Chapter 13.12 WATER SERVICE REGULATIONS AND RATES

A. Each ratepayer shall pay for water service based on the applicable meter size. Rates for water service shall consist of a monthly base service charge based on rate classification, plus a volume charge also based on rate class.

B. Residential. This customer class includes each separately metered single-family residence, trailer or mobile home in a trailer court or mobile home park, and each separately metered residential unit in a townhome or duplex.

1. The base (minimum) service, according to meter size and location within or without the corporate limits of the city, for all residential water classifications, other than Class A reclaimed water, shall be as follows:

Base charge (Meter Size)	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
3/4"	$34.36	$35.63	$36.95	$39.17	$39.74	$41.21
1"	$43.14	$44.74	$46.40	$49.18	$49.90	$51.75
1-1/2"	$71.50	$74.15	$76.89	$81.50	$82.68	$85.74
2"	$119.30	$123.71	$128.29	$135.99	$137.96	$143.06
3"	$179.13	$185.76	$192.63	$204.19	$207.15	$214.81
4"	$238.81	$247.65	$256.81	$272.22	$276.16	$286.38
6"	$357.98	$371.23	$384.97	$408.07	$413.98	$429.30
8"	$477.35	$495.01	$513.33	$544.13	$552.02	$572.44

2. The following residential volume consumption rates are imposed for each 100 cubic feet (cf) of usage for all water other than Class A reclaimed water according to location within or outside the corporate limits of the city:

Consumption Rate (per 100 cubic feet)	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
0 – 300 cf	$2.26	$2.34	$2.43	$2.58	$2.61	$2.71
301 – 800 cf	$3.80	$3.94	$4.09	$4.34	$4.40	$4.56
Over 801 cf	$4.75	$4.93	$5.11	$5.42	$5.50	$5.70

3. Rates for outside city residential customers shall be one and one-half times the inside the city rates for the base charge and the consumption rates.

C. Multifamily. This customer class includes apartment, condominium, multiplex, and duplex structures that are served by a single master water meter rather than individual unit meters.

1. The base (minimum) service for each multifamily unit connected to the single master water meter other than Class A reclaimed water shall be as follows:

Base Charge	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
Per unit	$30.16	$29.80	$29.42	$31.19	$28.62	$28.18

2. The following multifamily volume consumption rates are imposed for each 100 cubic feet (cf) of usage for all water other than Class A reclaimed water according to location within or outside the corporate limits of the city:

Volume Rate	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
Per 100 cf	$2.70	$2.67	$2.64	$2.80	$2.56	$2.52

3. Rates for outside city multifamily customers shall be one and one-half times the inside the city rates for the base charge and the consumption rates.

D. Commercial. This customer class includes without limitation hotels, schools, hospitals, churches, lodges, intermittently used buildings, government uses, and commercial or industrial uses.

1. The base (minimum) service, according to meter size and location within or outside the corporate limits of the city, for all commercial water classifications other than Class A reclaimed water, shall be as follows:

Meter Size	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
3/4"	$41.56	$43.66	$45.80	$48.55	$50.16	$52.38
1"	$52.17	$54.81	$57.49	$60.94	$62.96	$65.74
1-1/2"	$86.46	$90.84	$95.28	$101.00	$104.35	$108.96
2"	$144.25	$151.56	$158.97	$168.51	$174.10	$181.80
3"	$216.59	$227.55	$238.68	$253.00	$261.40	$272.96
4"	$288.76	$303.38	$318.22	$337.31	$348.51	$363.92
6"	$432.86	$454.76	$477.01	$505.63	$522.42	$545.52
8"	$577.18	$606.40	$636.06	$674.22	$696.60	$727.41

2. The following commercial volume rates are imposed for each 100 cubic feet of usage for all water other than Class A reclaimed water according to location within or without the corporate limits of the city:

Volume charge	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
Per 100 cf	$3.49	$3.67	$3.85	$4.08	$4.21	$4.40

3. Rates for outside city commercial customers shall be one and one-half times the inside the city rates for the base charge and the consumption rates.

E. Potable Irrigation. This customer class includes without limitation all customers listed under subsections B, C, and D of this section that receive irrigation water from the city’s potable water distribution system.

1. The base (minimum) service, according to meter size and location within or outside the corporate limits of the city, for all potable irrigation water classifications other than Class A reclaimed water shall be as follows:

Meter Size	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
3/4"	$41.56	$44.68	$48.03	$51.63	$55.50	$59.66
1"	$52.17	$56.08	$60.29	$64.81	$69.67	$74.90
1-1/2"	$86.46	$92.94	$99.91	$107.40	$115.46	$124.12
2"	$144.26	$155.08	$166.71	$179.21	$192.65	$207.10
3"	$216.59	$232.83	$250.29	$269.06	$289.24	$310.93
4"	$288.76	$310.42	$333.70	$358.73	$385.63	$414.55
6"	$432.85	$465.31	$500.21	$537.73	$578.06	$621.41
8"	$577.18	$620.47	$667.01	$717.04	$770.82	$828.63

2. The following potable irrigation volume rates are imposed for each 100 cubic feet of usage for all water other than Class A reclaimed water according to location within or without the corporate limits of the city:

Volume charge	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
Per 100 cf	$3.49	$3.75	$4.03	$4.33	$4.65	$5.00

3. Rates for outside city potable irrigation customers shall be one and one-half times the inside the city rates for the base charge and the consumption rates.

F. Whenever two or more rate classifications are serviced by one meter, the highest of the utility rates is imposed on the customer.

G. In computing the applicable water consumption charge for all customer classes, once the threshold is exceeded for each block, the next block’s rate shall be used.

H. In the event a customer is not connected to a meter service, or a meter has broken, become out of order or failed to accurately meter actual water usage, the customer shall be charged the base or minimum charge, together with an estimated charge for the water used at the premises, based upon the average usage for the corresponding month of the preceding year, averaged over a three-month period including the preceding and following month. In the event there is no prior history for the preceding year, the charge shall be based upon the average water usage for the month for all customers of the municipal water supply system in the same service class.

I. A “low income residential customer” means an individual:

1. Who owns or rents and resides in the residence where the discounted rate(s) are being requested;

2. Whose residence has a separate water meter;

3. Whose total household annual income meets the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development income limits for very low income in King County, Washington. Total household annual income shall include that of a spouse or any co-resident(s), where “annual income” is defined as adjusted gross income as indicated in the most recent federal income tax return. In the absence of a federal income tax return, the finance director may consider other documentation of household annual income;

4. Who is not nor is any other adult member of the household claimed as a dependent on another federal income tax return; and

5. Who is named customer on the city’s utility bill or can prove that he or she is the named tenant in a lease or rental agreement for that residence.

J. The finance director shall create an application form and a renewal form for customers requesting a low income residential customer discount provided by subsection K of this section.

1. Applications shall be available at City Hall or mailed to any city customer upon request.

2. The low income residential customer seeking the discount must complete an application renewal form annually.

3. A notice of renewal of application will be mailed annually by the city to low income residential customers then receiving the low income discount. The completed renewal application form and required attachments must be returned to the city within 30 days or the discount will no longer apply.

4. Discounts will commence on the next subsequent billing date following application.

5. A low income residential customer who applied for and received the discount in the prior year, and whose low income residential customer discount was discontinued as a result of the customer’s failure to submit the renewal form within the required 30 days may request a one-time-only retroactive application of the low income discount for not more than two billing cycles or two months.

6. A low income residential customer is not eligible for the discount if his or her annual water consumption is in excess of 100 cf (hundred cubic feet) per year on a calendar year basis. Applicant may appeal the criteria to the finance director and must provide a convincing justification for the excess usage.

K. The water bill (including base and volume charges) of a customer whose application is determined by the finance director to meet the criteria of subsections I and J of this section will be discounted by 30 percent.

L. The rate for retail customers of the municipal irrigation system for Class A reclaimed water shall be the base rate plus the volume rate specified below.

1. The base rate shall be based upon allocation of the existing total base among the current 755 Class A reclaimed water zones in the city’s computer-controlled irrigation system as follows:

Customer	Zones	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
Per Zone Cost		$8.01	$8.24	$8.49	$8.74	$9.00	$9.27
City of Snoqualmie	358	$2,864.00	$2,950.00	$3,039.00	$3,129.00	$3,222.00	$3,319.00
Residential Owners Association	239	$1,912.00	$1,969.00	$2,029.00	$2,089.00	$2,151.00	$2,216.00
Business Park Owners Association	122	$976.00	$1,005.00	$1,036.00	$1,066.00	$1,098.00	$1,131.00
Snoqualmie Ridge Joint Committee	16	$128.00	$132.00	$136.00	$140.00	$144.00	$148.00
Venture Corporation	16	$128.00	$132.00	$136.00	$140.00	$144.00	$148.00
Bandera Murray/Franklin	4	$32.00	$33.00	$34.00	$35.00	$36.00	$37.00
TOTAL	755	$6,040.00	$6,221.00	$6,410.00	$6,599.00	$6,795.00	$6,999.00

2. There shall be added to the base rate a volume rate per 100 cubic feet as follows:

Rate	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
Per 100 cubic feet	$3.03	$3.12	$3.21	$3.31	$3.41	$3.51

M. Rates for bulk customers shall be based upon the volume of water delivered to the customer’s reservoir.

1. In the case of the Eagle Lake Reservoir at the Snoqualmie Ridge Golf Course, which also serves as the reservoir for reclaimed and/or raw water for the municipal distribution system for retail customers, the rate shall be based upon the difference between the amount of water delivered to the reservoir and the amount of water supplied from the municipal pump station at Eagle Lake to retail customers.

2. The rate for bulk customers shall be a volume rate as follows:

Rate	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
Per 100 cubic feet	$0.89	$0.92	$0.95	$0.98	$1.01	$1.04

(Ord. 1284 § 3, 2023; Ord. 1248 § 5, 2021; Ord. 1242 § 4, 2020; Ord. 1187 § 21, 2017).

13.12.020 Certificate of water availability.

A. All residences and business buildings shall be separately metered and connected to the municipal water supply system, and shall have a separate shut-off; provided, there may be a single connection for multiple-dwelling units including, but not limited to, duplexes, triplexes, apartment buildings and trailer courts. A separate connection charge shall be made for each such connection.

B. A “certificate of water availability” shall be applied for prior to issuance of a water service installation permit to determine if water is available. The application shall include the applicant’s name, project address, the number of anticipated ERUs, and anticipated water usage.

C. The cost for a certificate of water availability letter is $200.00. In addition, the applicant shall pay one-half of the amount of the water connection charges in effect on the date the certificate issues, for each ERU purchased. Further, the applicant shall sign an agreement committing the owner or applicant to pay any difference between the current water connection charges paid at the issuance of the water availability certificate and the water connection charges in effect at the time of issuance of a building permit for the subject property.

D. If the city has water available in sufficient annual and instantaneous quantities to serve the property, and if the city water system is sufficiently sized, constructed and maintained so as to enable delivery of that water to the subject property, the certificate shall be issued by the city and will be valid for six months from the date of issuance, unless the applicant renews the certificate of availability prior to the expiration date. A certificate of water availability may be renewed only once, for an additional six-month period, unless the applicant provides written documentation to the director’s satisfaction demonstrating that the applicant has on file with the jurisdiction in which the subject property is located (King County or the city of Snoqualmie) a complete building application or complete application for a subdivision, master site plan, or other binding land use application for the underlying property, and that, through no fault of the applicant, the building permit, subdivision, master site plan or other land use application is not likely to be approved within the certificate of water availability’s renewal term, in which case the director may grant one or more additional renewal terms as the director determines in his/her reasonable discretion.

E. Certificates are valid only for the real property referenced on the certificate. Any transfer of assignment of property ownership requires written notification of the city.

F. If a certificate has expired, the applicant will be required to pay all fees for a new certificate of water availability. (Ord. 1187 § 22, 2017).

13.12.025 Temporary connections.

A. Temporary connections may be made to hydrants, blow-offs, or other connections approved by the city engineer or his designee only upon issuance of a permit and payment of a cash deposit in such amounts as may from time to time be established by ordinance. Conditions of use will be set forth on the permit by the city engineer or his designee.

B. Meter assemblies will be provided by the city. No other meter assembly will be allowed unless approved by the city engineer or his designee prior to connection.

C. The city may require the applicant to discontinue use of the connection to city water for any reason and at any time it deems necessary. (Ord. 772 § 1, 1996).

13.12.030 Water service installation permit.

A. A service shall be installed on each separate connection to all water mains of the municipal water supply system, whether such mains are new installations or existing mains, and whether located within or without the corporate limits of the city.

B. At the time when a water service installation permit is applied for the subject property to the building department or the county, the applicant shall pay to the city the connection charge, as set forth in SMC 13.12.035 as applicable.

C. There shall be a $150.00 nonrefundable fee for the application and issuance of the permit by the city; however, if the city does not issue a permit, the connection charges, or any part thereof which has been paid, shall be refunded.

D. Any customer failing to permit the installation of a service required by this section shall be disconnected from the municipal water supply system, and shall not be reconnected until a service has been installed, all charges therefor have been paid, and a reconnection charge has been paid.

E. Safe and convenient access to the meter shall be permitted to the public works department at all times. (Ord. 1187 § 23, 2017; Ord. 936 § 2, 2003; Ord. 595 § 1, 1987).

13.12.035 Connection charges.

A. General.

1. The charge for installation of water service shall be the actual cost thereof, including meter, materials and labor. The public works director is hereby authorized to promulgate a uniform schedule of charges for installation of water meters, and to adjust such charges from time to time to ensure that such charges reflect the actual costs of such installation as nearly as may be at all times. The meter is and at all times remains the property of the city.

2. The city shall collect connection charges in order that each connecting property shall bear its equitable share of the cost of the public water system.

3. The connection charges collectible pursuant to this section shall be waived for water connections within the Snoqualmie Ridge 1 and 2 Planning Areas, the Snoqualmie Ridge 1 and 2 Planning Areas as shown on Figure 7.2 of the city’s comprehensive plan, Snoqualmie 2032, unless the water service is requested for any of the purposes set forth in subsections (B)(2) through (4) of this section, in which case the applicable connection charges shall not be waived.

B. A new customer is:

1. Any customer requesting a new water service; and/or

2. Any customer adding to the number of units served by an existing water service in the city’s service area; and/or

3. Any customer seeking to change customer classification; and/or

4. Any customer seeking a change in the size or number of water meters providing service to the customer’s property.

C. Customer Class. Customer classes shall be:

1. Single-family residential, a unit served by a single water meter including manufactured (mobile) homes;

2. Duplex family residential equals one unit each side;

3. Multifamily residential, more than two units served by one water meter, including apartments, trailer parks and RV parks; and

4. Commercial, including transient residential (e.g., motels and hotels) and schools.

D. Connection charges shall be paid:

1. Before issuing water service permit and a property is allowed to connect to the public water system; and/or

2. At the time of development/redevelopment of the property, if connection charges apply that have not yet been paid, such as charges for new facilities that directly benefit the property.

3. Connection charges that have been paid as a result of prior development activities or through participation in a LID or ULID shall not be reassessed.

4. The utility may enter into contracts with property owners of single-family homes and with the owners of development projects that meet criteria specified by the utility for payment of connection charges over time instead of as a lump sum. Such connection may be paid immediately or shall be paid as follows:

a. One-fourth at the issuance of the permit;

b. The balance in three equal annual installments on the anniversary date of the issuance of the permit;

c. The balance of the connection charge shall bear interest at 12 percent per year, and shall be a lien against the property;

d. In the event the owners fail to pay any installment when due, the entire balance shall become immediately due and payable. A penalty of 10 percent of the remaining balance shall be imposed as an administrative fee and the balance and penalty shall thereafter bear interest at 12 percent per year, and the city attorney may immediately file a lien with the King County auditor and shall, after the lien has been delinquent for four months, file a lien with the King County auditor.

E. Connection charges shall include:

1. Service installation charges as defined in SMC 13.12.036;

2. Direct facilities charges, if applicable as defined in SMC 13.12.037;

3. Water general facilities charges as defined in SMC 13.12.038;

4. Latecomer’s agreements, if applicable as defined in SMC 13.12.039. (Ord. 1187 § 24, 2017).

13.12.036 Service installation charges.

A. For each connection/installation made to the municipal water system, the following service installation charges are imposed:

1. For connections within and outside the corporate limits of the city, which charges shall include all labor and materials, but exclude road crossing, for which the customer shall pay the actual cost incurred:

Service Installation Charge
Meter Size	Inside City	Outside City
3/4"	$4,296	$4,796
1"	$4,302	$4,802
1-1/2"	$6,764	$7,764
2"	$6,915	$8,015

B. The service installation charge established for two-inch or smaller services shall be inclusive of all materials and labor, including meters and trenching from the water main to the property for a distance not exceeding 15 feet. The service installation charge shall specifically exclude the cost of tunneling under any watercourses of any nature, tunneling under any city, state, county or other rights-of-way, and the cost of permits required by any other government agency therefor, which shall be the sole responsibility of the customer. Such tunneling under watercourses or city, state, county or other rights-of-way shall be performed by a licensed contractor, and the customer shall indemnify the city against any and all loss or liability resulting therefrom.

C. Any customer desiring to make a service connection of three inches or larger shall submit plans therefor prepared by a licensed professional engineer, which shall be subject to approval by the city prior to making such connection. After such connection has been made, the service connection shall be inspected by the city engineer. The customer shall pay all city expenses for engineering services and service and connection installation incurred in regard to such service connections.

D. The customer shall pay the actual cost incurred for meter tests, for which a deposit shall be collected according to meter size:

Meter Size	Charge
3/4"	$50.00
1"	$50.00
1-1/2"	$150.00
2"	$150.00
3"	$150.00
4"	$200.00
6"	$200.00
8"	$200.00

E. For temporary connections to the municipal system, a permit shall be required, in addition to the applicable water rate, for which the permit fee and deposit shall be as follows, according to meter size:

Meter Size	Permit Fee
1"	$110.00 per month
3"	$170.00 per month

F. For the unauthorized flow of water as recorded on a fire system detector check meter, the charge shall be $0.25 per cubic foot.

G. A property owner desiring the extension of water service to his property may be required to extend or improve the municipal water supply system as a condition thereof, and to execute a developer’s agreement regarding the apportionment of the costs thereof and other appropriate conditions, including payment of the city’s engineering, legal and other professional consultant fees in reviewing and processing the water service extension. Such developer’s agreements may include provisions for recovery of a pro rata share of the initial construction costs of the water service extensions from additional customers desiring to connect to such extensions. (Ord. 1187 § 25, 2017).

13.12.037 Direct facilities charges.

A. The utility shall collect direct facilities charges from property owners that directly benefit from the city water system, except property owners who previously paid their fair share through an LID or ULID.

B. The direct facilities charge is the property owner’s equitable share of the established costs of the water system facilities he/she benefits from, regardless of whether those facilities were constructed by the city water utility or a private party. The equitable share shall include interest charges applied from the date of construction acceptance of the facility until the property connects, or for a period not to exceed 10 years, whichever is less, at a rate commensurate with the rate of interest applicable at the time of construction of the facility to which the property owner is seeking to connect but not to exceed 10 percent per year; provided, that the aggregate amount of interest shall not exceed the equitable share of the cost of the facility allocated to such property owner.

C. The facilities’ costs shall be allocated to benefitting property owners based on the number of single-family equivalents. The director may, however, make such allocation based on front footage or other reasonably based methodology if the director determines that such alternate basis or methodology better assures equitable sharing of cost by all properties benefitting from the facilities.

D. Administrative Procedures – Adjustment of Charges. The director is authorized to adopt administrative procedures for the purpose of administering the provisions of this section, and to adjust the charges established by subsections A and B of this section from time to time to reflect the actual cost of the facilities for which the charges are made. (Ord. 1187 § 26, 2017).

13.12.038 Water general facilities charges.

A. The general facilities charge is a charge imposed upon new customers to recover the customer’s equitable share of the cost of the system and is used for funding construction of future general facilities.

B. Each new customer shall pay the general facilities charge for the customer class in effect on the date of application for service or change of service as provided herein.

C. Customers with a certificate of water availability, and that are not yet hooked up to the water system, shall pay the general facilities charge prior to hooking up and issuance of a water service installation permit.

D. A water general facilities charge (“GFC”) shall be imposed in 2021 on a meter capacity equivalent (“MCE”) basis, for each meter installed, using flow factors based on the American Water Works Association Principles of Water Rates, Fees and Charges M1 Manual, as follows:

2021 Water GFCs, by Meter Size
Meter Size	MCE Factor	GFC Charge
3/4"	1.0	$10,465
1"	1.67	$17,476
1-1/2"	3.33	$34,847
2"	5.33	$55,776
3"	10.00	$104,645
4"	16.67	$174,443
6"	33.33	$348,782

E. Beginning on January 1, 2022, and on January 1st of each year thereafter, the 2021 water GFC set forth in subsection D of this section shall be increased based on the changes in the Engineering News-Record construction cost index for the Seattle area as determined in December of the preceding year.

F. Changes to Service.

1. Any customers seeking to increase the size of the water meter or service or to add an additional meter to serve the customer’s property shall pay an additional general facilities charge in an amount equal to the difference between the general facilities charge credit for its currently sized meter previously paid to the city and the city’s general facilities charge at the time of the customer’s initial service or meter application, plus the GFC applicable to the increased or additional water meter or service.

2. Any customer seeking to change customer classification or who does change customer classification shall pay the general facilities charge for the new classification in effect on the date application for change is made; provided, that the customer will receive a credit up to the amount of general facilities charge previously paid.

G. The general facilities charge is a charge in addition to the charge for new service connections. The general facilities charge is not a charge or payment in lieu of any utility local improvement district assessment, latecomer fee, main extension cost, or local benefit charge. This charge is imposed in addition to any charge for cost of connection and charges for administration and inspection.

H. Funds received pursuant to the general facilities charge shall be used for capital improvement projects undertaken to construct general facilities, and payment of debt service on capital improvement projects. Funds received from the general facilities charge shall be accounted for in the utilities capital improvement fund and/or utilities debt service redemption funds of the city. Interest earned from the investment of such funds shall be used for capital improvements. (Ord. 1248 § 6, 2021; Ord. 1187 § 27, 2017).

13.12.039 Latecomer agreements.

A. General. The utility may enter into any contracts authorized by Chapter 35.91 RCW, the Municipal Water and Sewer Facilities Act, including contracts which provide for the reimbursement of property owners constructing public facilities, commonly known as latecomer agreements.

B. Requesting a Latecomer Agreement. A property owner may request a latecomer agreement if the owner constructs a water facility that benefits property in addition to the owner’s property and it is not feasible for the owner to include such other property owner in the utility developer extension agreement. The request must be made in writing and unit costs must be provided before the utility accepts the public water facility.

C. Benefitting Properties. The utility shall determine what properties benefit from the public water facility that shall be subject to the latecomer agreement.

D. Method of Cost Allocation. The utility shall determine the method of cost allocation used.

E. Recording. The utility shall record the latecomer agreement with King County against the benefitting properties, at the expense of the property owner requesting the agreement.

F. Cost to Latecomer. As a condition of connection to the public water facility, each latecomer shall pay, at the time of connection, his/her pro rata share of the construction costs of the water facility, which are determined by the utility and specified in the latecomer agreement. Construction costs shall include but are not limited to design, installation, inspection, construction management, interest and the utility’s project management costs.

G. Agreement Duration. Duration of latecomer agreements are defined in the agreement.

H. Forwarding Latecomer Payment. While the latecomer agreement is in effect, the utility will collect the latecomer payments and forward them to the property owner who paid for the facility, as specified in the agreement. (Ord. 1187 § 28, 2017).

13.12.040 Utility payment – Due date – Delinquency – Shutoff for nonpayment – Lien.

A. Meters shall be read and water consumption charged on a monthly basis. Meter readings shall be made on as close to the same cycle date as possible allowing for variation up to seven days because of holidays, Saturdays and Sundays, and differing lengths of calendar months. Such deviations will not be construed as a change in the normal monthly billing cycle. The city may estimate meter readings for billing purposes when city staff is unable to gain access to the premises during the regularly scheduled read, when the meter has been tampered with or is not functioning properly, or when circumstances such as snow, frost, flooding or other emergencies make reading the meter impossible or unsafe. The city may alter or reroute the meter reading and billing cycle dates when it is in the best interest of the city.

B. The city will bill for water, sewer, and stormwater services (utility services) monthly. For ratepayers receiving water and sewer services, or water, stormwater and sewer services, or water and stormwater services, there shall be a combined bill (utility bill).

C. The city will mail, using the United States Postal Service, a utility bill to the ratepayer’s address, or, at the option of the ratepayer, email a notice that the bill is available in electronic format (when available). Ratepayers are responsible for providing the city with a valid address and contact information and notifying the city of any changes in such information. Failure to receive or open a bill does not release the ratepayer from obligation of payment when due.

D. Billing for utility service will commence as of the date the water meter is installed.

E. All charges for utility service during a monthly billing period shall be due and payable upon receipt. The charges for any monthly billing remaining unpaid 15 days after the current billing due date shall be deemed delinquent. For any monthly utility service billing that is delinquent, a finance charge of one and one-half percent per month shall be assessed on the delinquent amount.

F. If any charges for utility service remain delinquent for two monthly billing cycles, and are not paid within 15 days after the second monthly billing, the city shall mail a final notice advising the customer and/or occupants of the premises that water service will be shut off on a date specified in the notice seven days after the date of noticing unless all delinquent amounts are paid within seven days; provided, however, that during the pendency of an emergency declared by the mayor pursuant to SMC 2.48.050, the mayor is authorized to suspend utility shutoffs for the duration of the emergency or such shorter period as may be determined by the mayor or designee. During such suspension, customers will continue to accrue utility and finance charges during such emergency but will not have utility services shut off for non- or delinquent payment. A charge of $20.00 shall be assessed for the city’s costs for preparing such shutoff notice.

G. In the event of a bona fide dispute as to the amount of the total due for the utility bill, or existence of substantial past due balance accruing due to the existence of a prolonged declaration of emergency lasting more than 60 days, one or more of the following procedures shall be employed by the finance director:

1. The customer shall first attempt to resolve the matter with the utility clerk.

2. If the dispute cannot be resolved between the customer and the utility clerk, the customer shall have the opportunity to discuss or take this to the finance director whose decision shall be final.

3. Water shutoff may be delayed during the period necessary to resolve the dispute only in the event the customer contacts the utility clerk during regular business hours more than 48 hours prior to the scheduled shutoff date and pays such portion of the disputed bill as customer acknowledges to be due. The acceptance of such payment shall not be deemed to have waived the city’s right to collect the entire balance finally determined to be due, or to impair any right to shut off service if such additional amount is not paid immediately.

4. If the basis of the customer’s dispute concerns the accuracy of his water meter, the city shall conduct a test thereof; provided, the customer shall first deposit by money order or check a sum as established by council equivalent to the actual cost of conducting the test. In the event the meter is determined to have been inaccurate so that the customer has been charged for more water than the actual quantity delivered, the customer’s deposit shall be refunded and the city shall bear the cost of the test, and shall further refund to the customer for excess charges for a period not exceeding six months. If the meter is determined to be accurate or inaccurate so the customer was charged for less than the actual quantity of water delivered, the customer’s deposit shall be applied to the cost of the test.

5. If a utility customer has accumulated a past due utility balance during the course of prolonged emergency declared by the mayor and/or the governor of the state of Washington, the finance director is authorized to create and implement an application and procedures for a payment plan program to be utilized in lieu of utility finance charges and/or utility shutoff. Any payment plan shall be subject to the following minimum requirements:

a. A payment plan term shall not extend more than six months from the date the declaration of emergency ends;

b. The payment plan shall require the utility customer to pay the current portion of each monthly utility bill, in addition to the payment plan amount of a portion of the past due balance;

c. Finance charges shall not be imposed and utility service shut off shall not occur during the term of the payment plan unless the customer fails to make payments according to the terms of the payment plan.

d. The payment plan shall provide for payment in full of the past due balance by the end of the payment plan term.

H. In the event water service is shut off for nonpayment, and the customer has not requested a determination of any disputed amount as set forth in the immediately preceding subsection and complied with the conditions thereof, water service shall not be turned on until all delinquent charges and assessments have been paid, together with the charge for turning off the service.

I. The city shall have a lien upon the premises served for all delinquent and unpaid utility charges and assessments authorized by this chapter. The utilities clerk shall prepare a notice of claim of lien and forward it to the county auditor’s office for recording for all accounts remaining delinquent more than four monthly billing cycles. The lien established shall be enforceable in the manner provided by law. The city shall also assess its actual costs of recording and/or releasing liens under this section. (Ord. 1269 § 1, 2022; Ord. 1248 § 7, 2021; Ord. 1226 § 1, 2020; Ord. 1133 § 5, 2014).

13.12.050 Restrictions on the use of water.

The public works department may issue temporary restrictions on the use of water, whenever in its opinion it is necessary to do so as a result of water supplies being less than normal to assure minimum availability of water to all users or to assure water availability for public safety and fire protection. Violation of such restrictions shall subject the person or persons occupying the property on which the violation occurs to a civil penalty of $250.00. (Ord. 880 § 4, 2001; Ord. 595 § 1, 1987).

13.12.060 Fire hydrants, standpipes.

A. Fire hydrants or standpipes shall be installed outside the corporate limits only upon approval of council. As to any such application approved, the cost thereof shall be borne solely by the applicant, including the connection charge provided by SMC 13.12.020. The city may impose an additional monthly charge therefor if deemed advisable.

B. If a hydrant is required to be moved as a result of any action by the owner of the property on which it is located, or which abuts the right-of-way in which the fire hydrant is located, the cost thereof shall be borne solely by the property owner, and a deposit for the estimated amount thereof shall be made before the fire hydrant shall be moved. (Ord. 772 § 2, 1996; Ord. 595 § 1, 1987).

13.12.070 Responsibility for maintenance.

The city shall be responsible to maintain, within its financial ability to do so, the municipal water supply system and all appurtenances thereto located within the public right-of-way, and from the public right-of-way to the meter connection. Each property owner shall be responsible to maintain all water lines and appurtenances from the meter outlet to the property owner’s building or water outlet. (Ord. 595 § 1, 1987).

13.12.080 Trailers and mobile homes.

Trailers and mobile homes shall be connected to the municipal water supply system, paying the same rates applicable to single-family residences, including connection charges, unless located within a trailer park for which a connection charge has previously been paid. (Ord. 595 § 1, 1987).

13.12.090 Resale of water.

Water supplied by the municipal water supply system to its customers is intended to be used by the customer for his domestic or business consumption, and may not be resold or redelivered, except by special license granted by council upon such terms and conditions as it shall deem advisable. (Ord. 595 § 1, 1987).

13.12.100 Additional fire protection.

Customers having separately connected fire protection systems, such as sprinkler systems or auxiliary hydrants located upon their property shall be subject to standby charges. A detector-check meter shall be installed, at the sole expense of the customer, and a special rate shall be established for unauthorized or inappropriate flow of water as recorded on detector-check meters. (Ord. 595 § 1, 1987).

13.12.110 Violations.

Repealed by Ord. 857. (Ord. 772 § 3, 1996; Ord. 595 § 1, 1987).

13.12.400 Legislative findings – Computer-controlled irrigation systems.

The city council finds as follows:

A. Water is a valuable public resource. Conservation of this resource is necessary to meet current and future demand for water both for human populations and for in-stream flows for rivers and streams for fish.

B. The uncontrolled application of water for irrigation of public and private landscaping, including parks, street medians and planter strips, and landscape buffers, may result in the use of quantities in excess of those actually required for the plants, resulting in the waste of a valuable resource.

C. Computer-controlled irrigation systems exist which are capable of applying only the quantity of water required by landscaping taking into account natural precipitation, and applying such water at controlled rates readily taken up by plants. The use of such computer-controlled irrigation systems can conserve significant quantities of water and is in the public interest.

D. The city owns and operates a wastewater treatment plant which treats wastewater to Class A standards as defined by the State Department of Ecology. Reclaimed water is suitable for land application for irrigation purposes in proximity to human populations. The city owns and operates pipes, pumps and other facilities capable of delivering reclaimed water from the wastewater treatment plant to the streets, parks, business park and neighborhood center of the Snoqualmie Ridge area. The use of reclaimed water for irrigation purposes in preference to the use of other sources is in the public interest.

E. The city owns and operates a well water supply known as the North Valley Well Field that requires treatment for use as potable water. The city further owns pipes and facilities to direct raw (untreated) well water from the North Valley Well Field into the reclaimed water sump. The use of raw water for irrigation purposes in preference to the use of potable water is in the public interest.

F. Potable water should only be used for irrigation purposes when Class A or raw water is not available for such purpose. (Ord. 857 § 2, 2000).

13.12.410 Municipal irrigation system – Customers classified.

There shall be two classes of customers of the municipal irrigation system as follows:

A. Bulk Class. The bulk customer classification is hereby established as customers maintaining a separate irrigation reservoir upon privately owned real property, owning and operating a separate computer-controlled irrigation system, and for whom the city’s undertaking is the delivery of irrigation water to the customer’s reservoir.

B. Retail Class. The retail customer classification is hereby established as customers, including the city, who receive irrigation water from the city’s irrigation water distribution system, including the potable water distribution system when otherwise eligible for connection. Retail customers may include owners’ associations or other organizations responsible for designated areas or purposes, who may provide for the irrigation of property separate ownerships when within such association’s or organization’s area or purpose. (Ord. 857 § 2, 2000).

13.12.420 Eligibility for connection to municipal irrigation system.

A. All connections to the municipal irrigation system shall require the prior approval of the director of public works or his designee.

B. The following requirements shall be met prior to connection to the municipal irrigation system of any retail customer, or prior to the delivery of Class A water to any bulk customer:

1. A water usage study prepared by an approved consultant setting forth the estimated demand for such connection has been reviewed and approved by the director of public works or his designee. The director of public works shall not allow the connection unless satisfied that the estimated demand is within the known capacity of the irrigation system, if to be served from a reclaimed or raw water source, or within the known capacity of the potable water system, if to be served by potable water.

2. The customer owned portion of the computer controlled irrigation system has been installed, and such system has been tested and demonstrated to be properly communicating with the city owned portion of the system.

3. The customer has acknowledged receipt of a copy of the most recent edition of the Water Reclamation and Reuse Standards as published by the State of Washington Departments of Health and Ecology.

4. The customer has executed a customer service and use area agreement, and such agreement has been approved by the state Department of Ecology, and which agreement shall include among other things adherence to the conditions of the city’s NPDES permit for Class A water and adherence to all applicable provisions of the Water Reclamation and Reuse Standards, including but not limited to construction, operation, maintenance and monitoring of Class A distribution facilities not located on any property not owned by or under the direct control of the city. (Ord. 904 § 1, 2002; Ord. 857 § 2, 2000).

13.12.430 Responsibility of bulk customers.

A. Each bulk customer shall be responsible for all costs of the acquisition, installation, maintenance, repair and replacement of his entire system, including but not limited to reservoir, distribution system, sprinkler heads and computerized irrigation controller.

B. Each bulk customer shall permit the city access to real property served upon reasonable prior notice to inspect all components of the privately owned computer-controlled irrigation system, and make available all records relating thereto, to verify proper operation of the system. (Ord. 857 § 2, 2000).

13.12.440 Responsibility of retail customers.

A. Each retail customer shall be responsible for all costs of the acquisition, installation, maintenance, repair and replacement of all irrigation system components located upon privately owned real property, including but not limited to sprinkler heads and piping to the city irrigation water supply main and controller.

B. Each retail customer shall permit the city access to real property served upon reasonable prior notice to inspect all customer-owned components to verify proper operation. (Ord. 857 § 2, 2000).

13.12.450 Suspension or termination of service.

A. The city may suspend service to any customer if it shall appear that the customer has not fulfilled the customer’s responsibility hereunder. Such suspension shall continue until the cause thereof has been removed or remedied, as determined by the director of public works or his designee.

B. The city may terminate service to any customer if it shall appear the customer is unable or unwilling to remove or remedy the cause of any suspension under subsection A of this section, or has violated the state Water Reclamation and Reuse Standards. (Ord. 904 § 2, 2002; Ord. 857 § 2, 2000).

13.12.460 Priority of source of supply of irrigation water.

A. The director of public works or his designee shall only permit the use of potable water in the municipal irrigation system when reclaimed or raw water is not available for such purpose, and shall only permit the use of raw water when reclaimed water is not available for such purpose.

B. For purposes of this section, reclaimed or raw water shall not be deemed “available” if a reclaimed water main is not within public right-of-way adjacent to the property to be served, and the extension of a reclaimed water main thereto would not be in the public interest as determined by the director of public works or his designee. (Ord. 857 § 2, 2000).

13.12.470 Connection charges.

In order to promote water conservation and the use of reclaimed water, there shall be no separate connection charge for connecting to the municipal irrigation system; provided, all connections to the municipal irrigation system shall be made by or under the supervision of the public works department, and prior to use thereof, the customer shall pay all city costs, if any, for materials, labor and set up incurred in making the connection. Such charges shall be at standard city rates for labor and at the actual cost to the city for materials or contracted services. (Ord. 857 § 2, 2000).

13.12.480 Rates and charges.

Repealed by Ord. 1133. (Ord. 1091 § 4, 2012; Ord. 1040 § 4, 2008; Ord. 857 § 2, 2000).

13.12.900 Violations.

A. The following are declared to be unlawful and punishable as misdemeanors subject to a penalty of $1,000 and/or imprisonment for 30 days. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense.

1. Making any connection to the municipal water supply system other than under the supervision of the public works department, or without paying the connection charge.

2. Turning on water service after the same has been shut off pursuant to SMC 13.12.040. If water service is turned on after the same has been shut off pursuant to SMC 13.12.040, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the person in whose name the utility account was established was the person who turned on the water service.

3. Failing to permit access to a meter by the public works department for the purpose of reading, inspecting or maintaining it.

4. Endangering, threatening or intimidating any public works department employee while the employee is attempting to read, inspect or maintain a meter.

5. Making any connection to or otherwise tampering with any fire hydrant, except by permit issued pursuant to SMC 13.12.025.

B. In addition to the criminal sanctions provided, the foregoing violations shall also result in disconnection from the municipal water supply system, and the customer shall not be reconnected until a connection charge has been paid; provided, the customer may petition council for a review of the determination of the public works department if disconnected pursuant to this section. (Ord. 1133 § 6, 2014).

Prior legislation: Ords. 468, 470, 471, 497, 517, 541, 559, 562 and 581.