Thousand Oaks Municipal Code Art. 3 Classes of Service

Domestic water service is that general metered water class including residential, commercial, industrial and irrigation customers. This class is intended for consumption as potable water. The general meter policy is per Article 1 and the service regulations are per Article 5.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

It is the intention by providing this class of service that all construction water be metered. All persons, firms, corporations and public agencies desiring to use water through fire hydrants owned or controlled by the City for purposes other than extinguishing fires shall first sign an application for a fire hydrant permit and for the installation of a construction meter and shall pay for the water used as determined by the meter. The applicant shall specify the location of the fire hydrant to be used and shall make a deposit for a construction meter before the meter is installed. City personnel will move the meter from one fire hydrant to another upon request.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

This is the class of service furnished to a property after the water system has been installed and is available for use including water to individual lots, houses or buildings but before the customer has signed an application for metered service at which time the regular service charges apply. Unmetered charges shall be assessed after the water system is operational and has been accepted by the City Council. Unmetered charges may be assessed whether or not there is a dwelling unit or building on a particular lot/property unless waived or delayed in writing by the Public Works Director. Once started for tract projects, the responsibility for payment of unmetered charges shall be that of the developer until the application for service is received and approved unless the responsibility for payment has been transferred to a successor of interest as in the case of custom lot developments and the successor in interest has acknowledged his responsibility.

Once significant water use occurs, either within the house or building or on irrigated land or slopes, a meter application shall be made since the unmetered charge is not intended for those uses.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

This class covers installations of and provision of water to fire sprinkler systems within buildings so protected. The installation does not normally include a meter since the water use is strictly limited to fire protection.

However, if water is used through an automatic fire sprinkler service connection for any purpose other than the extinguishing of fires or a related purpose, the City shall have the right either to place a meter on the automatic fire sprinkler service connection at the customer's expense, and to charge at metered rates for all water used, or to shut off the entire supply of water to the premises through such service connection.

All automatic fire sprinkler service connections shall be equipped with a backflow prevention device pursuant to the provisions of Article 6 all at the expense of the customer.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

All fire hydrants and associated lines shall be publicly dedicated. All existing private fire hydrant systems require installation of backflow prevention equipment in accordance with the Water Design and Construction Standards. Additionally, all private fire hydrant systems shall be maintained pursuant to all standards and codes applicable to public systems. The provisions of this class of service are the same as for those of the automatic fire sprinkler service. Private fire hydrant charges shall be set by Council action.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

(a) At the discretion of the Public Works Department, a temporary service connection can be provided where (1) such service is outside the City's service area or (2) some features of the connection are substandard pending other improvements, and (3) a standard service connection is not available or desired. Such connections, if granted, shall be disconnected and terminated within one year after their installation unless an extension of time is granted by the City after written application by the customer.

(b) The charge and associated fees for the installation of a temporary service connection shall be the same as for a regular service connection.

(c) Where the construction of a temporary service connection conforms to the standard requirements of a permanent service connection installation, the temporary connection may be designated as a permanent service connection at any time provided all the charges for the permanent service are paid and other Public Works Department requirements are satisfied.

(d) When temporary service connections are disconnected, the full cost to the City for such disconnection shall be paid by the customer.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)