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RMC TO PROHIBIT AND ENFORCE WATER
THEFT AND UNAUTHORIZED WATER USE
City Council
October 04, 2022
Public Utilities
RiversideCA.gov
2 1. As part of the RPU water loss program which was
discussed at RPU Water Committee on January 12,2022.
2. Water Theft Policy goal is to deter unauthorized
consumption and thus reduce water loss with minimal
costs to the City.
3. To meet upcoming State compliance requirements.
BACKGROUND
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3 4. California Governor approved SB 427 on July 23, 2021.
5. Authorizes the legislative body of a local agency, to adopt a water theft ordinance and specifies specific fine amounts.
6. Provides the definition on what “water theft” entails and how to be used, which is found in Penal Code section
498.
7. This process requires the adoption of an ordinance.
BACKGROUND
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4 DISCUSSION
1. The California Government Code section 53069.45
defines Water Theft as an action to divert, tamper, or
reconnect water utility services.
2. Violators of this section will be liable for the total costs incurred by the Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) to respond to an unauthorized or improper connection.
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5 DISCUSSION
3. Using water from the water system without RPU’s authorization is considered a crime,
4. Unauthorized connections pose serious contamination risks to RPU’s water supply and can cause expensive damage to RPU’s water delivery system
5. Extra cost burden to RPU’s customers.
6. Water theft makes it more difficult for RPU to account for the water being used by customers accurately
7. The revenue lost from water theft is ultimately passed on to paying customers.
RiversideCA.gov
6 8. Violators will be charged the unauthorized estimated water use, and a penalty as specified in the California
Government Code section 53069.45:
a. For water theft and unauthorized water use fines shall be $130 for the first violation, $700 for the second violation, and $1,300 for the third violation and each additional violation thereafter within one year of the first violation;
b. For all other violations fines shall be $1,000 for the first violation, $2,000 for the second violation, and $3,000 for each additional violation within one year of the first violation.
DISCUSSION
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7 DISCUSSION
Adopting this ordinance to
a. Better align with the new state water conservation
requirement regarding the water loss performance standards b. Help in the efforts of water loss reduction,
c. Help recover related costs du e to the unauthorized use of water
d. The ordinance would be codified into the Riverside Municipal Code (RMC).
RiversideCA.gov
8 Priority No. 4 Environmental Stewardship
Goal No. 4.2 – Sustainably manage local wat er resources to maximize reliability and advance water reuse to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable water to our community.
Priority No. 5 High Performing Government
Utilize technology, data, and process improvement strategies to increase efficiencies, guide decision making, and improve access to and delivery of financially sustainable City services.
Cross-Cutting Threads
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
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9 That the City Council introduce and subsequently adopt an Ordinance adding Chapter 14.23 to the Riverside
Municipal Code to prohibit and enforce water theft and
unauthorized water use.
RECOMMENDATIONS
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