3.05.130 Water system backup facilities charge (WSBFC).
A. General. Since 1978, with the passage of Proposition 13, capital construction costs for new domestic water service infrastructure have been borne by developers through the WSBFC. The WSBFC is assessed on all new development and redevelopment projects within the district’s service area.
The WSBFC is comprised of the following two components:
1. Dwelling unit/building unit charge.
2. Meter surcharge.
B. Dwelling Unit/Building Unit Charge (DU/BUC). The DU/BUC provides funds to construct backup facilities to maintain domestic water service to new developments at peak day flow conditions.
The DUC is applicable to residential-type development including duplexes, apartments, condominiums, hotels, motels and recreational vehicle and trailer park spaces. For purposes of calculating the DUC, each recreational vehicle, each motel room and each hotel room shall constitute 0.5 dwelling units and each mobile home unit shall constitute 0.67 dwelling units.
The BUC is based on the DUC calculation and is applicable to all nonresidential development projects. Domestic water demand for nonresidential projects are calculated on an individual basis and can vary based on project type and size. The nonresidential demand is expressed as an equivalent water unit (EWU). The EWU is made of three components:
1. Fire flow demand.
2. Indoor water demand.
3. Outdoor water demand.
To calculate the BUC, the EWU for a nonresidential development is determined, then multiplied by the DUC.
The BUC for a cooling tower is calculated as shown in Table A-4 of the sanitation system rules and regulations (CVWDC Title 4 Appendices.).
C. Meter Surcharge. The standard service connection for the district consists of a one-inch service line with a three-quarter-inch meter. Meters larger than three-quarter-inch allow greater flow rates; therefore, require more backup facilities to maintain domestic water service. The meter surcharge is equal to a modified DUC multiplied by a factor to account for the increased flows through the larger meters.
The meter surcharge is applicable to all new service connections in which the meter is larger than three-quarter-inch and to existing service connections in which an increase in meter size is requested.
For existing service connections, when the meter size is increased, the meter surcharge will be the difference between the meter surcharge for the old and new meters. The size of the meter installed will be determined by the general manager.
1. Meter Surcharge Waiver. There are certain circumstances in which residential accounts are required to install an incrementally larger meter for reasons other than the account’s anticipated daily domestic water needs (e.g., to meet residential fire sprinkler requirements). Under such circumstances, staff may issue a meter surcharge waiver and assess the lower capacity charge that corresponds to the meter size that would otherwise be appropriate for the new account in normal circumstances (i.e., normal pressure and without fire sprinkler requirements).
The meter surcharge waiver only applies to single-family residential units and does not apply to developments or projects with master water meters.
D. Payment. The DU/BUC and meter surcharge and other charges as may be required shall be paid prior to the district issuing the first meter to the development. At the discretion of the general manager, the DU/BUC and meter surcharge may be paid at alternative times. For existing service connections, the meter surcharge shall be paid at the time of application for an increased meter size.
The district seeks to encourage nonpotable water use (canal and/or recycled water) for nondomestic water purposes, such as outdoor irrigation. If a new development uses nonpotable water for a portion of its nondomestic water demands, CVWD may reduce the DUC since backup domestic water system facilities are not necessary to meet those demands. In the case of a residential dwelling unit with a dual plumbing system that meets a percentage of its total water demands with nonpotable water, the DUC may be reduced to account for this usage, up to a maximum of 60 percent of the DUC.
The district may also apply a credit against a development’s specific DUC sub-components if off-site and/or regional infrastructure is built or a funding contribution is made to a district backup facility. The credit shall not exceed the total specific sub-component amount of the DUC for the development.
In addition, the district may collect a reservoir fee from a development to pay for their proportional share of the cost of a reservoir necessary to serve the development if the development’s proportional storage cost exceeds the total amount of the storage facilities sub-component portion of the DUC. The reservoir fee shall be based on actual costs, if available, or the nondepreciated storage facilities unit cost multiplied by the gallons of storage needed.
Credits are not applicable for the meter surcharge.
E. Amount. See Appendix A-14. (Ord. 1399.16 § 4-5, 2023)