1. (a) In addition to complying with the requirements of the other provisions of this Subarticle 7.1, the mutual water company shall provide at least a minimum level of water service to its customers for fire protection purposes as an inherent part of the water system design in accordance with the standards set forth below. These standards are stated as minimum levels of water service which the mutual water company shall provide and are not intended to preclude the mutual water company from designing a fire protection system meeting higher standards, nor preclude any governmental agency from setting higher standards in any area subject to its jurisdiction. A mutual water company may request the Commissioner to exercise discretion with respect to a fire protection system not meeting the design standards set forth herein upon a strong showing by the mutual water company that the system is adequate for fire protection purposes. In determining whether to exercise discretion, the Commissioner, among other things, will look to a written statement from the entity providing fire protection service that the system is adequate for fire protection.

2. (b) Initial Construction, Extension, or Modification. In the initial construction, extension, or modification of a water system, any one of which is required to serve (1) a new user or (2) a change in use, the facilities constructed, extended, or modified shall be designed to be capable of providing, for a sustained period of at least two hours, in addition to the requirements of the average daily demand within the area to be served, the minimum flow requirements set forth below opposite the classification of land use to be served:

   Land Use

   Minimum Flow

   1.

   Rural, residential with a lot density of two or less per acre primarily for recreational and retirement use

   250 gpm

   2.

   Lot density of less than one single-family residential unit per acre

   500 gpm

   3.

   Lot density of one or two single-family residential units per acre

   750 gpm

   4.

   Lot density of three or more single-family residential units per acre

   1,000 gpm

   5.

   Duplex residential units, neighborhood business of one story

   1,500 gpm

   6.

   Multiple residential, one and two stories; light commercial or light industrial

   2,000 gpm

   7.

   Multiple residential, three stories or higher; heavy commercial or heavy industrial

   2,500 gpm

Note: Authority cited: Section 25610, Corporations Code. Reference: Section 25140, Corporations Code.