Chapter 13.18 WATER SERVICE SYSTEM

A. It is the intent of the city that all utility deliveries, whether water, sewer, garbage or some combination thereof, shall be deliveries of services and/or utilities to the property served. All such delivery of utilities and/or services shall be a claim against the property and a claim against the owner of that property served and/or furnished utilities and/or services. It shall be the responsibility of each property owner served by city utilities to determine the extent of utility services and deliveries being made and/or furnished to the owner’s property. It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to pay all claims, charges, penalties and/or costs imposed by the city for the furnishing and/or delivery of utilities and/or services to the owner’s property. The property owner’s responsibility shall exist independent of any claim of lien the city may have or make pursuant to any statute, rule or regulation. The fact the owner has directed or allowed the billings for utilities furnished and/or services delivered to the owner’s property to be delivered to a tenant or other third person does not in any way reduce or extinguish the property owner’s responsibility for water, sewer and/or garbage billings, charges, costs or penalties imposed by the city. All delinquent charges for water, sewer, garbage or some combination thereof shall bear interest at the maximum rate allowed by law.

B. All applications for residential water service shall be made by the property owner of the property to be delivered water service, and responsibility for billing payment shall be borne by the property owner except as to tenant accounts as provided in this chapter. All charges for water service will be sent directly to the property mailing address unless the property owner directs otherwise. No charge will be made for meter reading for closing accounts, except as provided in this chapter.

C. Applications for industrial and commercial water service may be made by the property owner, lessee or other consumer. However, a deposit, as determined by the city clerk, will be required of such account in lieu of the deposit required under SLMC 13.18.060.

D. Upon a failure to pay the charges for water service, the amount thereof shall become a lien against the real property furnished the service as provided by law.

E. The city of Soap Lake is a combined utility system. All billings to a property for utility services are combined utility billings. To the fullest extent permitted by law, all payments received from a customer for utility services shall be credited first to charges for account changes, next to interest charges, if any, next to penalty charges, if any, next to garbage charges, if any, next to sewer charges, if any, and last to water charges, if any. Penalties are deemed charges of the appropriate utility. Payments are credited first to the oldest charge or penalty appearing on the billing. A delinquency in payment for any utility service to a subject property may result in the termination of any other utility service to the subject property.

F. The use of water from the Soap Lake municipal water system without first making application therefor and obtaining a meter for the delivery of such water is the theft of public property and the city will prosecute any and all persons so doing to the fullest extent of the law. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.020 Water rates.

A. Inside City Limits. The monthly rate charges for water from the city water system for all residential and commercial users serviced by meters inside the city limits shall be as set forth in Appendix W attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter and found at the end of this chapter.

B. Multiple Unit Master Meters. In addition to the minimum charge stated in subsection (A) of this section for each meter size, there shall be an additional charge per month for each unit of a multiple-family living structure, apartment complex, condominium, mobile home park, whether occupied or not, serviced by a master meter within the limits of the city. The additional charge shall be as set forth in Appendix W.

C. Outside City Limits. Because of the higher costs associated with the delivery of water to users outside the city limits, the monthly rate charged for water from the city water system for all services served by the city water system outside the city limits shall be as set forth in Appendix W.

D. Water meters may be read by the city all year-round, weather and staffing permitting. If meters are read less than all year-round, usage will be estimated based on prior consumption patterns. On the billing following any estimated month or month’s consumption, any excess consumption during the non-read months shall be reflected and shall become due and payable with that billing. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.030 Water service connection charges.

A. All water service connection shall be metered and all separate buildings or separately owned businesses carried on within a single building with a divided ownership shall be separately connected to the city water system, except that separate buildings which are an integral part of a single business or industry may be served by a master meter serving the property if the city consents. Such service to separate buildings shall be terminated and separate services installed upon the separate sale or segregation of the business or industry so served. Such new service to the parts of the separated industry or business shall be deemed new services for the purposes of this chapter. It shall be permissible for any property, at the option of the owner thereof, to have more than one meter to measure the water serving the property.

B. The city shall make all connections to the water system for service to properties within the city except as otherwise provided herein. Charges shall be made by the city for making water service connections, including the cost of the meter which the city shall supply. Such charges shall be paid in full before the connection is made by the city to the city water system for the property to be served. Those charges are set forth in Appendix W.

C. A property owner may, with the permission of the city’s public works director after establishing that installation of the service by the property owner is cheaper than installation by the city, upon such reasonable conditions as the public works director shall determine, make service connections from a city water main to the property to be served. In such case, the property owner shall be responsible to pay all costs of such connection, including repair of any pavement, curbs, gutters, driveways or streets disturbed or damaged. In addition, the property owner shall pay the cost of the city’s inspection of the installation as set forth in Appendix W. The installer shall be required to guarantee such a connection, including repaired pavement, curbs, gutters, driveways or streets, for one year after installation against defects in such installation. Upon proper installation of such lateral and its acceptance by the city, it shall become the city’s responsibility to maintain and repair such lateral including enforcement of the one-year guarantee against the installer.

D. The installation of service laterals from mains to the property line of the service location shall be required with the installation of infrastructure related to the platting of property, water mains, streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and the like. This is done to avoid later damage to streets, curbs, gutters and driveways. The process described in subsection (C) of this section shall be followed in these situations where the platting party makes service lateral installations. Upon payment of the connection fees to the city, the city shall make those connections.

E. Once a water service lateral running from a water main to a service location is installed and/or accepted by the city, ownership and responsibility for maintenance of that lateral from the property line to the main shall be the city’s. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.040 Turn-on charges.

In addition to the charges for services provided for in this chapter, there shall be a charge to any account for turning on water service. Those charges are set forth in Appendix W. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.050 Water meter test.

Where the accuracy of a water meter is questioned by a user, it will be removed and tested provided the user will put up a deposit for the labor and expense of making the test as set forth in Appendix W. If the test discloses an error against the consumer of more than three percent on the meter’s register, the deposit will be refunded and an adjustment made on the billing for the last billing period in accordance with the percentage of error found. If the test reveals the meter is running at least 97 percent accurate, then the user will forfeit his deposit as a reimbursement to the city for the expense of making the test. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.060 Deposit requirement.

A. All billings for water service provided by the city shall be sent to the owner of the property served at the property owner’s mailing address, unless the owner shall designate in writing a different address to receive the utility bill for the property, and such owner will be fully responsible for all charges due the city for providing water and all other utility service to the property, except as to tenant accounts as provided in this chapter.

B. Water service will be delivered only upon request of the property owner of the property to be served, except as to tenant accounts as provided in this chapter. Upon making any such request, a deposit as set forth in Appendix W, or as provided in this section for tenant accounts, shall be made by the owner or on the owner’s behalf or by the tenant for tenant accounts to the city clerk. That deposit will be held in the utility deposit fund to secure the payment of water service charges. For all utility accounts, except those created for tenants in landlord/tenant dispute situations which are provided for elsewhere in this chapter, where the account has remained in good standing and has not had a late payment charge or delinquency for more than 24 months, the deposit required by this section shall be refunded. Deposits shall be returned to customers in the following manner:

1. If the account remains open, the amount of any deposit will be applied against outstanding balances; or

2. If the account is to be closed, the deposit will be refunded to the account holder. In the case of an account becoming chronically late in paying on more than four occasions in any 12-month period, the deposit requirement will be reinstated and such a deposit will be a requirement of maintaining the water account in an open status.

C. An additional charge as set forth in Appendix W shall be paid to the water/sewer operating fund as a charge for turning on the water service. If any water/sewer/utility service charges become delinquent, the city clerk shall retain such funds as are necessary from the deposit in the utility deposit fund to cover outstanding utility charges. Any funds not owed to the city for utility service charges shall be refunded to the owner when property is sold or to the tenant on a tenant account when the property is vacated.

D. Tenant Accounts. Water service will be delivered to a single-family residential rental property at the request of the tenant if the tenant claims an owner/tenant dispute exists and the owner has allowed the water service account to become delinquent. If such a situation exists, a tenant may open an account for water/sewer/garbage utility service of the property to be served on the same terms and conditions as any other residential account. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1114 § 1, 2010; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.070 Delinquent utility accounts.

A. Utility charges shall be the responsibility of the property owner and shall be billed directly to the property owner or the address designated by the owner in writing. Payment for utility service for any property shall become due and payable on the fifth day of the month following the month within which the service was rendered. If any amount remains unpaid after the twenty-eighth of the month being first billed, a late penalty of $25.00 shall be added to the utility account on the date stated on the billing. The city clerk shall give notice in writing to the owner or owner’s agent as officially listed in the city records, or the best address available to the clerk, of such delinquency, advising that the water service shall be discontinued at the expiration of 10 days thereafter unless the account is paid in full. Such notice shall indicate that the delinquent user may contact the city clerk or other responsible city official at City Hall during business hours to make arrangements to bring the account current.

B. In the event the city should proceed to terminate water service to any property which has failed to bring its account current after mailing of written notice, the employee of the city dispatched to disconnect the water service shall make a reasonable effort to inform the user that water service is being terminated. This notice shall be delivered to any person at the premises or posted on or near the entrance to any dwelling or structure associated with the service. The city employee may not accept payment of the delinquent amount from the user, but the employee shall not terminate water service to the property until the user has been afforded an opportunity of not less than 30 minutes in length to reach the City Hall and arrange to bring the account current.

C. Residential Rental Units and Tenant Accounts. In the event the city should proceed to terminate water service to any known residential rental property which has failed to bring its utility account current after mailing of written notice, the employee of the city dispatched to notify the tenants of the impending termination of water service shall make a reasonable effort to inform the users that water service is being terminated. The city shall deliver a notice to terminate water service with the same 30-minute opportunity to make payment at City Hall offered to anyone contacted at the property. The mailing shall be at least seven days prior to termination of water service. This is to allow time for the tenant or tenants to establish a “tenant account” as outlined in SLMC 13.18.060(D). The charge for this posting shall be $30.00 and shall be added to the water service account. Included in all notices of proceedings to terminate water service shall be information that the lack of running hot and cold water is in violation of the Uniform Housing Code and is grounds for eviction from the premises. The city employee may not accept payment of the delinquent amount from the user.

D. In the event the water supply is turned off, the same shall not be turned back on until all delinquent utility charges have been paid in full. The account shall be charged the water turn-on charge as set forth in Appendix W.

E. The city shall have lien against the property for unpaid utility charges as provided by state law for unified utility billings. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1164 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1135 § 1, 2011; Ord. 1114 § 1, 2010; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.080 Joint charging.

All charges for water, sewer, garbage, penalty and interest payments due the city of Soap Lake shall be billed jointly on one statement. All payments received from a user shall be credited first to charges for account changes, second to charges for interest, third to charges for penalty, fourth to charges for garbage service, fifth to charges for sewer service, and sixth to charges for water service. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.090 Fire protection service charges.

All users inside or outside the corporate limits of the city shall be charged for use of water from fire hydrants or other delivery points. The charges are set forth in Appendix W. In order to use “bulk water,” the consumer must make application to the city stating the purpose for the use of the water and agreeing to the procedure as set forth by the city. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.110 Connection mandatory.

A. The city of Soap Lake municipal water system is the potable water system for the city of Soap Lake and connection to the system for potable water service is mandatory.

B. Any property located within 200 feet of a city water main shall be required to connect to that water main and extend such main through their property. Any property located more than 200 feet from a city water main shall be exempt from such requirement until such time as a city water main shall be located within 200 feet of that property. At such time the requirement to connect to and extend the water main stated herein shall apply.

C. Except as otherwise set forth in this subsection, mixed commercial and residential use property or development (i.e., “mixed use”) shall have a separate meter for the commercial use and for the residential use (including multifamily) to be billed according to their respective water and sewer rates as established from time to time by resolution of the city council. Mixed use development legally established prior to the adoption of this code with a single meter shall be allowed to continue use of the single meter for a period not to exceed five years from the effective date of this subsection, but shall be charged for sewer and water rates based on the primary use of the property or development. Upon a change of use or occupancy (that requires a building permit change or update) of the existing mixed use property or development (involving either use), or the addition of a new occupancy (that requires a new building permit), a separate meter for the commercial and residential (including multifamily) uses will be required to be installed. In addition, within five years of the dates of adoption of this subsection, all mixed use development shall have a separate meter for commercial and residential connections. Failure to install separate meters for mixed use property or development consistent with this subsection will result in all water and sewer service billed at the applicable commercial rate. (Ord. 1337 § 1, 2023; Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.120 Permission required for service to additional premises.

It is unlawful for any person whose premises are supplied with water to furnish water to additional premises unless such person first makes application in writing to do so and permission is granted by the city council. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.130 Double charge for unauthorized service.

When additional premises are connected or furnished with water without the application prescribed in SLMC 13.18.120, the property owner served with the unauthorized service shall pay to the city two times the rate for the service provided as calculated by the city in its sole discretion. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.140 Service connection removal.

When it is desired by the property owner to change the location of the old service connection, a new service shall be placed only upon the owner making application and paying for a new tap at the actual cost involved. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.150 Service reinstallation after discontinuance.

When service has been discontinued from any premises, upon the application of the owner thereof, or for nonpayment of water charges, or for any other causes, it is unlawful for any person to again connect the premises with water until all arrearage for the premises has been paid, and application made for reinstallation of service, and other cause or causes corrected to the satisfaction of the city. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.160 Shut-off by city.

The city reserves the right at any time, without notice, to shut off the water supply for repairs, extensions, emergencies or any other reason, and the city shall not be responsible for any damage, such as bursting of boilers supplied by direct pressure; the breaking of any pipes or fixtures; stoppages or interruption of water supply or any other damage, resulting from the shutting off of the water. The city will attempt to notify the users in nonemergency situations when the water supply is shut off. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.170 Termination or refusal of service for utilities.

The city shall have the right and power to deny connection to city water and/or sewer utilities or to terminate a connection to city water and sewer utilities upon a determination by the mayor that any of the violations contained in Chapter 13.24 SLMC have occurred. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.180 Repair of service equipment.

The water pipes, connections and other apparatus within the premises to be delivered water service must be kept in good repair and protected from freezing at the expense of the owner, who will be responsible for all damages resulting from leaks or breaks. No person shall be allowed to dig into any street or sidewalk for the purpose of laying, moving or repairing any service unless they have a permit issued by the city. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.190 Connection compliance with title required – Recovery of costs of illegal or unsafe connection.

A. The public works director shall specify how connections shall be made until all rules contained in this chapter for the same shall have been complied with.

B. Any person making a connection not permitted by this chapter shall be responsible for all costs incurred by the city in causing such connection to be removed from the city’s water system. Such costs shall include all wages, benefits and other compensation paid to city employees to cause such connection to be removed and/or all charges incurred by the city in employing contractors, including a 16 percent overhead fee for city administration of such contracted work, to accomplish such disconnection. Such charge shall become a water utility charge against the premises where the connection was improperly made and shall be recoverable by all means used to collect water utility account payments. Such charge shall be billed in the ordinary course of billing water utility charges except that if such charge shall be more than twice the ordinary utility charge for that account location, the billing shall be sent as soon as it has been calculated.

C. Any person making a connection not permitted by this title, especially a cross-connection to the city’s potable water system, shall be responsible for all costs incurred by the city in causing such connection to be removed from the city’s water system and all costs of restoring the city’s potable water system to a safe condition after such illegal connection. In the case of a cross-connection in violation of Chapter 13.22 SLMC, such costs shall include all costs of employee wages and benefits, consultants, contractors, laboratory fees including sample transportation costs, expert inspection fees, and all materials or chemicals consumed to effect the restoration of the potable water system. A 16 percent overhead fee for city administration shall be added to all costs of consultants, contractors or experts. Such charge shall become a water utility charge against the premises where the cross-connection was improperly made and shall be recoverable by all means used to collect water utility account payments. Such charge shall be billed in the ordinary course of billing water utility charges except that if such charge shall be more than twice the ordinary utility charge for that account location, the billing shall be sent as soon as it has been calculated. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.200 Meter damage liability.

The property owner and consumer shall be responsible for damage to meters caused by hot water, and the property owner and consumer shall be charged for repairs to meters caused by such damage. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.210 Right of entry.

The duly authorized employees of the city are permitted to enter all properties during normal business hours, or at a time agreed to between the city employee and the property occupant or owner, for the purpose of inspection, observation, measurement testing and testing in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. In an emergency, the city employee may enter to prevent harm to the city system, the service location premises or other property. A city employee should only make entry upon the service location premises pursuant to this section after notifying the public works director of the need for the entry. The public works director shall approve the entry. Contact with the occupant or owner of the premises shall be made personally or by telephone. If contact cannot be made by telephone or in person, then a notice shall be posted on the property and mailed to the utility billing address indicating the date and time of the proposed entry which shall be at least three business days after the mailing of the notice. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.220 Shut-off for refusing entry.

If any owner or occupant on any premises supplied with city water violates any provision of SLMC 13.18.210, the city may shut off the service; and the owner or occupant shall be required to pay all delinquent and unpaid charges against the premises, together with the charge for shutting off and turning on the water, before service may again be turned on. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.230 Unlawful acts.

A. It is unlawful for any person except when duly authorized by the city, or except when such person shall be a member of the fire district acting in their official capacity, to open, operate, close, turn on, turn off, interfere with, attach any pipe or hose to, or connect anything with any fire hydrant, stop valve or stopcock belonging to the city. Any person found guilty of having violated this subsection shall be subject to a C-6 penalty.

B. It is unlawful for any person to make connection with any fixture or connect any pipe with any water main or water pipe belonging to the city water supply, without first obtaining the permission to do so from the city. Any person violating this subsection shall be subject to a C-6 penalty.

C. It is unlawful for any person other than an employee of the city authorized to do so to either turn on or off water service to any property. Any person determined to have committed the civil infraction of violation of this subsection shall be subject to a C-10 penalty. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.240 Dispute resolution.

A. The city clerk shall inform all customers of the water/sewer/garbage utility of the city of the availability of a dispute resolution system in the event of a disputed water/sewer/garbage utility billing. Such notification shall occur via a notice on each billing that the customer may dispute the correctness of that billing by contacting the city clerk’s office.

B. Customer Dispute.

1. At any time before the date of termination of water service for nonpayment of the amount shown on a utility bill, or a notice of termination, a customer may dispute the correctness of all or part of the amount shown in accordance with the provisions of this section. A customer shall not be entitled to dispute the correctness of all or part of the amount if all or part of the amount was the subject of a previous dispute under this section.

2. The procedure for customer disputes shall be as follows:

a. Before the date of termination, the customer shall notify the clerk’s office in writing that the customer disputes all or part of the amount shown on a water/sewer/utility bill or a notice of termination, stating as completely as possible the basis for the dispute.

b. If the city clerk, or the clerk’s designee, determines that the present dispute is untimely or that the customer previously disputed the correctness of all or part of the amount shown, the clerk’s office shall mail to the customer a notice stating that the present dispute is untimely or invalid. The city shall then proceed as if the customer had not notified the city of the present dispute.

c. If the city clerk determines that the present dispute is not untimely or invalid under this section, the city, within three days after receipt of the customer’s notice, shall arrange an informal meeting between the customer and the clerk.

d. Based on the city’s records, the customer’s allegations and all other relevant materials available to the clerk, the clerk shall resolve the dispute, attempting to do so in a manner satisfactory to both the city and the customer.

e. Within five days of completion of the meeting, the clerk shall mail to the customer a copy of its decision resolving the dispute.

f. That decision shall be final and binding on the customer.

3. Utilization of this dispute procedure shall not relieve a customer of his obligation to timely and completely pay all other undisputed charges and/or installments and surcharges, and the undisputed portion of the amount which is the subject of the present dispute. Notwithstanding this section, failure to timely and completely pay all such undisputed amounts shall subject the customer to termination of water service in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

4. Until the date of the decision of the city clerk, the city shall not terminate the water service of this customer and shall not issue a notice of termination to this customer solely for nonpayment of the disputed amount. If it is determined that the customer must pay some or all of the disputed amount, the city shall promptly mail to, or personally serve upon, the customer a notice of termination, following the procedure set forth in SLMC 13.18.070. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.250 Severability.

The invalidity of any part of this chapter shall not affect the validity of any other part of this chapter which can be given its full force and effect without the invalid portion or portions. (Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

13.18.290 Water rates.

A. The Soap Lake city council shall, annually or more often if necessary, by resolution, establish a schedule “Appendix W” of charges and rates for water hookup and connection charges, water rates, allotments and overage charges. The resolution shall also list all other water service fees and charges.

B. Multifamily connections with a single meter serving more than one multifamily dwelling unit may apply to the city clerk to be placed in a temporarily inactive status for a period of at least three months per period of inactive status. To be placed into inactive status, the owner or owner’s agent must complete a form including a statement under penalty of perjury that the toilet has been pulled from the unit and it will remain in inactive status for at least a three-month period. Multifamily dwelling units placed into inactive status per this section shall not be billed for water use and the 500 cubic feet of water credit shall not apply. Any owner or owner’s agent wishing to make use of a multifamily dwelling unit placed into inactive status before the end of that inactive status period shall notify the city of the change of status of that dwelling unit and shall be responsible to pay the base water rate for any months which have already elapsed during the inactive status as well as keeping the utility account for the unit in question current.

Any owner using or allowing the use of an inactive multifamily dwelling unit for residential purposes during an inactive period shall be liable for twice the estimated utility charges, including water, for that unit. Additionally, the person owning the unit is deemed to have committed an infraction and shall be subject to a C-1 penalty. Each day of use of a multifamily dwelling unit in violation of that unit’s inactive status shall constitute a separate violation for which a separate C-1 penalty shall be assessed.

C. Definitions Applicable to Monthly Service Rates.

1. “Residential dwelling unit” means each structure, or structures, residence, or residences, located on one residential lot, and serviced by one water meter; or one or more habitable rooms occupied or intended or designed to be occupied by one family, which contains or is intended to house space for living, sleeping, preparation of food and eating, and containing toilet and bathing facilities; or each separate unit of a condominium.

2. “Multifamily dwelling unit” means each duplex, apartment, and each complex and mobile/manufactured home park designed to contain or containing two or more apartments, two or more spaces or lots intended or designed to be occupied by one family, which contain or are intended to house space for living, sleeping, preparation of food and eating, and containing toilet and bathing facilities.

3. “Apartment” means two or more separate living units designed to be occupied by one family, which contain or are intended to house space for living, sleeping, preparation of food and eating, and containing toilet and bathing facilities, on a rental basis whose rental period is 30 days or greater per term. An apartment shall not include any building or cluster of buildings in which the person occupying any portion of the structure or lot has an ownership interest in any portion of the structure or lot on which the structure or structures are located. The two or more living units may be contained in one building or group of buildings located on one platted or unplatted lot if all of the units and lot are owned by the person who is the lessor.

4. “Family” means one or more individuals living, cooking and eating together in a residential dwelling unit (as herein defined), related by blood or marriage, but not more distant than first cousins; and not including a group of more than eight persons unrelated by blood or marriage. In case of a rectory, parsonage or convent, 12 persons are considered as a family. Nothing herein is deemed to supplant any provisions of the State Building Code requiring minimum amounts of square footage per person for occupancy of a structure.

5. “Water service unit” shall mean the greater of the following: each structure, or structures, residence, or residences, lot, or portion or separate unit of a condominium used as a dwelling unit by a family, as herein defined, shall be deemed one water service unit. By way of example, a triplex shall be three water service units; a condominium with 20 separate dwelling units shall be 20 water service units. (Ord. 1260 § 1, 2017; Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015; Ord. 1164 § 2, 2013; Ord. 1126 § 1, 2011; Ord. 1119 § 1, 2010; Ord. 1116 § 1, 2010; Ord. 1114 § 1, 2010; Ord. 1112 § 1, 2010).

W WATER RATES

Residential

Basic water rate: $59.69 per month for one residential dwelling unit; to include 500 cubic feet of water.

Overage charge for water usage over 500 cubic feet: $3.47 per each additional 100 cubic feet or portion thereof.

Commercial

Basic water rate: $62.19 per month for one commercial unit; to include 500 cubic feet of water.

Overage charge for water usage over 500 cubic feet: $3.60 per each additional 100 cubic feet or portion thereof.

Multifamily

Basic water rate: $53.69 per month for each multifamily connection serving a multifamily dwelling unit; provided, however, that for each residential dwelling unit in excess of one served by a single meter the monthly water charge shall be $39.00, to include the use of 500 cubic feet of water per month per each unit.

Overage charge for water usage over 500 cubic feet: $3.10 per each additional 100 cubic feet, or portion thereof.

Residential Outside City Limits

Each residential connection serving one residential dwelling unit outside the city limits: $119.35 per month to include the use of the first 500 cubic feet of water per month.

Each additional 100 cubic feet, or portion thereof, of water measured as delivered is charged at $6.88 each.

Multifamily Outside City Limits

Basic water rate: $107.35 per month for each multifamily connection serving a multifamily dwelling unit outside the city limits; provided, however, that for each residential dwelling unit in excess of one served by a single meter the monthly water charge shall be $77.83, to include the use of 500 cubic feet of water per month per each unit.

Overage charge for water usage over 500 cubic feet: $6.21 per each additional 100 cubic feet, or portion thereof.

Inspection of New Construction, Repairs, Tapping, and Water Sampling

$50.00 per hour plus the actual costs of any consultant fees incurred during the inspection process. The per hour is measured in quarter-hour increments with a one-hour minimum.

Deposit Required for New Accounts

Inside city limits	$100.00
Outside city limits	$100.00

Connection Fees for Connection from a Water Main to Customer’s Property Line

Administrative fee: $700.00

GFC: $1,000.00 per ERU tax

Materials (pipe and fittings) at actual cost + 10 percent surcharge

Delinquent Account Charges

Late penalty

$25.00 per month

Turn-Off and Turn-On Charges

$20.00 per event.

Fire Hydrant Usage

$25.00 application fee

$200.00 meter deposit

Bulk water cost per 100 cubic feet: $3.29.

Lawn Meter Only Connections

$3.25 for each 100 cubic feet, or portion thereof, of water measured as delivered.

(Res. 1017 § 1, 2024; Res. 1012 § 2, 2024; Res. 967, 2021; Res. 948 § 1, 2021; Res. 943, 2020; Res. 923, 2020; Res. 920, 2019; Res. 905, 2019; Ord. 1260 § 1, 2017; Ord. 1209 § 1, 2015).