Ventura Municipal Code Ch. 22.100 GENERAL PROVISIONS Revised

“Commercial” means all types of nongovernmental commercial uses, including hospitals, hotels and motels.

“Department” means San Buenaventura Water as established by Sections 2.367.010 et seq.

“Fireline service” means a separate connection to customer property for fire suppression supplied to customers regardless if the customer’s domestic service is operational.

“General manager means the department head of San Buenaventura Water as established by Sections 2.367.010 et seq.

“Industrial user” means any user of publicly owned treatment works identified in the North American Industry Classification System, 2007 or most current, federal Office of Management and Budget as amended and supplemented.

“Master fee schedule” means the resolution adopted by the city council that sets the rates for fees for various city services.

“Mixed-use customer” means combined uses served by a single water meter including residential, commercial and industrial uses.

“Multiple-family residential dwelling” means a building, or portion thereof, containing more than one dwelling unit, including row, group, court or trailer park dwellings, but does not include hotels and motels.

“Multiple-family residential water customer” means a water customer who lives in a dwelling unit which is designed exclusively for occupancy by two or more individuals and/or families living independently of each other.

“Municipal facility” means any public building or other public place owned or leased by the city of San Buenaventura and operated by the city, excluding therefrom the San Buenaventura water reclamation facility.

“Nonresidential” means any customers receiving potable water who are not classified as single-family residential, multifamily residential, municipal facility, untreated water, or reclaimed water.

“Outside city” means any area provided San Buenaventura water service that is outside the city limits.

“Reclaimed water” means water delivered from the water reclamation plant that has been treated to tertiary standards.

“Saticoy Country Club Water System residential water customer” means a suite of one or more rooms which is occupied by or intended to be occupied by one family and is served by an individual water meter from the Saticoy Country Club Water System located at approximately 4450 Clubhouse Dr, Semis, CA 93066.

“Single-family residential dwelling unit” means a suite of one or more rooms which is occupied by or intended to be occupied by one family and is served by an individual water meter. (Code 1971, § 4511; Ord. No. 2012-014, § 2, 6-4-12; Ord. No. 2021-009, § 2, 5-24-21; Ord. No. 2025-017, § 2, 12-16-25)

A. Rules and Regulations. The general manager, with the approval of the city manager, may prescribe rules and regulations of general application, not inconsistent with this division, relating to the conditions of service, the application for service, administration and interpretation of rates, installation of mains, services and fire hydrants. Anyone aggrieved by any action relating to this section may appeal the same to the city council.

B. Regulation of Water Flow, Water Damage. The department may discontinue service temporarily from mains and pipes of the system without notice. Neither the city nor any of its employees shall be liable for any damages to persons or property caused by the use of water beyond its meters, nor shall it be liable for any damages resulting from its failure to deliver water for any length of time. If deemed necessary, the city may ration water by whatever method deemed desirable.

C. Consumer Acceptance of Pressure and Service. Any person applying for or receiving water service accepts by the person’s application such conditions of pressure or changes in pressure and service as are provided by the distributing system at the location served. The city and its employees are not liable for any damages arising out of low or high pressure conditions, changes in pressure or interruptions in service.

D. Stationary Steam Boilers. No person shall draw water from the city pipes directly into any stationary steam boiler, hydraulic elevator, power pump, or similar apparatus. Where city water is used to supply a steam boiler, hydraulic elevator or power pump, its owner shall provide tankage of sufficient capacity to afford a supply for at least 12 hours into which the service pipe supplying such tank shall discharge directly into the top of said tank.

E. Shutoff Valves. All shutoff valves, at the meter, including locks thereon, except valves on the customer side of the meter, are installed by the city for its own use. Such shutoff valves shall not be used or in any way interfered with or manipulated by a consumer of water without the express written authorization of the general manager, or designee thereof, except in case of emergency.

It shall be unlawful for any person to open, meddle with, tap, break, lock or unlock, turn on or off, or damage any street or fire hydrant, stopcock, gate valve, street service water connection, water meter, water main, water pipe, or other fitting or facilities used in connection with the city’s water system, wherever situated, without the express written authorization of the general manager, or designee thereof. A tampering fee as specified in Appendix A may apply.

F. Check Valves. Whenever the city finds it necessary for the safety of the water system to have an approved check valve placed on the property line of any consumer’s service, the consumer shall be notified to install such check valve. Said valve shall thereupon be immediately installed at the expense of said consumer. (Code 1971, § 4512; Ord. No. 2012-014, § 3, 6-4-12)

It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit or cause to be deposited in any water main or pipe, well, reservoir or tank of the city any substance of any kind, or to do any act which might cause water to become polluted, or to take, pump or draw water from any water main, pipe, fire hydrant, reservoir well or tank of the city without first arranging with the department for same and paying the charges provided in this code. (Code 1971, § 4513)

Any duly authorized agent of the department shall be allowed free access to make personal examination of the premises of any applicant or consumer of water for purposes of carrying out the provisions of this division. (Code 1971, § 4514)

All contractors or persons who open, grade, regrade, fill or excavate, or work on a street shall make written application 10 days in advance to the department and pay the cost of removal or displacement of any water mains, pipes, fittings, meters or other water works material that may interfere with such street work, and on failure to furnish such notice, any damage resulting from such failure shall be charged against the person responsible. (Code 1971, § 4515)

Repealed by Ord. No. 2025-017. (Ord. No. 2005-005, § 1, 7-18-05; Ord. No. 2014-006, § 2, 5-19-14)