Whittier Municipal Code Ch. 13.08 Rates and Charges

The rates to be charged and collected by the water division for water supplied through meters or otherwise supplied and used within the city shall be fixed and determined by the city council by ordinance or resolution adopted by the city council. The city council shall adopt an ordinance or resolution fixing the rates to be charged and collected for water so used and thereafter the rates shall apply and be charged until they are changed, modified or amended by ordinance or resolution of the city council.

(Prior code § 7400.1)

(Ord. No. 2964, § 4, 4-12-11; Ord. No. 3028, § 4, 4-14-15; Ord. No. 3043, § 5, 10-27-15)

The rates to be charged and collected by the water division for installation service shall be fixed and determined by the city council by ordinance or resolution adopted by the city council. The city council shall adopted an ordinance or resolution fixing the rates to be charged and collected for the installation service furnished to any consumer and the rates shall apply and be charged until they are changed, modified or amended by ordinance or resolution of the city council.

(Prior code § 7400.2(b))

(Ord. No. 2964, § 5, 4-12-11; Ord. No. 3028, § 4, 4-14-15;Ord. No. 3043, § 5, 10-27-15)

A. In order to determine amounts to be charged consumers for water, meters shall be installed on all connections to city water mains, except as provided in this article.

B. A separate meter shall be placed upon each separate connection, and the charge to be paid shall be computed separately upon each meter. The meters shall be read by the water division at intervals as provided in the city council ordinance or resolution fixing rates or as near thereto as the convenient operation of the water division will permit. When meters are specifically read between regular established meter reading dates for the purpose of connecting or disconnecting any installation, the minimum charges provided in the resolution may be prorated according to the time between meter readings. Each applicant and each consumer of water shall be jointly and severally liable and responsible for and shall pay for all water passing through the meter used by the consumer.

(Prior code § 7400.2(c))

(Ord. No. 3028, § 4, 4-14-15; Ord. No. 3043, § 5, 10-27-15)

In case a house becomes vacant the regular minimum rate shall be charged and collected from the owner thereof whether water is used or not, unless the water division is notified in writing of the fact that the property is unoccupied and requested to cut off water therefrom.

(Prior code § 7400.4)

(Ord. No. 3028, § 4, 4-14-15)

A. On failure to comply with the rules and regulations established as condition to the use of water, or to pay rates or any charges imposed, in the time and manner provided in this chapter, the water may be shut off on any and all services where the delinquent consumer is being supplied with water, until payment of the amount due is made, together with a fee set by ordinance or resolution in addition, as a fee for turning the water off and on.

B. Whenever a water service is ordered off by the consumer and is to remain off for a period in excess of fifteen days, the consumer shall be charged a turnoff fee in the amount set by ordinance or resolution before the service shall be turned on.

(Ord. 2546 § 1 (part), 1991)

(Ord. No. 3028, § 4, 4-14-15; Ord. No. 3043, § 5, 10-27-15)

Should the occupant of any premises or any person for him/her or on his/herbehalf turn on water after it has been shut off at the curb cock by the water division, the meter may be locked or removed, and a penalty as set by ordinance or resolution charged to the consumer. The meter shall not be unlocked or replaced until all delinquent charges, including the penalty, have been paid.

(Ord. 2546 § 1 (part), 1991)

(Ord. No. 3028, § 4, 4-14-15; Ord. No. 3043, § 5, 10-27-15; Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20)

If a meter fails to register during any period or is known to register inaccurately, the consumer shall be charged with an average daily consumption at the same season as shown by the meter when in use and registering accurately.

(Prior code § 7400.8)

In addition to any other remedy provided in this chapter for the enforcement and collection of any water rate, charge or account, all rates or other charges provided for in this chapter or by any ordinance or resolution of this city prescribing water rates shall be charged against the account holder's property on which furnished and against the owner thereof and shall be deemed delinquent at the same time and in the same manner as the next regular water bill and shall be a lien against the account holder's property where furnished and if, for any cause, any sums owing therefore become delinquent, the water shall be shut off and in no case shall it be turned on to the same property until all such delinquencies have been paid in full, and the property owner shall be responsible to the city in an action prosecuted in any court of competent jurisdiction for the amount of all such rates or other charges as may be due and unpaid, together with all penalties provided in this chapter and costs.

(Prior code § 7400.25)

(Ord. No. 3028, § 4, 4-14-15; Ord. No. 3043, § 5, 10-27-15)

Water bills are due and payable when rendered and become delinquent fifteen days after rendered. If bills are delinquent for at least sixty days, water service may be discontinued and a fee required for restoration of service. However, prior to the cutoff and discontinuance of service, notification of impending action shall be given to the account holder at least seven business days in advance, which notice shall advise the account holder of the procedure for appealing the order discontinuing services.

(Amended during 1984 codification: prior code § 7400.3)

(Ord. No. 3028, § 4, 4-14-15; Ord. No. 3111, § 2, 2-11-20)