15.06.020 Definitions. 

Words used in the present tense include the future as well as the present. Words used in the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter. The singular includes the plural and the plural the singular. As used in this Chapter, unless otherwise apparent from the context: 

A. “Accessory dwelling unit” has the same meaning as “dwelling unit, accessory” set forth in Monterey County Code section 21.06.372, as may be amended from time to time. B. “Active service connection” means a service connection, as defined in Subsection (S) of this Section, that serves an already existing habitable structure. C. “Centralized treatment” means a single treatment plant or device that treats all of the water supplied by a water system for human consumption. D. “Consumer” means a customer or person served by the water system. E. “Contaminant” means any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water. F. “Department” means the Monterey County Health Department. G. “Director” means the Director or authorized representative of the Monterey County Health Department, designated to carry out the drinking water program. H. "Domestic water system" means any water system including a local small water system, state small water system, or small public water system. I. “Dwelling unit” has the same meaning as set forth in Monterey County Code section 21.06.370, as may be amended from time to time. J. “Human consumption” means the use of water for drinking, bathing or showering, hand washing, food preparation, cooking, or oral hygiene. K. “Impacted water system” means a domestic water system that does not meet primary water quality standards per Chapter 15 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, as may be amended from time to time, as such standards are incorporated into Chapter 15.04.110 of the Monterey County Code. L. “Laboratory” for the purposes of this Chapter means a laboratory that is accredited by the California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program. M. “Local small water system” means a system for the provision of piped water for human consumption that serves at least two (2), but not more than four (4), service connections. It includes any collection, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities under control of the operator of such system which are used primarily in connection with such system, and any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under the control of the operator which are used primarily in connection with such system. “Local small water system” does not include two (2) or more service connections on a single lot of record where none of the dwellings are leased, rented or offered for remuneration. N. “Maximum contaminant level” or “MCL” means the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water. O. “Person” includes an individual, firm, association, partnership, corporation, and public entity. P. “Point-of-entry” or “POE” means a treatment device applied to the drinking water entering a house or building for the purpose of reducing contaminants in the drinking water distributed throughout the house or building. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where all the water supplied by a water system for human consumption is treated by the water system via a single device or facility, regardless of location of the device or facility, the water system shall be considered to have centralized treatment. Q. “Point-of-use” or “POU” means a treatment device applied to a single tap for the purpose of reducing contaminants in drinking water at that tap. R. “Primary water quality standards” means drinking water standards per Chapter 15 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, as may be amended from time to time, as such standards are incorporated by reference into section 15.04.110 of the Monterey County Code. 

S. “Service connection”, consistent with Section 21.06.1010, of the Monterey County Code, means a connection to any habitable structure, except a guesthouse, or parcel which uses potable water from a water system for domestic and not agricultural purposes. 

In addition, pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 116275(s), “service connection” means the point of connection between the customer's piping or constructed conveyance, and the water system's meter, service pipe, or constructed conveyance. A Ordinance amending Chapter 15.04 and adding Chapter 15.06 (November 2023) Page 8 of 16 connection to a system that delivers water by a constructed conveyance other than a pipe shall not be considered a connection in determining if the system is a public water system if any of the following apply: 1. The water is used exclusively for purposes other than residential uses, consisting of drinking, bathing, and cooking or other similar uses. 2. The Health Officer determines that the alternative water to achieve the equivalent level of public health protection provided by the applicable primary drinking water regulation is provided for residential or similar uses for drinking and cooking. 3. The Health Officer determines that the water provided for residential or similar uses for drinking, cooking, and bathing is centrally treated or treated at the point of entry by the provider, a pass-through entity, or the user to achieve the equivalent level of protection provided by the applicable primary drinking water regulations. 

T. “State small water system” means a system for the provision of piped water to the public for human consumption that serves at least five (5), but not more than fourteen (14), service connections and does not regularly serve drinking water to more than an average of twenty-five (25) individuals daily for more than sixty (60) days out of the year. It includes any collection, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities under control of the operator of such system which are used primarily in connection with such system, and any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under the control of the operator which are used primarily in connection with such system.