Chapter 15.10 SEWER SERVICE

“AKART” means all known, available, and reasonable methods (prevention, control, and treatment) to prevent and control pollution of the waters of the state of Washington. (Chapter 90.48 RCW.) AKART shall represent the most current methodology that can be reasonably required for preventing, controlling, or abating the pollutants associated with a discharge. AKART shall be applied by all users of the POTW. AKART includes best management practices and may be required by the utilities director for any discharge to the POTW.

“ANSI” means the American National Standards Institute.

“ASTM” means the American Society for Testing and Materials.

“BOD” means biochemical oxygen demand as defined in CMC 15.10.020.

“DOE” or “Ecology” means the Washington State Department of Ecology.

“EPA” means U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“ERU” means equivalent residential unit as defined under “normal domestic waste” in CMC 15.10.020.

“FIFRA” means the Federal Insecticide Fungicide Rodenticide Act.

“FOG” means fats, oils and grease.

“NPDES” means the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.

“POTW” means publicly owned treatment works as defined in CMC 15.10.020.

“PVC” means polyvinyl chloride.

“RCRA” means the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

“RCW” means Revised Code of Washington.

“SDR” means standard dimension ratios.

“SIC” means Standard Industrial Classification.

“SNC” means significant noncompliance as defined in CMC 15.10.020.

“STEP” means septic tank effluent pumping.

“TKN” means total kjeldahl nitrogen as defined in CMC 15.10.020.

“TRC” means technical review criteria as defined in CMC 15.10.020.

“TSCA” means the Toxic Substances Control Act.

“TSS” means total suspended solids as defined in CMC 15.10.020.

“SWDA” means the Solid Waste Disposal Act.

“WAC” means the Washington Administrative Code. (Ord. 2148 § 2, 2005: Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.020 Definitions.

For the purpose of this chapter the words set out in this section shall have the following meanings:

“Act” means the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1251 et seq.), as amended.

“Administrative authority” means the public works director of the city of Centralia or his/her designee.

“Alternative sewer systems” shall mean STEP systems, vacuum sewers, and grinder pump low-pressure sewer systems.

“Applicable pretreatment standards” means for any specified pollutant: the more stringent of the city of Centralia prohibitive standards, state of Washington pretreatment standards, or applicable National Categorical Pretreatment Standards.

“Authorized representative of the user”:

1. If the user is a corporation: the president, secretary, treasurer, or a vice president of the corporation in charge of a principal business function, or any other person who performs similar policy or decision-making functions for the corporation; or

2. If the user is a partnership or sole proprietorship: a general partner or proprietor, respectively; or

3. If the user is a federal, state, or local governmental facility: a director or highest official appointed or designated to oversee the operation and performance of the activities of the government facility, or his/her designee.

4. The individuals described in subsections (1) through (3) of this definition may designate another authorized representative if the authorization is in writing, the authorization specifies the individual or position responsible for the overall operation of the facility from which the discharge originates or having overall responsibility for environmental matters for the company, and the written authorization is submitted to the city of Centralia.

“Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)” means the quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedures during five days at twenty degrees centigrade, usually expressed as a concentration (milligrams per liter (mg/l)).

“Building drain” means that part of the lowest piping of a drainage system which receives the discharge from waste and other drainage pipes inside the walls of the building and conveys it to the side sewer beginning three feet outside the building wall.

“Bypass” means the intentional diversion of waste streams from any portion of a user’s treatment facility.

“Capital costs” means all costs incurred as a result of planning, permitting, design or construction of the wastewater collection or treatment facilities.

“Categorical pretreatment standard or categorical standard” means any regulation containing pollutant discharge limits promulgated by EPA in accordance with Section 307(b) and (c) of the Act (33 USC 1317) which applies to a specific category of users and which appears in 40 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter N, Parts 405—471.

“Categorical user” means a user covered by one or more categorical standards as defined herein.

“Centralia urban region” means the city of Centralia and that portion of Lewis County outside the Centralia corporate city limits that will be served by the Centralia wastewater treatment facility, shown in Figure 2-3 of the 1999 Facility Plan as now in existence or hereinafter amended.

“City” means the city of Centralia.

“City council” means the governing body of the city of Centralia.

“Combined business-residential user” means any user whose plumbing facilities serve both a domestic user and a commercial user.

“Commercial user” means any nonresidential customer who engages in business activities or combination of business and residential activities if combined through a single-meter service.

“Cooling water” means water used for cooling purposes generated from any use, such as air conditioning, heat exchangers, cooling or refrigeration. For purposes of this chapter, such waters are further divided into two subcategories:

1. Uncontaminated: water to which the only pollutant added is heat, which has no direct contact with any raw material, waste, intermediate, or final product, and which does not contain a level of contaminants detectably higher than that of the intake water.

2. Contaminated: water likely to contain levels of pollutants detectably higher than intake water. This includes water contaminated through any means, including chemicals added for water treatment, corrosion inhibition, or biocides, or by direct contact with any process materials, products, and/or wastewater.

“Color” means the optical density at the visual wave length of maximum absorption, relative to distilled water. One hundred percent transmittance is equivalent to zero optical density.

“Composite sample” means the sample resulting from the combination of individual wastewater samples taken at selected intervals based on an increment of either flow or time.

“County” means Lewis County or any other county in which the city’s wastewater facilities are located.

“Customer” (synonymous with user) means each person, business, property owner, sewer user, other entity separately billed by the city for the use or availability of public sewers in the Centralia sanitary sewer service area.

“Department of Ecology (DOE)” means the Washington State Department of Ecology or authorized representatives thereof.

“Domestic user” means any person who contributes, causes, or allows the discharge of wastewater into the city of Centralia’s POTW that is similar in volume and/or chemical make-up to domestic wastewater. For comparison, the utilities director may assume discharges of domestic wastewater from dwelling units to be one hundred gallons containing 0.2 pounds (three hundred mg/l) of BOD, 0.2 pounds (three hundred mg/l) of TSS and 0.024 pounds (24 mg/l) of TKN per capita per day, or as identified in the design of the POTW.

“Domestic wastewater” means wastewater from residential kitchens, bathrooms, and laundries, and water borne human wastes from sanitary facilities in all other buildings, together with such groundwater infiltration or surface waters as may be present.

“Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)” means the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or, where appropriate, the regional water management division director, or other duly authorized official of the agency.

“Enzyme” means any complex chemical produced by living cells that is a biochemical catalyst.

“Explosion meter” means an electrical device that measures air quality for flammable or explosive gases.

“Facility plan” means a report titled “City of Centralia Wastewater Facilities Plan,” 1999, CH2M Hill as the same now exists or hereafter amended.

“Grab sample or discrete sample” means a sample which is taken from a waste stream on a one-time basis without regard to the flow in the waste stream and without consideration of time.

“Grinder pump systems” means low pressure sewer systems designed to grind or macerate the materials in the domestic sewage discharged from a residential or commercial/industrial customer and pump it to the existing gravity sanitary sewer system. The system includes all tanks, pumps, valves, control systems, and the low-pressure force main pipe conveying the sewage to the gravity sewer.

“Health department” means the Lewis County environmental health department.

“Income,” as used herein, means gross income as defined in Section 61(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as now in effect or hereafter amended, plus any and all social security retirement and/or disability payments, Veterans Administration retirement and/or disability payments, Railroad Retirement Board pension and/or disability payments, and payments received from any other public or private pension, retirement, profit-sharing and disability plans, and unemployment compensation.

“Indirect discharge or discharge” means the introduction of pollutants into the POTW from any nondomestic source regulated under Section 307(b), (c), or (d) of the Act. The discharge into the POTW is normally by means of pipes, conduits, pumping stations, force mains, constructed drainage ditches, surface water intercepting ditches, and all constructed devices and appliances appurtenant thereto.

“Industrial user” means any nonresidential user whose wastewater results from any process or activity conducted by that user. Such wastewater includes contaminated wash water or leachate from solid waste facilities that may enter the wastewater utility collection system.

“Industrial wastewater” means water or liquid-carried waste from any industry, manufacturing operation, trade, or business which includes any combination of process wastewater, cooling water, contaminated stormwater, contaminated leachates, or other waters such that the combined effluent differs in some way from purely domestic wastewater, or is subject to regulation under the Federal Categorical Pretreatment Standards, the State Waste Discharge Permit program, or this chapter.

“Interference” means the effect of a discharge or discharges on the POTW from one or more users which results in either: (1) inhibition or disruption of the POTW, its treatment processes or operations, or its sludge processes, use or disposal; (2) violation of any permit regulating the city of Centralia wastewater discharge or sewage sludge; or (3) prevention of sewage sludge use or disposal in compliance with any applicable statutory or regulatory provision or permit issued thereunder. (Application sludge regulations shall include Section 405 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1345 et seq.); the Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA), including Title II commonly referred to as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (42 USC 6901 et seq.); state regulations contained in any state sludge management plan prepared pursuant to Subtitle D of the SWDA; the Clean Air Act (42 USC 7401 et seq.); the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (15 USC 2601 et seq.); the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (33 USC et seq.); and 40 CFR Part 503).

“Low-income senior citizen user” shall be defined as sixty-two years of age or older and whose total income, including that of his or her spouse or cotenant, does not exceed the amount specified in RCW 84.36.381(5)(b)(ii) as the same now exists or is hereafter amended.

“Low-income totally disabled user” shall be defined as any person who has been classified as totally disabled by the Social Security Administration and whose total income does not exceed the amount provided for low-income senior citizen users.

“Maximum daily concentration allowed” means the maximum concentration of a pollutant allowed to be discharged at any time, determined from the analysis of any discrete or composited sample collected, independent of the industrial flow rate and the duration of the sampling event.

“Medical wastes” means isolation wastes, infectious agents, human blood and blood products or byproducts, pathological wastes, sharps, body parts, fomites, etiology agents, contaminated bedding, surgical wastes, potentially contaminated laboratory wastes, and dialysis wastes.

“National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)” as defined under Section 402 of the Clean Water Act.

“New source” means:

1. Any facility constructed after proposed categorical standards applicable to operations conducted at the facility where published, provided the facility is or may be a source of discharge to the POTW, and:

a. The building, structure, facility, or installation is constructed at a site at which no other source is located; or

b. The new construction totally replaces the process or production equipment that causes the discharge of pollutants at an existing source; or

c. Construction of a new source as defined under this paragraph has commenced if the owner or operation has either: (i) begun, or caused to begin any placement, assembly, or installation of facilities or equipment; (ii) begun, or caused to begin significant site preparation work including removal of existing facilities necessary for the emplacement of new source facilities or equipment; or (iii) entered into a binding contractual obligation for the purchase of facilities or equipment for use in operation of a new source.

“New user” means any noncategorical user that plans to discharge a new source of wastewater to the city of Centralia’s collection system after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter. This discharge may be from either a new or an existing facility. Any person that buys an existing facility discharging nondomestic wastewater will be considered an “existing user” if no significant changes in facility operation are made and wastewater characteristics are not expected to change.

“Normal domestic waste” means one hundred gpd/c containing less than three hundred mg/l BOD and TSS, twenty-four mg/l TKN, one hundred mg/l FOG.

“Overhead” means all costs and expenses, including administrative overhead and equipment replacement, chargeable directly to the operation and maintenance of the wastewater treatment and collection facilities.

“Pass through” means a condition occurring when discharges from users, (singly or in combination), exit the POTW in quantities or concentrations which either: (1) cause a violation of any requirement of the city of Centralia’s NPDES or state waste discharge permit; (2) cause an increase in the magnitude or duration of a violation; or (3) cause a violation of any water quality standard for waters in the state promulgated under state regulations including Chapter 173-201A WAC.

“Permittee” means any person or user issued a wastewater discharge permit by EPA, DOE or the city.

“Person” means any individual, partnership, firm, company, corporation, association, joint stock company, trust, estate, any federal, state, or local governmental agency or entity, or any other entity whatsoever; or their legal representatives, agents or assigns.

“pH” means a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a substance, expressed in standard units (technically defined as the logarithm of the reciprocal of the mass of hydrogen ions in gram moles per liter of solution).

“Pollutant” means any substance, either liquid, gaseous, solid, or radioactive, discharged to the POTW which, if discharged directly, would alter the chemical, physical, thermal, biological, or radiological properties of waters of the state of Washington including pH, temperature, taste, color, turbidity, oxygen demand, toxicity or odor. This includes any discharge likely to create a nuisance or render such waters harmful, detrimental or injurious to any beneficial uses, terrestrial or aquatic life, or to public health, safety or welfare.

“Pollution prevention” means source reduction; protection of natural resources by conservation; or increased efficiency in the use of raw materials, energy, water or other resources.

“Population equivalent” means a measure of wastewater production equivalent to one person served by the wastewater treatment facilities: one hundred gallons per day, 0.2 lbs per day BOD and TSS, three hundred mg/l BOD and TSS, 0.024 lbs per day or twenty-four mg/l TKN.

“Population equivalent user factor” means the number of population equivalents assigned to each user for the purposes of calculating sewer service charges.

“Pretreatment” means the reduction of the amount of pollutants, the elimination of pollutants, or the alteration of the nature of pollutant properties in wastewater prior to (or in lieu of) introducing such pollutants into the POTW. This reduction or alteration can be obtained by physical, chemical, or biological processes; by process changes; or by other means (except by diluting the concentration of the pollutants unless allowed by an applicable pretreatment standard).

“Pretreatment requirements” means any substantive or procedural local, state, or federal requirement related to pretreatment developed under Chapter 90.48 RCW and/or Sections 307 and 402 of the Clean Water Act or this chapter.

“Pretreatment standards” means any pollutant discharge limitations including categorical standards, state standards, and limits of CMC 15.10.280, 15.10.290 and 15.10.300 applicable to the discharge of nondomestic wastes to the POTW. The term shall also include the prohibited discharge standards of this chapter, WAC 173-216-060, and 40 CFR Part 403.5.

“Prohibited discharge standards or prohibited discharges” means absolute prohibitions against the discharge of certain substances; these prohibitions appear in CMC 15.10.260.

“Public sewer” means a common sewer directly controlled by public authority.

“Publicly owned treatment works (POTW)” means a treatment works, as defined by Section 212 of the Act (33 USC 1292) which is owned by the city of Centralia. This definition includes any devices or systems used in the collection, storage, treatment, recycling, and reclamation of sewage or industrial wastewater and any conveyances which convey wastes to a wastewater treatment plant. The terms shall also mean the city of Centralia.

“Septage” means the liquid and solid material pumped from a septic tank, cesspool, or similar domestic sewage treatment system. This includes liquids and solids from domestic holding tanks, chemical toilets, campers, and trailers, when these systems are cleaned or maintained.

“Sewage or wastewater” means water-carried human wastes or a combination of water-carried wastes from residences, business buildings, institutions and industrial establishments, together with such ground, surface, storm, or other waters as may be present.

“Sewer” means any pipe, conduit, ditch, or other device used to collect and transport sewage.

“Sewer service charges” includes all charges billed to a particular user.

“Side sewer” means that part of the horizontal piping of a drainage system which extends from the end of the building drain and which receives the discharge of the building drain and conveys it to a public sewer, private sewer or individual sewage disposal system.

“Significant industrial user”:

1. A user subject to categorical pretreatment standards; or

2. A user that:

a. Discharges an average of twenty-five thousand gallons per day or more of process wastewater to the POTW (excluding sanitary, noncontact cooling, and boiler blowdown wastewater); or

b. Contributes a process waste stream which makes up five percent or more of the average dry weather hydraulic or organic capacity of the POTW treatment plant; or

c. Is designated as such by the DOE with input from the city of Centralia on the basis that it, alone or in conjunction with other sources, has a reasonable potential for adversely affecting the POTW’s operation or for violating any pretreatment standard or requirement.

3. Upon a finding that a user meeting the criteria in subsection (2) of this definition has no reasonable potential for adversely affecting the POTW’s operation or for violating any applicable pretreatment standard or requirement, the DOE may at any time, on its own initiative or in response to a petition received from a user or the city of Centralia and in accordance with procedures in 40 CFR 403.8(f)(6) determine that such user should not be considered a significant industrial user.

“Significant noncompliance (SNC)” shall refer to a violation or pattern of violation of one of the following natures:

1. Chronic violations of wastewater discharge limits, defined here as those in which sixty-six percent or more of all wastewater measurements taken during a six-month period exceed the daily maximum limit or average limit for the same pollutant parameter by any amount;

2. Technical review criteria (TRC) violations, defined herein as those in which thirty-three percent or more of all wastewater measurements taken for each pollutant parameter during a six-month period equal or exceed the product of the daily maximum limit or the average limit multiplied by the applicable TRC (1.4 for BOD, TSS, fats, oils and grease, and 1.2 for all other pollutants except pH);

3. Any other discharge violation that the city of Centralia believes has caused, alone or in combination with other discharges, interference or pass through (including endangering the health of the city of Centralia personnel or the general public);

4. Any discharge of pollutants that has caused imminent endangerment to human health, welfare or to the environment, or has resulted in the city of Centralia’s exercise of its emergency authority to halt or prevent such a discharge;

5. Failure to meet, within ninety days after the scheduled date, a compliance schedule milestone contained in a wastewater discharge permit or enforcement order for starting construction, completing construction, or attaining final compliance;

6. Failure to provide within thirty days after the due date, any required reports, including baseline monitoring reports, periodic self-monitoring reports, and reports on compliance with compliance schedules;

7. Failure to accurately report noncompliance; or

8. Any other violation(s) which the administrative authority determines will adversely affect the operation or implementation of the local pretreatment program.

“Slug load” means any pollutant released in a discharge at a flow rate or concentration which could violate this chapter, or any discharge of a nonroutine, episodic nature such as an accidental spill or a noncustomary batch discharge.

“Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code” means a classification pursuant to the “Standard Industrial Classification Manual” issued by the United States office of management and budget.

“State” means the state of Washington.

“STEP system” means septic tank effluent pumping sewer systems consisting of a liquid/solids separation tank with a pumping system discharging into the gravity sewer system.

“Stormwater” means any flow occurring during or following any form of natural precipitation, and resulting from such precipitation, including snowmelt.

“Total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN)” means the total of organic compounds, i.e., amino acids, proteins, etc. (human waste). The TKN measures the combined amount of organic nitrogen and the amount of ammonia in a given sample.

“Total suspended solids (TSS)” means the total suspended matter that floats on the surface of, or is suspended in, water, wastewater, or other liquids, and which is removable by laboratory filtering.

“Toxic pollutant” means one or a combination of the pollutants listed as toxic in regulations promulgated by EPA under Section 307 (33 USC 1317) of the Act.

“Treatment plant effluent” means the discharge from the city of Centralia POTW.

“UGA” means the City’s urban growth area.

“Upset” means an exceptional incident in which there is unintentional and temporary noncompliance with applicable treatment standards because of factors beyond the reasonable control of the user. An upset does not include noncompliance to the extent caused by operational error, improperly designed treatment facilities, inadequate treatment facilities, lack of preventive maintenance, or careless or improper operation.

“User or industrial user” means any nondomestic source of wastewater discharged to the POTW. This excludes domestic users as defined herein.

“Vacuum sewer systems” means sewage conveyance systems consisting of a receiving storage tank, valve system, collection pipeline and a vacuum pump conveying normal domestic sewage from residential or commercial/industrial customers to a discharge point into the sanitary gravity sewer system.

“Wastewater.” See “Sewage.”

“Wastewater discharge permit (industrial wastewater discharge permit, discharge permit)” means an authorization or equivalent control document issued by the DOE to users discharging wastewater to the POTW. The permit may contain appropriate pretreatment standards and requirements as set forth in this chapter.

“Wastewater treatment facilities” means the city of Centralia wastewater treatment plant and outfall and all facilities designed for the collection and transmission of sewage to the plant.

“Wastewater utility” means the entity reporting to the city manager, which is responsible for the operation, maintenance, upgrade and improvement of the wastewater collection and treatment system serving the city of Centralia urban area. (Ord. 2298 § 1, 2013: Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.030 User charges.

The user charge system shall distribute:

A. The costs of operation and maintenance of the wastewater treatment facilities owned and/or operated by the city, including administrative costs;

B. The costs of repayment of revenue bonds issued for financing the local capital cost of treatment plant renovations or expansion; and

C. The costs of repayment of loans issued by state or federal agencies for utility work, to each user in proportion to such user’s contribution of wastewater to the wastewater treatment facilities. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.040 Domestic user—Definition—Categories.

A. A domestic user shall be defined as any user whose discharge into the sewage facilities originates only from a residence or residences in which no commercial or industrial activities are taking place.

B. There shall be two categories of domestic users:

1. Single-family residential; and

2. Multiple-family residential.

The administrative authority will establish the population equivalent user factor for each category of domestic user based on water consumption data. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.050 Domestic users—User charges.

A. “Low-income senior citizen users” and “low-income totally disabled users” shall qualify to pay a reduced domestic user charge upon qualifying for the exemption by application made to the utilities customer service center; provided, however, this exemption shall only apply to the domestic user charge for low-income senior citizen users and totally disabled users residing in single-family dwelling units. This exemption shall not apply to residents and/or owners of multifamily structures.

All low-income senior citizen customers and totally disabled customers applying for low-income senior citizen customer or totally disabled customer exemptions herein provided shall furnish to the utilities customer service center of the city of Centralia, Washington, a claim for exemption.

Such form shall be furnished to the utilities customer service center on or before the thirty-first day of March of each year or within thirty days from the date of account opening or unexpected change in income status.

B. The user charge for a single-family residential user, defined as a person whose structure, building, or property is designed to house a single family and is connected to a single side sewer to the public sewer, shall be as listed in CMC 15.10.350 (see CMC 15.10.110(B)).

C. Where one side sewer serves more than one separate single-family residential building, structure, or property, the single-family residential user charge shall be charged continuously on each such connected building as long as water service is available for all such buildings, either from a municipal or private supply.

D. The user charge for a multiple-family residential user, defined as a person whose structure, building, or property is designed to house more than one tenant or family in separate units and is connected by a single side sewer to the public sewer, shall be as listed in CMC 15.10.350. This category includes such establishments as apartments, multiplex units, trailer courts, or recreational vehicle courts. Each unit of the structure, building, or property, irrespective of occupancy or size, shall be included in the charge calculations as long as water service is available for that unit, either from a municipal or private supply. If the wastewater facility is required to own, operate or maintain a private collection system for such a user or for a combined commercial-residential user, or for a multiple commercial user, an appropriate contract addressing specific costs shall be entered into by the city and the user.

E. Where a single side sewer serves both commercial (or industrial) and domestic units (either single or multiple-family residential) served by the same water meter, the commercial/industrial rate provided in CMC 15.10.060 or 15.10.070 shall apply, without regard to the fact that the domestic units are connected with that side sewer. (Ord. 2298 § 2, 2013: Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.060 Domestic-strength commercial/ industrial users—Definitions—Application of charge formula.

A. A domestic-strength commercial/industrial user shall be defined as any user not falling into the classification of domestic user as defined. These users shall include, but are not limited to, such establishments as schools, churches, hotels, motels, offices, hospitals, businesses, combined business-residences, and industries with primarily domestic-type sanitary wastes.

B. The same charge formula shall apply to all users within this classification.

C. The user charge for all domestic-strength commercial/industrial users shall be as listed in CMC 15.10.350. This charge shall be based on monthly water meter readings. A minimum user charge equal to the single-family residential charge shall be levied if the charge calculated from water consumption would otherwise be less.

D. No discount will be applied for water not returning to sanitary sewer facilities. A sprinkling meter may be utilized by commercial/industrial users for irrigation purposes only; no sewer billing will be levied on this commercial/industrial water use. (Ord. 2225 § 1, 2008: Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.070 High-strength commercial/ industrial users—User charges.

A. The high-strength user charge, as set forth in CMC 15.10.350, shall apply to those users discharging wastewater or wastes with BOD’s and/or suspended solids greater than three hundred mg/l, in quantities exceeding fifty pounds per day, and/or fats, oil and grease (FOG) greater than one hundred mg/l or greater than twenty-four mg/l TKN.

B. The charge will be based on periodic monitoring of the wastewater entering the public sewer through the side sewer or by reported average values of typical wastewater strengths for that category of discharger. Users will administer these tests through a qualified person and use state certified testing labs at user’s expense.

C. It shall be the responsibility of each sewer user whose wastewater strength exceeds that stipulated in subsection (A) of this section to notify the administrative authority that the discharge may be subject to high-strength surcharge. Those users who discharge higher strength wastes without approval from the administrative authority are subject to the penalties outlined in CMC 15.10.340.

D. If the city’s evaluation establishes that a particular user falls within the high-strength industrial/commercial user class, that user may file a written appeal with the administrative authority within thirty days after notification of the classification. Such appeal shall set forth in reasonable detail the source of error being appealed and the appellant’s grounds for modification thereof. If the city’s analysis determines there is no basis for modification, the decision of the administrative authority shall be final.

E. All high-strength dischargers shall be subject to the terms of the industrial pretreatment program set out in CMC 15.10.270, 15.10.280 and 15.10.290. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.080 Collection of user charge—Delinquency—Penalties—Shutoff.

A. The following schedule for sewer user charge reductions shall be used for those domestic users who initiate or terminate sewer service between billing intervals. Charges computed for a actual water usage shall not be reduced.

PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL CHARGE
Service Interval After Last Bill or Before First Bill
	0—7 Days	8—14 Days	15—22 Days	23—30 Days	31—45 Days	46—60 Days
Monthly	25	50	75	100	—	—

B. Commercial/industrial users who initiate or terminate sewer service between billing periods shall be required to pay user charges only on the basis of water use. The minimum charge shall not apply to commercial/industrial customers in the case of a partial period of less than one month.

C. Sewer users who desire to terminate service shall notify the finance department at city hall before the date of such termination. The notification shall include a forwarding address to which the final billing will be sent. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.090 Implementation of user charge system.

A. The city finance department shall keep and maintain the following records for purposes of evaluation and/or updating the user charge system:

1. Expenditures for operation and maintenance of the wastewater collection and treatment facilities;

2. Expenditures attributable to the administration of the wastewater treatment facilities;

3. Expenditures for the repayment of principal and interest on all outstanding revenue bonds and loans;

4. Moneys placed in the equipment rental replacement fund, interest accrued, and withdrawals from the fund;

5. Records of payments from individual users;

6. Records of water consumption from individual users;

7. A record of population equivalent user factor for the classifications of domestic users and each new commercial/industrial user;

8. A record of the total number of domestic and commercial/industrial users by category within the Centralia urban area;

9. Records of total user charge revenue and total revenues received from each user classification;

B. The user charge program shall be reviewed annually to ensure continued equitability and generation of sufficient revenue to ensure self-sufficient operation and maintenance of the wastewater collection and treatment facilities. User charges shall be adjusted by action of the city council if such review reveals a deficiency in the rate structure. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.100 Use of public sewers required.

A. It is unlawful for any person to place, deposit, or permit to be deposited in any unsanitary manner upon public or private property within the corporate city limits of Centralia any human excrement, garbage, or other objectionable waste.

B. The owners of all houses, buildings, or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes, situated within the city and abutting on any street, alley, easement, or right-of-way in which there is now located or may in the future be located a public sanitary sewer of the city, are required at their expense to install suitable sanitary plumbing fixtures therein and to connect such facilities correctly to the sanitary sewer in accordance with the provisions of this chapter within sixty days after the date of receipt of a notice in writing issued by the administrative authority for connection to be made, providing that the public sewer is within two hundred feet of the building, and the connection is approved by the administrative authority.

Such notice will also be given when the owner is required to repair or completely replace the side sewer, such as during, but not limited to, a sewer rehabilitation project.

When properties with existing dwellings are required to hook up to the sewer due to the extension of new sewer lines the administrative authority is authorized to negotiate a payment schedule for payment of capital facilities charges levied under CMC 15.10.350. Special benefit fees and latecomer fees must be paid when the permit for the connection is issued.

C. If any such connection, repair or replacement shall not have been made within the time provided, the administrative authority is authorized and directed, at its discretion, to either:

1. Cause such connection to be made, in which case the administrative authority shall file a statement of the cost thereof with the finance director and thereupon a warrant shall be issued under the direction of the city council by the city finance director and against the wastewater utility fund, created by city of Centralia Ordinance No. 1600 passed on December 30, 1986, for the payment of such costs. Such amount, together with applicable interest, in accordance with state law, shall be assessed against the property upon which the building or structure is situated and shall become a lien thereon. Such lien may be enforced by termination of some or all of the utility services provided to the property or in any other manner authorized by law. Such total amount, when collected, shall be paid into the wastewater utility fund; or

2. Cause water service to the property to be terminated, if service is provided by the Centralia water utility. Notice to the owner and occupant shall be by certified mail, return receipt requested, with a copy to the Lewis County environmental health department. Action will be taken thirty days after receipt of notice in the event of failure of other alternatives or high pollution potential. Final decision on the alternative action to be selected by the administrative authority shall be based upon such factors as location of the unconnected building or structure, effectiveness of existing private treatment facilities, if present, and groundwater contamination potential. (Ord. 2179 § 1, 2006: Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.110 Side sewers and connections.

A. All costs and expenses related to the installation and connection, operation and maintenance, and replacement of the side sewer, including backflow devices, where required, shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the city from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the side sewer.

B. A separate and independent side sewer shall be provided for every building. If one building stands at the rear of another on an interior lot under the same ownership and no private sewer is available or can be constructed to the rear building through an adjoining alley, courtyard, yard, or driveway, the side sewer from the front building may be extended to the rear building and the whole considered as one building sewer, with prior approval of the administrative authority. If the administrative authority finds that it may be necessary or beneficial to allow two adjacent buildings to connect to the public sewer through a common side sewer, such side sewer shall have a diameter of six inches or greater. When such connection is made under one owner, then later sold to multiple owners, it shall be the responsibility of the property owner(s) to provide proof of the recorded easement to the wastewater utility. Penalty for noncompliance after certified mail notice to the owner giving sixty days to remedy the situation may include termination of city water service to any or all involved buildings.

C. Old side sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only after they are found, on examination by the administrative authority, to meet all requirements of this chapter.

D. Any building required to connect to a public sewer shall also disconnect from existing cesspool(s) or septic tank(s). Procedures for abandoning cesspools and septic tanks shall be in accordance with the regulations and standards enforced by the Lewis County environmental health department. Failure to properly abandon may result in the termination of water and sewer service, at the discretion of the administrative authority and on the advice of the Lewis County environmental health department.

E. Any residential, commercial or industrial user requesting connection with the public sewer, shall first install or have installed an approved water meter, if such meter is not already installed. If the user obtains or can obtain water from sources other than the municipal supply, the meter shall measure the incoming flow from all such sources, and the installation and maintenance of the meter shall be at the user’s expense. In circumstances where the wastewater flow is not generated through a metered water supply, the wastewater discharge must be metered directly. The meter shall be installed and maintained at the property owner’s expense. Such a meter must be located to allow easy accessibility to city staff. Such direct readings will be increased by twenty percent for billing purposes to gain equivalency with other user’s billing basis of nonreturning flow. If either type of meter is found to be defective or otherwise inoperative, usage shall be estimated by the city to be at the highest monthly level recorded for the preceding twelve months. Such meter shall be repaired within sixty days of notification from the administrative authority. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.120 Damage to sanitary sewer system.

In the event of damage caused by a person, firm or corporation to the city’s sewer system, the city reserves the right to reject same and then charge such responsible party the cost of labor, materials, equipment and overhead, which billing, if unpaid sixty days thereafter, shall be turned over to a collection agency as designated by the city, thereto including, but not limited to, lien and discontinuance of service. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.130 Permit requirements.

A. No person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter, or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance thereof, or engage in the construction of a side sewer, either on private property or within public rights-of-way, without first obtaining a written side sewer permit from the city community development department. In the event such sewer service is outside the city, the applicant by applying therefore and accepting such service shall be deemed bound by the current and future ordinances of the city affecting such sewer service.

B. A side sewer permit will be required for each individual structure to be connected and for the collection system of a multiple dwelling or multiple commercial installation.

C. Application for a side sewer permit will be made by a registered, bonded, insured side sewer contractor or the owner of the property to be served, in accordance with CMC 15.10.230.

D. No side sewer contractor shall do any side sewer work under any other person’s permit nor shall any unauthorized person do any side sewer work under a side sewer contractor’s permit, except as may be otherwise authorized by the administrative authority.

E. When a side sewer is to be installed across the private property of another person, the applicant for the side sewer must first provide proof that a duly executed easement has been obtained from other such property owner and officially recorded. A copy shall be provided by the applicant for the wastewater utility records.

F. When work or excavation is performed within the public right-of-way, a right-of-way permit is required. This permit shall be obtained for the work prior to issuance of a side sewer permit by the city.

G. The issuance of a side sewer permit by the city shall not relieve the permit holder from the responsibility of obtaining other such permits or licenses as may be required by the city, the county, or other jurisdictions in which the side sewer is installed. Permit holders shall contact other utilities for location of their facilities before starting excavation through the underground utilities locating service toll-free number (1-800-424-5555).

H. Before a permit shall be issued for the construction of any side sewer to serve any commercial or industrial users, as defined in CMC 15.10.060(A) or 15.10.070(A), the applicant shall first supply proof that an approved water meter has been installed, or will be installed, during the process of constructing the side sewer, in accordance with CMC 15.10.110(E). Alternatively, a direct flow measuring device, in accordance with CMC 15.10.110(E) will be required.

I. The side sewer permit shall expire one hundred eighty days after the date of issuance. Upon expiration, the applicant must re-apply and pay for a new side sewer permit and all other applicable fees. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.140 Permit application and fees.

A. There shall be nine classes of side sewer permits/fees: (1) for single-family residential service; (2) for multiple-family residential service; (3) for service to establishments producing commercial or industrial wastes; (4) for alteration or abandonment of an existing side sewer; (5) for infiltration and inflow (I&I) rehabilitation permits; (6) for residential grinder pump connection; (7) for commercial and industrial grinder pump connection; (8) for after hours or holiday inspection fee; and (9) for re-inspection fee.

The permit application shall be supplemented by approvable plans, specifications, or other information considered pertinent in the judgment of the administrative authority.

B. Permit Fees (Includes Inspection During Normal Business Hours).

1. For each single-family residential connection to public sewer, fifty dollars.

2. For each multiple-family residential connection to public sewer, seventy-five dollars.

3. For each commercial or industrial connection to public sewer, one hundred dollars.

4. For alteration, abandonment or repair to existing connection, or complete replacement of side sewer, fifty dollars.

5. I&I rehabilitation project, no charge.

6. Grinder pump residential connection permit, one hundred dollars.

7. Grinder pumps commercial or industrial connection, one hundred fifty dollars.

8. After hours or holiday inspection fee, one hundred dollars.

9. Re-inspection fee, fifty dollars: one hundred dollars if after hours.

C. Demolished or Removed Buildings. The property owner or their contractor engaged in demolishing or removing any structure connected to the public sewer shall notify the city of such work, obtain an abandonment permit from the community development department, and shall expose and plug the side sewer connection of such structure at the property line in accordance with the requirements found in the city of Centralia’s design and development guidelines. A city inspector must observe and document all abandonments. Obtaining an abandonment permit does not relinquish the right to a future connection.

D. Permit fees shall be paid to the community development department, with such amount credited to the wastewater utility, which conducts such inspections.

E. Reference codes adopted by the city include the most current Washington State Uniform Plumbing Code and the most current DOE manual “Criteria for Sewage Works Design.” Specifications included in this chapter shall prevail when in conflict with, or where not addressed by, the aforementioned codes. In unclear circumstances, interpretation will be made by the administrative authority. (Ord. 2298 § 3, 2013: Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.145 Term of permit.

A. Work authorized by permit shall be completed within one hundred eighty days from date of approval by the city, unless extended by the building official. If a building permit is also required, fees shall be collected and both permits shall be obtained simultaneously. If work is not completed within one hundred eighty days or work is suspended or abandoned during the one hundred eighty day period, the permit shall expire and become null and void. Projects where the permit has been deemed null and void shall require the issuance of a new permit accompanied by the required fees and plan reviews.

B. In the event that permit becomes null and void, the following shall not be refunded:

1. Sewer connection permit fees;

2. Latecomer fees;

3. Five percent capital facility fees. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.150 Pipe material.

A. Pipes acceptable for gravity side sewers shall be as follows:

1. Ductile iron: ANSI A 21.51, thickness class 51;

2. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): ASTM D3034 with SDR equals 35.

B. The water and wastewater utilities director, wastewater manager, lead collections technician and city engineer, as a committee of four shall consider any proposed sewer pipe other than those specifically set forth in subsection (A) of this section to determine its acceptability for use.

C. Whenever possible, side sewers should be laid at least ten feet horizontally from any existing or proposed water main. Should local conditions prevent a lateral separation of ten feet, a sewer may be laid closer than ten feet to a water main if the sewer is constructed of ductile iron or C-900 PVC pipe with watertight joints, and:

1. It is laid in a separate trench;

2. It is laid in the same trench with the water mains located at one side on a bench of undisturbed earth;

3. In either case the elevation of the crown of the sewer shall be at least eighteen inches below the invert of the water main. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.160 Joints.

A. All joints and connections shall be gastight and watertight, as determined by the testing and inspections procedures outlined in this chapter.

B. Joints for PVC pipe shall be rubber-gasketed type conforming to ASTM D3212.

C. Joint for ductile-iron pipe shall be push-on type or mechanical joint conforming to ANSI A21.11.

D. Pipe and joints shall be installed in accordance with the instructions furnished by the pipe manufacturer and approved by the administrative authority.

E. No glued joints will be accepted.

F. Other joining materials and methods may be used only with the approval of the administrative authority. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.170 Fittings and cleanout.

A. The side sewer shall be laid at uniform grade and in straight horizontal alignment. Changes in horizontal alignment shall be made only with bends, wye branches, or a combination of a wye branch and bend.

B. All change of horizontal alignment forty-five degrees or greater shall be made with a wye branch and bends as required, with the straight through opening capped for use as a cleanout. Where a ninety degree bend is required, two forty-five degree bends will be installed to complete the bend. No ninety degree fittings shall be allowed.

C. A cleanout shall be installed thirty-six inches from all buildings unless permission to change the location of such cleanout has been obtained from the administrative authority. Additional cleanouts, including those used for commercial properties, shall be installed in locations designated by the administrative authority but in no case shall the distance between cleanouts exceed one hundred feet.

D. Suitable frames and covers of a type designated by the administrative authority shall be used for all cleanouts on commercial property and in paved areas, and such frames shall be cast in a concrete block thirty inches high by thirty inches wide by eight inches deep flush with the final paving.

E. All cleanouts not in paved areas shall extend to within eighteen inches of the ground surface. All cleanouts shall be capped with appropriate plugs, using the standard compression joint of the pipe being used, to prevent entry of dirt, roots, or groundwater and shall be secured against back pressure.

F. A test tee shall be provided at the private property and right-of-way boundary and at any other required point or points, as determined by the administrative authority, to ensure that all portions of the side sewer can be tested.

G. It shall be the responsibility of the permit holder to install all risers, cleanouts, castings, concrete blocks, etc., required before the side sewer will be approved by the city.

H. Backwater Valves. The Uniform Plumbing Code requires backwater valves on building sewers where a finished floor is below the rim of the upstream manhole. Backwater valves, if they are installed, must be located within the building footprint upstream of the cleanout. The city is not responsible for their installation, maintenance, or operation. (Ord. 2298 § 4, 2013: Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.180 Connections to public sewer.

A. The connection of the side sewer shall be made at a wye or tee.

B. Connections at other than an existing wye or tee shall be made only by city personnel or a licensed side sewer contractor with the cost borne by the permit holder. Any work done by city personnel shall be billed for actual costs plus overhead. Terms in CMC 15.10.120 shall apply.

C. If the joint type or dimensions of the wye or tee in the public sewer are different from that of the side sewer pipe, a transition adaptor approved by the administrative authority shall be used to connect the side sewer to the wye or tee. If a suitable transition is not obtainable, the method of making the connection shall be approved by the administrative authority.

D. Connection to the building drain pipe shall be made by means of flexible clamp-type coupling or by other approved method.

E. No connections from gutters, roof drains, down spouts, surface drains or yard drains shall be allowed to the sanitary sewer system.

F. The portion of the building (side) sewer located on the customer’s property is owned by the property owner and it shall be their responsibility to keep the sewer in good working order and free from ground water or surface runoff water.

G. Repair to a side sewer shall be made within thirty days from receipt of notice to the owner of the property. In the event of an emergency, the city may establish a shorter period of time for the repair to be made or, if the owner cannot be located or does not promptly make such repairs, the city may make the repairs and bill the owners under the procedure of CMC 15.10.100(C)(1).

H. Alternative Systems. In the event that gravity sewer service is not feasible, as determined by the administrative authority, alternative sewer systems may be permitted. Any alternative sewer system (grinder pumps, vacuum sewers) must be installed at the developer or property owner’s expense in accordance with the city’s design and development guidelines and the current DOE manual “Criteria for Sewage Works Design.” A service agreement provided by the city of Centralia will be signed and notarized stating that all maintenance and inspections shall be the responsibility of the system owner. System owners shall provide a property easement for city staff to access the installation for inspection purposes. Upon completion of installation, successful startup, and acceptance by the city, it shall be the owner’s responsibility to contract with a qualified contractor to work on such systems and to contact the city if work is performed on the grinder pump system. All alternative systems will be equipped with pigging ports for cleaning of the force mains, where appropriate and as determined by the administrative authority.

1. The following maintenance is required:

a. Commercial grinder facilities must have their grinder systems integrity verified by a qualified technician on an annual basis. The frequency of the annual inspection may be increased if the system has a history of nonperformance and unreliability.

b. Residential systems must have their grinder systems integrity verified by a qualified technician every three years. The frequency of the three-year inspection may be increased if the system has a history of nonperformance and unreliability.

c. All inspection/maintenance records and repairs shall be e-mailed or mailed to the city of Centralia wastewater department for record keeping purposes.

d. The owner shall provide the city of Centralia a copy of the manufacturer’s operation and maintenance manual to be kept on record for the life of the system as required by the Washington State Department of Ecology.

e. All alterations to the system will be strictly monitored by the city of Centralia.

I. Sewer connections will not be allowed outside of the city’s UGA boundary unless the applicant provides a certificate from Lewis County allowing the connection because of an immediate health or safety problem that cannot otherwise be resolved. (Ord. 2298 § 5, 2013: Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.190 Size and slope of side sewer pipe.

A. The side sewer pipe shall be six inches in diameter from the public sewer main to the property line. From the property line to the building, the side sewer shall be no less than four inches in diameter. If more than one occupied building is attached to the same building sewer as allowed in CMC 15.10.110(B), the diameter of the side sewer shall not be less than six inches from the building to the points of junction of the sewer lines. Side sewers to multiple structures, commercial establishments, or industrial buildings shall not be less than six inches in diameter.

B. All side sewers shall be laid on a uniform slope of not less than one-fourth inch per foot, wherever possible. Where it is impossible to obtain a one-fourth inch per foot slope due to the depth of the public sewer or to the structural features arrangements of the building, a slope of not less than one-eighth inch per foot is permissible, when approved by the administrative authority. Reduced slopes will require an increase in pipe size.

C. In any building, structure, or premises in which the elevation of plumbing fixtures is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, service may be provided by approved ejectors, pumps, or other equally efficient, approved mechanical devices approved by the administrative authority. When only the lower floor of a structure is too low for gravity flow, the remaining floors must flow by gravity.

D. The discharge line from the ejectors, pumps, or other mechanical devices shall be provided with an accessible backflow valve and gate valve. The discharge line shall connect to the gravity side sewer at the crown of the side sewer through a wye fitting. All such installations shall conform with the current requirements set forth by DOE in “Criteria for Sewage Works Design,” Section C1-10.

E. When the administrative authority determines there is a possibility of backup in the side sewer from head pressure in the public sewer, flow from any building drain lower than the gravity sewer shall be raised by approved means, or, if determined necessary by the administrative authority for protection against flooding or surcharge, a backflow valve shall be installed and maintained at the owner’s expense.

F. Effective operation of any backflow valve shall be the responsibility of the owner of the building sewer. The city shall be saved harmless from any damage or injury sustained from installation or operation of said backflow valve.

G. All pump installations must meet all pertinent building and plumbing codes, current city development standards, and the most current DOE manual “Criteria for Sewage Works Design,” and must be approved by the administrative authority before installation. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.200 Excavation and laying of pipe.

A. All excavation required for the installation of a side sewer shall be open trench work unless otherwise approved by the administrative authority.

B. The side sewer permit holder, before beginning excavation in the public right-of-way area, shall have at the site sufficient barricades to properly protect the work. The barricades shall meet the requirements as listed in the current “Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.”

C. The side sewer permit holder shall comply with any additional city, county, state, or other jurisdictional laws, ordinances, and regulations relating to the safety and protection of the excavation, and proper work practices when asbestos-containing pipe is involved.

D. When unsuitable bedding, such as rock, is found, as determined by the administrative authority, the side sewer trench shall be over-excavated and a bedding of sand or fine gravel a minimum of four inches deep shall be prepared. Gravel shall be three-quarter inch maximum in size. If the trench is unintentionally over-excavated, the bottom shall be brought to proper grade using this same bedding material.

E. All pipe shall be laid true to grade with the bell upstream. Pipe shall be cradled in the prepared trench bottom. The bottom of the trench shall be smooth and free from large rocks that could damage the side sewer pipe. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.210 Testing and inspection.

A. It shall be the duty of the person installing the side sewer as authorized by the permit to notify the utilities department orally or in writing that the sewer is ready for inspection. Twenty-four hours may be required after the notification before the actual inspection. Inspections can be made on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, provided the inspection is scheduled forty-eight hours in advance and the contractor or owner agrees to pay an additional one hundred dollar inspection fee prior to inspection (CMC 15.10.140(B)).

B. Side sewers shall be tested for their entire length from the public sewer by testing for visible leakage before backfilling by inserting a removable plumber’s plug at the connection of the side sewer to the public sewer and filling to a line with water to a level of at least one foot above the top of the side sewer at its connection with the building drain. A test tee or tees as required in CMC 15.10.170(F) shall be used for insertion of the plug and shall be secured against backpressure upon completion of the test. A special fitting, provided by the permit holder, shall be inserted into the cleanout fitting at the connection to the building drain to provide a short standpipe to obtain a one-foot head pressure at that point. The side sewer permit holder or a licensed side sewer contractor must be present at the job during the full duration of the inspection.

C. Products used to seal the inside of the pipe (such as grout, etc.) are not to be used to obtain a passing test.

D. It shall be the duty of the holder of a permit to make sure that the work will pass inspection by performing the test described in subsection (B) of this section before giving notification for inspection. If an additional inspection is necessary due to test failure and/or improper installation, a charge of fifty dollars shall be made for each additional inspection.

E. Notices of corrections or violations shall be written by the administrative authority and may be posted at the site of the work or mailed or delivered to the permittee or his authorized representative. Refusal, failure, or neglect to comply with any such notice or order within ten days after receipt thereof shall be considered a violation of this code and shall be subject to the penalties for violations set forth elsewhere in this code.

F. Upon satisfactory completion of the leakage test and inspection, a certificate of approval shall be issued by the administrative authority on demand. (Ord. 2298 § 6, 2013: Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.220 Backfilling.

A. Trenches shall be backfilled within forty-eight hours after successful completion of inspection. Backfilling of trenches and restoration of roadway surfacing of any thoroughfare or right-of-way, public or private, shall be the responsibility of the permit holder.

B. No backfill shall be placed over pipe until the work has been inspected and approved by the administrative authority. Any portion of the side sewer covered before inspection shall be uncovered at the owner’s expense within two days after notice to do so has been issued by the administrative authority. Re-inspection of the site will cause the owner/contractor to be subject to a fifty-dollar re-inspection fee.

C. Trenches shall be carefully backfilled by tamping to a depth of six inches above the pipe to avoid damaging the pipe. All backfill between the public sewer and the property line shall be water-settled or mechanically tamped in six-inch layers to minimize settlement. Any settlement that occurs within twenty-four months after backfilling shall be corrected at the expense of the permit holder. Additional fill and surfacing materials as approved by the city engineer shall be placed to restore the settled area to original grade.

D. A minimum of six inches of gravel surfacing shall be temporarily placed in the public right-of-way or be temporarily placed in the public right-of-way or traveled areas in commercial properties. Final surfacing equivalent to the adjoining undisturbed roadway shall not be placed until such time as, in the opinion of the city engineer, final settlement has taken place.

E. All pipe installations shall be bedded and backfilled to conform to the pipe manufacturer’s specifications.

F. Minimum cover for side sewers shall be eighteen inches, except as hereafter provided:

1. Minimum cover for side sewers at the property line shall be four feet below the crest of the public right-of-way at the property line.

2. Minimum cover for side sewers crossing a ditch in the public right-of-way shall be four feet six inches.

G. Where it is necessary for water and sewer lines to cross each other, the crossing shall be at an angle of approximately ninety degrees and the sewer shall be located eighteen inches or more below the waterline. The administrative authority may require that the sewer be constructed of ductile iron for a distance of at least ten feet on each side of the water main, and/or be placed inside of a protective casing.

H. Failure to call for an inspection will be cause for termination of water service thirty days after receipt of notification. The administrative authority will send such notification by certified mail, return receipt requested. A copy shall be mailed to the Lewis County environmental health department. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.230 Side sewer contractor.

A. No person shall hereinafter engage in the business of installing building sewers or in connecting building sewers to any public sewer of the city of Centralia unless such person is registered, bonded and insured as required by the laws of the state of Washington; provided, however, and excepting from the above requirement, the bona fide property owner or direct family member, which would mean spouse, parents or children, may construct the building sewer provided they abide by all requirements of this chapter. For purposes of this chapter, the digging of the ditch in which to lay the sewer shall not of itself be construed as installation of a building sewer.

B. If a side sewer contractor’s work is determined by the administrative authority to be unacceptable, further sewer permits may be denied for the following causes: failure to observe the rules and regulations issued by the administrative authority, or other codes referenced in this chapter, governing the construction and laying of side sewers; fraud or misrepresentation in obtaining licensing, bonding and/or insurance; failure to pay for labor or material used in the construction of a side sewer; fraud or misrepresentation to the owner, agent, or occupant of a building for the purpose of obtaining a contract for the construction of a side sewer; or for nonpayment for work performed by the wastewater utility for the payment of which a side sewer contractor may be liable. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.240 Latecomer reimbursement.

A. The owner of the property must pay all applicable fees, including but not limited to any latecomer charges. All connections must be made in accordance with the requirements of this chapter; provided, however, that there shall be no new connections to an existing sewer system unless it is first determined by the administrative authority that such existing sewer system can adequately handle the additional sewage caused by such new connection or connections.

B. A developer who enters into a latecomer reimbursement agreement with the city must initiate the process within ninety days of final acceptance of the sewer project. (Ord. 2179 § 2, 2006: Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.250 Septage dumping.

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to deposit, dump, place, or leave septage, sewage, or effluent from any septic tank, cesspool, or other private or city of Centralia sewage disposal system within the corporate limits of the city of Centralia. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.260 Prohibited discharge standards.

A. General Prohibitions. No user shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the POTW any pollutant or wastewater which causes pass through or interference. These general prohibitions apply to all users of the POTW whether or not they are subject to categorical pretreatment standards or any other federal, state, or local pretreatment standards or requirements. (40 CFR 403.5(a) and WAC 173-216-060(2)(b)(i)).

B. Specific Prohibitions. No user shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the POTW the following pollutants in any form (solid, liquid, or gaseous):

1. Any pollutant which either alone or by interaction may create a fire or explosive hazard in the POTW, including, but not limited to, waste streams with a closed-cup flashpoint of less than one hundred forty degrees Fahrenheit (sixty degrees Celsius) using the test methods specified in 40 CFR 261.21 (40 CFR 403.5(b)(1)), or are capable of creating a public nuisance (WAC 173-216-060(2)(b)(ii)). This includes waste streams sufficient to create a public nuisance or a hazard to life, or to prevent entry into the sewers for maintenance or repair. At no time shall a waste stream cause two successive readings on an explosion meter to be more than five percent nor any single reading over ten percent of the lower explosive limit (LEL) of the meter at any point in the collection system or treatment works;

2. Any pollutant which will cause corrosive structural damage to the POTW, but in no case discharges with a pH less than 6.0 or more than 9.0, or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment, or personnel of the POTW, unless the system is specifically designed to accommodate such discharge and the discharge is authorized by an applicable wastewater discharge permit (40 CFR 403.5(b)(2) and WAC 173-216-060(2)(b)(iv));

3. Any solid or viscous substances including fats, oils, and greases in amounts which may cause obstruction to the flow in a POTW or other interference with the operation of the POTW (40

CFR 403.5(b)(3) and WAC 173-216-060(2)(b)(vi));

4. Any discharge of pollutants, including oxygen-demanding pollutants (BOD, etc.), released at a flow rate and/or pollutant concentration which, either singly or by interaction with other pollutants, sufficient to cause interference with the POTW (40 CFR 403.5(b)(4) and WAC 173-216-060(2)(b)(vi));

5. Any waste stream having a temperature which will inhibit biological activity in the treatment plant resulting in interference, or cause worker health or safety problems in the collection system. In no case shall wastewater be discharged at a temperature which causes the temperature of the influent to the treatment plant to exceed one hundred four degrees Fahrenheit (forty degrees Celsius) unless the system is specifically designed to accommodate such a discharge, and the discharge is authorized by an applicable wastewater discharge permit (40 CFR 403.5(b)(5) and WAC 173-216-060(2)(b)(v));

6. Any petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil, or products of mineral oil origin, in amounts that will cause interference or pass through (40 CFR 403.5(b)(6)(ii));

7. Any pollutants which result in the presence of toxic gases, vapors, or fumes within any portion of the POTW in a quantity that may cause acute worker health and safety problems (40 CFR 403.5(b)(7) and WAC 173-216-060(2)(b)(ii));

8. Any trucked or hauled wastes, except at discharge points designated by the city and in compliance with all applicable city requirements and during specified hours (40 CFR 403.5(b)(8));

9. Any noxious or malodorous liquids, gases, solids, or other wastewater which, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, are sufficient to create a public nuisance or a hazard to life, or to prevent entry into the sewers for maintenance or repair (WAC 173-216-060(2)(b)(ii));

10. Any of the following discharges unless approved by the administrative authority under extraordinary circumstances such as the lack of direct discharge alternatives due to combined sewer service or need to augment sewage flows due to septic conditions (WAC 173-216-060(2)(b)(vii)):

a. Noncontact cooling water in significant volumes,

b. Stormwater, and other direct inflow sources, or

c. Wastewaters significantly affecting system hydraulic loading, which do not require treatment or would not be afforded a significant degree of treatment by the POTW;

11. Any dangerous or hazardous wastes as defined in Chapter 173-303 WAC, as amended, except as allowed in compliance with that regulation (WAC 173-216-060(1) and 40 CFR Part 261);

12. Any substance which will cause the POTW to violate its NPDES, state waste discharge or other disposal system permits or causing, alone or in conjunction with other sources, the treatment plant’s effluent to fail a toxicity test;

13. Any substance which may cause the POTW’s effluent or treatment residues, sludges, or scums to be unsuitable for reclamation and reuse or would interfere with the reclamation process or cause the POTW to be in noncompliance with sludge use or disposal criteria, guidelines or regulations developed pursuant to the federal, state, or local statues or regulations applicable to the sludge management method being used;

14. Any discharge which imparts color which cannot be removed by the POTW’s treatment process such as dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions, which consequently impart color to the treatment plant’s effluent, thereby violating the city’s NPDES permit. Color (in combination with turbidity) shall not cause the treatment plant effluent to reduce the depth of the compensation point for photosynthesis activity in the receiving waters by more than ten percent from the seasonably established norm for aquatic life;

15. Any discharge containing radioactive wastes or isotopes except as specifically approved by the administrative authority in compliance with applicable rate or federal regulations including WAC 246-221-190 “Disposal By Release Into Sanitary Sewerage Systems”; and meeting the concentration limits of WAC 246-221-290, Appendix A, Table I, Column 2; and WAC 246-221-300, Appendix B;

16. Any sludges, screenings, or other residues from the pretreatment of industrial wastes or from industrial processes;

17. Any medical wastes, except as specifically authorized by the administrative authority;

18. Any detergents, surface-active agents, or other substances in amounts which may cause excessive foaming in the POTW;

19. Any incompatible substance such as: grease, animal guts or tissues, paunch contents, manure, bones, hair, hides or fleshings, entrails, whole blood, feathers, ashes, cinders, sand, spent lime, stone or marble dusts, metal, glass, straw, shavings, grass clippings, rags, spent grains, spent hops, wastepaper, wood, plastics, gas, tar asphalt residues, residues from refining or processing of fuel or lubricating oil, mud, or glass grinding or polishing wastes, or any other organic or inorganic matter greater than one-half inch in any dimension;

20. Persistent pesticides and/or pesticides regulated by the Federal Insecticide Fungicide Rodenticide Act (FIFRA);

21. Any wastewater, which in the opinion of the administrative authority can cause harm either to the sewers, sewage treatment process, or equipment; have an adverse effect on the receiving stream; or can otherwise endanger life, limb, public property, or constitute a nuisance, unless allowed under a legal and binding agreement by the administrative authority (except that no waiver may be given to any categorical pretreatment standard).

C. Pollutants, substances, or wastewater prohibited by this section shall not be processed or stored in such a manner that they could be discharged to the POTW.

D. Every building, structure, or premise used or occupied by any sewer user where any commercial or industrial operations are conducted or permitted which result in the discharge into the sewer system of any products, waste products, or other substances, matter, or liquid in the manner and to the extent prohibited in this section shall be equipped with an adequate and suitable grease trap, filter, or other interception device installed in such a manner that the product, waste products, or other substances, materials, or liquid herein set forth will not flow into or be discharged into the sanitary sewer system. The grease trap, filter, or other interceptor shall be adequately maintained, readily accessible for inspection by the administrative authority at any time to ensure its proper operation, and is subject to the terms in CMC 15.10.280.

E. The owner of any vehicle-washing facility shall install and maintain in a proper manner and at his own expense an approved sediment and oil trap located in the side sewer line. Records of proper cleaning and maintenance must be kept and made available to city inspectors. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.270 Commercial/industrial waste discharges.

A. The administrative authority may allow discharge of commercial/industrial waste not prohibited by CMC 15.10.260 into the public sewer. The decision on whether or not to allow any such discharge will be made on a case-by-case basis once the characteristics of the proposed waste discharge have been fully disclosed and will result in an individual agreement.

B. In instances where the discharge of commercial/industrial waste into the public sewer is proposed, the administrative authority may:

1. Prohibit discharge into the public sewer; and/or

2. Require preliminary treatment (“pretreatment”) to acceptable condition for discharge into the public sewer; and/or

3. Require payment of an additional charge and fee as provided in CMC 15.10.350 for the added cost and expense of treating such waters or wastes so admitted into the sewage system; and/or

4. Require monitoring of the discharge as provided in CMC 15.10.070; and/or

5. Require user to obtain a state discharge permit.

C. In cases where pretreatment is required, plans, specifications, and other information relating to the construction and installation of pretreatment facilities shall be submitted by the industry to the Ecology and the administrative authority for approval. No construction or installation thereof shall commence until written approval has been received from the administrative authority and Ecology. Such pretreatment facilities shall be constructed, operated, and maintained at the owner’s expense. The industry shall comply with the Ecology and the EPA pretreatment regulations and the state waste discharge permit program.

D. Any person constructing a pretreatment facility, as required by the administrative authority or Ecology, shall also install and maintain at the facility owner’s sole expense a sampling and metering manhole for monitoring the discharge to the public sewer. Such sampling and metering manhole shall be placed in a location approved by the administrative authority and in accordance with approved specifications.

E. The city can require written permits and/or operating plans for any commercial or industrial discharger that does not fall under state and federal permit requirements. Noncompliance with the permit requirements are enforceable under the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 2148 § 3, 2005: Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.280 Pretreatment of fats, oils and grease required.

A. Dischargers who operate newly constructed multiplex units or apartment complexes, restaurants, cafes, lunch counters, cafeterias, bars, or clubs; or hotels, hospitals, sanitariums, factories, churches or school kitchens; or other establishments that serve or prepare food where grease may be introduced to the sewer system shall have pretreatment facilities to prevent the discharge of fat waste, oil, or grease (FOG). Take-out food establishments or other establishments that prepare food, but do not cook in oil or grease, and who serve food only in disposable containers, may be exempted from this requirement, provided their discharges do not violate the general discharge prohibitions of this chapter. These pretreatment facilities must have grease interceptors installed in the waste line leading from sinks, drains, or other fixtures where grease may be discharged. The grease interceptors must meet, at a minimum, the specifications of the current Uniform Plumbing Code adopted by the city. The administrative authority is authorized to adopt and publish additional criteria for grease interceptors. Dischargers must maintain these facilities in a manner that will always prevent fat waste, oil, or grease from being carried into the sewer system. Fat waste, oil, or grease removed from such a facility shall not be disposed of in sanitary or storm sewers.

B. All existing restaurants, cafes, lunch counters, cafeterias, bars, or clubs, or hotels, hospitals, sanitariums, factories, churches or school kitchens or other establishments that serve or prepare food where grease may be introduced to the sewer system which do not have a grease interceptor at the time of adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall meet the requirements for grease, oil and fats by installing a grease interceptor within one year of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter. Failure to install a grease interceptor within one year shall result in penalties as outlined in CMC 15.10.340. All grease removal systems must be approved by the administrative authority prior to installation.

C. Use of Enzymes within the City of Centralia POTW. Introduction of any additives into a food service establishment’s wastewater system for the purpose of emulsifying FOG is prohibited, unless a specific written authorization from the FOG control program manager is obtained. (Ord. 2298 § 7, 2013: Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.290 Washing facilities, grease rack—Pretreatment.

Dischargers who operate automatic and coin-operated laundries, car washes, filling stations, commercial garages or similar businesses having any type of washing facilities or grease racks and any other dischargers producing grit, sand, oils, or other materials which have the potential of causing partial or complete obstruction of the building sewer or other areas in the sewer system shall install approved interceptors or tanks in accordance with the latest specifications adopted by the city such that excessive amounts of oil, sand and inert solids are effectively prevented from entering the city sewer. Effective April 1, 2000, all new car washes shall be closed loop, no discharge systems. Proof of required operation and maintenance records must be made available for city inspectors. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.300 Inspection fees.

All grease interceptors, oil/water separators, settling tanks and grit traps shall be installed, maintained and operated by the discharger at his own expense. The installation shall be kept in continuous operation at all times, and shall be maintained to provide efficient operation. Cleaning must be performed by a service contractor qualified to perform such cleaning. All material removed shall be disposed of in accordance with all state and federal regulations. Certification of maintenance shall be made readily available to city authorized personnel for review and inspection. Inspection and cleaning frequency of grease interceptors/traps is at the sole discretion of the administrative authority. If a failure to maintain settling tanks, grit traps, grease interceptors, or oil/water separators results in partial or complete blockage of the building sewer or other parts of the wastewater utility system, or adversely affects the treatment or transmission capabilities of the system, or requires excessive maintenance by the city, the discharger responsible for the facilities shall be subject to the remedies, including enforcement and penalties detailed in this chapter. Regular inspections will be conducted at no charge to the customer; however, re-inspections for systems not properly maintained will be charged a fifty-dollar re-inspection fee. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.310 Right of revision.

The city reserves the right to amend this chapter, and any permits issued under it, to provide for more stringent limitations or requirements on discharges to the wastewater utility system if such amendments are deemed necessary to comply with the prohibitions set forth in CMC 15.10.260, or are otherwise in the public interest. No vested right shall be created by the issuance of any permit under this chapter. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.320 Entry of private property.

The administrative authority, bearing proper credentials and identification, shall be permitted to enter upon all and any premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, testing of sewers and sewage, and performance of all other acts or duties required within the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.330 Violations.

A. Definition. For the purposes of enforcement, the provisions of the rules establishing what constitutes a violation for general dischargers are set forth in this chapter. Those dischargers subject to national pretreatment standards will be subject to enforcement action in accordance with this chapter for any violations of the criteria and limitations specified in the categorical standard or the general pretreatment standards set forth in 40 CFR 403, same being incorporated herein by this reference.

B. Sewer Connection Without Permission. It is unlawful to make or cause to be made or to maintain any sewer connection with any sewer of the city of Centralia, or with any sewer which is connected directly or indirectly with any sewer of the city of Centralia without having permission from the administrative authority. In the event permission has not been granted by the city of Centralia, the city shall seek remedies under CMC 15.10.340(D).

C. Maximum Daily Concentration Allowed. The maximum daily allowable concentration for dischargers not regulated under national pretreatment standards is violated under the following circumstances:

1. The arithmetic mean of concentrations for eight consecutive samples collected within a twenty-four hour time period over intervals of fifteen minutes or greater is in excess of the limitation.

2. The concentration value obtained from composite sample that is representative of the twenty-four hour discharge is in excess of the limitation.

3. The concentration of any single sample (whether as single grab sample or a sample within a series) exclusive of any fats, oils, and grease exceeds the limitation by a factor of two and one-half times.

4. The arithmetic means of the concentration of fats, oils, or greases for three grab samples, taken no more frequently than at five minute intervals exceeds the limitation.

D. pH Sample. The pH of any given sample is less than pH 6.0 or greater than pH 9.0.

E. Temperature Limitation. The temperature limitation is exceeded for any single sample.

F. Maximum Allowable Poundage Limitations. A violation shall occur if the maximum allowable effluent poundage limitation as established in the private wastewater discharge permit is exceeded. The daily poundage discharged shall be calculated using the volume of effluent discharged that day times the concentration for that day either reported by the discharger or obtained through sampling by the city. The poundage shall be determined utilizing the formula:

Lbs/day = conc. in mg/l x gal/day disch
x 8.34/1,000,000

G. Reporting Requirements. A violation shall occur if any reporting requirements established by permit, accidental discharges, upset conditions, written request of the administrative authority, or as specified by general pretreatment standards (40 CFR 403.12) are not complied with. A violation shall occur when any person knowingly makes any false statement, representation, or certification in any application, record, report, plan or other documents filed or required to be maintained pursuant to this chapter, or who falsifies, tampers with, or knowingly renders inaccurate any monitoring device or method required under this chapter.

H. FOG Pretreatment Facility—Maintenance. A violation shall occur if there is any failure to maintain grease or grit interceptors or oil/water separators which causes maintenance on any sewer line to be greater than once every two years caused by excessive oil, grease, or fat build up in the sewer lines; or excess build up of sand, gravel or other materials clogging the sewer lines. The lack of any device to prevent discharge of grease, oil, fats, sand, gravel or any other materials which will cause excessive maintenance of the sewer lines shall not relieve the discharger of the responsibility of liability for any costs to the city for excessive maintenance and/or other costs, including overhead incurred by the city.

I. Discharge of Dangerous Waste. A violation shall occur if any material listed on the discharge chemical products list of the state of Washington (WAC 173-303-9903) is discharged into any public sewer, or building sewer tributary thereto.

J. Explosion Meter Readings. A violation shall occur if the readings on an explosion meter at any point in the collection system or wastewater treatment plant is greater than ten percent for a single reading or greater than five percent for two successive readings.

K. Pass Through or Interference. Any discharge which causes pass through or interference with the wastewater treatment plant is a violation.

L. Emergency Suspension of Service and Industrial Wastewater Discharge Permit or Limited Permit.

1. The city may, without advance notice, order the suspension of all or some portion of the wastewater treatment service and any applicable industrial wastewater discharge permit or limited permit to a discharger when it appears to the city that an actual or potential discharge:

a. Presents or threatens a substantial danger to the health or welfare of persons or to the environment; or

b. Threatens to or interferes with the operation of the wastewater treatment plant or collection system; or

c. Causes pass through to the environment or treatment process upset.

2. Any discharger notified of the city’s suspension order shall cease immediately all discharges. In the event of failure of the discharger to comply with the suspension order, the city may commence judicial proceedings immediately thereafter to compel the discharger’s specific compliance with such order and/or to recover civil penalties. The city shall reinstate the wastewater treatment service upon proof by the discharger of the elimination of the noncomplying discharge or of the conditions creating the threat as set forth in this section and payment of all penalties and fees.

3. In addition to all other rights and remedies, the city shall have the authority to immediately discontinue water service to a discharger if the city determines that such action is reasonably necessary to suspend service as authorized by subsection (L)(1) of this section. The city shall have the right of access onto the discharger’s private property to accomplish such termination of the water service.

M. Termination of Treatment Services—Permit Revocation. Dischargers holding NPDES or state discharge permits will be referred to DOE for violations and enforcement/revocation of their permit. The city shall have the authority to terminate wastewater treatment services and to revoke any locally issued industrial wastewater discharge permit or limited permit of the discharger if it determines that the discharger has:

1. Failed to accurately report wastewater constituents and characteristics; or

2. Failed to report significant changes in wastewater constituents, characteristics, flow volumes or types of discharge to the wastewater treatment plant; or

3. Refused reasonable access to the discharger’s premises for purposes of inspection or monitoring; or

4. Violated conditions of the wastewater discharge permit; or

5. Violated any of the provisions of this chapter or regulations promulgated hereunder; or

6. Violated any lawful order of the city issued with respect to the discharger’s permit or this chapter; or

7. Tampers with, disrupts, damages or renders inaccurate any wastewater monitoring device required by this chapter.

N. Other Violations.

1. If reports required by permit, this chapter or state or federal pretreatment regulations are submitted later than thirty days after they are due, the discharger shall be subject to civil penalties of five hundred dollars per day for a maximum of twenty working days. The penalty shall then be increased to one thousand dollars per day with a maximum fine of twenty thousand dollars. In the event the reports have not been submitted at the time the maximum penalty is imposed, the city shall seek remedies under CMC 15.10.340.

2. If any of the actions prescribed in any compliance schedule established by permit or by order of the administrative authority are not complete within thirty days of the time they are required to be complete, the discharger shall be subject to civil penalties of five hundred dollars per day for a maximum of sixty days for each day the action(s) have not been completed. In the event the actions have not been completed ninety days after the date scheduled in the permit or order the city shall seek remedies under CMC 15.10.340.

3. If a discharger fails to maintain grease, oil and/or sediment removal systems which result in excessive maintenance by the city of the collection system or treatment plant, the discharger shall be subject to a civil penalty of five hundred dollars which shall be added to the costs incurred by the city to perform the maintenance. If excessive maintenance is required a second time within a two year period, the penalty shall be one thousand dollars which shall be added to the costs of maintenance by the city. In the event excessive maintenance continues the city shall seek remedies under CMC 15.10.340.

4. Failure to provide accurate or complete information on any wastewater discharge reports or the requirements of a discharge permit shall result in a civil penalty of one hundred dollars for the first offense. Thereafter the discharger shall be subject to remedies under subsection (N)(1) of this section.

5. All commercial and industrial users are required to complete the annual user survey and submit the completed form to the utilities department within forty-five days of receipt. Failure to complete the survey within the required time will subject the user to penalties as outlined in this chapter.

6. In addition to the assessments described in this section any costs incurred by the city, including attorneys’ fees, due to violations subject to civil penalty shall be added to the total amount of the civil penalty assessment. (Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.340 Penalties.

A. Criminal Sanctions. Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall, in addition to other penalties as are provided herein, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars plus costs and penalty assessments. Each separate day or any portion thereof during which any violation of this chapter occurs shall be deemed to constitute a separate offense, and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable as herein provided.

B. Civil Liability for Expenses and Fines. Any discharger violating provisions of this chapter shall be liable for any expense, loss or damage caused to the collection system and/or treatment plant by reason of such violation, including increased costs for sewage treatment, sludge treatment and disposal and operation and maintenance expenses when such increased costs are the result of the discharger’s discharge. If the discharger discharges pollutants that cause the city to violate any condition of its NPIDES permit and to be fined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or the state or federal government for such violation, the discharger shall be liable to the city for the total amount of the fine assessed against the city, including, without limitation, all legal, sampling, analytical and other associated costs and expenses.

C. Termination of Service—Lien. In addition to the foregoing criminal sanctions and penalties detailed in other sections and not in any way a limitation thereof, persons alleged to be violating any provision of this chapter may be subject to termination of water and/or sewer service by the city upon being given ten days’ written notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, directed to such person’s address as last shown on the city records, informing them of the alleged violation and informing them that failure to correct such violation will result in termination of such service at the end of the ten-day period; provided, however, this section does not apply to termination of service due to nonpayment of the utility billing. Any work accomplished by customer request or necessary for maintenance, operation, and/or sampling of the private sewer, which may be billed for time, materials, equipment and overhead, or to repair damage caused by a customer and so billed, shall be subject to all applicable penalties including, but not limited to, lien and discontinuance of service, as provided for in CMC 15.10.120.

D. RCW 35.67.350, Penalty for Sewer Connection Without Permission, as now in force or hereafter amended, added to or deleted from, is adopted by reference as part of this chapter. (Ord. 2077 § 1, 2001: Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.350 Schedule of charges.

A. 1. User Charges. User charges levied in accordance with CMC 15.10.030 through 15.10.090 shall be as follows:

Inside City Limits	2022
Single-Family Residential
Monthly Base Rate	$70.04
Low-Income Senior Citizen or Low-Income Totally Disabled	$63.01
Usage: Lesser of Actual Water Use or Winter Cap (Per 100 Cubic Feet)	$2.47
Multiple-Family Residential (includes trailer parks; see CMC 15.10.050(D))
First Dwelling	$68.57
Each Additional	$61.11
Usage: Lesser of Actual Water Use or Winter Cap (Per 100 Cubic Feet)	$2.43
Domestic-Strength Commercial/Industrial
Monthly Base Rate	$26.52
Usage Per 100 Cubic Feet	$14.13
Monthly Minimum	$89.10
High-Strength Commercial/Industrial
Monthly Base Rate—to be determined on a case-by-case basis	N/A
Usage Per 100 Cubic Feet—to be determined on a case-by-case basis	N/A

Outside City Limits	2022
Single-Family Residential
Monthly Base Rate	$105.10
Low-Income Senior Citizen or Low-Income Totally Disabled	$94.50
Usage: Lesser of Actual Water Use or Winter Cap (Per 100 Cubic Feet)	$3.73
Multiple-Family Residential (includes trailer parks; see CMC 15.10.050(D))
First Dwelling	$102.86
Each Additional	$91.68
Usage: Lesser of Actual Water Use or Winter Cap (Per 100 Cubic Feet)	$3.62
Domestic-Strength Commercial/Industrial
Monthly Base Rate	$39.80
Usage Per 100 Cubic Feet	$21.21
Monthly Minimum	$133.63
High-Strength Commercial/Industrial
Monthly Base Rate—to be determined on a case-by-case basis	N/A
Usage Per 100 Cubic Feet—to be determined on a case-by-case basis	N/A

2. For new sewer customers connecting or opening a utility account during the nonwinter months, or where there is no history of winter usage for an account, the lesser of the actual usage experienced by the new customer or the average residential usage quantity for all residential customers calculated for the most recent winter period shall be used to determine the monthly usage charge. In the case of low-income senior citizens or low-income totally disabled customers, the same shall apply except that the calculated average winter usage shall be based on low-income senior citizen and low-income totally disabled customer usage only. For new multiple-family residential accounts, the average winter usage per dwelling unit shall be ninety percent of that calculated from all residential usage.

3. On January 1st of each year beginning in 2014, the rates shall be adjusted to reflect the annual percentage increase in the United States Consumer Price Index, All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for November of the preceding year as shown in the release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Calculation of the change in the index is made by dividing the current index for November by the preceding index for November and subtracting one. The minimum annual rate increase shall be zero percent.

4. Effective January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022, the sewer service rates shall remain at the 2021 rates due to the economic impacts of COVID-19.

5. The city council of the city of Centralia shall have the discretion to lower the rate of increase established by the CPI-U when the rates for that year are adversely high. The rate shall be lowered by ordinance. The current annual rates shall be posted on the city of Centralia website no later than January 1st of each year.

6. Effective January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023, the sewer rates shall be capped at a two percent increase based on the adversely high rate of the current CPI-U.

B. Capital Facility Charge.

1. So that the property owners shall bear their equitable share of the cost of the wastewater system and as authorized in RCW 35.92.035, there shall be paid a capital facilities charge at the time the sewer permit is approved for a wastewater connection based on the size of the water meter (see exception in CMC 15.10.100 for certain required connections).

When a request or requirement for a larger size water meter is made, the additional capital facilities charge for wastewater will be the difference between the old water meter size and the new water meter size based on the current schedule of capital facilities charges.

The capital facility charges shall be as follows:

	Capital Facilities Charge Effective January 1st:
Water Meter Size	2022
3/4 inch	$8,690
1 inch	$14,513
1-1/2 inch	$28,939
2 inch	$46,322
3 inch	$92,729
4 inch	$144,875
6 inch	$289,661
8 inch	$463,476

On January 1st of each year beginning in 2012, capital facility charges shall be adjusted to reflect the annual percentage increase of the Engineering News-Record Construction Cost Index as published for November of the preceding year. Calculation of the change in the index is made by dividing the current index for November by the preceding index for November and subtracting one. The minimum annual rate increase shall be zero percent. The city council of the city of Centralia shall have the discretion to lower the rate of increase established by the CPI-U when the rates for that year are adversely high. The rate shall be lowered by ordinance. The rates listed in this section are for 2022. The current annual rates shall be posted on the city of Centralia website no later than January 1st of each year.

2. For projects not completed within one hundred eighty days after approval and where the permit has expired in accordance with CMC 15.10.145, the capital facilities charge shall be refunded to the applicant subject to a five percent processing fee. Latecomer, permit and inspection fees are nonrefundable. Applicant shall be charged fee rates in effect at time of payment.

3. All capital facility fees collected shall be classified as restricted funds for capital system additions and improvements.

4. Effective January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023, the capital facility charge rates shall be capped at a two percent increase based on the adversely high rate of the Engineering News-Record Construction Cost Index. (Ord. 2522 § 1, 2022; Ord. 2512 § 1, 2022; Ord. 2486 § 1, 2022; Ord. 2378 § 1, 2016: Ord. 2298 § 8, 2013: Ord. 2225 § 2, 2008: Ord. 2212 § 9 (part), 2008: Ord. 2199 § 1, 2007: Ord. 2179 § 3, 2006: Ord. 2134 § 1, 2004: Ord. 2069 § 1, 2001: Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).

15.10.360 Effective date of charges.

A. Rates set forth in this chapter shall be in full force and effect with the January 2023 billing as published on the city’s website.

B. Capital facilities charges set forth in this chapter shall be in full force and effect with the January 2023 billing as published on the city’s website. (Ord. 2512 § 2, 2022; Ord. 2298 § 9, 2013: Ord. 2225 § 3, 2008: Ord. 2212 § 9 (part), 2008: Ord. 2199 § 2, 2007: Ord. 2179 § 4, 2006: Ord. 2134 § 2, 2004: Ord. 2051 § 1 (part), 2000).