Thousand Oaks Municipal Code Art. 4 Connection Rules

Installation of all water meters shall be by the City following receipt and approval of the application and payment of all applicable fees. Where a developer/owner has installed a main pipeline and appurtenances thereto, these facilities shall have been accepted by the City Council before the meter is installed unless administratively waived by the Public Works Director. However, the Public Works Director may order that a meter be installed prior to City Council acceptance of the system if slope or landscape irrigation is required prior to the City Council acceptance of the water system or as otherwise deemed appropriate by the Public Works Director.

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

The application for water service shall:

(a) Include the name and address of the applicant and person responsible for paying the water bill, location of the service, meter size, and whether or not the applicant is the owner, tenant or lessee.

(b) Include an agreement by the applicant to abide by all laws, rules and regulations relating to the water system and supply.

(c) Include the signature of the property owner.

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

(a) If the water supply to a premises has been shutoff or discontinued, the person in possession or person taking possession shall make a proper application to the City to have the water supply turned on.

If a water service or supply is turned on without application, the owner will be held liable for all charges for the water service rendered at double the applicable water, rates, either by the meter reading or on the basis of the estimated consumption; at the election of the City, for the length of time service was received by the customer prior to the customer's making a proper application.

(b) When the City finds that water is being used without a proper application, the customer shall be notified, and if an application for such service is not made promptly thereafter and the City immediately compensated for water already used, the supply shall be shut off without further notice.

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

The installation, maintenance, repair or replacement of service line fittings, connections and other facilities beyond the City's meters shall be solely the property and complete responsibility of the customers and property owners. The City's property and responsibility shall cease at the place where the City's water meter is installed, and beyond that point the customer shall by their application for water service agree to defend, hold the City harmless and indemnify the City in the event of judgment, including a reasonable attorney fee, for any and all claims or damage or liability to persons or property arising or occurring beyond the point where the City's water meter is installed.

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

The City reserves the right to determine the size and location of the service line and meter box in relation to the boundaries of the premises to be served. The customer's pipe to the customer's side of the meter shall not be laid until the service connection is installed unless waived by the Public Works Director. In the event the customer's pipe is laid to that location prior to the time the service connection is installed, and its location at the curb does not correspond with that of the service connection at the curb, the customer shall bear the additional cost and obligation of connecting the service connection with the customer's pipe.

The meter shall be sized in accordance with the guidelines within the Water Design and Construction Standards. Meters found to be consistently operating in the upper portion of their range may be required to be replaced with a larger meter with payment of the then applicable fees and replacement charges in effect at the time of replacement.

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

Each service connection shall have at least two control valves within the meter box. One will be a control valve on the customer's side of the meter also referred to as the "customer hand valve." This valve may be used by the customer to turn the water on and off.

The other valve shall be on the City's side of the meter also referred to as an "angle meter stop" or "curb stop."

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

Every service connection installed by the City shall be equipped with an angle meter valve on the inlet side of the meter. It is intended for the exclusive use of the City in controlling the use of water through the service connection and/or meter. If it is damaged by the customer to an extent requiring its replacement, the customer shall bear the cost for such replacement.

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

The customer's service line shall have a gate valve with a wheel control placed at the building to control the supply to the building.

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

All changes to the City's water system including changing the meter size or service line size, relocating of any facilities, raising or lowering any facilities, addition of fire hydrants, etc., must be done with approval of the Public Works Department and following payment of applicable fees.

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

(a) The City may either make the connection between the existing water system of the City and the system installed by the private contractor/customer or may elect to have the developer/contractor perform the work under inspection by the Public Works Department. Such connections shall not be deemed as a permanent service connection until the water system constructed by the private contractor has been accepted by the City, all service charges have been paid, and the system has been offered for dedication to the City.

(b) The City shall operate all valves, remove the plugs from existing fittings and install the valves on fittings furnished by the private contractor between the existing system of the City and the system installed by the private contractor. The charges for such service with the exception of operating valves shall be based on cost, plus an amount set by ordinance for overhead. The applicant shall furnish all materials, excavate and backfill the pit, and perform all resurfacing and other work necessary to produce a finished result.

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

The City shall not be obligated to extend water services to those areas beyond existing City water mains and/or off the public rights-of-way, nor shall it have an obligation to provide service where adequate fire protection as defined by the ISO guidelines or pressure is not available.

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

As a condition precedent to receiving water services for each subdivision or parcel of land, the owner shall furnish, install and offer for dedication to the City all necessary local system improvements as required by the City, designed and constructed according to the Water Design and Construction Standards and subject to approval and acceptance by the City. Unless otherwise approved by the Public Works Director, no occupancy of newly completed tracts or projects shall be permitted until the City accepts such dedication and the developer has satisfied all other applicable portions of this Code.

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

City Council acceptance of water facilities shall only follow completion of the physical improvements as well as administrative items as required by the Water Design and Construction Standards, Municipal Code, or as deemed necessary by the Public Works Director. Acceptance of water facilities may be delayed until substantial use is either present or anticipated as evidenced by the construction of buildings/houses and occupancy of those units. Acceptance may be delayed until at least seventy-five (75%) percent of the buildings/houses are under construction or at least fifty (50%) percent of the buildings/houses are occupied.

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

No permits for connection or approvals for construction of water facilities associated with development projects shall be approved or otherwise granted until the applicant or customer has first satisfied the requirements of the Calleguas Municipal Water District's Ordinance covering capital facilities charges. The requirement to satisfy said ordinance is first the obligation of the applicant or customer regardless of whether or not initiated at the City's request. No will-serve letter shall be issued until the Calleguas requirement is met.

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