Chapter 21.05
Water System Rates and Charges1

Sections:

21.05.010    Water meter permit fees.

21.05.020    Water meter connection fees.

21.05.021    Water service installation fees.

21.05.022    System development charge.

21.05.030    Water meter test deposit.

21.05.040    “Turn on” charges--Restoration of service.

21.05.050    Service trip charge.

21.05.060    Rates.

21.05.070    Water leak rate adjustment.

21.05.010

Water meter permit fees.  For each new building, structure, or other water service to be connected to the City’s water system, a water meter permit shall be obtained from the City.  Applicant shall pay to the City at the time of application a water meter permit fee as provided for in the most current version of the City fees and charges schedule as adopted by resolution or ordinance of the DuPont City Council.  Permit fees are not refundable.  (Ord. 99-653 § 1; Ord. 10-908 § 2).

21.05.020 Water meter connection fees.

A water meter connection fee, as provided for in the most current version of the City fees and charges schedule as adopted by resolution or ordinance of the DuPont City Council, shall be charged and collected by the City for each new permanent connection to the water system.

(a) The water meter connection fee for meters up to and including two inches shall include the installation of the meter and associated accessories by the City.

(b) The water meter connection fee for any meter of a size greater than two inches to be installed by the City shall be the actual cost of the meter and associated accessories to the City plus 15 percent.

(c) The water meter connection fee for contractor installed meters of any size shall be the fee as provided for in the most current version of the City fees and charges schedule as adopted by resolution or ordinance of the DuPont City Council.  (Ord. 99-653 § 2; Ord. 02-714 § 1; Ord. 10-908 § 3).

21.05.021 Water service installation fees.

It is generally the responsibility of the owner/contractor to perform the installation, abandonment, or upgrade of water service connections (as defined in DMC 21.01.010).  In certain instances, the City may elect to perform this work.  A fee of actual costs (labor, material, and equipment) plus 15 percent shall be charged for new water service installations performed by the City.  (Ord. 10-908 § 4).

21.05.022 System development charge.

A system development charge (SDC) shall be levied against and shall be collected from the owners of each parcel of real property or portion thereof located within the SDC area at the time such property or portion becomes joined to and commences to use and/or receive benefit from the facilities of the water system.  The SDC shall be levied for the purposes of assessing against such previously unconnected property or portion of real property a proportionate share of the utility’s capital cost attributable to each subsequently developed portion of property in order that such portion may bear its fair share of the cost of the utility.  The boundaries of the SDC area are shown on the Water Utility System Development Charge Area exhibit (attached as Exhibit A to the ordinance codified in this section), which together with all explanatory matters thereon, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this title.  The SDC must be paid prior to issuance of the water meter permit and shall be determined as to each requested connection by the application of the criteria set forth below:

(a) For all new water connections within the SDC area, an SDC shall be assessed based upon the following:

(1) Each water connection shall be assigned a “meter equivalent” (ME) factor;

(2) The water connection ME shall be determined based on the proposed water meter size;

(3) The water meter shall be sized in accordance with the current adopted plumbing code as amended and adopted by DMC Title 12;

(4) A water connection’s ME is based on the flow potential through its meter.  A one inch and smaller single-family residential meter is assigned a base factor of one;

(5) The applicable SDC to be charged is calculated by multiplying the base SDC by the applicable ME factor based upon water meter size as follows:

Meter Equivalencies

Meter Size (in)

ME

Single-Family1

1.00

3/4

1.00

1

1.67

1 1/2

3.33

2

5.33

3

10.67

4

16.67

6

33.33

8

53.33

10

96.67

12

143.33

1 Single-family meter (one inch or smaller).

(6) The base SDC shall be an amount as provided for in the most current version of the City fees and charges schedule as adopted by resolution or ordinance of the DuPont City Council.  (Ord. 10-908 § 5).

21.05.030 Water meter test deposit.

The following water meter test deposits shall be applicable for water meter testing requested by the customer pursuant to DMC 21.01.330.

(a) The amount of the deposit shall be $75.00 for testing five-eighths-inch through one and one-half-inch meters.

(b) For two-inch meters and larger the deposit shall be $160.00.  The person requesting the test shall be billed the actual cost for the meter test minus the deposit made.  (Ord. 99-653 § 3; Ord. 10-908 § 6).

21.05.040 “Turn on” charges--Restoration of service.

A service charge, as provided for in the most current version of the City fees and charges schedule as adopted by resolution or ordinance of the DuPont City Council, shall be assessed for each “turn on” to restore water service after it has been discontinued by the City for any reason (subject to overtime charges for after hours service).  (Ord. 99-653 § 4; Ord. 10-908 § 7).

21.05.050 Service trip charge.

The cost for this type of City response, as stated within the City ordinance regulating the use of water, shall be made to the City in the amount as provided for in the most current version of the City fee and charges schedule as adopted by resolution or ordinance of the DuPont City Council.  (Ord. 99-653 § 5; Ord. 10-908 § 8).

21.05.060 Rates.

The fees and charges for services provided by the City shall be set forth in a fee schedule adopted by ordinance of the DuPont City Council, as shown in Exhibit A.

The City of DuPont will supply and sell water service to consumers within the corporate limits of the City, using the following methods for calculating the charges:

(a) Water Service per Month.

(1) Single-Family Customers.  Base rate for the first 500 cubic feet plus excess rate for each additional 100 cubic feet in excess of 500 cubic feet.  Fractions shall be rounded to the nearest penny and calculated on a billing cycle basis only.

(b) Single-Family Life Line Rate.  Reduced base rate for the first 500 cubic feet (base rate) plus excess rate for each additional 100 cubic feet.  Fractions shall be calculated on a billing cycle basis only.  To qualify, customers must apply and certify that they are at least 60 years of age or older with an income which would qualify them for a reduction from real or personal property taxes.

(c) Commercial and Multi-Dwelling Unit Customers.  Customers shall be charged a base rate, based on meter size, for the first 500 cubic feet plus an excess rate for each 100 cubic feet in excess of 500 feet.  Fractions shall be calculated on a billing cycle basis only.  The base rate for meter sizes is included in the City fees and charges schedule.

(d) Payment and Penalties.  Billing, payment and penalty procedures associated with water utility services shall be as provided for in Chapter 17.02 DMC.

(e) Deposit Charges.  Deposit requirements will be waived for customers of record that are also the property owners.  Deposits will be held by the City of DuPont until such time as the utility account is closed.  The customer may, at his or her option, instruct the City of DuPont to apply the deposit towards the final bill.  Upon application of the deposit and/or payment of the final bill, any remaining deposit will be mailed to the customer of record at the customer’s last known address.  Should the customer fail to make payment on the final bill prior to the delinquent date, the deposit will be applied to the outstanding balance and any remaining deposit amount will then be forwarded to the customer of record.  The required deposit for water accounts is included in the City fees and charges schedule.

(f) Undeveloped Land Charge.  Each parcel of property without a service line, in excess of one acre, which abuts a right-of-way or easement, which contains public water lines shall be charged per acre at a rate to be established in the City fees and charges schedule.  Fractions shall be rounded to the nearest penny.  Wetlands, buffer areas and dedicated open space shall not be included in the calculation.

(g) Temporary Water Use.  The use of water for construction proposed shall be allowed if approved by the City Public Works Superintendent.  Before commencing such usage, application shall be made to the City and a fee as established in the City fees and charges schedule shall be paid.  Water shall be paid for at the excess rate for each 100 cubic feet of water.

(h) Fire Protection Service.  The monthly service rate for private fire protection mains (two-inch and larger) shall be a base rate established in the City fees and charges schedule per month plus the excess rate per 100 cubic feet.

EXHIBIT A
CITY OF DUPONT WATER RATE
Water Base Rates and Excess Volume Rate

 

Meter Equivalent

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Annual % Rate Increase

 

2%

2%

2%

0%

0%

0%

Base Monthly Rate (1)(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Single-Family

1.00

$32.08

$32.72

$33.37

$33.37

$33.37

$33.37

Single-Family – lifeline

0.70

$22.46

$22.90

$23.34

$23.34

$23.34

$23.34

Non-Single-Family (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3/4" inch (includes 5 ccf)

1.00

$32.08

$32.72

$33.37

$33.37

$33.37

$33.37

1" meter

1.67

$53.57

$54.64

$55.74

$55.74

$55.74

$55.74

1-1/2"meter

3.34

$107.14

$109.29

$111.47

$111.47

$111.47

$111.47

2" meter

5.33

$170.98

$174.40

$177.89

$177.89

$177.89

$177.89

3" meter

10.67

$342.26

$349.11

$356.09

$356.09

$356.09

$356.09

4" meter

16.67

$534.74

$545.43

$556.34

$556.34

$556.34

$556.34

6" meter

33.33

$1,069.22

$1,090.60

$1,112.41

$1,112.41

$1,112.41

$1,112.41

8" meter

53.33

$1,710.80

$1,745.01

$1,779.91

$1,779.91

$1,779.91

$1,779.91

10" meter

96.67

$3,101.06

$3,163.08

$3,226.34

$3,226.34

$3,226.34

$3,226.34

Undeveloped Land Charge

 

$9.10

$9.28

$9.47

$9.47

$9.47

$9.47

Fire Protection Service (all sizes)

0.94

$30.14

$30.74

$31.36

$31.36

$31.36

$31.36

Temporary Water Use

1.00

$32.08

$32.72

$33.37

$33.37

$33.37

$33.37

Water Hydrant Use

1.00

$32.08

$32.72

$33.37

$33.37

$33.37

$33.37

Excess Volume Rate – per 100 cf of water use over 500 cf/month

 

$2.24

$2.29

$2.33

$2.33

$2.33

$2.33

(1) Rates for each calendar year are effective January 1st of that year.

(2) Base rate includes 500 cubic feet (cf) of water use each month.

(3) Non-single family customers include commercial, industrial, and irrigation.

(Ord. 99-653 § 6; Ord. 00-682 § 1; Ord. 04-772 § 1; Ord. 10-892 § 1; Ord. 10-908 § 9; Ord. 17-1025 § 1; Ord. 18-1050 § 1).

21.05.070 Water leak rate adjustment.2

(a) A City water utility customer may apply in writing to the City for a water leak rate adjustment.  Making such a request does not extend the period for payment of the water bill.  Requests for adjustments on delinquent accounts will not be acted upon until paid in full.

(b) A water leak rate adjustment is permitted once in a two-year period and can only be applied to one billing period.  To be eligible for this rate adjustment, the following must apply:

(1) The affected water line must be owned by or be subject to the exclusive control of the customer; and

(2) The increase of water usage for which an adjustment is sought must be due to a verifiable water leak in the water line between the customer’s side of the water meter and the customer’s residence or structure; and

(3) The water usage sought for adjustment must exceed two times the customer’s highest usage in any single billing period during the 12 months prior to the billing period sought for adjustment; and

(4) The customer must apply for a water leak rate adjustment within 30 days of the City’s issuance of the water bill sought for adjustment; and

(5) The customer must provide proof that the affected water line has been repaired, such as photos of repair or a receipt from a licensed plumber.

(c) Following a request for a water leak rate adjustment, the City Administrator, or his/her designee, shall review the request and determine whether or not to approve a water leak rate adjustment.  In order to make a proper determination, City staff shall be entitled to access, inspect, and approve the customer’s water line repair prior to granting a water leak rate adjustment.

(d) If approved, the City shall make a water leak rate adjustment by issuing a credit to the customer’s account.  The adjustment shall not exceed the total water usage for the billing period sought for adjustment minus the customer’s average water usage.  For purposes of this subsection, the “average water usage” shall be computed by determining the total volume of water consumed, under normal use conditions, during the preceding 12 months and dividing that total volume by the number of times the City would typically read the customer’s water meter in a 12-month period.  For customers who have been receiving service for less than 12 months, the average water usage shall be based on average usage during the months of service.  In no instance shall the water leak adjustment exceed $1,200.  (Ord. 06-824 § 1; Ord. 06-817 § 1).

1

Prior legislation:  Ord. 336 § 4.


2

Code reviser’s note:  Ord. 06-817 adds this section as DMC 21.05.060.  It has been editorially renumbered to avoid duplication of section numbers.