What is the Will Serve Permit Process

The Will Serve Permit Process (Permit Process) is the mechanism to verify that ETWD can serve domestic, sewer, and/or irrigation and fire services to a commercial site. The commercial site will typically add or change specific services depending on the site’s use type and requirements. The Permit Process allows both ETWD and the commercial tenant to formally explore the extent of the commercial project as it relates to ETWD-provided services.

Who Is Required to Undergo the Permit Process?

Any commercial tenant performing new construction or remodeling on a commercial site is required to enter into this process. All five cities ETWD serves contain a building permit contingency for this process. Completing the Permit Process with ETWD results in a release letter to the City Building Division.

How Long is the Permit Process and What Are the Steps?

The Permit Process has three main phases, as follows:

• Plan Check Phase
• Construction Phase
• Close-Out Phase

There are fees associated with the Plan Check and the Construction Phase. Each fee is assessed during its respective phase. Sometimes, a fire flow test is required by OCFA. In that case, a separate fee is required. Fire flow testing is typically conducted during the plan check phase to inform the design. The process for requesting a fire flow from ETWD is further explained here.

The entire Permit Process length largely depends on the project’s construction and schedule as they relate to ETWDprovided services.

Plan Submittal Requirements

For plan review include the following documents:

• ETWD specific notes found on our website here, including the District Engineer signature block.
• All plumbing, civil, irrigation/landscape, yard piping plans showing all changes to sewer, water, irrigation, and fire services.
• ETWD standard details as applicable. Details can be requested from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. until standards are published on our website.
• Plumbing plans shall indicate meter size and show all internal backflow devices.
• Plumbing plans shall indicate quantity and location of fixtures units, GPM requirement, and determination of grease interceptor size.
• Plan set shall be ANSI D (22”x34”) size.

ETWD does not have a specific title-block at this time.

Material Submittal Requirements

For material submittal review please prepare the material submittal package to include the following:

• Material Submittal package shall be grouped by Standard detail.
• Material Submittal package shall contain a transmittal sheet indicating the ETWD project Work Order number (WO XXX-XXXX) and ETWD project name. This information is typically found on the title block of the approved plans.
• For each Standard Detail group, provide a cover sheet indicating the items submitted therein and the ETWD standard detail the group represents (i.e. All items are for W N”, All items are for WP ).
• ETWD understands that some items are used for multiple standards; however please duplicate said items to maintain an organized material submittal package.
• For material data sheets, indicate which sizes are being submitted on (i.e. highlight or circle the 8 pipe, 10 Gate Valve, MJ x PO option valve, etc.) to clarify what item will be provided.

Capital Facilities Fees Calculations

Capital Facilities Fees (CFFs) are Fees assessed if the tenant improvement requires further water and sewer system capacity and/or if the meter size increases. CFFs pay for the lifetime capacity and maintenance of the sewer and water systems. Sometimes called impact fees , they are made up of three sub-fees: Sewer Collection Charge, Water Supply Charge, and Meter Charge. The CFFs are due to ETWD before the services are finalized. Most often CFFs are calculated based on square footage and use-type however there are instances where number and type of rooms or number of seats are used. The District’s Rules and Regulations explains in detail how to calculate the CFFs, found . In addition to the calculations in the link, below are two different Tenant Improvement (TI) example CFF calculations: