Yuba City updates water ordinance

The Yuba City City Council adopted a new water system ordinance on Tuesday that will eliminate out-of-city surcharges for some customers, allow others to connect to surface water for a decreased cost and establish procedures for rental accounts, among other updates. Most residents likely will not see any impacts, said Utilities Director Bill Lewis.

"Typically what people want to know is, 'How is it going to affect my pocketbook?'" Lewis said. "The ordinance is not going to raise any fees."

It is anticipated that staff will present a rate study to the council next year that includes proposed rate increases. Yuba City's water rates last rose in October 2008.

The water system ordinance that was updated Tuesday had not been updated for 15 years. Many of the changes were codifying practices that are currently in place, Lewis said.

The customers who will see the most immediate impact are the 82 surface water users who live outside city limits and pay a $10 per month surcharge plus additional usage surcharges. The fee will be eliminated and a credit will be placed on their bill for any surcharges paid since August 2008.

The next group of customers that can potentially be affected are those whose water supply comes from private wells and have a water pipe in front of their homes. They will be allowed to connect to the surface water system at the same price as ground water customers.

The cost to do so would normally be about $10,000 but this should lower it to $4,000-$5,000 and the cost can be financed, Lewis said. The offer is good from Jan. 1 to June 30.

The benefit of switching to surface water is that private wells do not always meet healthy standards for nitrates, arsenic and bacteria, among other things, Lewis said. Surface water is also typically softer.

The city does not really benefit, except for maybe a slight gain in customers and associated revenue, he said. The main reason for allowing the conversion is because of customer interest.

Customers will still be able to keep their well water for irrigation or other purposes, Lewis said.

They, along with anyone else with secondary water sources, will be required to install a backflow device to prevent customers from pumping water into the city's water system. The backflow device, which typically costs a few hundred dollars and must be tested annually, prevents contamination.

"We've been requiring this already," Lewis said. "We just haven't had the legislation."

Another change is an advanced payment deposit of $60 is required for residential rental accounts. The property owner is responsible for payment of the monthly bills and if a tenant leaves a balance due, a new account will not be set up until the overdue amount is paid.

The city has experienced an increase in tenants not paying their bills before they move out and have trouble getting payment once the renter is gone, Lewis said.

"We just want tenants to pay their bills like everyone else," he said. "Otherwise the city citizens get stuck with the bill."

Fines for ordinance violations have also risen. Written warnings are still in effect for the first violation, but second violations have risen from $25 to $500 and third violations from $50 to $5,000.

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Ashley Gebb at 749-4724 or agebb@appealdemocrat.com.