For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CUSTOMER. Any person using water for any purpose from the city’s water distribution system, Irvine Municipal Utilities, hereinafter IMU, and for which either a regular charge is made or, in the case of bulk sales, a cash charge is made at the site of delivery.
OPERATIONAL MANAGER. The chief executive officer of IMU.
OTHER SOURCES OF WATER. Water that has not been introduced by the city into its water distribution system.
RAW WATER SUPPLIES. All water potentially available to persons in the city.
TREATED WATER. Water that has been introduced by the city into its water distribution system, including water offered for sale. Uses of treated water are classified as follows.
(1) ESSENTIAL WATER USES (CLASS 1). The following uses of water, listed by or user type, are essential:
(a) Domestic. Water necessary to sustain human life and the lives of domestic pets, and to maintain minimum standards of hygiene and sanitation;
(b) Health care facilities. Patient care and rehabilitation;
(c) Water hauling. Sales for domestic use where not reasonably available elsewhere; and
(d) Public use.
1. Firefighting; and
2. Health and public protection purposes, as specifically approved by health officials and the municipal governing body.
(2) SOCIALLY OR ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT USES OF WATER (CLASS 2). The following uses of water, listed by site or user type, are socially or economically important:
(a) Domestic. Personal, in-house water use including kitchen, bathroom and laundry;
(b) Water hauling. Non-domestic, when other sources are not reasonably available elsewhere;
(c) Commercial and civic use.
1. Commercial car and truck washes;
2. Laundromats;
3. Restaurants, clubs and eating places; and
4. Schools, churches, motels/hotels and similar commercial establishments.
(d) Outdoor noncommercial watering.
1. Minimal water of vegetable gardens;
2. Minimal water of trees where necessary of their survival;
3. Outdoor commercial of public watering (using conservation methods and when other sources of water are not available or feasible to use);
4. Agricultural irrigation for the production of food and fiber or the maintenance of livestock;
5. Watering by arboretums and public gardens of national, state, regional or community significance where necessary to preserve specimens;
6. Watering by commercial nurseries where necessary to maintain stock, watering where necessary to establish or maintain revegatation or landscape plantings required pursuant to law or regulation;
7. Watering of woody plants where necessary to preserve them; and
8. Minimal watering of golf course greens.
(d) Recreational. Operation of municipal swimming pools and residential pools that serve more than 25 dwelling units; and
(e) Air conditioning.
1. Refilling for startup at the beginning of the cooling season;
2. Make of water during the cooling season; and
3. Refilling specifically approved by health officials and the municipal governing body, where the system has been drained for health protection or repair services.
(3) NONESSENTIAL (CLASS 3). Any waste or water, as defined herein, is nonessential. The following uses of water, listed by site or user type are also nonessential:
(a) Public use.
1. Use of fire hydrants (excluding Class 1 and Class 2 uses), including use of sprinkler caps, testing fire apparatus and Fire Department drills; and
2. Flushing of sewers and hydrants except as needed to ensure public health and safety as approved by health officials and the municipal governing body.
(b) Commercial and civic use.
1. Serving water in restaurants, clubs or eating places, except by customer request;
2. Failure to repair a controllable leak; and
3. Increasing water levels in scenic and recreation ponds and lakes, except as necessary to support fish and wildlife.
(c) Ornamental purposes.
1. Use of water for dirt control of compaction;
2. Watering of annual or non-woody plants, lawns parks, golf course fairways, playing fields and other recreational areas;
3. Washing sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts or other hard-surface areas;
4. Washing down buildings or structures of purposes other than immediate fire protection; and
5. Flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street.
(d) Outdoor commercial public watering.
1. Expanding nursery facilities, placing new irrigated agricultural land in production, or planting of landscaping except when required by a site design review process;
2. Use of water for dirt control compaction;
3. Watering of lawns, parks, golf course fairways, playing fields and other recreational areas;
4. Washing sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts or other hard-surface areas;
5. Washing down buildings or structures for purposes other than immediate fire protection; and
6. Flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street.
(e) Recreational uses. Recreational uses other than those specified as Class 2;
(f) Noncommercial. Noncommercial washing of motor and other vehicles; and
(g) Air conditioning (see also Class 2 purposes). Refilling cooling towers after draining.
WASTE OF WATER. Includes, but is not limited to:
(1) Permitting water to escape down a gutter, ditch or other surface drain; or
(2) Failure to repair a controllable leak of water due to defective plumbing.
WATER SHORTAGE RESPONSE PHASES.
(1) ADVISORY. Conditions exist which indicate the potential for serious water supply shortages.
(2) ALERT. Raw water supplies are consistently below seasonal averages, and if they continue to decline, may not be adequate to meet normal needs.
(3) EMERGENCY. Water supplies are below the level necessary to meet normal needs and that serious shortages exist in the area.
(Prior Code, § 53.02) (Ord. 1999-09, passed 9-13-1999)