Division VI. Reclaimed Water
Chapter 13.112
RECLAIMED WATER
Sections:
13.112.030 Cross-connection control and use area requirements.
13.112.070 Unauthorized work on reclaimed water system.
13.112.090 Administration authority.
13.112.010 Reuse policy.
It is the policy of the city that reclaimed water shall be used within its jurisdiction wherever feasible, and consistent with legal requirements, preservation of the public health, safety, and welfare, and the environment. (Ord. 2020-013 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2002-021 § 1; Ord. 2000-017; Ord. 99-019)
13.112.020 Definitions.
“Beneficial use” means the use of reclaimed water, which has been transported from the point of production to the point of use without an intervening discharge to waters of the state, for a beneficial purpose.
“Landscape impoundment” means a body of reclaimed water which is used for aesthetic enjoyment or which otherwise serves a function not intended to include public contact. Examples may include, but are not limited to, golf course water ponds/hazards, landscape ponds and vegetative landscape ponds, e.g., lily ponds.
“Potable water” means water which conforms to the federal, state, and local standards for human consumption.
“Reclaimed water,” for the purposes of this chapter, means reclaimed water that, at a minimum, is at all times an oxidized, coagulated, filtered, disinfected wastewater. The wastewater shall be considered adequately disinfected if the median number of total coliform organisms in the wastewater after disinfection does not exceed 2.2 per 100 milliliters, as determined from the bacteriological results of the last seven days for which analyses have been completed, and the number of total coliform organisms does not exceed 23 per 100 milliliters in any sample. Reclaimed water meeting or exceeding these criteria is classified by the state of Washington as Class A reclaimed water.
“Reclamation plant” means an arrangement of devices, structures, equipment, processes, and controls which produce reclaimed water suitable for the intended reuse.
“Reuse” means the use of reclaimed water, in compliance with the Washington Departments of Health and Ecology regulations and the Water Reclamation and Reuse Standards, for a direct beneficial use.
“Sewage” means water-carried human wastes from residences, buildings, industrial and commercial establishments, or other places, together with such ground water infiltration, surface waters, or industrial wastewater as may be present.
“Streamflow augmentation” means the discharge of reclaimed water to rivers and streams of the state or other surface water bodies, but not wetlands.
“Use area” means any facility, building, or area approved for reuse and permitted by the Washington Departments of Health and Ecology. (Ord. 2020-013 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2002-021 § 1; Ord. 2000-017; Ord. 99-019)
13.112.030 Cross-connection control and use area requirements.
A. Prior to connecting a use to the reclaimed water system, the public potable water supply shall be protected by installation of an approved backflow prevention assembly in accordance with the Water Reclamation and Reuse Standards published jointly by the Washington State Departments of Health and Ecology (1997), or subsequent revisions.
B. The reclaimed water distribution system shall include special considerations to avoid cross-connections with the potable water system, in accordance with the Water Reclamation and Reuse Standards published jointly by the Washington State Departments of Health and Ecology (1997), or subsequent revisions. The following features shall be included in reclaimed water systems to protect the public health:
1. Reclaimed water distribution systems shall be constructed with purple pipe (Pantone 522 or other shades of purple acceptable to review agencies) and embossed or integrally stamped or marked “CAUTION: RECLAIMED WATER – DO NOT DRINK” or be installed with a purple (Pantone 512 or other shades of purple acceptable to review agencies) identification tape or polyethylene vinyl wrap. The warning shall be stamped on opposite sides of the pipe and repeated every three feet or less.
2. Square valve box covers painted purple (Pantone 522 or other shades of purple acceptable to review agencies) to distinguish from potable water system valve boxes.
3. Purple strip on street curb to identify reclaimed water customer.
4. Reclaimed water meters color-coded with tape to distinguish from potable water meters (where applicable). Meters, covers and meter box covers should be cast to indicate reclaimed water. (Ord. 2022-018 § 1 (Exh. C); Ord. 2020-013 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2002-021 § 1; Ord. 2000-017; Ord. 99-019)
13.112.040 Allowable uses.
The city shall encourage and allow uses of its reclaimed water for applications that produce benefit to the city and further its adopted goals for the system. As such, all allowable uses identified in accordance with the Water Reclamation and Reuse Standards published jointly by the Washington State Departments of Health and Ecology (1997), or subsequent revisions, shall be considered for application of the city’s reclamation water. (Ord. 2020-013 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2002-021 § 1; Ord. 2000-017; Ord. 99-019)
13.112.050 Connection policy.
A. Within all new development areas, a reclaimed water system shall be encouraged to satisfy current planning and use of reclaimed water as established by the reclaimed water master plan, or subsequent revisions. Costs for the installation of a nonpotable water distribution system shall be borne by the owner/developer.
B. Within areas already developed, owners/ developers who wish to utilize reclaimed water may request to be allowed to install distribution lines to their property. All costs for the installation of such nonpotable water distribution system shall be borne by the owner/developer. (Ord. 2020-013 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2002-021 § 1; Ord. 2000-017; Ord. 99-019)
13.112.060 Rates.
A. Reuse Water Rates and Charges (No Free Service). The city will not furnish any service of the system to any customer whatsoever free of charge.
B. All Classifications.
1. All classifications are set by meter size.
2. The water service base charge for each service is set forth in Chapter 3.68 SMC (Rates and Fees).
3. The reuse water service consumption charge for each service per month is set forth in Chapter 3.68 SMC (Rates and Fees).
C. Reuse Water Rural Rates. Minimum rates for reuse water service to customers located outside the current city limits will be one and one-half times higher than the specified class base rate and the usage fee charged per unit inside the corporate limits of the city, or one and one-half times the total bill as computed by the in-city rate.
D. Normal Billing Period. The normal billing period for customers will be a two-month cycle and will be that period falling between two consecutive water meter read dates. However, the city may elect to change to a monthly utility billing cycle for accounts when feasible. During change of ownership, utility charges for periods of less than two months will be prorated.
E. Effective Date. The ordinance codified in this chapter was effective after its approval, passage, and publication as required by law for services rendered on or after November 1, 2002. (Ord. 2021-028 § 1(c) (Exh. C); Ord. 2020-013 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2002-021 § 1; Ord. 2000-017; Ord. 99-019)
13.112.070 Unauthorized work on reclaimed water system.
A. No person, unless expressly authorized by the city manager or his/her designee, shall tamper with, work on, or in any way alter or damage any city reclaimed water facility. “Tampering with” or “working on” shall include, but not be limited to, opening or closing of valves, or causing any reclaimed water to flow from the system. No unauthorized person shall cut into or make any connection with the system. The offending person shall be liable for the cost of all charges attributable to the correction of such tampering, including legal expenses, but payment of or correcting such damage shall not relieve the offending person from civil or criminal penalties the city or a court of law may impose for a violation of a city ordinance.
B. The service valve located between the customer’s reclaimed water system and the city’s distribution system may be operated by the customer when his private cut-off valve, required on the customer’s premises, requires repair. (Ord. 2020-013 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2002-021 § 1; Ord. 2000-017; Ord. 99-019)
13.112.080 Inspection.
A. To ensure that the provisions of city ordinances, regulations, and procedures are being observed, the city reserves the right and privilege of inspecting, removing, and/or securing any or all devices installed by the customer which connect to or control the reclaimed water.
1. Inspections without cause to believe that an ordinance or regulation is being violated shall be at reasonable times and shall not exceed a reasonable frequency.
2. Inspections where there is reasonable cause to believe that an ordinance or regulation is being violated shall be at such times and shall occur with such frequency as is necessary to establish that an ordinance is or is not being violated.
B. Each customer of reclaimed water shall give prior written consent to entry upon his premises for the purposes of inspecting the reclaimed water system, and thereby waives any other written notice for such inspection. Failure of the city to obtain such a written waiver shall not affect the right of the city to proceed pursuant to this chapter.
C. Refusing to permit an authorized city agent or employee to enter onto the premises for the purposes of inspecting the customer’s reclaimed water system pursuant to this section shall constitute a violation of this section and shall be grounds for immediate discontinuance of reclaimed water service by the city to the subject premises. (Ord. 2020-013 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2002-021 § 1; Ord. 2000-017; Ord. 99-019)
13.112.090 Administration authority.
The city exercising authority through the city manager or his/her designee shall have authority under this chapter to adopt procedures and make interpretations necessary for the efficient and equitable administration of this chapter. (Ord. 2020-013 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2002-021 § 1; Ord. 2000-017; Ord. 99-019)
13.112.100 Penalty.
Violation of any provision of this chapter is subject to the penalties and provisions as set forth in Chapter 1.13 SMC, Code Enforcement. (Ord. 2020-013 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2019-013 (Exh. B); Ord. 2002-021 § 1; Ord. 2000-017; Ord. 99-019)
13.112.110 Ownership.
All constructed reclaimed water facilities and appurtenances, other than indoor plumbing and irrigation systems, shall be approved by the city, and shall become and remain the property of the city. No person shall by payment of any charges provided herein, or by causing any construction of the facilities accepted by the city, acquire any interest or right in any of these facilities, or any portion thereof, other than the privilege of having their property connected thereto for reclaimed water services in accordance with this chapter. (Ord. 2020-013 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2002-021 § 1; Ord. 2000-017; Ord. 99-019)