisfactory to the city. If the customer's payment record is not satisfactory at the end of the one (1) year period, the prepayment shall be held for a second year, or as long as necessary, to establish a satisfactory twelve (12) month payment record. Any prepayment amount being held will be applied against the customer's closing bill if the customer orders the service discontinued, and any credit balance refunded to the customer. If requested by the customer, the prepayment may be made in two (2) equal payments, one at the establishment of service, and the second within thirty (30) days of the establishment of service.

B. Deposit Waiver: The requirement for establishing and maintaining credit may not be waived or reduced except upon a finding of good credit by the municipal utilities and engineering director and the management services/finance director. In such cases where the prepayment deposit waiver is granted, the customer must authorize auto deduction of bill amounts on a monthly basis from a bank account.

C. Findings of good credit may be established by the new customer if he or she presents a valid letter of reference from another utility for services received in the previous twenty four (24) months demonstrating no disconnections for non-payment, no late payments and no outstanding balances during the last twelve (12) consecutive billing cycles.

(Ord. 2903 § 6, 2019: Ord. 2800, 2013)