Chapter 20.04
CONNECTIONS*
Sections:
20.04.010 Connection to system required.
20.04.020 Sewage defined – Discharge of storm sewage into sanitary systems prohibited.
20.04.025 General facilities charge.
20.04.030 Service connection fee and inspection fee.
20.04.035 Costs of making connection – Extension of sewer mains.
20.04.040 Authorized person to connect.
20.04.045 City not liable for private damage.
20.04.060 Buildable lot defined – Separate connection fee – Exceptions.
20.04.070 Compliance with health department requirements.
20.04.080 Failure of septic tank owner to make connection to city sewer system.
20.04.090 Penalty for violation.
20.04.110 Lines not to cross another’s private property.
20.04.120 Liability for maintenance and repair.
20.04.130 Standards of sewage.
20.04.150 Inspection of plumbing and sewage.
20.04.160 Violations of plumbing or sewage standards.
20.04.170 When additional or different terms and conditions can be imposed.
* Cities empowered to construct sewers and drains and to compel property owners to make proper connections – See RCW 35.27.370(5).
See also RCW 35.21.210 and Chapter 35.67 RCW.
20.04.010 Connection to system required.
Every building in the city wherein sewage is or may be produced shall be connected to the sewerage system of the city, and it is unlawful for any person to occupy or use any such building which is not so connected or equipped, or to install, maintain or use any septic tank, cesspool, outhouse or other means of sewage disposal not herein made permissible.
All residential sewer service lines shall be not less than four inches in diameter, and all sewer mains shall be not less than eight inches in diameter. (Ord. 1280 § 1, 2001; Ord. 913 § 1, 1988; Ord. 116 § 1, 1947).
20.04.020 Sewage defined – Discharge of storm sewage into sanitary systems prohibited.
The term “sewage” as used in this chapter shall mean and include all liquid or solid human waste material that drains from any toilet, washbasin, sink, laundry tray, shower, bathtub or other plumbing fixtures employed to promote cleanliness and health.
Storm sewage is expressly excluded from this definition and it shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or cause to be discharged any storm sewage into the sanitary sewers of the city of Fircrest. (Ord. 1280 § 2, 2001; Ord. 116 § 2, 1947).
20.04.025 General facilities charge.
Each connection to the city sanitary sewer system shall be charged a general facilities charge based on the customer’s proportionate share of the value of the existing facilities and the planned capital improvements at the time of connection for each property served. The general facilities charge shall be a flat rate of $6,456 except for business, commercial, and industrial connections.
(a) The general facilities charge for business, commercial, and industrial connections shall be computed by multiplying the base rate of $6,456 times the meter equivalent, based on the meter size table as follows:
|
Meter Size |
Meter Equivalent |
General Facilities Charge |
|---|---|---|
|
5/8" |
1.0 |
$6,456 |
|
1" |
2.5 |
$16,139 |
|
1-1/2" |
5.0 |
$32,280 |
|
2" |
8.0 |
$51,648 |
|
3" |
16.0 |
$103,295 |
|
4" |
25.0 |
$161,399 |
(b) Such general facilities charges shall be credited to the specific premises served and no other property, and the premises shall be noted by address and permanently filed in the records of the city. Properties with existing services shall be considered to have satisfied the general facilities charges; however, change of use shall require payment for any differential in residential equivalents.
(c) The general facility charge schedule shall be updated annually at a rate adjusted in accordance with the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton area, rounded to the nearest dollar, ending December of each year, to be effective February 1st of the following year. (Ord. 1720 § 1, 2024; Ord. 1705 § 1, 2023; Ord. 1690 § 1, 2022; Ord. 1621 § 1, 2018; Ord. 1465 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1293 § 1, 2001; Ord. 1280 § 3, 2001; Ord. 1099 § 2, 1995).
20.04.030 Service connection fee and inspection fee.
A service connection fee or inspection fee, for each residential unit or equivalent, shall be charged and collected by the city for each new permanent connection to its sewer collection system. The service connection fee will be charged in the event that the city is required to make the physical connection to the existing sewer main and extend the service line to the property line. The inspection fee will be charged in the event that a developer makes the physical connection to a new or existing sewer main, extends the service line to the property line, completes all surface restoration, and the city inspects said work. The service connection fees and inspection fees shall be charged as follows:
(a) Service connection fee: $3,163. In addition to the service connection fee, an additional fee of $32.00 per square foot of pavement restoration required for the connection shall be charged based on measurements made at the time of connection, and the actual cost of any other related work shall be the responsibility of the property owner payable to the city prior to final inspection.
(b) The service connection fee shall be updated annually at a rate adjusted in accordance with the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton area, rounded to the nearest dollar, ending December of each year to be effective February 1st of the following year.
(c) Inspection fee: $453.00.
(d) The inspection fee shall be updated annually at a rate adjusted in accordance with the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton area, rounded to the nearest dollar, ending December of each year to be effective February 1st of the following year. (Ord. 1720 § 2, 2024; Ord. 1705 § 2, 2023; Ord. 1690 § 2, 2022; Ord. 1621 § 2, 2018; Ord. 1465 § 2, 2008; Ord. 1293 § 3, 2001; Ord. 1280 § 4, 2001; Ord. 1099 § 1, 1995; Ord. 961 § 1, 1990; Ord. 913 § 2, 1988; Ord. 116 § 3, 1947).
20.04.035 Costs of making connection – Extension of sewer mains.
When any sewer main must be extended to the property to be served before a connection can be made, the applicant shall pay the cost of making such extension in addition to the service connection fee and general facilities charge. All mains extended shall run to the far property line of the premises involved.
If the city extends the mains, all costs and charges shall be the actual cost to the city, including but not limited to, engineering and preparation of estimates, labor plus 25 percent for overhead and materials. Alternatively, the city may allow a developer to extend the main based on approved engineering drawings with an approved professional engineer certification that the installation meets city and state standards.
The applicant shall pay all charges in advance based on city estimates at the time of application for a building permit.
At the end of the project, the developer shall pay the actual city cost less the estimated cost paid at the time of building permit issuance. If the estimated cost exceeds the city’s total cost, the balance shall be promptly refunded to the developer. If the estimated cost is insufficient to cover the city’s total cost, the developer shall pay the balance prior to issuance of any final inspection or occupancy permit. (Ord. 1293 § 4, 2001; Ord. 1280 § 5, 2001; Ord. 1099 § 3, 1995).
20.04.040 Authorized person to connect.
The city may allow a developer or contractor to make connections to sewer mains; provided, that the developer or contractor has secured written city approval prior to issuance of a building permit based on city-approved drawings; and provided, that the connections are inspected and approved by an authorized city employee or agent of the city prior to being covered. Should the developer or contractor fail to comply with any of the provisions of this section, the city may shut down the project unless and until the city has determined that said installation complies with city standards. The actual cost to the city of additional labor plus 15 percent overhead and all other costs incurred by the city to enforce compliance shall be paid by the developer or contractor prior to approval of the project. (Ord. 1285 § 1, 2001; Ord. 1280 § 6, 2001; Ord. 913 § 3, 1988; Ord. 376, 1960; Ord. 116 § 4, 1947).
20.04.045 City not liable for private damage.
The city shall not be liable for any damage to or which occurs on private property served with sewers by the city, which results from defective or improper appliances, pipes, conduits or other appurtenances and the fact that agents of the city may have connected or inspected the same at or subsequent to installation shall not operate to make the city liable for any such damage. (Ord. 1280 § 7, 2001).
20.04.050 Procedure for application submission and approval of plans and issuance of permit.
Repealed by Ord. 1280. (Ord. 1099 § 4, 1995; Ord. 961 § 2, 1990; Ord. 913 § 4, 1988; Ord. 376, 1960; Ord. 116 § 5, 1947).
20.04.060 Buildable lot defined – Separate connection fee – Exceptions.
Each buildable lot shall be subject to a separate connection fee, general facilities charge and a separate monthly sewer charge based upon the site’s use when connected to the city sewer system whether or not held in sole ownership. For the purpose of this provision, a “buildable lot” shall mean an area sufficient in size to permit the use or development thereof for any purpose authorized by the applicable land use regulations. Where applicant owns or acquires more than one building lot and uses and develops the whole as one buildable lot, only one general facilities charge, one connection fee, and one monthly charge shall be made for the entire area, subject, however, to additional general facilities charge, connection fee and monthly fee if segregated or the use is changed at a later date. (Ord. 1280 § 9, 2001; Ord. 1099 § 5, 1995; Ord. 913 § 5, 1988; Ord. 116 § 6, 1947)
20.04.070 Compliance with health department requirements.
Notwithstanding any minimum requirements for the installation of such sewer lines and connections to the city sewer system imposed by the city, said sewer lines and connections shall, in all respects, comply with the requirements of the county and state health departments, including but not limited to the certificate of sewer availability. (Ord. 1280 § 10, 2001; Ord. 913 § 6, 1988; Ord. 116 § 7, 1947).
20.04.080 Failure of septic tank owner to make connection to city sewer system.
Existing buildings presently connected to functional septic systems shall be required to connect to the city sewerage system in the following situations:
(a) When any portion of the on-site system fails, functions improperly, or needs replacement. This requirement may be tempered through an engineering feasibility study.
(b) Whenever community or neighborhood sewer system is extended by local improvement methods or by other means becomes reasonably available.
(c) Where property is adjacent to presently existing accessible sewer mains, connections shall be made within a five-year period from date of the ordinance codified in this section or future annexation ordinance.
Whenever the conditions and circumstances which led to the installation of a septic tank within the city of Fircrest become abated and a connection to the sewage system becomes possible under the provisions of this chapter, the city shall require that such connection be made in the manner herein provided after notice to the person or persons affected. In the event such person or persons fails to make application for such connection within 90 days after the giving of the notice by the city, the city shall make such connection and shall charge the cost thereof to the person or persons affected. All parties connecting shall pay service connection fees, general facilities charges and other related charges for a sewer connection, pursuant to the ordinances of the city of Fircrest, and the city shall have all remedies provided by law for collection of such costs and charges. (Ord. 1099 § 6, 1995; Ord. 913 § 14, 1988; Ord. 651, 1973; Ord. 116 § 8, 1947).
20.04.090 Penalty for violation.
Violation of any of the terms of this chapter is made and declared to be a misdemeanor. (Ord. 987 § 41, 1991; Ord. 834 § 42, 1986; Ord. 116 § 9, 1947).
20.04.100 Severability.
Should any portion of this chapter be held invalid, the remaining portions shall not be thereby affected. (Ord. 116 § 10, 1947).
20.04.110 Lines not to cross another’s private property.
No connection shall be made to the city sewer system where any portion of the line to serve the applicant’s property must cross over private property belonging to third parties, private easements being unacceptable. Whenever possible all connections must be made from applicant’s property to lines within public streets or roads. (Ord. 1280 § 11, 2001; Ord. 913 § 7, 1988).
20.04.120 Liability for maintenance and repair.
Applicants and/or users of a private service line connected to the city sewer system shall be responsible for the maintenance and repairs of all private service lines serving their property, and the costs thereof, up to the point of and including the connection to the sewer system of the city. All maintenance and repairs of sewer mains lying within public or private streets, and the costs thereof, shall be made by the city. (Ord. 1280 § 12, 2001; Ord. 913 § 8, 1988).
20.04.130 Standards of sewage.
No sewage may be discharged into the Fircrest sewage system which does not conform to the standards of sewage adopted by ordinance and to the standards as set forth in the Construction Standards and Specifications of the American Public Works Association Uniform Code. All such sewage shall be of domestic quality, including sewage from normal and usual commercial establishments, but excluding industrial wastes or other sewage considered harmful to sewage systems or treatment plants. (Ord. 913 § 9, 1988).
20.04.140 Plumbing standards.
No homes, buildings or establishments can connect to the Fircrest sewer system unless the sewer plumbing in said home, building or establishment conforms to the most rigid of the following standards:
(a) Uniform Plumbing Code and applicable city codes; or
(b) Construction Standards and Specifications of the American Public Works Association Uniform Codes, as now enacted or hereafter amended. (Ord. 1280 § 13, 2001; Ord. 913 § 10, 1988).
20.04.150 Inspection of plumbing and sewage.
The city shall have the right to inspect any and all sewer connections, or applications therefor, to determine whether or not their plumbing installations and sewage discharge conform to the requirements of the governing sewer ordinances of the city, and in connection therewith to conduct such tests as may be appropriate for such inspection. (Ord. 1280 § 14, 2001; Ord. 913 § 11, 1988).
20.04.160 Violations of plumbing or sewage standards.
No connection shall be permitted to the Fircrest sewer system by any house, building or establishment which does not conform to the plumbing and sewage standards as above specified, and any house, building or establishment connected to the Fircrest sewer system which fails hereafter to meet the plumbing and/or sewage standards specified may be disconnected from the Fircrest sewer system unless and until the property owner makes such changes as may be necessary to conform to such standards within a reasonable period of time, which shall not exceed 30 days from date of notification from the city. (Ord. 913 § 12, 1988).
20.04.170 When additional or different terms and conditions can be imposed.
Where application is made for sewer connection to serve commercial properties, or properties to be used for other than a single-family residence, or where the use of a property being served hereunder is changed from a single-family residence to a different use, the city council, if it approves such application or change of use, shall impose such terms and conditions, connection fees, general facility charges, and/or other charges, than herein provided as the city council determines circumstances indicate shall be appropriate. (Ord. 1280 § 15, 2001; Ord. 913 § 13, 1988).