Chapter 15.14
WATER SERVICE INSTALLATION AND FEES
Sections:
15.14.010 Required water extensions prior to connection.
15.14.020 Water capital facilities charges (WCFC).
15.14.030 Water meter installation charge.
15.14.040 Placement of water service lines.
15.14.050 Fees for special services rendered.
15.14.010 Required water extensions prior to connection.
Prior to the connection of any property to the city water system, the water system must be extended to the subject property’s furthest property line by way of right-of-way or easement. The domestic water extensions are subject to the following:
(1) Using the water comprehensive plan and sound engineering judgment, the city engineer shall determine the length and number of water main extensions for the particular property applying for connection.
(2) The water main must traverse along or through the subject property within a right-of-way or a recorded water easement to provide for future extension unless the city engineer determines such an extension is not necessary because the subject property is the last property to be served or that an extension would serve no other property.
(3) The city engineer may determine that a property be required to extend more than one water line along or through the subject property.
(4) If the property proposed for connection has a water main fronting the property and the water main extends to the furthest property line, and no other water main extensions are required either along another right-of-way frontage or through an easement, then the applicant may connect with a water service under the conditions of this title and under public works standards and specifications. (Ord. 3368 § 5 (part), 1993)
15.14.020 Water capital facilities charges (WCFC).
The water connection charge(s) must be paid prior to issuance of the permit and shall be determined as to each requested connection by the application of the criteria set forth below.
(1) For all water connections a base local water capital facilities charge (WCFC) will be assessed and will consist of the following:
(a) Each water connection will be assigned a “residential customer equivalent” (RCE) factor;
(b) The water connection RCE shall be determined based on the proposed water meter size;
(c) The water meter shall be sized in accordance with the Uniform Plumbing Code as amended and adopted by Chapter 21.24;
(d) A water connection’s RCE is based on the flow potential through its meter. A five-eighths-inch by three-fourths-inch meter is assigned a base factor of one;
(e) The base WCFC is multiplied by RCE factors based upon water meter sizes as follows:
|
Meter Size |
RCE |
|---|---|
|
5/8" x 3/4" |
1 |
|
1" |
2.5 |
|
1-1/2" |
5 |
|
2" |
8 |
|
3" |
16 |
|
4" |
25 |
|
6" |
50 |
|
8" |
80 |
(f) The fee schedule will be adjusted periodically, but not less often than every odd number year. The adjustment calculation shall use an industry-standard methodology.
Upon determining the adjusted WCFC, the director of public works shall file with the director of finance and administration three copies of the adjusted fee schedule along with the values the fee schedule is based on. The director of finance and administration shall file the schedules and values with the city clerk to be available for use by the general public and the affected city officials and departments. Current fees are published online: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Development-Services-Center/Tools-and-Resources/All-Forms-Publications-Fees.
(2) For all water connections a based regional capital facility charge (RCFC) will be assessed and will consist of the following:
(a) Each water connection will be assigned a “cascade equivalent residential unit” (CERU) factor based on the proposed meter size;
(b) The water meter shall be sized in accordance with the Uniform Plumbing Code as amended and adopted by Chapter 21.24;
(c) A water connection’s CERU factor is based on the flow potential through its meter. A five-eighths-inch by three-fourths-inch meter is assigned a base factor of one. The base RCFC is multiplied by CERU factors based upon water meter sizes as follows:
|
Meter Size |
CERU |
|---|---|
|
5/8" x 3/4" |
1 |
|
1" |
2.5 |
|
1-1/2" |
5 |
|
2" |
8 |
|
3" |
16 |
|
4" |
25 |
|
6" |
50 |
|
8" |
80 |
|
10" |
115 |
|
12" |
160 |
(d) The RCFC may be adjusted periodically pursuant to the terms of the interlocal agreement between the city and the Cascade Water Alliance;
(e) Upon receiving the adjusted RCFC, the director of public works shall file with the director of finance and administration three copies of the adjusted fee schedule. The director of finance and administration shall file the schedules with the city clerk to be available for use by the general public and the affected city officials and departments. Current fees are published online: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Development-Services-Center/Tools-and-Resources/All-Forms-Publications-Fees;
(f) Water connection charge(s) as provided for in this section may be waived with respect to the construction of any shelter or low-income housing project found by the city manager to serve low-income persons.
(3) The water connection charge required by subsections (1) and (2) of this section will be assessed against both domestic and irrigation water meter connections.
(4) When water meter size is increased solely to provide fire sprinkler protection, the water connection charge required by subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall be based on the size required by the Uniform Plumbing Code, as amended and adopted by Chapter 21.24. (Ord. 4808 § 4, 2022; Ord. 4617 § 2, 2017: Ord. 4458 § 1, 2014; Ord. 4416 § 53, 2013: Ord. 3870 § 5, 2002: Ord. 3720 § 2, 1999; Ord. 3573 § 67, 1997; Ord. 3527 § 1, 1996; Ord. 3368 § 5 (part), 1993)
15.14.030 Water meter installation charge.
(a) The meter installation charge shall be based upon the size of the meter required. Each meter fee shall include an administrative fee and is set forth in Section 5.74.040.
(b) It is generally the responsibility of the owner/contractor to perform the installation, abandonment, or upgrade of water services. In certain instances, the city water division may elect to perform this work. The fee for this is on a time and material basis, plus city overhead costs.
(c) Annual Adjustment in Meter Charge. Annually the director of public works shall adjust the meter charges in accordance with the following adjustment formula: the director shall determine for each meter size the average cost to the city for meter plus installation, using the actual cost of meter and installation for the immediate past thirty meter installations; provided, that he shall exclude from the calculation any meter installation occurring more than three years prior to the date of calculation, and any meter installation where the cost thereof was either fifty percent more than or fifty percent less than the calculated average cost. To the average cost shall be added an administration fee and the sum thereof shall be the adjusted water meter charge to be paid. (Ord. 4215 § 5, 2009: Ord. 3720 § 3, 1999; Ord. 3368 § 5 (part), 1993)
15.14.040 Placement of water service lines.
All water service lines shall be placed at least twenty-four inches below the surface of the ground. (Ord. 3368 § 5 (part), 1993)
15.14.050 Fees for special services rendered.
In addition to all other user rates and service connection fees required to be paid to the city, the following special service fees are established in Section 5.74.040 and shall be paid by the owner of the property served:
(1) Customer-Requested Service Shutoff. A water service shutoff or disconnect made at the request of the owner or occupant of the premises served.
(2) Water Service Shutoff or Turn-On for Unpaid User Bill. A water service shutoff or disconnect for nonpayment of delinquent water, sewer or refuse bill as authorized by Section 15.20.020, or for turning it on after payment of such delinquencies.
(3) Service Calls. When a service call is made at the request of the owner or occupant of the premises for assistance in shutting off the water line to help locate and/or repair a water line leak, no charge will be assessed if the broken water line was not caused by the owner or occupant of the premises. However, a charge shall be made if it is determined the water line leak was caused by the owner or occupant of the premises.
(4) Special Water Meter Reading. A reading of a customer’s water meter, at the request of the owner, title or escrow company, occurring on any day other than the day the city has established as the property’s regular scheduled water meter reading, forty dollars.
(5) Alternate Billing. When alternate billing is requested as authorized by Section 15.20.010.
(6) Cut Lock Fee. When the water meter is discovered unlocked after the meter has been turned off and locked for nonpayment of delinquent water, sewer or refuse bill as authorized by Section 15.20.020.
(7) Shutoff Tag. A customer receiving a shut-off tag notice as final notice before water is shut off for nonpayment.
(8) The foregoing fees when incurred shall be added to the next customer billing as provided in Section 15.20.050. (Ord. 4215 § 6, 2009: Ord. 4070 § 1, 2006: Ord. 3993 § 1, 2005: Ord. 3368 § 5 (part), 1993)