Suisun City Municipal Code Art. I General Provisions

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

A. "Applicant" means the property owner or authorized agent applying for water service, water service connection or water main extension.

B. "Commercial office" means the business office, located in the city administrative offices.

C. "Construction water permit" means the permit required of anyone using water for construction purposes prior to installation of a permanent meter.

D. "Consumer" means a person or entity receiving water service or other services from the water system.

E. "Costs" means the actual cost of materials and labor, plus a percentage factor for equipment rental and overhead.

F. "Customer" means a person or entity of record receiving water service or other services from the water system.

G. "Demand" means the rate of draft of water for a specified time; the total quantity of water delivered or received for a specified time.

H. "Family unit" means one or more persons occupying a premises and living as a single, nonprofit housekeeping unit.

I. "Fire chief" means the chief officer of the city fire department.

J. "Main extension" means extension of distribution pipelines, exclusive of service connections, beyond existing facilities.

K. "Mains" means the transmission or distribution pipelines of the water system.

L. "Premises": Separate, identifiable and transferable lot or parcel of real property, including the improvements thereon except that portion thereof having well- defined boundaries such as walls, fences or hedges, which prevent the common use of the property by all occupants, for the purpose of this chapter shall be considered separate "premises."

M. "Regulations" means resolutions adopted by the city council which, in addition to the provisions of this chapter, govern the operation of the water system.

N. "Services" means the delivering or receiving of water, a water service connection, an act or duty performed by the water system.

O. "Superintendent" means the city water superintendent charged with the responsibility of administering, directing and representing the water system.

P. "Water division" means the water system.

Q. "Water service" means the delivery or receipt of water; a water service connection.

R. "Water service connection" means the connection including service pipes, meters and appurtenances through which water delivery is made.

S. "Water system" means the water division of the public works department of the city and the entire physical plant thereof.

(Ord. 480 § 1, 1983)

The rules as set forth in this chapter are adopted to govern the general operation of the water division to provide an efficient and economical water supply.

(Ord. 480 § 2(a), 1983)

The city council has the power to adopt, by resolution, those regulations which will further the purpose of this chapter, and which do not conflict with the provisions in this chapter.

(Ord. 480 § 2(b), 1983)

Rates, fees and charges as set forth in this chapter or in the regulations are adopted as conditions to obtaining water and other services from the water division.

(Ord. 480 § 2(c), 1983)

The water system or its duly authorized agents shall at all reasonable times have the right to enter or leave customer's premises for any purpose properly connected with service to the customer.

(Ord. 480 § 3, 1983)

All persons engaged in construction or street work shall give at least ten days' written notice to the water system for removal or displacement of water system facilities that may interfere or conflict with street work. Any damage resulting to such facilities from such failure to give notice shall be paid by the person engaged in such work, except where the provisions of city permits or contracts state otherwise.

(Ord. 480 § 4, 1983)

The water system shall not be liable for damages resulting from:

A. Any interruption of service or damage caused by spigots, valves or other equipment or fixtures that are open when water is turned on, whether when water is turned on originally or when turned on after a temporary shutoff;

B. Any increase or decrease in delivery pressure;

C. Any interruption of service due to damage of main transmission lines or other causes beyond the control of the water system.

(Ord. 480 § 5, 1983)

A. Every person taking water shall be considered as having expressed his consent to be bound by this chapter and the regulations adopted pursuant to Section 13.04.030. Whenever any one of the rules or regulations is violated, the right is reserved to discontinue water service if the customer fails to comply within five days after the date of written notice of violation. If such noncompliance affects matters of health and safety, or affects the operation, maintenance or other costs of the water system, water service may be discontinued immediately and without notice.

B. The persons whose water is thus discontinued shall forfeit all deposits made, and the water shall not be reconnected until all unpaid fees and charges are paid, and other requirements of this chapter or the regulations are fulfilled.

(Ord. 480 § 6, 1983)

It is unlawful for any person or entity other than the city water division to sell water within the corporate limits of the city without having first received permission to do so from the city council.

(Ord. 480 § 7, 1983)

It is recognized that access to information concerning the conduct of the people's business is a fundamental and necessary right but that access may be withheld where the public interest served by not making the record public clearly outweighs the public interest served by disclosure of the record. It is found that no public interest is served by the release of names and addresses of, and other information relating to, water customers where the purpose of such release is to further the private or pecuniary interests of the person or organization requesting release and that the names and addresses of, and other information relating to, water customers does not concern the conduct of the people's business. Based upon these findings, the names and addresses of, and other information relating to, water customers which is received by the water department in the regular course of furnishing water shall not be released, except in the event that the person requesting release is able to demonstrate in writing and to the satisfaction of the water superintendent, that such release relates to studies or investigations concerning the proper conduct of the business of the water department. In such event, the requested information will be furnished upon payment of an amount equal to the actual cost of reproduction plus twenty percent of such cost.

(Ord. 480 § 8, 1983)