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Merced, CA Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing chapter
Municipal Code Chapter 15.42, Water Conservation Regulation
Always-on leak ban
Sec. 15.42.100(A)(1) prohibits leaking plumbing/irrigation
Level 4 repair window
As soon as reasonably possible after city notice
Level 5 repair deadline
48 to 72 hours after city notification
Penalty schedule
$50, $75, $150 for 1st/2nd/3rd violation
Appeal deadline
15 days to request hearing via city clerk

Summary

Merced bans letting broken or defective plumbing, sprinklers, or irrigation systems leak water at any time, under Municipal Code Sec. 15.42.100.A.1. Once the city declares Level 4 or Level 5 drought restrictions, Sec. 15.42.050 tightens the duty further: a leak the city flags in an irrigation or water system must be fixed as soon as reasonably possible, or within 48 to 72 hours of notification.

A.All Users.1.Allowing broken or defective plumbing, or sprinklers, watering or irrigation systems which permit the escape or leakage of water.2.The use of water in any manner which causes, allows, or permits the flooding of any premises, or any portion thereof.3.All uses of non-potable water without the permission of the department of public works, except for the use of rainwater collected for irrigation purposes.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 - 1-26).

Full Breakdown

42 of the Municipal Code, the Water Conservation Regulation chapter enacted by Ordinance No. 2479. 100(A)(1) makes it unlawful at all times, not just during drought, to allow broken or defective plumbing, sprinklers, or irrigation systems to leak or waste water; the same section separately bans flooding a premises and using non-potable water without the department of public works' permission. When the city has formally moved to Level 4 water conservation restrictions, Sec. ' Once the city escalates to Level 5, Sec. ' The director of public works administers these rules and can grant a variance under Sec.

060 if fixing a leak immediately would itself create a health, sanitation, or fire risk. A property owner who ignores a leak notice can be disconnected from city water service at their own expense under Sec. 070, and reconnection requires paying the fee set in Sec. 040. Before that, Sec. 110 lets the director issue a cease-and-desist order and then a notice of intent to impose a penalty, which starts at $50 for a first violation, $75 for a second, and $150 for a third or later violation, charged directly to the water utility account.

Violations & Fines

Ignoring a leak notice escalates from a cease-and-desist order to a monetary penalty billed to the utility account: $50 for a first offense, $75 for a second, and $150 for each violation after that, under Sec. 15.42.110(D). Continued noncompliance can trigger immediate water disconnection under Sec. 15.42.070, and reconnection is conditioned on paying the fee fixed under Sec. 15.28.040. Property owners have 15 days from service of the penalty notice to file a written appeal with the city clerk before the assessment becomes final.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Merced require me to report a leak on my property?
The code does not create a separate self-reporting duty; instead Sec. 15.42.100(A)(1) makes it unlawful at all times to allow broken or defective plumbing, sprinklers, or irrigation systems to leak. Once city crews or meter readers spot a leak and notify you, Sec. 15.42.050 sets the clock running on how fast you must fix it, especially once Level 4 or 5 drought restrictions are declared.
How fast must I fix a leak once Merced notifies me?
Sec. 15.42.050 sets separate deadlines tied to the city's declared drought level. Under Level 4 restrictions, Sec. 15.42.050(D)(2) requires repair 'as soon as reasonably possible' after the city's notice. Once Level 5 is declared, the deadline hardens to 'within forty-eight (48) to seventy-two (72) hours of notification,' per Sec. 15.42.050(E)(1)(c), unless the director agrees to different arrangements.
What happens if I don't fix the leak Merced flagged?
The director can issue a cease-and-desist order under Sec. 15.42.110(B), followed by a notice of intent to impose a penalty of $50, $75, or $150 depending on whether it is your first, second, or third violation. The city can also disconnect your water service under Sec. 15.42.070 at your expense, and reconnection requires paying the fee set in Sec. 15.28.040.
Can I appeal a leak penalty in Merced?
Yes. Sec. 15.42.110(E) gives you 15 days from service of the notice of intent to impose a penalty to file a written appeal with the city clerk. A hearing officer appointed by the city council hears the case, and the hearing must be held within 30 days of the request unless you and the officer agree to continue it.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Merced

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