(A) New services and meters. Each person desiring the installation of a new service and meter shall make application in the form and manner prescribed by the Director. The size of the service and meter shall be subject to approval by the city. If a water distribution main is available adjacent to the property, the city shall install a service and meter at a reasonable location. If a water distribution main is not available adjacent to the property, then the city may either require the installation of a water main at the applicant's expense or may install a service and meter adjacent to the nearest available main, in which case it shall be the responsibility of the applicant to obtain easements and install necessary service lines to the property. The charges for installing each new service and meter, which amount shall be paid in advance by the applicant, shall be as set from time to time by resolution of the City Council.
(B) Changes in location and/or size.
(1) When a change in location of an existing service and meter is requested by a property owner, or when a change in location is required by the city because of some act or omission of a property owner or customer, the charge, payable in advance, shall be the charge for installing a new service and meter.
(2) When a decrease in size of an existing meter at the same location is requested by a property owner, the smaller meter shall be installed, provided that the requested meter is determined by the city to be of adequate size. The property owner shall pay a fee for this service which shall be established by resolution of the City Council.
(3) When a decrease in size of an existing meter at a different location is requested by a property owner, or when an increase in size of an existing meter at the same or a different location is requested or is required by the city, the charge, payable in advance, shall be the total installation fee for the new size.
(C) Ownership of services and meters.
(1) All services and meters shall be owned by the city. The expense of maintenance repair and renewal due to normal wear and tear shall be borne by the city except that expenses incurred by any act or omission on the part of the customer, or the customer's family, employees, agents, or tenants shall be charged to the customer. All meters will be sealed by the city at the time of installation and no seal should be altered or broken except by one of its authorized employees.
(2) All connections to services and meters shall be in a manner prescribed by the Director. Substandard connections or the installation of any private or non-city approved materials within meter boxes or vaults shall be corrected or removed within 30 days of mailing of notice by registered mail to the owner of record of the water service. Failure to comply may result in discontinued service.
(D) Removal or abandonment of services and/or meters. The city reserves the right to remove or abandon any service and/or meter for which no person has made application and through which no water has legally passed during the preceding 18 months. If the meter only is removed and the service left intact, and application is subsequently made for a meter of the same size, then the city shall reset a meter. The charge, payable in advance, shall be the installation cost for that size meter. If the meter is removed and the service abandoned, and application is subsequently made for a meter of the same or different size, then the charge payable in advance, shall be the total installation cost and capital facility fees for the requested size.
(E) Location of water meters. Water meters shall be located in or adjacent to the public right-of-way. Existing meters not so located shall be relocated at the option of the city which shall bear all costs for such relocations except those associated with the customer's connection to the relocated meters.
(F) Oversize services.
(1) An oversize service connection may be approved by the Director for any residence on an agricultural property for which a larger service is needed to support agricultural operations occurring on an infrequent basis, not including agricultural irrigation, or for any residence located in an area which is subject to the threat of wildfires, for which a fire service standpipe is required by the local fire department or for other similar uses requiring high flows for short or infrequent periods of time, as approved by the Director.
(2) The monthly fees and charges for an oversize service connection shall be determined by the Director on the basis of an equivalent meter size. In making that determination, the director may consider the size and use of the property and the buildings thereon, the prior year's water consumption, if any, and any other relevant factors. The equivalent meter size shall be reviewed annually and revised as found necessary by the Director. Any charges for installation of the service or for the installation of a new or replacement meter shall be based upon the actual size of the service or meter. The water capital facilities fee and the water resource in-lieu fee shall be based upon the equivalent meter size determined and the use of the property at the time the service is installed.
(3) High precision water meters shall be used on all oversize service connections. Any additional costs above that of an ordinary meter of the equivalent meter size, as determined in division (B) above, shall be the responsibility of the customer.
(4) Oversize Service Connections shall be limited to water services with an actual water meter size of 1½ inches or two inches. After the first year of service, the equivalent meter size to be used to determine monthly fees and charges as described in division (F)(2) above shall be determined on the basis of the prior 12 month's consumption as shown in the following table:
Average Monthly Consumption(HCF/Month) | Equivalent Meter Size(Inches) |
0 - 40 | ¾ |
> 40 - 70 | 1 |
>70 - 160 | 1½ |
(Ord. 993, passed 12-18-95; Am. Ord. 1058, passed 2-18-03)