To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Joy Eldredge, Utilities Director
Prepared By: Sara Gallegos, Management Analyst
TITLE:
Title
Updated Regulations for Water Contamination Prevention
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
Approve the first reading and introduction of an ordinance amending Napa Municipal Code Chapter 13.08 Water Contamination Prevention Regulations; and determine that the actions authorized by this ordinance are exempt from CEQA.
Body
DISCUSSION:
Napa Municipal Code (NMC) Title 13 “Public Services” contains a variety of regulations related to the City’s potable water system. As described below, the proposed Ordinance modifies Chapter 13.08 contained in NMC Title 13. The California State Water Resources Control Board adopted the Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook (CCCPH) Standards and Principles for California’s Public Water Systems on December 19, 2023, made effective July 1, 2024, and most recently amended on June 17, 2025.
The City’s Cross-Connection Control Program (CCCP) is tailored to the City’s potable water utility system and existing cross-connection control to prevent the possibility of contamination or pollution of our water system. The City’s CCCP is updated and approved by the Utilities Director annually or more frequently as needed to acknowledge equipment innovations and administrative requirements. The following proposed updates to each section of Chapter 13.08 align with updated requirements in the CCCPH.
NMC Section 13.08.150. Definitions.
Section 13.08.150 is proposed to be moved in its entirety up to new Section 13.08.020 as shown in Exhibit A, updated to reflect Utilities Department Director, as well as add definitions related to the CCCP and updated requirements in the CCCPH.
NMC Section 13.08.020. Water system. Section 13.08.020 is proposed to be new Section 13.08.030. No changes to language.
NMC Section 13.08.030. Responsibility.
Section 13.08.30 is proposed to be new Section 13.08.040. Language is updated to reflect Utilities Department Director, clarify designated agent as a Cross-Connection Control Program Coordinator (CCCPC), and reference the CCCP and updated CCCPH requirements.
NMC Section 13.08.040. Conditions requiring a backflow preventer.
Section 13.08.040 is proposed to be new Section 13.08.050 and renamed to: Conditions requiring backflow prevention. Language is updated to reflect the CCCP, as well as updated requirements in the CCCPH.
NMC Section 13.08.050. Approved backflow preventers and NMC Section 13.08.060. Type of protection required.
Section 13.08.050 and 13.08.060 are proposed to be consolidated into new Section 13.08.060 named: Type of backflow protection required. Language is updated to reflect the CCCP, as well as updated requirements in the CCCPH.
NMC Section 13.08.070. Location of backflow prevention devices.
Section 13.08.070 is proposed to be renamed to: Location of backflow prevention assemblies. Language is updated to reference the CCCP and updated requirements in the CCCPH.
NMC Section 13.08.080. When a backflow prevention assembly is required.
Section 13.08.080 is proposed to be removed in its entirety as referenced requirements are outdated and now covered under new Section 13.08.050.
NMC Section 13.08.090. Inspection of customer’s system.
Section 13.08.090 is proposed to be new Section 13.08.080. Language proposed reflects Utilities Department Director, the CCCP, and outlines updated requirements in the CCCPH.
NMC Section 13.08.100. Basis for water service termination.
Section 13.08.100 is proposed to be new Section 13.08.090 and renamed to: Enforcement and basis for water service termination. Language updated to reflect Utilities Department Director, the CCCP, and updated requirements in the CCCPH.
NMC Section 13.08.110. Water service restoration procedure.
Section 13.08.110 is proposed to be new Section 13.08.100.
NMC Section 13.08.120. Maintenance and testing.
Section 13.08.120 is proposed to be new Section 13.08.110. Language updated to reflect Utilities Department Director, updated section numbering, the CCCP, and updated CCCPH.
NMC Section 13.08.130. Tester competency requirements.
Section 13.08.130 is proposed to be new Section 13.08.120. Language updated to reflect Utilities Department Director, and to align with CCCP, and updated CCCPH requirements.
NMC Section 13.08.140. Termination of water service.
Section 13.08.140 is proposed to be eliminated in its entirety, as it is proposed to be consolidated with new Section 13.08.090.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
The changes to NMC Chapter 13.08 Water Contamination Prevention Regulations are regulatory in nature and not expected to have an effect on revenues or expenditures.
CEQA:
City staff recommends that the City Council determine that the Recommended Action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to: Public Resources Code Section 21065, CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c) and/or 15378, since the revision of the City’s water contamination prevention regulations is not subject to environmental review under CEQA, as it does not constitute a “project,” does not commit the City to a definite course of action, does not constitute discretionary approval of a specific project, and will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
ATCH 1 - Ordinance
EX A - Amending NMC Chapter 13.08
ATCH 2 - City of Napa Cross-Connection Control Program
NOTIFICATION:
Legal notice of public hearing for the ordinance was published in the Napa Valley Register on October 9, 2025