Whittier Municipal Code Ch. 13.04 Installation and Services

The words and phrases used in this chapter shall have the meaning attached to them unless it is plainly evidenced by the context that a different meaning is intended.

A. The term "director of public works" means and includes the person designated by the council to have charge of the supervision and administration of the water division of the city.

B. The term "employee" means and includes any person designated by the council or the director of public works to perform work and labor for the water division in and about the business of the water division of the city.

C. The term "fee" means and includes specific fees as set by ordinance or resolution of the city council.

D. The term "water division" means and includes that certain division, branch or function of the city which cares for, maintains and operates pumps, plants, mains and all necessary facilities for the acquiring, distributing and selling of water within the city. It includes all officers, agents, servants or employees engaged in such work or service whether they are employed by the council or by the director of public works.

(Amended during 1984 codification; prior code § 7400)

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

A. An application for water to be used on any premises not heretofore provided with water by the city shall be made to the water division and must be accompanied by a service fee as provided in the city council ordinance or resolution.

B. Service pipes shall be laid from the water main to a point inside the nearest curbline wherein a curb cock and meter are installed. The installation and maintenance of all pipes on the property side of the meter shall be performed and paid for by the consumer.

C. All charges collected by the water division for the installation of services and meters shall constitute service fees and the service pipes and water meters installed shall remain at all times as the property of the city. The service pipes and meters shall be maintained, repaired and renewed by the water division when rendered unserviceable through ordinary wear and tear. Where replacements, repairs or adjustments are made necessary or are rendered necessary by any act, negligence or carelessness of the consumer or any agent, employee or member of his/her family, any expense caused thereby shall be charged against and collected from the consumer.

(Prior code § 7400.2(a))

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

The city council is given and shall have full power and authority to order the construction or installation of water storage facilities, water mains, and all apurtenances necessary for the storage, transmission and services of water either inside or outside the corporate limits of the city and in its discretion the council shall have full power and authority to defer or waive any portion of or all of the fees and charges established and required to be paid by this article. Any such deferment or waiver of payment or charge shall be in writing and shall be made upon such terms and conditions as the city council may require.

(Prior code § 7400.27(part))

No service connection shall be hereafter made for the purpose of supplying through a common service two mor more independent consumers occupying premises held under the same ownership, unless the houses are on the same lot, or the property is what is known as a court, or apartment house, or block covering more than one lot, and then only provided the owner or owners of the premises agree in writing to pay all charges for water served thereto.

(Prior code § 7400.12)

A. Whenever because of high pressure in a water main a water pressure regulator is required by the California Plumbing Code of the city on an individual water service, the water pressure regulator shall be installed at the cost and expense of the owner of the property receiving the water service. Upon installation the water pressure regulator shall be serviced and maintained by the owner of the real property and without any cost or expense to the city. The pressure regulator, its maintenance and operation shall be the responsibility of the property owner.

B. The director of public works of the city shall have the power and authority whenever any pressure regulator is required by the California Plumbing Code, to require that the pressure regulator be installed in the water line between the water main and the water meter used for measuring water at the services. When the pressure regulator is to be so installed, the owner of the real property which is being serviced by the water line shall make the necessary arrangements with the water division of the city to have the pressure regulator installed by the water division of the city and the actual installation cost hereof shall be paid for by the owner of the real property.

C. No person shall have any right to install a water pressure regulator between the water main and the water meter and it shall only be done by the water division of the city. The cost of the installation shall be estimated upon request by the water division and the estimated cost shall be deposited with the water division until the installation is completed. Any over deposit shall be refunded to the property owner forthwith and if the deposit is not sufficient to pay the cost, the balance of the cost shall be paid by the property owner upon receipt of a statement therefor.

D. No person shall procure or order installed any water pressure regulator unless it has been approved by the director of public works of the city, and the director of public works shall keep on file in his/her office a list of approved water pressure regulators, which list shall be available to all persons desiring to acquire and install water pressure regulators.

(Amended during 1984 codification; prior code § 7400(d))

(Ord. No. 3028, § 4, 4-14-15; Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20; Ord. No. 3120, § 33, 7-28-20)

In all cases in which water is being serviced to premises occupied by two or more different and independent consumers of water, which premises are held under the same ownership, the owner or owners of the premises shall be and are required to provide independent service to the curbline for each such independent consumer; provided, however, that if the owner of the premises so serviced with water agrees in writing to be responsible for and pay all money due for water used upon the premises, the independent service shall not be required. Should the owner or owners fail or refuse to provide the independent service or assume responsibility for money due for water used upon the premises, the water division shall, after sixty days' notice to the consumer so served, and to the owner of the premises or the person in charge thereof, cut off water from the premises until the independent services required in this section are installed or the agreement assuming responsibility for the money due for water served to the premises is made as provided in this section.

(Prior code § 7400.11)

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

No water shall be served to two or more parcels or property separately owned through a common service unless there is no main contiguous to the premises from which service may be had and in such case only when the consumer first in order of service from the main in writing guarantees the payment of water rates for all parcels of property so served. Whenever at any time hereafter a main is installed contiguous to each of the parcels so served, the owners thereof shall be and are required to provide for an independent service to the curbline for each consumer. The director of public works shall give ten days' notice in writing to all consumers served through the service before enforcing this section, and at the expiration of the ten days the director of public works shall discontinue service to the joint consumers.

(Amended during 1984 codification; prior code § 7400.13)

(Ord. No. 3028, § 4, 4-14-15)

In all cases where an installation of a special or temporary service is required for any purpose not covered by other provisions of this chapter, the service shall be installed and the meter furnished by the water division at the expense of the applicant at cost of the time and material required, including excavation and repaving and administrative cost incurred by the city. If, in the judgment of the director of public works, it is not practicable to install a meter for such special or temporary service, then the water may be furnished from fire hydrants or such other means as he/she may devise, and charges made shall be fixed by the director commensurate with the amount of water furnished.

(Amended during 1984 codification; prior code § 7400.21)

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

Should the amount of any bill for service be questioned, the consumer should promptly request an explanation. If the explanation is not satisfactory or is not understood, the consumer may protest. Protests will be addressed by the director of public works, must be in writing and must state the reasons why the charges are believed to be incorrect. The director of public works will analyze the facts of the case and is authorized to make such adjustments in the charges as may be necessary to effect an equitable settlement. Water service will not be shutoff while a protest is pending. Failure of the consumer to pay any delinquent bill amount within five days after a final decision to the protest has been provided to the consumer by the director of public works will warrant discontinuance of service without further notice.

(Amended during 1984 codification; prior code § 7400.10)

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