Chapter 9.10
WATER CONNECTION FEE
Sections:
9.10.010 Property for which a connection charge shall be imposed.
9.10.020 Categories of connections.
9.10.030 Method of computation.
9.10.040 Connection charges – Amounts.
9.10.050 Hearing before the board of commissioners.
9.10.060 Payment required when.
9.10.080 Water service inquiry form.
9.10.010 Property for which a connection charge shall be imposed.
Owners of real property located within or without the district seeking connection to the existing and future water system of the district shall, as a condition of connection of the improvements located thereon to the district’s water system and as a condition to the district’s granting the right to so connect, in addition to the cost of any such connection actually incurred by the district, pay a reasonable connection charge so that such property owners shall bear their equitable share of the cost of the water system. To determine each property owner’s equitable share of the cost of the water system, the commissioners of the district have reviewed the costs and expenses paid by the district and the former association to construct the existing water facilities, the estimated cost of the general water facilities included in the 10-year capital improvement plan contained in the district’s comprehensive water system plan and other costs borne by the district which are directly attributable to the improvements required by property owners seeking to connect to the water system. [Res. 2010-5-6 § 1.]
9.10.020 Categories of connections.
There shall be the following categories for property owners seeking connection to the district’s water system:
(1) Single-Family Residential. A single-family residence (SFR) is a single-family residential dwelling unit with a meter size up to and including one inch.
(2) Multifamily Residential. A multifamily residential (MFR) is a multiple-family residential unit serving four or less units via a master meter.
(3) Large Multifamily Residential Serving Five or More Units. A large multifamily residential five (LMFR) is a multiple-family residential unit serving five or more units via a master meter.
(4) Other. Other is any connection other than SFR, MFR or LMFR, including but not limited to an attached or detached accessory dwelling unit. [Res. 2023-8-3 § 1; Res. 2017-1-2; Res. 2010-5-6 § 2.]
9.10.030 Method of computation.
In determining the equitable share of the cost of such system, the district shall, in arriving at said connection fee for the real property sought to be connected to an existing water facility owned and maintained by the district, including (a) a general portion and (b) a local portion, calculate as follows:
(1) General Portion. The general portion of the connection charge consists of each owner’s share of the cost of general facilities constructed by or for the district or the former association which are of general benefit to the entire district (which have not been paid for by grants or donated to the district or the former association) and the cost of the general water facilities planned for construction within the next 10 years included in the district’s comprehensive water system plan. The board has also reviewed data prepared by the American Water Works Association (“AWWA”) regarding the size of a meter and the increased demand each increment of meter places upon the district’s water system. The ratio of meter size to capacity as provided by AWWA shall apply to connection charges.
(2) Local Portion. The local portion of the connection charge consists of the average cost of the local facilities throughout the district installed by the district or the former association (which have not been paid for by grants or donated to the district or the former association) and the average cost of the local water facilities planned for construction within the next 10 years included in the district’s comprehensive water system plan. The local portion shall be charged when a direct connection is sought by the property owner for real property abutting, paralleling, or that is directly served by a local facility. The ratio of meter size to capacity as provided by AWWA shall apply to connection charges.
(3) Separate Ownership Pay Connection Charge. Each separate owner of real property or unit thereof, and each owner of a separate lot with a separate tax identification number, shall pay such cost of connection irrespective of the types of improvements to be located thereon. For example, in a condominium complex where separate owners may own the units, a separate connection charge shall be charged for each unit as is more fully described in CVWDC 9.10.040 and Chapter 9.45 CVWDC. Other such improvements may include, for example and without limitation, single-family residences, duplexes, multiplexes, apartment buildings and commercial and industrial improvements.
(4) Deposit of Estimated Local Portion in Lieu of Construction. The district reserves the right to permit a property owner seeking to connect to a water line which is required by the district’s comprehensive water system plan to be replaced to adequately serve the real property, to pay to the district for the local portion of the connection charge the estimated cost of replacing said water line, which cost shall be calculated based upon current construction costs paid by the district. Said estimated local portion of the connection charge paid by the owner shall be deposited in the district’s maintenance fund and used by the district in the future to replace said line.
(5) Additional Connection Charge. In the event a property owner adds improvements or additional units, as defined in Chapter 9.45 CVWDC, to said owner’s real property after payment of connection charges for improvements located on said real property, and said owner (or said owner’s assigns) requests connection (or connects without the district’s knowledge) of additional improvements constructed upon a portion of said real property, said owner shall pay connection charges in accordance with the terms of this resolution as hereinafter amended, or revised, notwithstanding that connection charges were previously paid by an owner of the real property. [Res. 2022-8-2 § 1; Res. 2010-5-6 § 3.]
9.10.040 Connection charges – Amounts.
The general and local portions of the connection charges shall be in the amounts established in CVWDC 9.10.090, Rate Table IV. The rate for connection charges shall be determined by the meter size and are weighted according to a multiplier factor of the AWWA meter capacity factors and single-family residential, multifamily residential and large multifamily residential. The minimum connection charge is shown in CVWDC 9.10.090, Rate Table IV. Actual charges may be greater depending upon the number of units and type of development.
(1) SFR. Each SFR unit shall be charged the general and local portions of connection charges as stated in CVWDC 9.10.090, Rate Table IV; provided, that an attached or detached accessory dwelling unit, as defined in Chapter 9.45 CVWDC, shall be charged only the general portion of the SFR connection charge as stated in CVWDC 9.10.090, Rate Table IV.
(2) MFR for Units Which Are Individually Metered. The first unit of a MFR that is individually metered shall be charged the SFR general and local connection rate, as set forth in CVWDC 9.10.090, Rate Table IV, and each subsequent unit shall be charged the SFR general and local rate multiplied by a factor of 0.81. The factor of 0.81 was determined by research into the demand required by MFR units as compared to the demand required by SFR units.
(3) MFR and LMFR for Units With a Master Meter. The connection charges for MFR units with a master meter shall be on a per-unit basis as set forth in CVWDC 9.10.090, Rate Table IV. The first unit of a MFR with a master meter shall be charged the SFR general and local connection rate, as set forth in CVWDC 9.10.090, Rate Table IV, and each subsequent unit shall be charged the SFR general and local rate multiplied by a factor of 0.81 with a minimum charge based upon the meter-to-capacity ratios for the master meter. The first unit of a LMFR shall be charged the SFR general and local connection rate, set forth in CVWDC 9.10.090, Rate Table IV; units two through four shall be charged the SFR general and local rate multiplied by a factor of 0.81, and each subsequent unit shall be charged the SFR general and local rate multiplied by a factor of 0.70 with a minimum charge based upon the meter-to-capacity ratios for the master meter.
(4) Other. The connection charges for other connections shall be calculated based on peak water demand converted to equivalent residential units (ERUs) multiplied by a cost-of-service factor of 0.25 applied to the SFR general and local connection charge stated in CVWDC 9.10.090, Rate Table IV, with a minimum charged based upon the meter to capacity ratios listed in CVWDC 9.10.090, Rate Table IV. ERUs shall be determined by dividing the projected peak flow (with units of gallons per day) by 380 gallons per ERU. Any subsequent units, including but not limited to attached or detached accessory dwelling units, shall also be charged the factor of 0.81 per subsection (2) or (3) of this section.
(5) Annual CPI Adjustment. The general and local facility connection charges for connection to the District’s water system as established in subsections (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this section shall be increased automatically each year, beginning with September 1, 2020, based on the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the greater Seattle area for the 12-month period of July 1st to June 30th immediately preceding the date of the increase; provided, that the annual CPI adjustment shall not be less than zero percent and shall not exceed five percent.
(6) Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, if a property owner seeks to connect to the district’s water system, a building that contains a temporary dwelling for which the owner has been granted a temporary dwelling permit by Snohomish County, and if connection charges have already been paid for any primary residence or other use on the property, the owner shall not be required to pay the otherwise applicable general or local facility connection charges for the temporary dwelling, and the temporary dwelling may receive water service through the same water meter as the primary structure on the property, if any, subject to the following conditions:
(a) The owner shall provide evidence to the district’s satisfaction that Snohomish County has granted a temporary dwelling permit for the temporary dwelling, and shall provide evidence to the district’s satisfaction on an annual basis that the county has renewed or reissued the temporary dwelling permit for the subsequent year.
(b) The owner shall pay a separate base charge at the current rate for monthly water service provided to the temporary dwelling, in addition to the monthly water service base charge payable for any other structures or uses on the property.
(c) The district shall record in the Snohomish County auditor’s office a notice on title stating that the property contains a temporary dwelling subject to this code provision, and shall record a release at such time as the owner has complied with subsection (6)(d) of this section. The owner shall bear the cost of recording the notice and the release.
(d) If the temporary dwelling is in a separate building from the primary dwelling or other use is proposed on the property, the owner shall disconnect the building containing the temporary dwelling from the district’s water system at such time that (i) the temporary dwelling permit expires, terminates, or is revoked or vacated, and is not renewed or reissued by Snohomish County, or (ii) the temporary dwelling is no longer occupied by a person who qualifies for the permit. In the alternative, the owner shall immediately pay the applicable water connection charges to the district. [Res. 2023-8-3 § 2; Res. 2022-8-2 § 2; Res. 2019-8-5 § 1; Res. 2017-1-2; Res. 2010-5-6 § 5.]
9.10.050 Hearing before the board of commissioners.
In the event that a property owner for which a connection charge has been computed by the district pursuant to the terms and conditions of this resolution, as now existing or hereafter amended, feels aggrieved, or contests the amount of the connection charge, or the manner in which it has been determined, then said property owner may request a hearing before the board of commissioners in order that said property owner’s contention can be heard by the board of commissioners. The property owner must file his/her protest in writing with the district giving the name of the property owner, a legal description of the real property sought to be connected to the district’s system, the total amount of the connection charge as computed by the district, and a statement by the owner as to what the owner contends the reasonable connection charge should be, if any. The board of commissioners, upon such a hearing being requested by the property owner, shall set a time and date for such hearing. At the conclusion of the hearing, the commissioners shall render their determination as to whether or not said connection charge is correct, and if they find it to be incorrect, they shall correct the same as they, in discretion, may determine based upon a fair preponderance of the evidence. [Res. 2010-5-6 § 6.]
9.10.060 Payment required when.
All general and local facility connection charges for connection to the district’s water system shall be paid at the time of application for water meter installation for each building, other improvements or use that the property owner seeks to connect to the district’s water system. [Res. 2019-8-5 § 2; Res. 1990-5-6.]
9.10.070 Payment required when – Certificate of water availability.
Repealed by Res. 2019-8-5. [Res. 1990-5-6.]
9.10.080 Water service inquiry form.
The water service inquiry form located on the district’s website shall be completed by all who request connection to the district’s water system prior to the calculation by the district of applicable water connection charges and fees. [Res. 2018-4-7; Res. 2018-3-6.]
9.10.090 Rate Table IV.
The district assesses charges on all accounts that connect to the district’s water system. The charges are based on the size of meter. This chapter explains the water connection fee. The connection charges, general and local, do not include the cost of the water meter installation. For September 1, 2023, through August 31, 2024, the SFR, MFR, and LMFR are the same amount up to one-inch meters.
The general and local facility connection charges increase automatically each year, on September 1st. The increase is based on the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the greater Seattle area for the 12-month period of July 1st to June 30th. The annual CPI adjustment is not less than zero percent and does not exceed five percent.
*Additional charges may apply.
|
Meter Size |
Amount |
Meter Size Capacity Ratio (AWWA) |
|---|---|---|
|
5/8 × 3/4 inch |
$11,369.00 |
1.0 |
|
3/4 × 3/4 inch |
$17,050.00 |
1.5 |
|
1 inch |
$28,418.00 |
2.5 |
|
1 1/2 inch |
$56,828.00 |
5.0 |
|
2 inch |
$90,941.00 |
8.0 |
|
3 inch |
$181,879.00 |
16.0 |
|
4 inch |
$284,186.00 |
25.0 |
|
6 inch |
$568,371.00 |
50.0 |
|
8 inch |
$1,023,067.00 |
90.0 |
*This charge is collected on all connections for the ongoing maintenance and long-term replacement of facilities for the overall district.
For meters larger than 8 inches, the cost will be determined by the district.
The above amounts are for 1 unit. Additional charges will apply for more than 1 unit. Contact the district for more information.
|
Meter Size |
Amount |
Meter Size Capacity Ratio (AWWA) |
|---|---|---|
|
5/8 × 3/4 inch |
$4,448.00 |
1.0 |
|
3/4 × 3/4 inch |
$6,673.00 |
1.5 |
|
1 inch |
$11,121.00 |
2.5 |
|
1 1/2 inch |
$22,240.00 |
5.0 |
|
2 inch |
$35,585.00 |
8.0 |
|
3 inch |
$71,169.00 |
16.0 |
|
4 inch |
$111,203.00 |
25.0 |
|
6 inch |
$222,406.00 |
50.0 |
|
8 inch |
$400,332.00 |
90.0 |
*This charge is collected on connections to ensure the cost of local facilities – distribution lines, hydrants, services, and meters – that have not been already paid for through utility local improvement districts (ULIDs), developer extensions or latecomer agreements.
For meters larger than eight inches, the cost will be determined by the district.
The above amounts are for one unit. Additional charges will apply for more than one unit. Contact the district for more information.
[Res. 2024-8-1 § 1 (Exh. A); Res. 2023-8-3 § 3 (Exh. A); Res. 2022-8-2 § 3.]