San Clemente Municipal Code Art. II Service Connections

All applications for metered or flat rate water service to be supplied through existing service connections shall be made verbally by phone or in person at the City of San Clemente Utility Billing Division. Where a service deposit is required, no service may be turned on or continued until such deposit is actually received by the City. An application fee shall be charged to initiate a new service account. The charge shall appear on the first bill and shall be payable at the same time all other charges reflected in the first bill are due. The application fee shall not apply to residential property owners who rent their property and have a continuous service agreement with the City. The application for a continuous service agreement shall be available at the City of San Clemente Utility Billing Division. The City Council shall, by resolution, establish the Water Service Application Fee. Such fee may be amended from time to time, by resolution.

(Ord. 1282 § 1 (part), 2003: prior code § 32-14)

(Ord. No. 1513, § 2, 7-20-2010)

All applications to classify a residential lot as a "large lot" shall be submitted in writing to the Water Division for consideration. A Large Lot Application Fee shall be charged to process a large lot classification application. Residential lots greater than 7,000 square feet are eligible for the large lot classification. Upon approval, a large lot is billed under the "Single Family - Residential 2″ water rate schedule per Section 13.04.220 of the San Clemente Municipal Code. The City Council shall, by resolution, establish the Large Lot Application fee. Such fee may be amended from time to time, by resolution.

(Ord. No. 1513, § 3, 7-20-2010)

All new applicants for water service shall deposit either a sum of one hundred and twenty dollars ($120.00) for residential service and two hundred dollars ($200.00) for commercial service or a sum equal to three (3) times the average monthly bill, whichever is greater. The deposit shall not apply to new applicants who demonstrate creditworthiness.

"Creditworthiness" means that the applicant has a record, with the City or another public utility, of no delinquent utility charge payments during the previous twelve (12) months OR a satisfactory credit score provided by an independent credit rating agency selected by the City.

After a twelve (12) month period with no delinquent payments and upon application by the customer, the deposit shall be applied to the customer's account. Upon termination of service on which deposits are still held, the City shall apply the deposit to the final bill of the customer and refund any remaining portion of the deposit.

(Ord. 1288 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1282 § 2 (part), 2003: Ord. 1179 § 4, 1996: prior code § 32-16)

If a customer files for bankruptcy (hereinafter, a "debtor"), the City may alter, refuse, or discontinue service if neither the trustee nor the debtor, within twenty (20) days after the date of the order for relief, furnishes to the City adequate assurance of payment, in the form of a deposit or other security, for service after such date. For purposes of this Section, "adequate assurance of payment" may include, but is not limited to, the payment of a deposit in an amount equal to three (3) times the amount of the debtor's average monthly bill over the prior twelve (12) month period. The City may apply the deposit to any unpaid, post-bankruptcy balance owed to the City by the debtor.

If the debtor has not missed, nor paid late, any payments for service within the twelve (12) month period after the bankruptcy case is closed, the debtor may, upon application to the City, have the deposit applied, as a credit, to their account. Upon termination of service on which a deposit under this Section, or portion thereof, is still held by the City, the City shall apply the remaining balance to the final bill of the debtor and refund any remaining balance to the debtor.

(Ord. 1288 § 1 (part), 2004: Ord. 1179 § 5, 1996: prior code § 32-17)

The deposit for customers outside the City shall be one hundred fifty (150) percent of that for customers inside the City.

(Prior code § 32-18)

A. .....Before a service connection for water shall be supplied to the premises, the applicant shall make application to the Water Division. As a condition to granting such application and furnishing water service to such premises, the Water Division is authorized to charge and the Utility Billing Division shall collect, in advance, the sum of money necessary to cover all costs of the service connection, including the cost of a meter when required. Costs and specifications shall be determined by the Utilities Manager. The City Council shall, by resolution, establish Water Service Installation and Water Meter Installation fees. Such fees may be amended from time to time, by resolution.

B. .....All services installed outside the City shall have the same charge for installation.

(Ord. 1244 § 1 (part), 2000; prior code § 32-19)

(Ord. No. 1513, § 4, 7-20-2010)

Any person desiring to upgrade the water service that has already been installed, shall make application to the Water Division and, upon payment in advance of the Water Service Upgrade fee plus the cost of time and materials as estimated by the Utility Manager's office, the Water Division will cause such change to be made. The City Council shall, by resolution, establish the Water Service Upgrade fee. Such fee may be amended from time to time, by resolution.

(Ord. No. 1513, § 5, 7-20-2010)

No previous San Clemente water service customer shall be entitled to obtain water service upon a change of address until such time as any and all delinquent charges owing by that person thereof at a former place of residence or business within the City Water Division area have been paid in full.

(Ord. 1282 § 3 (part), 2003: prior code § 32-20)

Any person desiring to change the location of a service that has already been installed, shall make application to the Water Division and, upon payment in advance of the Water Service Relocation fee plus the cost of time and materials, including excavating and repaving and overhead as estimated by the Utility Manager's office, the Water Division will cause such change to be made. The City Council shall, by resolution, establish the Water Service Relocation fee. Such fee may be amended from time to time, by resolution.

(Prior code § 32-21)

(Ord. No. 1513, § 6, 7-20-2010)

A. .....Whenever a service is installed for private fire protection a charge shall be made for all labor, fire detector check and other approved devices, together with all appurtenant materials and engineering plus administrative overhead costs. Such service shall be used only in case of fire or other purposes expressly provided for in this section. Use of such private fire protection service for any other purpose shall be prohibited.

B. .....Should it be necessary to use water through a fire line meter for the purpose of testing or maintaining a private fire prevention system or fire department, the Water Division shall authorize such use upon the receipt of a written request stating the following:

1. The date and time of use;

2. The purpose;

3. The estimated quantity of water to be used;

4. The estimated maximum flow.

The Water Division shall charge a Fire Flow Test Witness fee for purposes of witnessing the testing or maintenance of a private fire prevention system. The City Council shall, by resolution, establish the Fire Flow Test Witness fee. Such fee may be amended from time to time, by resolution.

C. .....The Utilities Manager may restrict such nonemergency flows which may be detrimental to or tend to dewater the system.

(Ord. 1244 § 1 (part), 2000; prior code § 32-22)

(Ord. No. 1513, § 7, 7-20-2010)

A. .....Fire hydrants shall be installed in the location specified by the City's "Standard Provisions and Standard Drawings for the Construction of Water & Sewerage Facilities" and approved by the Fire Marshal. If a property owner or other party desires a change in the size, type or location of such hydrants, he or she shall bear all costs of such changes, without a refund. Any change in the location of a fire hydrant shall be approved by the Utilities Director and Fire Marshal.

B. .....The Utilities Director shall make revisions as needed to the "Standard Provisions and Standard Drawings for the Construction of Water & Sewerage Facilities."

(Ord. 1244 § 1 (part), 2000: prior code § 32-23; Ord. No. 1648, § 3, 12-5-2017)