Sacramento Municipal Code Art. III Water Meters

* Prior ordinance history: Ord. 2001-033.

The provisions of California Water Code Section 521 et seq., impose various requirements for the installation and use of water meters. The ordinance codified in this article is enacted to comply with and implement these state law requirements. (Ord. 2005-090 § 4)

A. In accordance with the provisions of California Water Code Section 525, no new water service connections may be attached to the city water distribution system on or after January 1, 1992, unless such connection is equipped with a water meter. As used in this section, "new water service connection" includes any existing water service connection that is used to provide water to buildings or residential units constructed on or after January 1, 1992. Fire service connections are exempt from the provisions of this chapter. The director may adopt standards and requirements to implement the provisions of this section.

B. Prior to the installation of a water meter in accordance with the terms of this section, the customer shall pay any applicable fee established from time to time by resolution of the city council to recover costs incurred by the city to provide, install or supervise the installation of the water meter.

C. Water meters for water service connections made on or after January 1, 1992 shall be installed by the city or under the city's supervision in accordance with all applicable city water and building codes, regulations, and standards.

D. A water meter for a water service connection made on or after January 1, 1992 shall not be installed unless a plumbing permit has been issued.

E. Meters for water service connections made on or after January 1, 1992 shall be installed above ground on metered water services three inches and larger in diameter that require the installation of a backflow prevention assembly installation.

F. No occupancy permit for any structure served by a water service connection made on or after January 1, 1992 shall be issued until meter installation is complete. (Ord. 2005-090 § 4)

California Water Code Section 527 requires the city to install water meters on all water service connections on or before January 1, 2025. In order to comply with this requirement, the director shall develop and implement a phased program to accomplish, by January 1, 2025, the installation of water meters on all city water service connections that existed without meters as of January 1, 2005. Such program shall comply with any requirements specified or approved by resolution(s) of the city council, including resolution(s) adopted prior to the effective date of the ordinance enacting this section. The director may adopt standards and requirements to implement the provisions of this section. Customers shall pay such rates, fees and/or charges as may be established from time to time by resolution of the city council to fund, among other costs, the development and implementation of the phased meter installation program. (Ord. 2005-090 § 4)

A. If an existing unmetered water service connection in a common interest development is changed to a metered connection, the meter shall be installed on the existing connection. If the water service connection serves more than one separate interest, the department may install within the development's private water distribution system separate water meters for each separate interest, if requested by the association managing the common interest development and the owners of the separate interests and the director determines that it is feasible and appropriate to do so:

1. Provided that the association and owners, at no cost to the city:

a. Locate and expose those portions of the development's private water distribution system where the separate water meters would be installed as may be required by

the director to determine whether it is feasible to install separate water meters,

b. Install all piping and other improvements required by the director to install separate meters, and

c. Convey to the city all easements or other property rights required by the director for installation, operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of the separate meters and the meter boxes containing them; and

2. Subject to such other terms and conditions specified by the director.

B. If an existing unmetered water service connection serves more than one separate interest in a common interest development that does not have an association, the director may require that the owners of all separate interests in the common interest development, at no cost to the city, and as a condition of continuing to receive city water service:

1. Locate and expose those portions of the development's private water distribution system where separate water meters would be installed for each separate interest;

2. Install all piping and other improvements required by the director to install separate metered water service connections for the separate interests; and

3. Convey to the city all easements or other property rights required by the director for installation, operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of the separate meters and the meter boxes containing them.

C. The department's installation, operation, maintenance, repair, or replacement of separate water meters and meter boxes within a common interest development's private water distribution system shall not create or impose on the city any responsibility or liability of any kind for the condition, operation, maintenance, repair, or replacement of any portion of the private water distribution system.

D. As used in this section, the terms "association," "common interest development," and "separate interest" have the meanings specified in Section 13.12.010. (Ord. 2015-0011 § 5; Ord. 2013-0014 § 13)

The customer receiving city water service shall keep water meters unobstructed and accessible for reading, maintenance and repair, and shall provide the department's employees and/or its contractors access to the premises where the customer receives water service as may be required by the city for such purposes. Compliance with this section shall be a condition of receiving or continuing to receive city water service. (Ord. 2005-090 § 4)

A. Any metered customer may request in writing that the meter through which water is being furnished be examined and tested by the department to determine whether the meter is registering accurately the amount of water that is being delivered through it. Upon receipt of such request, the department shall examine and test the meter. If the meter is found to register over three percent more water than actually passes through it, the customer's water bill will be adjusted accordingly. If the meter is found to register a variance of three percent or less, no billing adjustment will be made. Meter testing will be performed at a customer's request, at no charge to the customer, not more than once every twelve (12) months.

B. If a customer requests more frequent testing, the customer's request shall be accompanied by a deposit of an amount equal to the monthly minimum meter charge. Upon receipt of such request, the department shall examine and test the meter. If the meter is found to register over three percent more water than actually passes through it, the customer's water bill will be adjusted accordingly and the deposit shall be returned, without interest. If the meter is found to register a variance of three percent or less, no billing adjustment will be made and the deposit shall be used by the city to pay its inspection and testing costs. (Ord. 2005-090 § 4)

No person other than authorized employees of the department or other persons authorized by the director shall install, maintain, repair, move, replace, adjust, tamper with, manipulate, damage, disconnect, or remove any water meter. Any person performing any of the foregoing actions, whether or not authorized by the director, shall indemnify and hold harmless city, its officers, and employees from any claims, actions, costs (including attorney fees), damages, or other liability resulting or arising from such actions, and shall pay the city's costs of investigating and repairing any resulting damage or replacing any removed items. Customers with metered water service connections shall notify the department of any visible damage to, or removal of, any portion of the meter box containing the water meter. (Ord. 2013-0014 § 14; Ord. 2005-090 § 4)