Ordinance - 1147I
ORDINANCE NO. 1147
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
WEST COVINA ADDING CHAPTER 7 TO ARTICLE VII OF
THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE PROVIDING FOR
THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE WATER SYSTEM OF THE
CITY AND FIXING RATES FOR WATER AND WATER
SERVICE SUPPLIED BY THE CITY AND ESTABLISHING
RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE SUPPLYING
OF WATER AND WATER SERVICE, AND DECLARING THE
URGENCY THEREOF TO TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
The City Council of the City of West Covina does ordain
as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 7 is hereby added to Article VII of
the West Covina Municipal Code to read:
"CHAPTER 7 - WATER SERVICE
7601. ADMINISTRATION.
Except as otherwise specifically provided for herein,
the water system of the City of West Covina shall be managed,
controlled, operated and maintained by the City Manager.
With the approval of the City Council, the City Manager
may delegate any of the powers and duties conferred upon him
by this Chapter to any other officer or employee of the City
who is qualified to perform the same.
7602. WATER RATES.
The rates for water and water service to be charged and
collected by the City of West Covina and the terms and con-
ditions of service applicable to and to be enforced in respect
of the supplying of such water and water service, and the time
and manner of payment therefor, are fixed and established by
this Chapter.
7603. RATE ZONES.
For the purpose of establishing water rates, the area
served shall be designated Zone I and Zone II.
Zone I shall include all area below elevation 635.
Zone II shall include all area between elevation 635
and elevation 900.
7604. DOMESTIC, IRRIGATION, COMMERCIAL, AND INDUSTRIAL
SERVICE.
(a) The monthly standby charges for service shall be
as follows:
Size of Meter
(inches)
1
\. 1-1/2
2
3
4
6
8
Standby Charges
Zone I and Zone II
$ 3.00
4.00
6.00
8.00
15.50
21.00
31.00
51.00
L�
be:
(b) The commodity rates for all water delivered shall
Commodity Rate for all
water delivered
(per 100 cubic feet)
In
Zone
I
$0.28
In
Zone
II
$0.31
(c) An additional service charge of $0.75 per month
for each additional family or business shall be paid whenever
more than one family or more than one business in any residence
or business.building or establishment is served water through
one meter.
(d) All water delivered for any purpose shall be metered
unless deemed impractical by the City Engineer.
(e) The City Engineer may require a deposit for every
service meter in an amount equal to four times the monthly
standby charge of said meter. The City Engineer may require
a similar deposit for any service that has been delinquent for
more than two consecutive months or as a condition precedent
to resumption of service where service has been discontinued
for non-payment of service. Such deposit shall be refunded
when the service is discontinued, provided all charges to the
applicant by the City have been paid. The City Engineer may
waive all or any part of the deposit for an applicant who
furnishes evidence satisfactory to the City Engineer that he
is the owner of the property or who furnishes evidence of an
acceptable credit rating..
7605. MUNICIPAL SERVICE.
Water supplied to the City of West Covina for domestic
purposes shall be charged at the rates established by Section
7604.
Water supplied to the City for park purposes shall be
charged at the standby rate established in Section 7604 and
at the following commodity rates:
t
Zone I: $0..0 per 100 cubic feet
Zone II: $0.ia� per 100 cubic feet
Water supplied for street sprinkling, flushing or other
non -domestic uses shall be supplied through an approved portable
meter or approved tank truck meter at a commodity rate listed
above in this Section, except that street sweepers, small
trucks or vehicles used for general street maintenance may
make unmetered connections to fire hydrants at a fixed charge
of $30.00 per month for all such usage or unmetered water.
76o6. TEMPORARY SERVICE.
The applicant for temporary service supplied through a
fire hydrant shall make application to the City Engineer. Upon
payment of an installation charge of $20.00 per meter and upon
making a deposit of $100 to cover damages to the fire hydrant,
the City shall install said meter. Water delivered through
the meter shall be charged at the following commodity rates:
-2-
I
•
Zone I: $0.Q4 per 100 cubic feet
Zone II: 0.19 per 100 cubic feet
A monthly standby charge of $10.00 shall be paid for
each month or portion thereof the meter is in service.
7607. PRIVATE FIRE SERVICE.
The monthly charge to be collected for private fire
protection service shall be as follows:
Size of Service Without.
Lateral (Inches) Detector
Check
4 $4.00
6 6.00
8 8.00
With
Detector
Check
$10.00
15.00
20.00
Without
Detector
Check
$5.00
7.00
9.00
With
Detector
Check
$11.00
16.00
21.00
A fire service shall be used for fire extinguishing
purposes only and the rates include water used for such purposes.
If the City determines that water from a private fire service
is used for other than fire extinguishing purposes, said service
shall be discontinued. No private fire service less than 4-inches
in size shall be installed.
7608. PUBLIC FIRE PROTECTION.
The monthly rate for water used for public fire protection
through fire hydrants for the suppression of fires shall be
a FLAT RATE of One Dollar ($1.00) for each fire hydrant.
7609. APPLICATION FOR WATER SERVICE AND WATER SERVICE
LATERAL CHARGES.
Before water is supplied to any premises, the customer
shall make application to the City Engineer. Unless the water
service lateral,charge has previously been paid or waived the
City, as a condition to granting such application and furnishing
water to the premises, shall require payment
therefor at the following minimum charges for both Zones I and
II:
Water Service Lateral Charge
Size and Type of Installed in New Installed in Streets
Service Lateral Subdivision or Under Normal Conditions
(inches) Unpaved Streets and Methods
1 Domestic $125 $175
1-1/2 " 225 275
2 325 375
Over 2 " Actual cost of labor, materials and
equipment plus 25 percent of such
cost for overhead, tools and admin-
istration
4 Fire Service
with Detector
Check $1600 $1650
-3-
4
Fire Service
without
Detector Check
950
1000
6
Fire Service
with Detector
Check
2000
2050
6
Fire Service
without
Detector Check
1150
1200
8
Fire`,Service
with Detector
Check
3000
3050
8 Fire Service
without
Detector Check 1550 1600
When unusual conditions exist such as an unusual length
of lateral or the lateral must be installed by jacking or by
other than standard methods to avoid cutting new pavement, or
for any other reason, a deposit equal to the estimated cost
plus 25 per cent will be required. The final cost will be
determined based upon actual cost of labor, materials and
equipment plus 25 per cent.
7610. INSTALLATIONS NOT OTHERWISE COVERED.
In all cases where an installation is requested of the
City for any purpose not covered by other provisions of this
chapter and such request is granted, the installation shall
be made and the total cost shall be paid by the applicant.
In lieu of making installations on a total cost basis,
the City where expedient may make said installation on a fixed
charge basis to be determined by the City Engineer.
7611. METER READINGS AND BILLINGS.
The commodity rates for the several classes of water
service are based on meter readings, read in units of 100 cubic
feet.
(a) The City may make either monthly or bimonthly meter
readings and billings.
(b) Opening and closing bills and bills for an irregular
period shall be prorated on a 30-day month basis.
(c) All charges for water and water service are due and
payable when rendered and become delinquent 15 days after date
rendered.
(d) If delinquent bills are not paid upon presentation,
. or on failure to comply with the rules and regulations estab-
lished as a condition to the use of water, or to pay rates or
any charges or penalty imposed in the time and manner herein
provided, water may be turned off at any or all services where
the customer is supplied with water until payment of the amount
due is made. The City shall charge $3.00 for each service
turned on again.
-4-
(e) Should the owner or occupant of any premises or his
agent turn water on or suffer or cause it to be turned on
after it has been shut off at the " curb stop by the City, it
will be shut off at the main, and a charge of $50.00 made for
turning water on again.
(f) The City Engineer shall have the power to determine
the class of service to be supplied to any consumer and shall
at his discretion adjust complaints in connection therewith.
7612. PERMISSION FOR CONNECTION WITH CITY WATER SYSTEM.
A person may not tap,.open, or connect with a water main
pipe, or service which forms a part of the water system of the
City without first obtaining written permission to do so. The
City shall issue no such permit to or for any person who is
delinquent in his indebtedness to the City for water or damage
to hydrants.
7613. CONSUMER SERVICE TO OTHERS.
In all cases in which water is served to premises occupied
by two or more different and independent consumers of water,
which premises are held under one ownership, the owner or
owners of such premises shall be and are hereby required to
provide for independent service to the curb line for each such
independent consumer; provided, however, that if any owner of
such premises so served with water shall agree in writing to
be responsible for and pay all money due for water used upon
such premises, such independent service shall not be required.
Should the owner or owners fail or refuse to provide such
independent service or to assume responsibility for money due
for water used upon such premises, the City shall, after thirty
days' notice to the consumers so served and to the owner or
owners of such premises or the person in charge th ereof, cut
off the water from such premises until the independent services
herein required are installed or the agreement assuming res-
ponsibility for money due for water served to the premises is
made as herein provided.
No consumer shall supply water to any person, firm, or
corporation on premises other than that owned or occupied by
the consumer unless permission is granted by the City, and in
the event that such permission is granted, the owner or owners
of such premises shall in writing guarantee the payment of all
charges for water and water service serviced thereto.
M4. CROSS -CONNECTIONS.
"Cross -connection" shall mean any arrangement or instal-
lation of piping or structures whereby it is possible for
used, unclean, polluted, or contaminated water, mixtures, or
substances to enter any portion of any approved water supply.
An "approved water supply" shall mean a potable water
supply of safe, sanitary quality which is approved for human
consumption by the authorities having jurisdiction thereof.
• Water service by the City may be discontinued to any
premises upon which there is found to be another source of water
supply or a cross -connection and due notice is given thereof
by said City to the consumer or owner of said premises. Such
service shall not be restored until such cross -connection has
-5-
been eliminated or backflow devices satisfactory to the City
have been installed to protect the water system of said City.
The expense and maintenance of said backflow devices and the
cost of eliminating cross -connections shall be paid by the
consumer or owner of said premises.
7615. METERS.
Meters will not be installed by the City except when
authorized by the City Engineer.
If a meter has been installed and a different size,
whether larger or smaller, is requested by the consumer and
approved by the City Engineer, the charge for the installation
of the meter requested shall be paid by the consumer as follows:
Size of Meter in Inches Charge
Under 3 $25.00
3 or larger Total Cost
No meter less than one inch in diameter shall be installed
on services 1-1/2 inches or larger. No meter shall be installed
which is larger in size than the diameter of the existing water
service lateral.
All meters installed by the City shall remain at all
times, the property of the City., All meters shall be main-
tained, repaired, and replaced by said City; provided that
adjustments, repairs, or replacements of any meter rendered
necessary by negligence, carelessness, or damage by the con-
sumer, or any member of his,family or anyone employed by him,
including damage which may result from hot water or steam from
boilers or otherwise, shall be paid for by such consumerito
said City upon pres.entation.of bill therefor; and in case such
bill is not paid,.the water shall be'shut off'from said premises.
without further notice and shall not be turned on until all
charges are paid. If access to a meter or meter box is obstructed
in any manner, the City shall give a fifteen (15) day notice in
writing to remove such obstruction before enforcing this pro-
vision by turning off the water. Said notice shall be given
to all of the consumers served by such meter.'
All water used on any premises where a meter is installed
must pass through the meter and the consumer will be held
responsible and charged for all water passing through the meter.
When rate of flow tests indicate that an existing meter operates
above its safe operating capacity, the City may require a
consumer to install a larger meter and service at owner's cost.
If water is served to the same premises through more than
one meter, the City may require a check valve on the consumer's
side of each meter.
Any consumer may demand that the meter through which water
is being furnished, be examined and tested by the City for the
Is purpose of ascertaining whether or not it is registering
correctly the amount of water which is being delivered through
it. Such demand shall be made in writing to the City and shall
be accompanied by a deposit of Ten Dollars ($10.00). Upon
receipt of such demand it shall be the duty of the -City to cause
the meter to be examined and tested for the purpose of ascertain-
ing whether or not it is registering correctly the water being
delivered through it. If on such examination and test the meter
shall be found to register over three percent more water than
actually passes through it, another meter will be substituted
therefor, and the fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00) shall be repaid
the person making the application, and the water bill for the
current period adjusted in such manner as the City may deem
fair and just. If the meter be found to register not over
three percent fast, the Ten Dollars ($10.00) deposit shall be
forfeited to the City and the water bill paid as rendered.
7616. SHUT-OFF VALVES.
All shut-off valves installed by the City are for the
use of the City, and may be used by the consumer only in case
of emergency. For ordinary usage all consumers shall provide
their own valves.
7617. INTERRUPTIONS IN SERVICE.
The City shall have the authority to turn off water from
mains and pipes of the system without notice. The City will
endeavor to give notice through the newspapers or otherwise if
time and expediency permit. The City will not be liable for
damage which may result from an interruption in service.
7618. ACCESS TO PREMISES.
Inspectors, foremen and employees of the City whose duty
it may be to enter upon private premises to make inspection,
examination, and tests of the pipes, fixtures, or attachments
used in connection with the water supply, shall be provided
with a badge or other credentials to identify them as authorized
agents of the City.
Any officer, inspector, foreman, or other authorized
employee of the -City, upon presentation of his badge or
credentials shall have free`access at all reasonable hours to
any premises supplied with city water for the purpose of making
any inspection, examination, or tests or any part of the water
system upon said premises.
If any authorized employee is refused admittance to any
premises, or being admitted shall be hindered or prevented from
making such inspection, examination, or tests, the City Engineer
may cause the water to be turned off from said premises after
giving twenty-four hours' notice to the owner or occupant of
said premises of his intention to do so.
It is the duty of each officer and employee of the City
upon resignation or dismissal, forthwith to deliver to the
City all City badges and credentials held by him.
7619. THEFT OF WATER AND THE RIGHT TO INSTALL OR REMOVE CITY
EQUIPMENT.
In applying for water service, the applicant agrees that
the City may install and maintain such equipment on the
applicant's premises as it deems necessary for the proper
metering and distribution of water to prevent the theft thereof.
Any person tampering with the equipment of the City for the
purpose of avoiding payment of the rates herein prescribed
shall be liable to punishment therefor pursuant to law. In
case the property is vacant or the equipment installed is no
longer needed, such equipment may be removed at any time upon
order of the City Engineer.
-7-
a
•
Any person or agency apprehended using water without
permission from a fire hydrant, service, or other system con-
nection will be charged for each occurrence a minimum of $100.00,
plus $.50 per hundred cubic feet of water estimated to have been
used. Investigation costs may be added thereto at the option
of the City Engineer.
7620. NOTICES.
All notices required to be given by the City pursuant
to this chapter may be given by depositing same in the United
States mail, properly addressed, in a postage prepared envelope.
Upon such deposit, notice shall be deemed to have been given."
SECTION 2. This ordinance is hereby declared to be an
ordinance. necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health or safety and shall be effective immediately upon its
adoption. The facts constituting its urgency are:
Certain areas of the City are in need of immediate water
service. For the protection of the health and safety of the residents
and others within the area it is necessary that water service be pro-
vided by the`City at the earliest possible time. In order to establish
the administrative procedures required to enable the City to provide
water service as required this ordinance must be effective immediately.
SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage
of this ordinance and shall cause the same to be published as required
by law.
Passed and approved this 9th
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES SS.
CITY OF WEST COVINA
day of November , 1970.
I, LELA W. PRESTON, City Clerk of the City of West Covina,
do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance No. 1147 was regularly
introduced and placed upon its first reading at a regular meeting of
the City Council on the 9th day of November , 1970. That,
thereafter,. said ordinance was duly adop ed an passed at a regular
meeting of the City Council on the 9th day of November , 1970,
by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmen: Shearer, Young, Lloyd, Chappell
NOES: Councilmen: Nichols
ABSENT:Councilmen: None
city C e
APPROVED AS TO FORM: _
City Att27