Chapter 13.04
WATER AND SEWER RATES AND CHARGES
Sections:
13.04.010 Water rate schedule.
13.04.060 Unauthorized turn-on and temporary disconnection.
13.04.085 Leakage—Procedure for adjusting water and sewer bills.
13.04.100 Rates and charges for sanitary sewage disposal.
13.04.105 Discharge of prohibited substances.
13.04.005 Definitions.
As used in this chapter and Chapter 13.06:
“Administrative unit” means the office or manager’s unit of a hotel, motel or RV park.
“Commercial waste matter” is defined as discharge from a commercial site or the aggregated discharge from multiunit or multisite industrial or recreational facilities.
“Commodity charge” is defined as a set charge for the amount of water used, measured in cubic feet.
“Grey water” means wastewater from a dwelling or commercial establishment that does not contain human or animal excreta, offal or food matter, and includes waste from sinks, washing machines and other plumbing fixtures, but not toilets, bidets and kitchen sinks. Grey water must be metered prior to commingling with other sanitary waste within the building or, alternatively, collected in a separate waste system within the building and metered prior to discharge to the city sanitary sewer or commingled with other sanitary waste from the building.
“Transient unit” means a hotel or motel room that is rented or occupied for overnight stays not otherwise defined as an administrative unit. (Ord. 809 § 2 (part), 2012; Ord. 806 § 1, 2012; Ord. 783 § 1, 2011; Ord. 782 § 1, 2011)
13.04.010 Water rate schedule.
A. The rates and charges for all water users shall be billed according to a schedule set forth by resolution of the Ilwaco city council and shall be reviewed annually and amended, as necessary. The monthly rates and charges for water service shall consist of a base rate and a commodity charge.
B. The base rate for all water users will be determined on the water meter size.
C. In addition to assessing the monthly base rate, an amount for the commodity charge shall be assessed each month based on water consumption. (Ord. 809 § 2 (part), 2012; Ord. 783 § 2, 2011; Ord. 774 § 1, 2010; Ord. 759 (part), 2009; Ord. 746 (part), 2008; Ord. 737, 2007: Ord. 727, 2006: Ord. 709, 2005: Ord. 647 § 1, 2000: Ord. 635 § 1, 1999: Ord. 581 § 1, 1994)
13.04.020 Connection charges.
A. In addition to the foregoing rates and charges, the city shall charge for each building or service connection to the water system a connection charge set forth by resolution of the Ilwaco city council. Payment is due at the time of application for service, or not later than the time of building permit application. The city will bill the customer for the actual labor and materials of the service connection.
Monthly charges will be due and payable upon installation of the meter service to the city’s water system.
The account will become delinquent thirty (30) days after the billing date. See Section 13.06.020 for city action on delinquent accounts.
B. The connection charge will be determined by multiplying the total number of equivalent water meter factors for the water service to be installed by the connection charge set forth by resolution of the Ilwaco city council. Equivalent water meter factors for determining the proportional equivalent of various sizes of water meters to a three-fourths (3/4) inch diameter service line with five-eighths (5/8) inch meter shall be in accordance with the following AWWA capacity rating factor:
|
Meter Size (Inches) |
Equivalent Water Meter Factor |
|---|---|
|
5/8 to 3/4 |
1.00 |
|
1 |
1.67 |
|
1-1/2 |
3.33 |
|
2 |
5.33 |
|
3 |
10.00 |
|
4 |
16.66 |
|
6 |
33.33 |
|
8 |
53.33 |
C. All water meter connections for fire sprinkler installation shall be at the rate set forth by resolution of the Ilwaco city council, and shall be charged a flat monthly fee set forth by same resolution. Any usage on this meter for fire service, testing, or vandalism will be billed the current per cubic foot rate. Water usage from this meter will be for fire purposes only. All other usage will be deemed as a theft of service punishable by law. The city reserves the right to inspect the meter at any time.
D. All customers outside the corporate limits of the city of Ilwaco shall pay a surcharge of fifty percent (50%) of the amount computed as provided. (Ord. 809 § 2 (part), 2012; Ord. 779 § 1, 2010; Ord. 696 § 1, 2004: Ord. 654 § 1, 2001; Ord. 585 (part), 1996; Ord. 581 § 2, 1994)
13.04.030 Access to premises.
Certain buildings in the city have back flow preventative devices and/or grease traps. Agents of the city shall have the right, with prior notice to the owner or occupant of such building, to inspect such devices during regular business hours. Refusal to permit such inspections and/or failure to take necessary corrective measures after such inspection shall result in termination of water/sewer service to such premises. (Ord. 581 § 3, 1994)
13.04.060 Unauthorized turn-on and temporary disconnection.
If the meter has been turned off or removed, due to failure to pay a delinquent bill, and the water is turned on or reconnected without a meter by any person except an authorized representative of the city, an additional two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) per violation nor to exceed a fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) per day that violations occur will be added to the reconnect charge. All proceedings for the civil violation will be in accordance with Section 1.20.020. The owner must request a hearing with the council after notice of meter removal action and such removal shall be stayed until the hearing. The request must be in writing addressed to the mayor. (Ord. 809 § 2 (part), 2012; Ord. 759 (part), 2009; Ord. 581 § 6, 1994)
13.04.070 Repairs.
The city may, upon emergency conditions arising, such as freezing conditions, shut the water off without notice to the owner when damage will occur to the buildings or to the city’s water system unless such turn-off is done. The city shall notify the owner as soon as it is practical of the turn-off. The city is not liable for any damages for such emergency closure. (Ord. 581 § 7, 1994)
13.04.080 Leakage.
Customers will keep all pipes and fixtures of the customer line in repair at their own expense and will be held liable for any leakage and all damages which may result from their failure to do so. When leaks are detected the customer will be notified and if the necessary repairs are not made in a reasonable time the water may be shut off and not turned on until repairs are made. (Ord. 581 § 8, 1994)
13.04.085 Leakage—Procedure for adjusting water and sewer bills.
A. Leak Adjustments.
1. In the event a leak or failure of a private water system or private service between the meter and the structure located on private property results in excess consumption, the city may, through a determination of the city administration, provide for a billing adjustment to credit that portion of the overcharge in excess of three hundred percent (300%) of the average charge, calculated as a result of the leak.
2. Leaks due to failure of internal plumbing are not generally covered by the provisions of this section. This includes leaking faucets, leaking toilets, leaking appliances, etc. However, leaks due to failure of internal plumbing that do not contribute to the sewer system may be excluded from the sewer average per subsection A4 of this section.
3. The resulting bill shall be computed using the volume consumed in a billing period when there is a leak that yields a charge that is in excess of three hundred percent (300%) of the average charge for water during the same billing period up to the prior three (3) years on that same meter. If for any reason there is not history of three (3) years, then the entire water consumption history of less than three (3) years shall be used and may adjust the average under unusual circumstances.
4. For residential accounts, if a water leak occurred during the months of April, May, October or November of the previous year, the month in which the leak occurred shall be excluded from the sewer averaging for the current year. For commercial accounts, if a water leak occurs, the water consumption for the previous two (2) months will be averaged and applied to the sewer commodity rate for the month in which the water leak occurred.
B. Billing Periods Covered. In the event a leak goes undetected or initial repairs are not successful and the leak extends into multiple billing periods, an adjustment can be made on up to two (2) consecutive billing periods that are impacted by the leak.
C. Time for Application. Application for a leak adjustment must be made within thirty (30) days from the postmark on the last bill consistent with the provisions of subsection B of this section. However, if an unreported residential water leak occurred in the previous year, an applicant may request an adjustment to their sewer average before April 1st of the current year.
D. Failure to Respond to Evidence of a Leak. If, at any time, the city notifies the owner of a possible leak, or if the owner knows of a leak, and if the owner or account holder fails to react in fifteen (15) days, or other reasonable time as determined solely by the city, the city may determine that some part or all of the leak adjustment per subsection A of this section may be disallowed.
E. City Form Required. Application for a leak adjustment must be made on a form approved by the city and directed to the city administration.
F. Frequency of Leak Adjustments. No more than one (1) application for credit may be considered by the city per water meter in any thirty-six (36) month period, unless consolidating applications for two (2) consecutive billing periods per subsection B of this section. (Ord. 814 § 1, 2013; Ord. 806 § 2, 2012; Ord. 771 §§ 1—5, 2010)
13.04.090 Water shortage.
If a shortage of water exists, the city may restrict the use of water as determined by the city. (Ord. 581 § 9, 1994)
13.04.100 Rates and charges for sanitary sewage disposal.
A. The rates and charges for sanitary sewage disposal shall be billed according to a schedule set forth by resolution of the Ilwaco city council and shall be reviewed annually and amended, as necessary. The monthly rates and charges for sanitary sewage disposal shall consist of a base rate and a commodity charge.
B. The base rate for commercial accounts will be determined on the water meter size. All residential accounts will be billed for a five-eighths (5/8) inch meter size.
C. In addition to assessing the monthly base rate, an amount for the commodity charge must be assessed each month. On a semiannual basis, each residence shall have four (4) months’ worth of water consumption, as specified by resolution of the Ilwaco city council, averaged to determine the amount of sanitary sewer usage that will be charged for each month of the ensuing six (6) months. If there is no history of usage or usage has changed for the property or the customer, the commodity charge will be based on actual usage until sufficient history has been obtained to average the four (4) months of usage. For commercial accounts, monthly metered water shall determine the amount of commodity charge assessed for sanitary sewer for that month.
D. In the event that a commercial account uses a substantial amount of water that is not discharged into the sanitary sewer collection system, the entity, at their own expense, may apply to install a sewage flow meter that is deemed compatible with the city’s system to directly monitor the amount discharged to the sanitary sewer system. Approved sewage flow meters will be read by the city and billed accordingly using the sewage flow meter consumption charge established by resolution of the Ilwaco city council. Alternatively, the entity may apply to the city to be charged based on number of employees as reported to a reliable source or some other reasonable factor. The application will be reviewed and approved or disapproved by the mayor or mayor’s designee. Commodity charges will be assessed at the rate of ten (10) gallons per employee per day in the event the city agrees to that method of computing the charge.
E. If a commercial account produces a substantial amount of grey water that is discharged into the sanitary sewer collection system, the entity may apply to the city to have the grey water commodity rate applied to their account. The application will be reviewed and approved or disapproved by the mayor or mayor’s designee. (Ord. 923 § 1, 2021; Ord. 817 § 1, 2013; Ord. 806 § 3, 2012; Ord. 782 § 2, 2011; Ord. 775 § 1, 2010; Ord. 760 (part), 2009; Ord. 747 (part), 2008; Ord. 738, 2007: Ord. 728, 2006: Ord. 715 (part), 2006; Ord. 711, 2005: Ord. 704, 2005; Ord. 648 § 1, 2001: Ord. 636 § 1, 1999: Ord. 612 § 1, 1998: Ord. 582 § 1, 1994)
13.04.105 Discharge of prohibited substances.
A. It is unlawful to cause to be discharged any of the following described waters or wastes in any public sewer, drain, ditch or outlet:
1. Any liquid or vapor having a temperature of higher than one hundred fifty (150) degrees Fahrenheit;
2. Any water or waste containing more than one hundred (100) mg/l by weight of fat, oil, or grease;
3. Any flammable or explosive liquid, solid, or gas;
4. Any garbage that has not been properly shredded;
5. Any ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, hair shavings, metal, glass, rags, tar, plastics, wood or any other solid or viscous substance capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers or otherwise interferes with proper operation of sewage treatment plant;
6. Any waters or wastes having a pH lower than 5.5 or higher than 8.5 or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment, or personnel of the sewage treatment plant;
7. Any waters or wastes containing a toxic or poisonous substance in sufficient quantity to interfere with any sewage treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans, animals, fish or fowl, or create any hazard in the receiving waters of the sewage treatment plant;
8. Any waters or wastes containing total suspended solids (TSS) or comprised of biological oxygen demand (BOD) of such character and quantity that unusual attention or expense is required to handle such materials at the sewage treatment plant or with concentrations above two hundred fifty (250) mg/liter;
9. Any noxious or malodorous gas or substance capable of creating public nuisance;
10. Transient loading or spike loading, known as slug loading, that is of such character and quantity that unusual attention or added marginal expense is required to handle such loading or of such concentration that it exceeds levels for biological oxygen demand (BOD) or total suspended solids (TSS) of five hundred (500) mg/liter.
B. Pretreatment Interceptors Required (Known as Grease Traps). Interceptors shall be installed for every commercial and institutional establishment processing and/or serving food and when in the opinion of the director of public works they are necessary for the proper handling of wastes containing grease, oil and/or sand in excessive amounts, and any flammable or solid wastes that are harmful to the sewage system. All interceptors shall be of a type and capacity approved by the director of public works, and shall be located so as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. Grease and oil interceptors shall be constructed of impervious materials capable of withstanding abrupt and extreme changes in temperature. They shall be of substantial construction, and equipped with easily removable covers which, when bolted in place, shall be gastight and watertight.
C. Maintenance of Interceptors (Known as Grease Traps). Where installed, all grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be maintained by the owner, at his or her expense, in continuously efficient operation at all times and opened for inspection at any time necessary in the opinion of the director of public works.
D. Determination and Provisions for Commercial Waste Matter.
1. Before any matter of any nature may be discharged into the sewer system, which discharge might reasonably be considered a violation of this title or having an impact on wastewater operations, capacity or costs, the controlling characteristic of such matter shall be determined to the satisfaction of the city. Such determination by the city may be done by direct measurement or by application of commercial loading estimates derived through commonly accepted methods.
2. Upon the city’s determination that discharge is of such character that special provisions are necessary, the city may (1) prohibit the discharge, (2) require pretreatment by the discharger or (3) at the city’s sole discretion, issue a discharge permit subject to costs and fees established by city council resolution.
3. The responsibility of initiating such a determination, the costs involved, and of submitting the results of said determination, fee approval, lie solely with the party or parties desiring to discharge the matter into the sewer system. Should the city discover discharges of concern and deem necessary, the city may initiate such a determination at the cost of the discharger. Methods used by the city may include direct measurement or application of commercial loading estimates derived through commonly accepted methods. Verification of results shall be the responsibility of the city. It is the city’s sole decision whether or not a permit shall be issued.
4. The fact that any matter has been discharged into the sewer system prior to the passage of the ordinance codified in this section or subsequent thereto, without objection, does not constitute a future right to so discharge such matter without application of the provisions of this chapter.
E. Demolished or Removed Buildings. The concerned property owner or his or her contractor engaged in demolishing or removing any structure connected to the public sewer shall notify the city of such work and shall expose and plug the side sewer connection of such structure at the property line in accordance with the requirements of the city and this chapter. A city inspector must observe such plugging.
F. Penalties. Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be guilty of an infraction. Each violation will be punished by a fine not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) per violation nor to exceed a fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) per day that violations occur. All proceedings for the civil violation will be in accordance with Section 1.20.020 of this code. (Ord. 782 § 3, 2011; Ord. 718 (part), 2006)
13.04.110 Connection charges.
A. In addition to the foregoing rates and charges, the city shall charge for each connection to the sanitary sewer system a connection charge set forth by resolution of the Ilwaco city council. The factors for determining the proportional equivalent of various buildings or service connections shall be in accordance with the following chart, based on the Department of Ecology criteria for sewage works design, 85.1.
|
1. |
Single-family residential |
1.0 |
|
2. |
Multifamily residential per unit |
1.0 |
|
3. |
Hotels, motels and bed and breakfast: |
|
|
a. |
Administration unit |
1.0 |
|
b. |
Each unit as a transient unit |
0.5 |
|
4. |
Trailer/RV parks: |
|
|
a. |
Administrative unit |
1.0 |
|
b. |
Each additional space |
1.0 |
|
5. |
Mobile/manufactured home park: |
|
|
a. |
Administrative unit |
1.0 |
|
b. |
Each mobile home space |
1.0 |
|
6. |
Connected moorages within the port of Ilwaco |
0.0 |
B. Commercial Connection Charges.
1. Discharge flow from a commercial site or the aggregated discharge flow from multiunit or multisite industrial or recreational facilities, if not covered in the table of equivalent residential unit factors in subsection A of this section, shall be established by the city not less frequently than once every five (5) years. The determination of flow may be made by an estimate based on wastewater contribution due to metered water consumption, by equivalent residential unit factors table above, or by direct measurement at the sole discretion of the city. If used, metered water or direct wastewater flow measurements may be averaged over the peak three (3) months during a calendar year if the flow load varies by more than one (1) equivalent residential unit throughout the year.
2. Should the city determine that the number of equivalent residential unit factors has increased beyond what has been allowed, permitted or contracted for, if not covered by the rates and charges for each class of sanitary sewage disposal set forth by resolution of the Ilwaco city council, the city shall charge for each added whole equivalent residential unit in accordance with the connection permit fee established by the city council. Fractional units are not counted in computing the connection permit fee.
3. At the discretion of the city council, after a public hearing, any proposed commercial development that is of exceptional benefit to the city may have its sewer connection fee modified.
C. Buildings or facilities already connected to the existing sewer system will not be charged any additional sewer connection charges, since they have contributed to the construction of the existing lines serving their property. In the event that a new connection is made to an existing service, a new connection charge will have to be paid. If the property owners move or repair their service line, they shall have the city inspect the changes and pay a fifty-dollar ($50.00) inspection fee; any damages to the street must be repaired by the property owner.
D. If the number of connections to an existing service is increased, a connection charge for the additional connections, based on the chart in this section, must be paid.
E. Payment is due at the time of application for service or no later than at the time of building permit application.
F. Monthly sewer service charges will commence upon installation of the meter service to the city’s water system.
G. All customers outside the corporate limits of the city of Ilwaco shall pay a surcharge of fifty percent (50%) of the amount computed as provided. (Ord. 809 § 2 (part), 2012; Ord. 782 § 4, 2011; Ord. 779 § 2, 2010; Ord. 715 (part), 2006; Ord. 703, 2005; Ord. 697 § 1, 2004: Ord. 612 § 2, 1998: Ord. 586 (part), 1996; Ord. 582 § 2, 1994)
13.04.130 Access to premises.
Certain buildings in the city have back flow preventative devise and/or grease traps. Agents of the city shall have the right, with prior notice to the owner or occupant of such building, to inspect such devices during regular business hours. Refusal to permit such inspections and/or failure to take necessary corrective measures after such inspection shall result in termination of water/sewer service to such premises. (Ord. 612 § 4, 1998: Ord. 582 § 4, 1994)