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WATER UTILITY BYLAW, 2000, NO. 8124
*CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE AND REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY*
This consolidated version is not a legal document. For official purposes please refer to
the original bylaw and amending bylaw documents.
IIncludes Bylaw Amendment No. 8185, 8299, 8419, 8444, 8457, 8466, 8480, 8484, 8523, 8565,
8571, 8579, 8629, 8618, 8725, 8788, 8795, 8826, 8881, 8898, 8944, 8969, 9057, 9108, 9162,
9208, 9253, 9310, 9357, 9365, 9398, 9471, 9534, 9596, 9621, 9666, 9691, 9742, 9866. 9974
10097, and 10221.
THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF SAANICH
BYLAW NO. 8124
RESPECTING THE WATER UTILITY
WHEREAS the Council of The Corporation of the District of Saanich owns, operates and maintains a
water utility for supplying water to and for the inhabitants of the Municipality of Saanich and adjacent
localities;
AND WHEREAS it is deemed desirable and expedient to fix the rates, terms and conditions under
which water may be supplied to and used by such inhabitants;
NOW THEREFORE the Municipal Council of The Corporation of the District of Saanich in open
meeting assembled enacts as follows:
Definitions
1.
In this Bylaw:
(a)
"Agricultural Land", means
(i)
Land classified as farm pursuant to Section 23 of the Assessment Act, 1996,
R.S.B.C., C. 20, or
(ii)
Land designated as "Agricultural Land" under Section 11 of the Agricultural
Land Reserve Act, 1996, R.S.B.C., C. 10.
(b)
"Agricultural Water Service Connection" means a connection into the Municipal
Waterworks System to permit the supply of water for irrigation purposes.
(c)
"Collector" means the Collector of the Corporation and includes the Supervisor in the
Waterworks Office of the Corporation and his/her assistants.
(d)
"Director of Engineering" means the person appointed by the Council to be the
Director of Engineering and includes his or her delegates.
(e)
"Fire Connection" means a connection to the Corporation's watermain which is not
serviced by a water meter and which is designed to supply water to a building
exclusively for fire protection purposes.
(f)
"Highway Landscaping" means landscaping installed within a highway which is
irrigated by the municipality or the provincial government or a contractor or agent of
the Municipality or the Provincial Government.
(g)
"Irrigation Purposes" means the use of water on soil or land for the purpose of
affording nourishment to or promoting the growth of or sustaining any form of plant
life, including plant life in greenhouses.
(h)
"Lawn or Garden" includes a lawn, grass, ground cover, gardens, shrubs, trees,
plants, flowers or any other vegetation but does not include vegetables.
Water Utility Bylaw, 2000, No. 8124
____________________________________________________________________________________
Page 2 of 9
(i)
"Person" includes any corporation, partnership or party and the heirs, executors,
administrators or other legal representatives of such person to whom the context can
apply according to law.
(j)
"Provisional Services" means a capped line run to the property line of a lot created by
subdivision.
(k)
"Residential Lot" means any lot on which there is located a dwelling unit as defined in
the Zoning Bylaw, 1988, or any successor bylaw.
(l)
"Restrictive Device" means any nozzle, sprinkler, or other device which, when
attached to the orifice, pipe, tap, hose or other connection drawing or permitting the
flow of water from the mains of the said waterworks system of the Corporation, or
connections thereto, prevents the flow of more than 25 percent of the water which
would flow through such outlet if such nozzle, sprinkler or other device were not
affixed to such outlet.
(m)
"Subsequent Connection" means a connection made to an existing watermain under
municipal jurisdiction.
(n)
"Water Service Area" means all those parts of the Municipality served by the Water
Utility.
(o)
"Water Utility" means the water distribution system owned and operated by The
Corporation of the District of Saanich to supply water to the inhabitants of the
Municipality and adjacent localities.
Water Utility
2.
The waterworks system owned and operated by The Corporation of the District of Saanich to
supply water to the inhabitants of the Municipality and adjacent localities shall continue to
operate as a municipal water utility.
Water Service Area
3.
The water utility shall serve all lands in the District of Saanich except those lands shown
hatched on the map attached hereto as Schedule "A".
Extension to Adjacent Localities
4.
(a)
The Council may authorize the extension of the water service area to serve areas
outside the territorial boundary of the District of Saanich.
(b)
The Council hereby authorizes the extension of the water utility to serve the following
land at the same rate and on the same terms and conditions as water is supplied to
the inhabitants of the District of Saanich:
Lot A, Section 9, Esquimalt District, Plan 49364, in the Town of View Royal
Lot 1, Section 9, Esquimalt District, Plan VIP78169, in the Town of View Royal
Lot 2, Section 9, Esquimalt District, Plan VIP78169, in the Town of View Royal
Lot 3, Section 9, Esquimalt District, Plan VIP78169, in the Town of View Royal.
Connecting Pipes
Water Utility Bylaw, 2000, No. 8124
____________________________________________________________________________________
Page 3 of 9
5.
Connecting pipes shall be laid from the watermain to the land only upon receipt of an
application therefore signed by the owner of the land or his duly authorized agent, who shall
pay in advance, the connection charge specified in this bylaw.
Agricultural Water Service Connections
6.
(a)
Where an application has been made for an agricultural water service connection,
and
(i)
the land is agricultural land or highway landscaping, and
(ii)
the Director of Engineering is satisfied that the existing waterworks system is
capable of supplying water to the land at the rate requested in the
application, the Director of Engineering may approve the application.
(b)
Where, in the opinion of the Director of Engineering, there is a possibility that the
agricultural water service connection may lead to a harmful contamination of the
Municipal waterworks system, he/she may, as a condition of approval of the
connection, require the applicant to install, at his/her own expense, an approved
back flow preventer.
(c)
No person shall use water supplied through an agricultural water service connection
for any purpose other than irrigation purposes.
(d)
It shall be unlawful for any owner or occupant of lands serviced with an agricultural
water service connection to convey or permit to be conveyed water supplied through
the connection to any parcel or parcels of land not described in the application for an
agricultural water service connection.
(e)
No person shall use water supplied through an agricultural water service connection
to irrigate highway landscaping at any time except between the hours of 2:00 a.m.
and 6:00 a.m.
Connection and Other Fees
7.
The owner of real property who receives any of the following services, or for whose benefit
any of the following work is carried out on the municipal water utility, must pay the fee for the
service or work prescribed by the Sewer, Water and Storm Drainage Connection Fee Bylaw,
2021, No. 9688, as amended or replaced from time to time:
(a)
a 19 mm subsequent connection;
(b)
a 19 mm provisional connection;
(c)
a 25 mm subsequent connection;
(d)
a 25 mm provisional connection;
(e)
installation of a 19 mm or 25 mm water meter;
(f)
to raise a water meter box up to 25mm;
(g)
conduct of a water main or fire hydrant flow test;
(h)
removal of rock for the purpose of laying connecting pipes;
(i)
performance of work under this Bylaw that interferes with the movement of traffic on
a highway, major road, collector road or truck route as designated by map 15 in the
Water Utility Bylaw, 2000, No. 8124
____________________________________________________________________________________
Page 4 of 9
Official Community Plan, as amended or replaced from time to time;
(j)
laying of connecting pipes at a depth greater than 3.0 metres;
(k)
reuse of an existing connection;
(l)
a subsequent connection or provisional connection in excess of 25 mm;
(m)
disconnecting and capping a water service connection less than or equal to 25 mm;
and
(n)
Disconnecting and capping a water service connection greater than 25 mm.
Limits on Water Connections
8.1
Except as provided in Sections 8.2 and 8.3, a maximum of one connection to the Water
Utility shall be permitted per lot or parcel of land.
8.2
The limitation on the number of connections under Section 8.1 does not apply to:
(a)
fire connections; or
(b)
agricultural water service connections.
8.3
Despite Section 8.1, the Director of Engineering may permit the establishment of more than
one connection to a lot or parcel of land where he or she is satisfied that a single connection
to the Water Utility is not sufficient to serve the buildings and structures on the lot or parcel.
Water Meters
9.
All connections to the watermains of the Corporation shall have meters attached thereto to
measure the supply of water except connections for fire protection purposes which:
(a)
contain equipment which automatically alerts the Fire Department when water flows
through the connection, or
(b)
contains an approved detector check meter.
Such meters shall remain the property of the Corporation.
Water Bills
10.
(a)
Except as hereinafter provided, the readings of meters from time to time shall form
the basis for the calculation of the charge for water supplied by the Corporation.
(b)
Except as hereinafter provided, all meters shall be read every four (4) months and an
account rendered for water supplied and other charges.
(c)
Where any meter fails to register or to properly indicate the flow of water or is
otherwise unable to be read, the Collector shall estimate the consumption of water
and shall render an account to the customer.
(d)
Any accounts rendered by the Corporation shall be due and payable on receipt.
Water Utility Bylaw, 2000, No. 8124
____________________________________________________________________________________
Page 5 of 9
(e)
A five percent (5%) penalty shall be added to account balances remaining unpaid
after forty-five (45) days from each billing date.
(f)
Water accounts are payable at the Municipal Hall and such other places as the
Treasurer may determine.
(g)
A charge of $25 shall be imposed for the special reading of water meters between
scheduled reading dates.
(h)
Leak adjustments shall be applied as per Council Policy "Water Leakage Allowance
Rate".
(i)
Penalty reversals shall be applied as per Council Policy "Reversal of Residential
Utility Billing Late Payment Penalties".
(j)
Notwithstanding 10 (e), in the event of a mail delivery service disruption, the penalty
shall be added to the account balances remaining unpaid after forty-five (45) days
plus the number of says of the duration of the mail delivery service disruption from
each billing date. This provision does not apply to account holders registered for
electronic billing through MySaanich.
Water Rates
11.
(a)
Regular Water Rate:
Subject to sub-sections 11 (b), (c), (d) and (e), the rate for water supplied shall be
$1.828 for each cubic meter or part thereof.
(b)
Agricultural Water Rate:
Subject to sub-section (c) the rate for water supplied through an agricultural water
service connection shall be $0.880 for each cubic meter or part thereof.
(c)
Farm Water Rate:
The rate where an agricultural water service connection serves land classified as
farm pursuant to section 23 of the Assessment Act 1996, R.S.B.C., C. 20, shall be
$0.211 for each cubic meter or part thereof.
(d)
The aforesaid rates for water supplied through an agricultural water service
connection shall only apply for so long as the land remains agricultural land; if the
land should lose its status as agricultural land, the rate set under Section 11 (a) shall
apply to water supplied through the agricultural water service connection.
(e)
Park Water Rate:
The rate for water supplied to land operated as a Municipal Park, Royal Oak Burial
Park, The Horticultural Centre of the Pacific or Community Garden as defined in the
Saanich Zoning Bylaw shall be $0.733 for each cubic meter or part thereof.
Water Utility Bylaw, 2000, No. 8124
Page 6 of 9
Temporary Connections
12.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Bylaw, an person desiring to obtain a temporary
supply of water for construction purposes may apply to the Municipality for a connection to a
municipal hydrant. The connection shall be installed and removed by the Municipality and
the rate for such connection and supply shall be $85 per day during which the service is
provided.
Monthly Charge
13.
In addition to the above rate there is hereby imposed and levied a monthly charge for each
connection as follows:
Size
Monthly Charge
12.5 mm
12.25
19 mm
16.38
25 mm
30.37
37 mm
58.55
50 mm
93.50
75 mm
174.80
100 mm
291.40
150 mm
581.20
200 mm
930.60
250 mm
1,464.00
Multi Family Charge
14.
Where one water connection and meter serves more than four self-contained dwelling units,
there is hereby imposed and levied a further additional monthly charge in respect of such
connection in accordance with the following scale:
For a 25 mm connection -
$1.44 per unit in excess of 4 units served;
For a 37 mm connection -
$1.44 per unit in excess of 8 units served;
For a 50 mm connection -
$1.44 per unit in excess of 12 units served;
For a 75 mm connection -
$1.44 per unit in excess of 24 units served;
For a 100 mm connection -
$1.44 per unit in excess of 36 units served;
For a 150 mm connection -
$1.44 per unit in excess of 72 units served;
For a 200 mm connection -
$1.44 per unit in excess of 120 units served.
Water Utility Bylaw, 2000, No. 8124
Page 7 of 9
Unpaid Accounts
15.
(a)
Where any account rendered for water used is not paid in accordance with the
provisions of Section 10 of this Bylaw, the Collector may cause the water service to
the premises to be discontinued, provided however, that water service shall not be
discontinued until notice in writing has been given to the owner or person
responsible for payment of the account giving him/her 48 hours notice of such
discontinuance.
(b)
In the event of water service being discontinued pursuant to this Section, the service
shall not be resumed until the water account has been paid in full, together with a
turn-on fee of $15.00.
(c)
Where any account rendered for water used is not paid in accordance with the
provisions of Section 10 of this Bylaw by the 31st day of December in the then
current year, the Collector shall add the amount of the charges to the Collector's
Roll in respect of the real property and such charges shall then be added to and
form part of the taxes payable in respect of such real property as taxes in arrear.
Water Meter Access
16.
(a)
The Collector is hereby authorized to enter at all reasonable times upon any
property for the purpose of administering and enforcing this bylaw.
(b)
Every owner of land to which water is supplied pursuant to this Bylaw shall clear or
trim, within a three (3) foot diameter around, and four (4) feet above the water meter
access, any bush, trees, weeds or other forms of vegetation growing on the land in
such proximity to the water meter that it hinders or impedes access to the meter
from the boulevard and shall remove any other thing which obstructs access to the
meter.
(c)
Where the collector finds any obstruction, brush, trees, weeds or other vegetation
placed or growing on land contrary to subsection (b), he may give notice to the
owner of the land requiring him or her to remove the offending obstruction or clear or
trim the offending vegetation within a specified period of time in default of which the
Municipality by it's workers and others may enter upon the said lands and effect
such removal at the expense of the owner and the charge for doing so, if unpaid on
the 31st day of December in any year, shall be added to and form part of the taxes
payable in respect of that real property as taxes in arrears.
Irrigation Connection
17.
No person shall use water for irrigation purposes unless the service from which the water is
used for such irrigation has attached thereto a restrictive device as defined in this Bylaw.
Fire Connection
18.
No person shall use water supplied through a fire connection for any purpose other than
suppressing a fire.
Water Utility Bylaw, 2000, No. 8124
Page 8 of 9
Re-conveyance of Water
18.1
It shall be unlawful for any owner or occupier of lands supplied with water by the Water
Utility to re-convey or supply such water to another parcel of land unless,
(a)
The other parcel or parcels are listed on the original application for a water service
connection, or
(b)
The Director of Engineering has approved the re-conveyance or supply of water in
writing.
Plumbing Fixture Repair
19.
All consumers must keep their service pipes and stop cocks, and other plumbing fixtures on
their premises in good repair and order at their own expense.
Interference With Municipal Property
20.
No person shall interfere or meddle with any hydrant, valve, meter, watermain or pipe, or
any connection therewith, which is the property of the Corporation, or interfere with any act,
matter or thing done by any of the persons employed in the Waterworks Section in the
exercise of the power herein contained.
Discontinuing and Resuming Water Service
21.
(a)
Any person or persons who may desire to have water service discontinued shall
give to the Director of Engineering 48 hours notice in writing of such desire, and in
default thereof, the rates therefore will be charged until such notice is given and the
water turned off. Persons wishing to have water resumed shall give 48 hours
notice in writing to the Director of Engineering and such service shall only be
resumed upon payment of all water rates that may be then due and payable in
respect of the said buildings or premises including the applicable monthly charge
for the period during which the water service was discontinued.
(b)
The fee levied for discontinuance and resumption of water service is $35.00.
Work on Municipal Streets
22.
No work of any kind connected with the waterworks service, either for the laying of new or
the repair of old services, shall be done upon or under any streets in the District of Saanich
by any person other than the employees of the Corporation or as directed by the Director of
Engineering.
Penalties
23.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this Bylaw shall be guilty of an offence and
shall, upon summary conviction, be liable to a penalty not less than $50.00 nor more than
$250.00.
Water Utility Bylaw, 2000, No. 8124
Page 9 of 9
Repeal
24.
Bylaw No. 7528 being the "Water Utility Bylaw, 1996, No. 7528" is hereby repealed except
insofar as it may repeal any other bylaw.
Title
25.
This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the "WATER UTILITY BYLAW, 2000, NO.
8124".
Special Provision - Pandemic Relief
26.
Section 10(e) shall not apply to an account rendered by the Corporation during the period
from February 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021.
<
Note: Schedule A attached to and forms part of this bylaw is available by
contacting the Legislative Division at (250) 475-1775.
Includes Bylaw Amendment No. 8185, 8299, 8419, 8444, 8457, 8466, 8480, 8484, 8523, 8565,
8571, 8579, 8629, 8618, 8725, 8788, 8795, 8826, 8881, 8898, 8944, 8969, 9057, 9108, 9162,
9208, 9253, 9310, 9357, 9365, 9398, 9471, 9534, 9596, 9621, 9666, 9691, 9742, 9866, 9974,
10097, and 10221.