Chapter 13.04 — PUBLIC UTILITY DEPARTMENT SERVICES

The City of Vernon shall establish, own, and/or operate or otherwise provide for public works or systems for supplying its inhabitants and businesses and industries within the City with gas, electricity, other energy sources, water (including reclaimed and/or recycled water), or other services of a public utility nature. Such public works or systems may be solely owned by the City or may be jointly owned with another entity, or may be leased, in whole or in part, by the City and may be operated solely by the City. The City may purchase or otherwise acquire the commodity to be distributed or provided as a public utility or service of a public utility nature and act as the distributor or purveyor thereof. (Prior code § 2.119)

No person, firm, or corporation shall establish and operate works or systems for supplying the inhabitants of, or the commercial or industrial enterprises within the City of Vernon with gas, electricity, other energy sources, water (including reclaimed and/or recycled water), or other business or activity which is designed to or does furnish service of a public utility nature to the inhabitants of, or the commercial or industrial enterprises within, the City of Vernon without the consent of said City.

(Prior code § 2.120)

• A. The Public Utilities Department will exercise reasonable diligence and care to deliver a continuous and sufficient supply of water to the customer at a proper pressure, and to avoid any shortage or interruption in delivery.

• B. The Public Utilities Department will endeavor to supply a safe and potable water at all times. Where the use of water on a customer's premises requires water for specific uses demanding a better quality of water than that served by the Public Utilities Department, the customer shall provide water treatment facilities capable of producing water of the desired quality.

(Prior code § 25.60)

"Commercial service" means provision of water to property where the customer is engaged in trade.

"Domestic service" means provision of water for customary household purpose.

"Fire protection service" means provision of water to property for automatic fire protection by means of an automatic fire sprinkler system and/or fire hydrants.

"Industrial service" means provision of water to a customer for use in manufacturing or processing activities.

"Standby service" means City water service to property which is supplied in part with water from some source of supply other than the Public Utilities Department.

"Temporary service" means a service on a fire hydrant for construction work; irrigation of vacant property and similar uses, that because of its nature will not be used permanently.

"Water service" means a service consisting of all piping, valves, meters and appurtenances installed by the Public Utilities Department for the purpose of furnishing water to public or private property from the municipal water distribution system. (Prior code § 25.61)

All services installed by the Public Utilities Department will be classified as follows:

• A. Domestic;

• B. Commercial;

• C. Industrial;

• D. Fire protection;

• E. Standby.

(Prior code § 25.62)

The types of service available from the Public Utilities Department are:

• A. Metered rate;

• B. Standby rate;

• C. Fire protection rate;

• D. Temporary service rate.

The Public Utilities Department will serve water from the City's water distribution system to the customer's property. When installed, all components of the water service, up to and including the water meter, whether located on public or private property shall become the property of the City of Vernon and the City reserves the right to repair, replace and maintain the water service.

(Prior code § 25.63)

Before water shall be supplied to any property for domestic, commercial, industrial and fire protection service, the owner or customer shall make application to the Public Utilities Department. The Public Utilities Department, as a condition to approving such application and furnishing water to said property, is authorized to and shall require a payment in advance equal to the cost of water service installation and any applicable deposit. The cost estimated by the Public Utilities Department must be deposited in advance, with final adjustment of charges to be made upon completion of installation and prior to turn-on of water. (Prior code § 25.64)

• A. When an existing service must be upgraded due to new health, fire, safety, and/or plumbing regulations, an application shall be filed pursuant to Section 13.04.070. Said application shall be considered as applying for a new service.

• B. All fire sprinkler systems which do not have a separate meter shall be upgraded by installing a meter in accordance with the following schedule:

  1. Systems with less than 500 fire sprinkler heads: by July 1, 2000.

  2. Systems with 500 sprinkler heads or more: by July 1, 1998.

• C. Notwithstanding the above, meters shall be installed for any fire sprinkler system as a condition of issuing a new occupancy permit after a change of an owner, tenant, or occupant.

(Prior code § 25.65)

• A. No person except authorized City of Vernon personnel shall operate or cause to be operated a fire hydrant. Water for private use from a fire hydrant can be obtained only through a temporary hydrant connection.

• B. Application for a temporary hydrant connection shall be made in the same manner as application for regular service, and all charges and deposits shall be at the applicable rates. The Public Utilities Department will install a water service on a fire hydrant in such a manner as not to interfere with the free use of such hydrant for fire purposes, and the applicant shall pay for all water passing through such service at applicable rates.

• C. The applicant shall be held responsible for loss or damage to the water service or services from the time of installation until the removal, or until 48 hours after notice in writing has been given the Public Utilities Department that termination of the service is desired.

• (Prior code § 25.66)

Application for a standby water service shall be made in the same manner as application for regular service, and all charges shall be determined in the manner set forth in Section 13.04.110. The Public Utilities Department reserves the right to refuse to furnish water and may discontinue standby service to any premises where such service may be detrimental or injurious to the service furnished to other customers.

(Prior code § 25.67)

• A. Application. Any applicant who as owner or subdivider of a single lot, subdivision or tract of land, desires the extension of water mains and services to such lot, subdivision or tract of land, shall file a written application with the Public Utilities Department.

• B. Deposit. In the event such application is approved, said applicant shall deposit with the Public Utilities Department, cash or other method of payment satisfactory to the City in an amount determined by the Public Utilities Department to be the total estimated cost of such mains and services, including all labor, pipe, valves, fittings, fire hydrants and all appurtenances necessary for a complete system exclusive of customer services. Customer services shall be paid for as provided in these rules and regulations.

• C. Installation. Engineering and construction of all new distribution systems shall be done by the City of Vernon or by private contract, approved by the City of Vernon. If after completion of construction, the estimated cost is found to be greater than the actual cost, the difference will be refunded, and if a deficit exists, the difference will be collected before the turn-on of water. Mains and services installed shall become and remain the property of the City of Vernon.

(Prior code § 25.68)

• A. Bills are due and payable on the date rendered and become delinquent 20 days thereafter. If not paid within this time, service may be discontinued. A reconnection charge in the amount of $25.00, a deposit equal to twice the average monthly bill, and the entire delinquent bill shall be paid in full before service will be re-established.

• B. If a meter fails to register during any period, the customer shall be charged with the average daily consumption as shown by the City's records when the meter was operating correctly.

• (Prior code § 25.69)

A customer may demand that the meter through which water is being furnished be examined and tested to determine if it is registering correctly the amount of water delivered. Such demand shall be made in writing to the Public Utilities Department, and shall be accompanied by a deposit of $100.00 for one-, one and one-half-, and two-inch meters, and $150.00 for three-, four-, and six-inch meters. Upon receipt of such demand, the Public Utilities Department shall examine and test the meter. If the meter is found to register over two percent more water than actually delivered, another meter will be substituted and the deposit shall be repaid to the customer making the application, and the water bill for the current period adjusted in such manner as the Public Utilities Department may consider fair and just. If the meter is found to register not more than two percent in excess, the deposit shall be forfeited and the water bill paid as rendered. (Prior code § 25.70)

The Public Utilities Department may refuse to furnish water and discontinue service to any premises where apparatus, appliance, or equipment using water are dangerous, unsafe, or not in conformity with any applicable laws or ordinances, and where such service may be detrimental or injurious to the service furnished to other customers. (Prior code § 25.71)

The customer shall install a suitable valve for his or her use on his or her property as close to the meter location as practicable, the operation of which will control the entire water supply from the service. No person except authorized City of Vernon personnel shall enter the meter vault or operate or cause to be operated the curb stop or valve in the meter box installed by the Public Utilities Department.

(Prior code § 25.72)

The Public Utilities Department reserves the right to shut off the water to any premises or portion of the distribution system as long as necessary, without notice to the customer, if an emergency so dictates. In cases other than an emergency, the Public Utilities Department shall attempt to notify all customers of the forth-coming interruption of service and the probable length of time for which the water will be shut off. (Prior code § 25.73)

City fire hydrants are installed adjacent to the curb, unless otherwise approved by the Fire Chief. The Public Utilities Department will, upon request, subject to approval by the Fire Department, change the location along the curb, provided the labor and material costs are paid for by the person or persons requesting the change. The Public Utilities Department shall estimate the cost of the required installation. The estimated cost shall be paid to the Public Utilities Department in cash or certified check payable to the City of Vernon. If after the completion of the change of location, the estimated cost is found to be greater than the actual cost, the difference will be refunded; and if a deficit exists, the difference will be collected. (Prior code § 25.74)

Any officer, inspector, foreman or other authorized employee of the City of Vernon shall have free access to any premises supplied City water for the purpose of making an inspection of the entire water system upon said premises. (Prior code § 25.75)

All customers shall, upon application for water service, consent to and hold the Public Utilities Department and the City of Vernon harmless for any damages caused by fluctuation of water pressures or interruption of service. The City of Vernon will not be held liable for water quality complaints from customers with specific uses as referred to in Section 13.04.030.

• A. Customers' Property. The City of Vernon and/or the Public Utilities Department shall in no way be responsible for any damage to person or property because of any leakage, breakage or seepage from any pipe, valve, appurtenance, or equipment situated on any private property, nor shall they be responsible for any leakage, breakage or seepage from any pipe situated between the meter installed at the curb and private property served thereby.

• B. Servicing. The City of Vernon and/or the Public Utilities Department shall not be responsible for damage to property caused by defective piping on the customer's premises and by spigots, faucets, valves and other equipment that are open when water is turned on originally or when turned on after a temporary shutdown.

• C. Damage of Public Utilities Department Property. The customer shall be held responsible for damage incurred to City property caused by an act of the customer or his or her agents and any damage to a meter that may result from hot water or steam backing up to the meter from the customer's premises. The customer shall correct the plumbing condition causing the damage and shall be charged for the cost of repairs to the meter. (Prior code § 25.76)

To comply with the regulations of the State of California, Code of Regulations, Title 17 Public Health, "Regulations Relating to Cross-Connections," and with the Vernon City Code sections on the water supply which prohibit unprotected cross-connections between the public water supply and any unapproved source of water, a back-flow protection device shall be installed and maintained by and at the expense of the customer. (Prior code § 25.77)

CHAPTER 13.08 WATER SYSTEM