Chapter 13.40
FEE SCHEDULES
Sections:
13.40.010 Fee schedule establishment.
13.40.030 Notice to customers.
13.40.040 Metered and nonmetered rates.
13.40.050 User classes and ERUs.
13.40.060 Charge per user class.
13.40.070 Abnormally strong sewage waste.
13.40.010 Fee schedule establishment.
The schedule of fees for utility services shall be set annually by the Utility Department.
The fee schedule shall be based on the estimated average annual costs for operation and maintenance, debt service and equipment replacement of the Utility as these costs pertain to the individual water and sewer districts and improvement districts of the Utility. The fee schedule shall include a basic monthly rate for all services, payment of which shall be required of each customer regardless of whether, or the extent to which, the customer uses any of the services, and other fees, charges, penalties and assessments which the Utility Department is authorized to levy as provided under various sections of this title. Charges over and above the basic rate shall be based on the estimated or actual usage of the water system and sewage discharge loading to the sewer system. The fee schedule may be adjusted as needed to meet utility operating expenses.
The current fee schedule for the Utility is TTC 13.105.010 (Appendix A). The fee schedule shall be adopted by resolution of the Board. [Res. 2016-164; Ord. 76 § 8.01, 12-6-2004 (Res. 2004-467)].
13.40.020 Public comment.
The Utility Department shall provide for public comment whenever a new fee schedule is proposed for adoption. The proposed fee schedule shall be sent to each customer and shall be posted in appropriate places notifying the customer how they may comment in writing within 30 days of the notice being sent. Following the notice and comment period, the Utility Department shall set the proposed fee schedule, taking into consideration comments received. Rates cannot fall below actual cost. [Res. 2016-164; Ord. 76 § 8.02, 12-6-2004 (Res. 2004-467)].
13.40.030 Notice to customers.
A copy of the fee schedule adopted by the Utility Department shall be sent to each customer at least 30 days prior to the date the established fees take effect. [Res. 2016-164; Ord. 76 § 8.03, 12-6-2004 (Res. 2004-467)].
13.40.040 Metered and nonmetered rates.
Until there are sufficient meters for it to be cost-effective to change over to a metered rate the Utility will charge residential users based on estimated water and sewer usage. Commercial users and public facilities will be charged based on estimated usage until they are metered at which time they will be charged based on the metered rate.
(1) Metering Requirements.
(a) Production.
(i) The volume of water produced or purchased must be measured using a source meter or other meter installed upstream of the distribution system.
(ii) The requirements of this section do not alter any source metering regulations adopted by either the Department of Health or the Department of Ecology.
(iii) The requirements of this section do not apply to volumes of water delivered to a public water system through an emergency intertie.
(b) Consumption (See Appendix A for Rates).
(i) The requirements of this section apply to public water systems that supply water for water supply purposes.
(ii) Except as provided in subsection (1)(b)(vii) of this section, the volume of water delivered to consumers must be measured by meters installed on all direct service connections.
(iii) Meters must be installed on all existing direct service connections and clustered entities as provided in subsection (1)(b)(vii) of this section by 2017.
(iv) Meters must be installed on all new direct service connections when the service connection is activated.
(v) Meters must be installed on all interties used as permanent or seasonal sources by 2017.
(vi) If a system is not fully metered, the Tribal water supplier shall complete the following:
(A) Develop a meter installation schedule consistent with this section.
(B) The schedule must include milestones demonstrating steady and continuous progress toward compliance with the requirements of this section.
(C) Implement activities to ensure distribution system leakage is minimized (e.g., periodic leak detection and repair) until the system is fully metered.
(D) Report the status of meter installation and all actions taken to minimize leakage in annual reports.
(vii) The volume of water may be measured through a single meter for the following clustered entities:
(A) A campground;
(B) A recreational vehicle park;
(C) A designated mobile home park;
(D) A building with multiple units; and
(E) A complex with multiple buildings served as a single connection.
(c) Meters must be selected, installed, operated, calibrated, and maintained following generally accepted industry standards and information from the manufacturer.
(2) Meter Accuracy and Water Pressure Complaints.
(a) When the Utility Department receives a meter accuracy or water pressure complaint, it must perform a test and share the results with the customer. The test must be at no charge to the customer, except the water company may charge for any additional meter tests requested by the customer within a 12-month period as provided in its fee schedule.
(b) The test must be performed within 10 days of the complaint.
(c) The customer has the option to witness the test. Should the customer choose to witness the test, a mutually agreed time will be established. A continuously recording pressure gauge may be required for a period of up to one week based on customer complaints of low pressure.
(d) The meter or pressure test must be taken using industry standard methods and equipment.
(e) If a meter test reveals a meter error in excess of two percent water flow to the detriment of the customer, the company must repair or replace the meter at no cost to the customer. A refund for any overbilling must be made to the customer.
(f) The water company must keep a record of meter and pressure tests and have them available for inspection. The record must list the customer’s name and address, type of complaint, resolution, and what test method was used.
(g) The water company must provide, at the Department’s request, a description of the test procedures and equipment used to perform meter and pressure complaint tests. [Res. 2016-164; Ord. 76 § 8.04, 12-6-2004 (Res. 2004-467)].
13.40.050 User classes and ERUs.
All users shall be classified in such manner that all members of a class use the water or sewer system to approximately the same amount. Where service is not metered the user class shall be assigned a number of equivalent residential units (ERUs), as defined in Chapter 13.10 TTC, for each appropriate unit and this number of ERUs shall represent the ratio of the costs incurred due to system usage from an average single-family residence. [Res. 2016-164; Ord. 76 § 8.05, 12-6-2004 (Res. 2004-467)].
13.40.060 Charge per user class.
The charge per appropriate unit is established as provided in this chapter in proportion to the approximate usage from that unit in order that each user pays their proportionate share of the cost associated with the system. The minimum charge or base rate, however, shall be one ERU per month. Any user can request classification in a different user class and the Utility Manager shall respond with a recommendation to the Utility as provided in TTC 13.20.170, the appeals procedure of this title.
The current costs per ERU for water and for sewer are passed by resolution and included in the fee schedule attached as TTC 13.105.010 (Appendix A). The number of ERUs per user class shall be as provided below.
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ERUs |
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(1) |
Open Class/Special Users: The Utility Manager shall identify users which do not appear to fit into the user classes for subsection (2) or (3) of this section and recommend a number of ERUs for that facility to the Utility. |
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(2) |
Residential |
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Single-family residence |
1.00 |
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Apartment units (ERUs per unit) |
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1 to 4 units |
1.00 |
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5 or more units |
0.60 |
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(3) |
Commercial |
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Churches (per structure served) |
1.00 |
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Medical or dental office |
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(For sewer rate only: add this amount to the office rate for lab/x-ray capability) |
0.50 |
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Hotel or motel (per room) |
0.25 |
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Public/commercial laundry |
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(per washing machine) |
0.33 |
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Offices |
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For each 15 employees |
1.00 |
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Preschool/kindergarten/other schools |
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without cafeterias |
1.50 |
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Public restroom buildings |
1.00 |
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Restaurant |
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Deli (disposable dinner ware) |
1.00 |
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Cafe (with dinner ware) |
1.50 |
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Rest home (per resident room) |
0.40 |
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Stores |
1.00 |
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[Res. 2016-164; Ord. 76 § 8.06, 12-6-2004 (Res. 2004-467)].
13.40.070 Abnormally strong sewage waste.
The Utility Manager shall identify users whose waste discharge is significantly different from that of normal household waste and recommend to the Utility a special charge based on both the volume and strength of the waste from that facility using the following formula. The Utility may refuse to connect a proposed user or require a proposed user or existing user to pretreat their waste or disconnect an existing user when the strength of that user’s waste threatens the proper operation of the facility as described in other sections of this title.
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Quantity/Quality Formula: |
Cu = VcVu + BcBu + ScSu + PcPu |
Where:
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Cu |
= |
A user’s charge for operation and maintenance per unit of time |
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Vc |
= |
Operation and maintenance cost for transit and treatment of a unit of wastewater volume |
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Vu |
= |
Volume contribution from a user per unit of time |
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Bc |
= |
Operation and maintenance cost for treatment of a unit of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) |
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Bu |
= |
Total BOD contribution from a user per unit of time |
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Sc |
= |
Operation and maintenance cost for treatment of a unit of suspended solids |
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Su |
= |
Total suspended solids contribution from a user per unit of time |
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Pc |
= |
Operation and maintenance cost for treatment of a unit of any pollutant |
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Pu |
= |
Total contribution of any pollutant from a user per unit of time |
[Res. 2016-164; Ord. 76 § 8.07, 12-6-2004 (Res. 2004-467)].