(a) Each water purveyor that sells, leases, rents, furnishes, or delivers water service to a newly constructed multiunit residential structure or newly constructed mixed-use residential and commercial structure for which an application for a water connection, or more than one connection, is submitted after January 1, 2018, shall require a measurement of the quantity of water supplied to each individual residential dwelling unit as a condition of new water service. The measurement may be by individual water meters or submeters.

(b) Unless the water purveyor or local government is operating under an ordinance or regulation requiring individual metering, the owner shall be required to install and read submeters, unless the water purveyor agrees to install and read individual meters.

(c) (1) The owner of the structure shall install submeters that comply with all laws and regulations governing the approval of submeter types or the installation, maintenance, reading, billing, and testing of submeters, including, but not limited to, the California Plumbing Code.

(2) This subdivision does not require a water purveyor to fund or assume responsibility for ensuring compliance with any law or regulation governing the approval of submeter types or the installation, maintenance, reading, billing, and testing of submeters and associated onsite plumbing.

(3) Installation of submeters shall be performed by one of the following:

(A) A contractor licensed by the Contractors’ State License Board who employs at least one journey person who has graduated from a state-approved apprenticeship program.

(B) A registered service agency that has registered with the Department of Food and Agriculture.

(d) A water purveyor shall not impose an additional capacity or connection fee or charge for a submeter that is installed by the owner, or his or her agent.

(e) This section shall remain operative until the date on which the California Building Standards Commission includes standards in the California Building Standards Code that conform to this article.

(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 623, Sec. 5. (SB 7) Effective January 1, 2017. Section operative January 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 537.5. Inoperative on date prescribed by its own provisions.)