Chapter 13.02 SEWER REGULATIONS

“BOD” (denoting biochemical oxygen demand) means the quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure for five days at 20 degrees Celsius, expressed in milligrams per liter.

“Building drain” means that part of the lowest horizontal piping of a drainage system which receives the discharge from soil, waste, and other drainage pipes inside the walls of the building and conveys it to the building sewer, beginning five feet (one and one-half meters) outside the inner face of the building wall.

“Building sewer” means the extension from the building drain to the public sewer or other place of disposal.

“City clerk” means the duly elected or appointed clerk of the city.

“City engineer” means the duly elected or appointed engineer for the city.

“Combined sewer” means a sewer receiving both surface runoff and sewage.

“Garbage” means solid wastes from the domestic and commercial preparation, cooking, and dispensing of food, and from the handling, storage, and sale of produce.

“Industrial wastes” means the liquid wastes from industrial manufacturing processes, trade, or business as distinct from sanitary sewage.

“Inspector” means the person assigned by the city to inspect building sewer installation between the building and the public sanitary sewer line within the street. Inspectors may be either a designated person of the city public works department and/or superintendent.

“Natural outlet” means any outlet into a watercourse, pond, ditch, lake, and other body of surface or ground water.

“Person” means any individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation, or group.

“pH” means the logarithm of the reciprocal of the weight of hydrogen ions in grams per liter of solution.

“Properly shredded garbage” means the wastes from the preparation, cooking and dispensing of food that have been shredded to such a degree that all particles will be carried freely under the flow conditions normally prevailing in public sewers, with no particle greater than one-half inch (1.27 centimeters) in any dimension.

“Public sewer” means a sewer in which all owners of abutting properties have equal rights, and is controlled by public authority.

“Sanitary sewer” means a sewer which carries sewage and to which storm, surface, and ground waters are not intentionally admitted.

“Sewage” means a combination of the water-carried wastes from residences, business buildings, institutions, and industrial establishments, together with such ground, surface, and stormwaters as may be present.

“Sewage treatment plant” means any arrangement of devices and structures used for treating sewage.

“Sewage works” means all facilities for collecting, pumping, treating, and disposing of sewage.

“Sewer” means a pipe or conduit for carrying sewage.

“Shall” is mandatory; “may” is permissive.

“Slug” means any discharge of water, sewage, or industrial waste which in concentration of any given constituent or in quantity of flow exceeds for any period of duration longer than 15 minutes more than five times the average 24-hour concentration of flows during normal operation.

“Storm drain” (sometimes termed “storm sewer”) means a sewer which carries storm and surface waters and drainage, but excludes sewage and industrial wastes, other than unpolluted cooling water.

“Superintendent” means the superintendent of public works of the city, or his authorized deputy, agent, or representative.

“Suspended solids” means solids that either float on the surface of, or are in suspension in, water, sewage, or other liquids, and which are removable by laboratory filtering.

“Watercourse” means a channel in which a flow of water occurs, either continuously or intermittently. [Ord. 848 § 1(A), 2013; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.040 Use of public sewers required.

It shall be unlawful for any person to place, deposit, or permit to be deposited in any unsanitary manner on public or private property within the city, or in any area under the jurisdiction of the city, any human or animal excrement, garbage, or other objectionable waste. [Ord. 848 § 1(A), 2013; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.041 Unlawful discharges.

It shall be unlawful to discharge to any natural outlet within the city, or in any area under the jurisdiction of the city, any sewage or other polluted waters, except where the suitable treatment has been provided in accordance with subsequent provisions of this chapter. [Ord. 848 § 1(A), 2013; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.042 Unlawful sewage disposal systems.

Except as provided in this chapter, it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool, or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage. [Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.043 Installation and connection to public sewer.

The owner of any house, building, or property used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes, situated within the city and abutting on any street, alley, or right-of-way in which there is now located or may in the future be located a public sanitary sewer of the city, is required at his expense to install suitable toilet facilities therein, and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, within 90 days after date of official notice to do so; provided, that the public sewer is within 200 feet (61 meters) of the property line closest to the building to be served as measured to an existing sewer main; provided, that if the house or building is a single-family residence or duplex then if the public sewer is within 200 feet (61 meters) of the structure as measured to an existing sewer main. [Ord. 1027 § 1, 2022; Ord. 848 § 1(A), 2013; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.050 Private sewage disposal.

Where a public sanitary sewer is not available under the provisions of GFMC 13.02.043, the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this chapter. [Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.051 Private sewage disposal – Permit – Application.

Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the city clerk. The application for such permit shall be made on a form furnished by the city, which the applicant shall supplement by any plans, specifications, and other information as are deemed necessary by the inspector. A permit and inspection fee shall be paid to the city at the time the application is filed. Fees shall be established by resolution of the city council. [Ord. 802 § 1, 2010; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.052 Private sewage disposal – Permit – Inspection required.

A permit for a private sewage disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the inspector. He shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction and, in any event, the applicant for the permit shall notify the inspector when the work is ready for final inspection, and before any underground portions are covered. [Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.053 Private sewage disposal – Compliance.

The type, capacities, location, and layout of a private sewage disposal system shall comply with all recommendations of the Department of Social and Health Services of the state. No permit shall be issued for any private sewage disposal system employing subsurface soil absorption facilities where the area of the lot is less than 12,500 square feet. No septic tank or cesspool shall be permitted to discharge to any natural outlet. [Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.054 Private sewage disposal – Connection to public sewer required when.

At such time as a public sewer becomes available to a property served by a private sewage disposal system, as provided in GFMC 13.02.053, a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer in compliance with this chapter, and any septic tank, cesspool, and similar private sewage disposal facilities shall be abandoned and filled with suitable material at no expense to the city. [Ord. 848 § 1(A), 2013; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.055 Private sewage disposal – Sanitary operation required.

The owner shall operate and maintain the private sewage disposal facilities in a sanitary manner at all times, at no expense to the city. [Ord. 848 § 1(A), 2013; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.056 Private sewage disposal – Additional requirements.

No statement contained in this chapter shall be construed to interfere with any additional requirements that may be imposed by the Department of Social and Health Services of the state. [Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.057 Private sewage disposal – Building sewer connection.

When a public sewer becomes available, the building sewer shall be connected to the sewer within 90 days and the private sewage disposal system shall be cleaned of sludge and filled with clean bank-run gravel or dirt, at no expense to the city. [Ord. 848 § 1(A), 2013; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.060 Building sewers and connections.

No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter, or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the inspector or engineer. [Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.061 Building sewers – Permits – Application.

There shall be two classes of building sewer permits: (A) for residential and commercial service, and (B) for service to establishments producing industrial wastes. In either case, the owner or the owner’s agent shall make application on a special form furnished by the city. The permit application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications or other information considered pertinent in the judgment of the engineer and inspector. Permit and inspection fees shall be established by resolution of the city council. [Ord. 802 § 1, 2010; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.062 Building sewers – Costs and expense.

All costs and expense incident to the installation and connection of the building sewer 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 building sewer. [Ord. 848 § 1(A), 2013; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.063 Building sewers – Use of old sewers.

Old building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found, on examination and test by the inspector, to meet all requirements of this chapter. If old building sewers do not meet all requirements of this chapter, the owner of the old building sewer must bear all expenses for connection with new building as required by the inspector, at no expense to the city. [Ord. 848 § 1(A), 2013; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.064 Building sewers – Compliance with building and plumbing codes.

The size, slope, alignment, materials of construction of a building sewer, and the methods to be used in excavating, placing of the pipe, jointing, testing, and backfilling the trench, shall all conform to the requirements of the building and plumbing code or other applicable rules and regulations of the city. In the absence of code provisions or in amplification thereof, the materials and procedures set forth in appropriate specifications of the A.S.T.M. and W.P.C.F. Manual of Practice No. 9 and APWA Standard Specifications shall apply. [Ord. 848 § 1(A), 2013; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.065 Building sewers – Required elevation.

Whenever possible, the building sewer shall be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement floor. In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by such building drain shall be pumped by an approved means and discharged to the building sewer. [Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.066 Building sewers – Prohibited connections.

No person shall make connection of roof downspouts, exterior foundation drains, areaway drains, or other sources of surface runoff or ground water to a building sewer or building drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly to a public sanitary sewer. [Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.067 Building sewers – Connection to public sewer.

The connection of the building sewer into the public sewer shall conform to the requirements of the building and plumbing code or other applicable rules and regulations of the city or the procedures set forth in appropriate specifications of APWA Standard Specifications and the A.S.T.M. and the W.P.C.F Manual of Practice No. 9. All such connections shall be made gastight and watertight. Any deviation from the prescribed procedures and materials must be approved by the engineer and/or inspector before installation. [Ord. 848 § 1(A), 2013; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.068 Building sewers – Inspection notification.

The applicant for the building sewer permit shall notify the inspector when the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection to the public sewer. The connection to the public sanitary sewer shall be made under the supervision of the superintendent or his representative. [Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.069 Building sewers – Excavations during installation.

All excavations for building sewer installation shall be adequately guarded with barricades and lights so as to protect the public from hazard. Streets, sidewalks, parkways, and other public property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored in manner satisfactory to the city at no expense to the city. [Ord. 848 § 1(A), 2013; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.070 Use of the public sewers.

No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any stormwater, surface water, ground water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, uncontaminated cooling water, or unpolluted industrial process waters to any sanitary sewer. [Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.071 Stormwater and unpolluted drainage discharge.

Stormwater and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged to such sewers as are specifically designated as storm sewers, or to a natural outlet approved by the engineer. Industrial cooling water or unpolluted process waters may be discharged, on approval of the engineer and/or superintendent, to a storm sewer, or a natural outlet. [Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.072 Prohibited water and waste discharges.

No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following described waters or wastes to any public sewers:

(A) Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil, or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid, gas or petroleum products;

(B) Any waters or wastes containing toxic or poisonous solids, liquids, or gases in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other wastes to injure or interfere with any sewage treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, create a public nuisance, or create any hazard in the receiving waters of the sewage treatment plant, including but not limited to cyanides in excess of two mg/l as CN in the wastes as discharged to the public sewer;

(C) Any waters or wastes having a pH lower than 5.5, or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to pipe, structures, equipment, and personnel of the sewage works;

(D) Solid or viscous substances in quantities or of such size capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers, or other interference with the proper operation of the sewage works such as, but not limited to, ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, unground garbage, whole blood, paunch manure, hair and fleshings, entrails and paper dishes, cups, milk containers, etc., either whole or ground by garbage grinders. [Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.073 Prohibited substance discharges.

No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged the following described substances, materials, waters, or wastes if it appears likely in the opinion of the engineer that such wastes can harm either the sewers, sewage lift stations, sewage treatment process, or equipment, have an adverse effect on the receiving stream, or can otherwise endanger life, limb, or public property, or constitute a nuisance. In forming his opinion as to the acceptability of these wastes, the engineer and/or superintendent will give consideration to such factors as the quantities of subject wastes in relation to flows and velocities in the sewers, materials of construction of the sewers, solid sizes and flow as it affects lift stations, nature of the sewage treatment process, capacity of the sewage treatment plant, degree of treatability of wastes in the sewage treatment plant, and other pertinent factors. The substances prohibited are:

(A) Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius);

(B) Any water or waste containing fats, wax, grease or oils, whether emulsified or not, in excess of 100 ml/l or containing substances which may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between 32 degrees Fahrenheit and 150 degrees Fahrenheit (zero degrees and 65 degrees Celsius);

(C) Any garbage that has not been properly shredded. The installation and operation of any garbage grinder equipped with a motor of three-quarters horsepower (0.76 hp metric) or greater shall be subject to the review and approval of the inspector;

(D) Any waters or wastes containing strong acid iron pickling wastes, or concentrated plating solutions whether neutralized or not;

(E) Any waters or wastes containing iron, chromium, copper, zinc, and similar objectionable or toxic substances, or wastes exerting an excessive chlorine requirement, to such degree that any such material received in the composite sewage at the sewage treatment works exceeds the limits established by the engineer and/or superintendent for such materials;

(F) Any waters or wastes containing phenols or other taste-or-odor-producing substances, in such concentrations exceeding limits which may be established by the engineer as necessary, after treatment of the composite sewage, to meet the requirements of the state, federal, or other public agencies of jurisdiction for such discharge to the receiving waters;

(G) Any radioactive wastes or isotopes of such half-life or concentration as may exceed limits established by the engineer in compliance with applicable state or federal regulations;

(H) Any waters or wastes having a pH in excess of 9.5;

(I) Materials which exert or cause:

(1) Unusual concentrations of inert suspended solids, such as, but not limited to, Fuller’s earth, lime slurries, and lime residues or of dissolved solids such as, but not limited to, sodium chloride and sodium sulfate;

(2) Excessive discoloration, such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions;

(3) Unusual BOD, chemical oxygen demand, in excess of 300 mg/l, or chlorine requirements in such quantities as to constitute a significant load on the sewage treatment works;

(4) Unusual suspended solids in excess of 350 mg/l;

(5) Unusual volume of flow or concentration of wastes constituting “slugs” as defined in GFMC 13.02.010;

(J) Waters or wastes containing substances which are not amenable to treatment or reduction by the sewage treatment processes employed, or are amenable to treatment only to such degree that the sewage treatment plant effluent cannot meet the requirements of other agencies having jurisdiction over discharge to the receiving waters. [Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.074 Prohibited discharges – Pretreatment or rejection.

(A) If any waters or wastes are discharged or are proposed to be discharged to the public sewers, which waters contain the substances or possess the characteristics enumerated in GFMC 13.02.073 and which in the judgment of the engineer may have a deleterious effect upon the sewage works, processes, equipment, or receiving waters, or which otherwise create a hazard to life or constitute a public nuisance, the superintendent may:

(1) Reject the waters;

(2) Require pretreatment to an acceptable condition for discharge to the public sewers;

(3) Require control over the quantities and rates of discharge; and/or

(4) Require payment to cover the added cost of handling and treating the wastes not covered by existing taxes or sewer charges under the provisions of this chapter.

(B) If the engineer and/or superintendent permits the pretreatment or equalization of waste flows, the design and installation of the plants and equipment shall be subject to the review and approval of the superintendent, and subject to the requirements of all applicable codes, ordinances, and laws. [Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.075 Prohibited discharges – Grease, oil, and sand interceptors.

Grease, oil, and sand interceptors shall be provided when, in the opinion of the engineer and/or superintendent, they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing grease in excessive amounts, or any flammable wastes, sand, or other harmful ingredients; except that such interceptors shall not be required for private living quarters or dwelling units. All interceptors shall be of a type and capacity approved by the engineer and/or superintendent, and shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. [Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.076 Maintenance of preliminary treatment facilities.

Where preliminary treatment or flow-equalizing facilities are provided for any waters or wastes, they shall be maintained continuously in satisfactory and effective operation by the owner at his expense. [Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.077 Industrial wastes – Control manhole required when.

When required by the engineer and/or superintendent, the owner of any property serviced by a building sewer carrying industrial wastes shall install a suitable control manhole together with such necessary meters and other appurtenances in the building sewer to facilitate observation, sampling, and measurement of the wastes. Such manhole, when required, shall be accessibly and safely located, and shall be constructed in accordance with plans approved by the engineer. The manhole shall be installed by the owner at his expense, and shall be maintained by him so as to be safe and accessible at all times. [Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.078 Water and waste measurements, tests, and analyses.

All measurements, tests, and analyses of the characteristics of waters and wastes to which reference is made in this chapter shall be determined in accordance with the latest edition of “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater,” published by the American Public Health Association, and shall be determined at the control manhole provided, or upon suitable samples taken at the control manhole. In the event that no special manhole has been required, the control manhole shall be considered to be the nearest downstream manhole in the public sewer to the point at which the building sewer is connected. Sampling shall be carried out by customarily accepted methods to reflect the effect of constituents upon the sewage works and to determine the existence of hazards to life, limb and property. The particular analyses involved will determine whether a 24-hour composite of all outfalls of a premises is appropriate or whether a grab sample or samples should be taken. Normally, but not always, BOD and suspended solids analyses are obtained from 24-hour composites of all outfalls whereas pH is determined from periodic grab samples. The individual industries shall be responsible for the cost of testing either periodically and/or as requested by the city. [Ord. 848 § 1(A), 2013; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.079 Industrial wastes – Special agreement with city.

No statement contained in this chapter shall be construed as preventing any special agreement or arrangement between the city and any industrial concern whereby an industrial waste of unusual strength or character may be accepted by the city for treatment, subject to payment thereof, by the industrial concern. [Ord. 848 § 1(A), 2013; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.080 Protection from damage.

No unauthorized person shall maliciously, willfully, or negligently break, damage, destroy, uncover, deface, or tamper with any structure, appurtenance, or equipment which is a part of the sewage works. Any person violating this provision shall be subject to punishment by imprisonment for a term not to exceed six months, or by a fine not to exceed $500.00, or by both such fine and imprisonment; provided, that should such damage be in excess of $1,000, any person or persons may be charged with a felony and subject to the fines and imprisonments as provided by law. [Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.090 Powers and authority of inspectors.

The engineer, superintendent and/or inspector and other duly authorized employees of the city, upon proper showing of proper credentials and identification, shall be permitted to enter all properties for purposes of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, and testing in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The engineer, superintendent or inspector or their representatives shall have no authority to inquire into any processes including metallurgical, chemical, oil, refining, ceramic, paper, or other industries beyond that point having a direct bearing on the kind and source of discharge to the sewers or waterways of facilities for waste treatment. [Ord. 848 § 1(A), 2013; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.091 Observance of safety rules applicable to premises.

While performing the necessary work on private properties referred to in GFMC 13.02.090, the engineer, superintendent or inspector or duly authorized employees of the city shall observe all safety rules applicable to the premises established by the company and the company shall be held harmless for injury or death to the city employees and the city shall indemnify the company against loss or damage to its property by city employees and against liability claims and demands for personal injury or property damage asserted against the company and growing out of the gauging and sampling operation, except as such may be caused by negligence or failure of the company to maintain safe conditions as required by GFMC 13.02.077. [Ord. 848 § 1(A), 2013; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.092 Permission of city employees to inspect private properties.

The engineer, superintendent or inspector and other duly authorized employees of the city bearing proper credentials and identification shall be permitted to enter all private properties through which the city holds a duly negotiated easement for the purposes of, but not limited to, inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, repair, and maintenance of any portion of the sewage works lying within the easement. All entry and subsequent work, if any, on the easement, shall be done in full accordance with the terms of the duly negotiated easement pertaining to the private property involved. [Ord. 848 § 1(A), 2013; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.093 Penalties.

Any person found to be violating any provision of this chapter, except GFMC 13.02.080, shall be served by the city with a written notice stating the nature of the violation and providing a reasonable time limit for the satisfactory correction thereof. The offender shall, within the period of time stated in the notice, permanently cease all such violations.

All bills for sewage disposal service as set forth in this chapter shall become due and payable at the office of the city treasurer on or before the tenth day of each month and shall become delinquent thereafter. Any charge for sewage disposal service rendered but not paid for by the tenth day of each month as provided in this section shall immediately become a lien upon the property to which such sewer service is rendered without the necessity of any writing or recording; provided, however, that such lien is superior to all other liens upon the property or encumbrances, except those for general taxes and special assessments. Any charge for costs of maintenance and operation, connection to a sewer system and all other expenses necessary for the efficient and proper operation of the sewer system made by the city upon which a warrant may be issued that shall become delinquent, shall bear interest at the rate of eight percent per annum from the date of delinquency until paid, and shall immediately become a lien upon the property with which such connection is made, superior to all other liens or encumbrances except those for general taxes and special assessments. Such liens may be foreclosed by the city in the manner provided by law for the enforcement of the same and for delinquent sewage charges. As an additional and cumulative remedy for the method of enforcing the lien provided in this section, the city may cut off the water service from the premises to which such sewage disposal service was furnished, and such water service shall remain cut off until all such charges, including reconnection charges, plus penalties and interest thereon, shall have been paid; provided, however, that the city treasurer shall give notice to the customer in whose name the sewer services are in that if the delinquent amount is not paid, together with all sewer charges, plus reconnection charges plus penalties and interest thereon, within 10 days of the date of the mailing of such notice, the water will be turned off and shall remain turned off until all delinquent payments have been paid in full. The written notice shall be placed in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the customer at the address given at the time of subscription for sewer service; provided, that in the event the water service is disconnected, the customer shall pay a $50.00 reconnection charge for water service. If, upon the expiration of the 10 days from the date of mailing of a notice, the delinquent sewer rate, together with all charges with respect to the sewer service then due, has not been paid, the treasurer shall, immediately upon the expiration of the 10-day period, notify the water superintendent, either orally or in writing, for the water superintendent to immediately cause the water services to be shut off. The water service shall remain shut off until such time as all charges with respect to such water services shall have been paid, together with all reconnection fees, penalties and interest thereon. [Ord. 848 § 1(A), 2013; Ord. 334, 1982; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.094 Violation – Continuation – Penalty.

Any person who shall continue any violation beyond the time limit provided for in GFMC 13.02.093 shall be fined a minimum of $25.00 per day per violation up to a fine of $500.00 per day per violation. Each day in which any such violation shall continue shall be deemed a separate offense. [Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.095 Violation – Liability for expenses.

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall become liable to the city for any expense, loss, or damage occasioned the city by reason of such violation. [Ord. 848 § 1(A), 2013; Ord. 331, 1982.]

13.02.100 Rates and charges – Established.

(A) Monthly rates and charges will be assigned by resolution of the city council for sewage treatment and disposal service. Every person making use of the city of Granite Falls sewer system shall pay for the same based on a residential unit price established by resolution of the city council.

(B) The user charges shall be levied on all users of the public treatment works, which shall cover the cost of operation and maintenance, debt service, taxes and other administrative costs of such treatment works. The user charge system shall distribute these costs in proportion to each user’s contribution to that wastewater loading on the treatment works.

Class of User	Units
Single-family residence	1.0
Apartments	1.0
Mobile homes and trailers	1.0
Schools, each student and staff	0.025

For all nonresidential customers, except as specified above, the rate charge shall be based upon equivalent residential unit sizing. Using the American Water Works Association’s meter flow criteria, the following equivalent residential units (ERUs) are established for the indicated meter sizes. In no case shall the ERU for a nonresidential user be less than one. Irrigation and fire suppression meters shall not be considered in the calculation of sanitary sewer ERUs.

Meter Size (Inches)	ERUs
5/8 x 3/4	1
1	2.5
1-1/2	5
2	8
3	16
4	25
6	50
8	80

The city may adjust the number of ERUs in the calculation of rates or connection fees based upon estimated sanitary sewer flow or strength to ensure equitable and fair charges. In the event that a new connection is made to an existing building, a new connection charge shall be paid. Buildings or facilities already connected to the existing sewer system will be charged on a monthly basis, based upon their previously allotted units. The allotted number of units for these facilities will be reviewed and adjusted upon issuance of a building permit for a remodel, expansion, construction, reconstruction or any other type of facility alteration that requires a building permit.

(D) The sewer user charges established in this section shall, as a minimum, be reviewed annually and revised periodically to reflect actual costs of operation, maintenance, replacement, and financing of the treatment works and to maintain the equitability of the user charges with respect to proportional distribution of the costs of operation and maintenance in proportion to each user’s contribution to the total wastewater loading of the treatment works.

(E) When an additional unit is created in an existing building, residential or commercial, a hook-up fee and monthly charge will be assessed for each unit created with the exception of commercial tenant improvements as defined in GFMC 13.16.242(E).

(F) Multifamily residential shall be billed a residential unit fee per each residential unit.

(G) Commercial utility customers, including all community organizations, charged for sewer service shall be billed, in addition to their established equivalent residential units, an additional rate per 100 cubic feet, per each sewer unit charged, as established by resolution of the city council.

(H) School sewer units shall be determined on a per staff/student formula as established and shall be adjusted at the beginning of each school year. [Ord. 802 § 1, 2010; Ord. 699 §§ 2 – 8, 2004; Ord. 688 § 1, 2004; Ord. 616 §§ 2, 3, 1999; Ord. 587 §§ 2, 3, 1997; Ord. 509 §§ 2, 3, 1993; Ord. 475 § 2, 1992; Ord. 386, 1986; Ord. 368, 1985; Ord. 304, 1981; Ord. 303 § 2, 1981.]

13.02.101 Rates and charges – Billing.

All charges for sewer service shall be billed to the property owner, rather than the tenant, for collection. [Ord. 303 § 3, 1981.]

13.02.102 Rates and charges – Sewer connection charge – Collection – Credit.

(A) Unless credit is allowed under subsection (B) of this section, there shall be a sewer connection charge (general facility charge) collected, per unit, in an amount as established by resolution of the city council. Except as permitted in subsection (B) of this section, the sewer connection charge (general facility charge) shall be in the amount set and due at the time of payment. Unless deferred, payment may be made at either final short plat or subdivision approval or acceptance, or at the time of building permit issuance. Payment may be deferred for:

(1) A multifamily dwelling as defined in GFMC 19.02.130 to final inspection/occupancy permit if the conditions of deferral are satisfied; and

(2) A nonresidential use including commercial and industrial development as defined in both GFMC 19.02.030 and 19.02.090 to final inspection/occupancy permit if the conditions of deferral below are satisfied.

The conditions of deferral are (a) submittal of an application and payment of an administrative fee of $500.00, (b) timely payment of all impact fees under GFMC Title 21, and (c) completion of the multifamily dwelling with issuance of a final inspection/occupancy permit. If the conditions of deferral are not satisfied, payment shall be due in full on failure of the conditions. Homes and businesses transferring from a septic system to the city wastewater system must pay the sewer connection charge prior to connection to the city wastewater system. Unless prohibited by law, water service may be denied or disconnected if payment of a connection fee is not made as required by this subsection.

(B) A developer who has at the city’s request installed upsized or additional utility infrastructure, and has not entered into a utility reimbursement agreement that includes cost recovery for the upsized or additional value and has no other right of recovery for said upsized or additional value, may apply for a general facility charge credit. The value of the credit shall be determined by the city engineer and shall be based on (1) conformance of the work with the utility plan of the city and (2) be based on the increased installation cost of the utilities upsized or added over that required to serve the development. The credit shall be limited to the development that installed the upsized or additional infrastructure. The number of lots receiving a credit shall not exceed the number necessary for the product of:

General facility charge times # of lots = credit

The general facility charge used to calculate the number of lots receiving the credit shall be the general facility charge in place at the time of execution of the developer extension agreement.

The developer may vest to the general facility charge in place at the time of execution of the developer extension agreement for a period of time up to a maximum of 10 years (the “vesting period”) consistent with special benefit conferred. After this vesting period has expired, the general facility charge in place at that time of payment shall be paid in full.

In the event the entire credit is not offset by application against the number of lots in the development, there shall be no additional reimbursement to the developer.

(1) The city of Granite Falls adopts a new wastewater utility general facility charge as part of its fees. Such charge shall be periodically updated in accordance with the city’s fee resolution.

(2) An additional $3,000 general facility charge per each 5/8" x 3/4" meter, defined as one equivalent residential unit, shall be assessed for each connection outside the city limits that connects to the city’s wastewater collection system.

(3) All monies collected through a general facility charge, or as transferred as stated in subsection (C)(2) of this section, shall be deposited into the city’s sewer capital improvement fund. [Ord. 1042 § 1, 2023; Ord. 944 § 1, 2018; Ord. 930 §§ 1, 2, 4, 2017; Ord. 908 § 1, 2016; Ord 866 § 1, 2014; Ord. 802 § 1, 2010; Ord. 671 §§ 1 – 5, 2003; Ord. 610 §§ 1, 2, 1999; Ord. 503 §§ 1, 2, 1993; Ord. 389, 1986; Ord. 303 § 5, 1981.]

13.02.103 Low-income senior citizens or disabled persons discount.

For senior citizens with low income or for disabled persons hereinafter defined, the single-family residential unit charge shall be as established for water services at 30 percent less than the current water rates set forth in GFMC 13.02.100.

(A) The rate established for seniors is restricted to single-family residences primarily occupied by a senior citizen or senior citizens being 62 years of age or older and having an annual income below the annual total household income specified by the eligibility for low-income senior citizens and disabled table provided in the city of Granite Falls low-income seniors/disabled utility rate assistance program application. The qualified income levels identified in the eligibility for low income senior citizens and disabled table is based on the 2016 eligibility for low-income senior citizens and disabled table and will be adjusted on a biennial basis using the annual (April) Seattle-area CPI-U issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The discount rates provided for herein are available only upon application, which is required to be updated biennially by the customer. Discount rate is restricted to minimum residential meter size.

(B) To qualify as a disabled person, the disability is defined as the inability to do any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death, or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. To qualify for the disabled discount, said rate is restricted to single-family residences primarily occupied by a disabled person. The discount rates provided for herein are available only upon application, which is required to be updated biennially by the customer. [Ord. 950 § 1, 2018; Ord. 786 § 1, 2009.]

13.02.105 Wastewater utility local facility charge.

(A) The city of Granite Falls adopts a new wastewater utility local facility charge as part of its fees. Such charge shall be periodically updated in accordance with the city’s fee resolution.

(B) All monies collected through a wastewater local facility charge shall be deposited into the city’s sewer capital improvement fund. [Ord. 933 §§ 1, 3, 2017.]