A. Number Of Services Per Premises: The applicant may apply for as many services as may be reasonably required for his premises; provided, that the pipeline system from each service be independent of the others and that they not be interconnected.
B. Water Waste: No customer shall knowingly permit leaks or waste of water. Where water is wastefully or negligently used on a customer's premises seriously affecting the general service, the district may discontinue the service if such conditions are not corrected within five (5) days after giving the customer written notice.
C. Responsibility For Equipment On Customer Premises: All facilities installed by the district on private property for the purpose of rendering water service shall remain the property of the district and may be maintained, repaired or replaced by the water department without consent or interference of the owner or occupant of the property. The property owner shall use reasonable care in the protection of the facilities. No payment shall be made for placing or maintaining said facilities on private property. No person shall place or permit the placement of any object in a manner which will interfere with the free access to a meter box or will interfere with the reading of a meter. Easements and rights of way are to be kept free of encroachment of any kind, and the district shall have full access thereto, and any obstructions shall be removed at the expense of the owner.
D. Damage To Water System Facilities: The customer shall be liable for any damage to the water service facilities when such damage is from causes originating on the premises by an act of the customer or his tenants, agents, employees, contractors, licensees or permittees, including the breaking or destruction of locks by the customer or others on or near a meter, and any damage to a meter that may result from hot water or steam from a boiler or heater on the customer's premises. The district shall be reimbursed by the customer for the actual costs, including, but not limited to, labor and materials, for any damage on presentation of a bill.
E. Ground Wire Attachments: All persons are forbidden to attach any ground wire or wires to any plumbing which is or may be connected to a service connection or main belonging to the district; the district will hold the customer liable for any damage to its property occasioned by such ground wire attachments; and neither the district nor its officers, agents, or employees shall incur any liability of any nature whatsoever by reason of the use of any facility for grounding purposes which is or may be connected to the district's system.
F. Control Valve On Customer Property: The customer shall provide a valve on his side of the service installation as close as is practicable to the meter location, street, highway, alley, or easement in which the water main serving the customer's property is located, to control the flow of water to the piping on his premises. The customer shall not use the service curb stop to turn water on and off for his conveniences. If the customer requests that the district provide and install the control valve, the customer shall pay the fee set forth in subsection 7-2-3C of this title before installation of the control valve.
G. Cross Connections:
1. Purpose: This subsection is adopted to protect the public water supply against actual or potential cross connection by isolating contamination which may occur because of undiscovered or unauthorized cross connections. This subsection is also adopted to eliminate existing cross connections between drinking water systems and other sources of water supply which are not approved as safe and potable for human consumption. These regulations are adopted pursuant to the California Administrative Code, title 17.
2. Definitions: The following terms have been defined in the California regulations relating to cross connections as set forth in title 17 of the California Administrative Code. The definitions for these terms as set forth in the Administrative Code are hereby adopted:
a. Air gap separation;
b. Approved backflow prevention device;
c. Approved water supply;
d. Auxiliary supply;
e. AWWA standard;
f. Backflow;
g. Contamination;
h. Cross connection;
i. Double check valve assembly;
j. Health agency;
k. Local health agency;
l. Person (only for this section);
m. Premises;
n. Public water supply;
o. Reclaimed water;
p. Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device;
q. Service connection;
r. Water supplier; and
s. Water user.
3. Prohibition: It is unlawful for any person at any time to make or maintain or cause to be made or maintained, temporarily or permanently, any cross connection between the water system served with water by the district and any other source of water supply, or to maintain any sanitary fixture or other appurtenance or fixture which, by reason of its construction, may cause or allow backflow of water or other substances into the water supply system of the district or the water supply system of any customer of the district.
4. Cross Connection Protection:
a. Installation At Owner's Expense: Whenever backflow protection has been found necessary to protect against cross connections, the district will require the water user to install an approved backflow prevention device at the customer's expense as a condition of continued service or before new service will be rendered. Whenever backflow prevention has been found necessary on a water supply line entering a water user's premises, any and all water supply lines from the district's mains entering such premises shall be protected by an approved backflow prevention device installed in accordance with the requirements of this subsection.
b. Backflow Protection Devices Required: Backflow protection devices are required when the district supplies water to premises under the following circumstances:
(1) The premises have an auxiliary water supply unless the auxiliary water supply is accepted as an additional source by the district and is approved by the public health agency with jurisdiction by law.
(2) Substances are handled on the premises in such a fashion as may allow their entry into the water system, including the handling of process waters and waters originating from the district water system which have been subjected to deterioration in sanitary quality.
(3) The premises have internal cross connections that cannot be permanently corrected or controlled to the satisfaction of the health agency with jurisdiction by law, or intricate plumbing or piping arrangements exist, or where entry to all portions of the premises is not readily accessible for inspection purposes, making it impracticable or impossible to ascertain whether or not cross connections exist.
c. Type Of Protection Required: The type of protection that shall be provided to prevent backflow shall be commensurate with the degree of hazard that exists on the customer's premises. Title 17 of the California Administrative Code specifies the types of systems to be installed under varying circumstances.
5. Backflow Prevention Devices:
a. Approval By District: Only backflow prevention devices which have been approved by the district shall be installed by the water user. The district will provide a list of approved backflow prevention devices to customers upon request.
b. Installation: Backflow prevention devices shall be installed as required by title 17 of the California Administrative Code. The devices shall be located as close as practicable to the user's connection. The district shall determine the required location of the backflow prevention device.
c. Testing Devices: The owner of any premises on which a backflow prevention device is installed shall have the devices tested by a qualified person immediately after installation, relocation or repair and at least annually thereafter. The district may require more frequent testing. A report in a form acceptable to the district shall be filed with the district each time a device is tested. The devices shall be serviced, overhauled and replaced whenever found to be defective. All cost of testing, repair and maintenance shall be borne by the water user. The district will supply water users with a list of persons qualified to test backflow prevention devices.
d. Removal, Relocation Of Devices: No device shall be removed, relocated or replaced without district approval. Devices shall be removed only upon the presentation of satisfactory evidence showing that a hazard no longer exists and is not likely to be created in the future.
6. User Supervision: The district may require the water user to designate a supervisor responsible for monitoring compliance with this chapter when water is supplied to property owned or occupied by several residents. If a supervisor is required, the supervisor shall be the responsible agent of the water user with respect to compliance with this subsection.
7. Administrative Procedures:
a. System Survey:
(1) Requests For New Service: The district shall review all requests for new service to determine if backflow prevention is required. Plans and specifications shall be submitted upon request for review of possible cross connection hazards. If it is determined that a backflow prevention device is necessary to protect the public water system, the required device shall be installed before service commences.
(2) Inspection: The district may require on premises inspection and reinspection to evaluate cross connection hazards. Such inspection shall be preceded by adequate notice to the property owner. If the property owner refuses to permit the district to inspect the property, the district shall either: obtain an inspection warrant and inspect the property or, refer the matter to appropriate health officials.
b. Customer Notification:
(1) Corrective Action: The district shall notify the water user of its findings and corrective action to be taken under this chapter. If no action is taken by the water user within sixty (60) days of this notice, a second notice will be given to the water user. If corrective action still is not taken within two (2) weeks of the second notice, the district shall commence proceedings to terminate water service.
(2) Notice Of Device Testing: The district shall also notify each affected water user when backflow prevention devices shall be tested. If the backflow devices are not tested within thirty (30) days of the notice, the district will provide the water user with a second notice of the required work. If the devices are not tested within two (2) weeks after the second notice, the district will commence proceedings to terminate service.
8. Termination:
a. Notification Of Termination: If the district determines that a violation of this subsection exists, and that such violation poses an immediate threat to the public health, the ttempt to notify the water user of the district's intention to terminate service. The district shall make every effort to provide the water user with twenty four (24) hours' prior notice of termination. However, service shall be terminated whether or not the notice is successful.
b. Violations: If the district determines that this subsection has been violated but the violation does not constitute an immediate threat to the public health, service shall be terminated in accordance with district procedures dealing with other types of violations of the district's water rules and regulations.
9. Compliance With State And Federal Laws: The customer must comply with the state and federal laws governing the separation of dual water systems or installation of backflow protective devices to protect the public water supply from the danger of cross connections. Backflow protective devices must be installed as near the service as possible and shall be open to test and inspection by the water department. Plans for installation of backflow protective devices must be approved by the water department prior to installation.
10. Dangerous Liquids Or Industrial Waters: In special circumstances, when the customer is engaged in the handling of especially dangerous or corrosive liquids or industrial or process waters, the district may require the customer to eliminate certain plumbing or piping connections as an additional precaution and as a protection of the backflow preventive devices.
H. Relief Valves: As a protection for the customer's plumbing system (as well as a requirement of the Kern County building department), a suitable pressure relief valve must be installed and maintained by him, at his expense, when check valves or other protective devices are used. The relief valve shall be installed between the check valves and the water heater.
I. Backflow Devices:
1. Protection Required: Whenever backflow protection has been found necessary on a water supply line entering a customer's premises, then any and all water supply lines from the district's mains entering such premises, buildings, or structures shall be protected by an approved backflow device, regardless of the use of the additional water supply lines.
2. Inspection: The double check valve or other approved backflow protection devices may be inspected and tested periodically for watertightness by the district. The devices shall be serviced, overhauled, or replaced whenever they are found defective and all costs of repair and maintenance shall be borne by the customer.
3. Discontinued Service: The service of water to any premises may be discontinued by the district, with twenty four (24) hours' prior notice, if any defect is found in the check valve installation or other protective devices, or if it is found that dangerous unprotected cross connections exist. Service will not be restored until such defects are corrected.
J. Interruptions In Service: The district shall not be liable for damage which may result from an interruption in service from a cause beyond the control of the water department. Temporary shutdowns may be made by the water department to make improvements and repairs. Whenever possible and as time permits, all customers affected will be notified prior to making such shutdowns. The district will not be liable for interruption, shortage or insufficiency of supply, or for any loss or damage occasioned thereby, if caused by accident, force majeure, fire, strikes, riots, war or any other cause not within its control.
K. Ingress, Egress: Representatives from the water department shall have the right of ingress and egress to the customer's premises at reasonable hours for any purpose reasonably connected with the furnishing of water service. (Ord. 11-237, 11-10-2011)