Chapter 13.45
WATER CONNECTION FEES
Sections:
13.45.010 Water service application.
13.45.015 Interpretation generally – No contractual obligation.
13.45.025 Water system development fee.
13.45.026 Water line development fee.
13.45.030 Increasing service line size – Fees.
13.45.035 Individual customer determination – Separate connections required.
13.45.040 Service line and water meter installation – Cost responsibility.
13.45.050 Service line installation and maintenance – Owner responsibility.
13.45.080 Equipment maintenance – Customer responsibility.
13.45.100 Inspections – Public works director powers and nonliability.
13.45.110 Authorized employees – Property access – Purpose.
13.45.010 Water service application.
A. Any person desiring the installation of domestic water service to a building or property shall submit a signed application therefor upon forms provided by the city, and at the time of submission of the application shall pay all applicable fees, including fees and charges as provided for herein. The application and fees must be submitted at least 14 days before the applicant’s requested connection date.
B. Applications are subject to approval by the public works director.
C. The installation of any water service is dependent on the available water distribution facilities and available water, and the city is not required to approve, nor shall the department install a water service in areas not served by an existing water distribution system, or where the system is inadequate to handle the increase that would result from the applicant’s proposed use or where sufficient water is not available. [Ord. 12-15 § 1 (Att. A), 2015; Ord. 37-06 § 1, 2006; Ord. 7-99 § 1, 1999; Ord. 226 § 1, 1976; Ord. 197 § 3.01, 1975].
13.45.015 Interpretation generally – No contractual obligation.
Nothing contained in this title shall be taken as creating any contractual obligation between the city and any person receiving water from the city, or to change the terms and conditions upon which water is provided and sold. [Ord. 12-15 § 1 (Att. A), 2015; Ord. 37-06 § 1, 2006].
13.45.020 Hookup fees.
The fee required for connection to the domestic water system shall include the hookup fee and other applicable fees. The hookup fee, which is based on the anticipated cost of making the physical connection to the system, includes the cost of labor, material, meters, valves, fittings, and an administrative fee, and shall be as established by city council in the master fee schedule. [Ord. 12-15 § 1 (Att. A), 2015; Ord. 16-13 § 3, 2013; Ord. 16-12 § 1, 2012; Ord. 37-06 § 1, 2006; Ord. 7-99 § 2, 1999; Ord. 120-94 § 1, 1994; Ord. 23-93 § 1, 1993; Ord. 1-92 § 1, 1992; Ord. 391 § 1, 1980; Ord. 226 § 2, 1976; Ord. 197 § 3.02, 1975].
13.45.025 Water system development fee.
A. The water system development fee herein imposed is a connection fee charged so that the property on which it is imposed will pay its equitable share or the cost of existing capital water facilities which are system-wide in nature and are not site specific, such as water line which serves the property in question directly and charged to any party or parties making a new connection to the city’s domestic water system, wherein said party does not bring a developed source of domestic water sufficient to meet the demand placed upon the city’s water system resulting from the connection. Water system development fees include the property’s equitable share of costs required to upgrade the water system to meet demands imposed by the new connection, a share of the debt service incurred to construct the necessary general facilities of the system, to pay for each new connection’s proportionate share of the costs of purchasing and developing a domestic water source to serve that connection.
B. The water system development fee is hereby imposed as a connection charge pursuant to Chapters 35.92 and 82.02 RCW, and the Growth Management Act on all premises which have not yet connected to the city water system or which have not paid their equitable share of the cost of the existing system. The water system development fee shall be paid in full prior to the time a building permit is issued by the city, or prior to the time the water usage to the property is expanded.
C. The water system development fee for a single-family residential unit and each dwelling unit of a duplex inside the city limits shall be as set by city council in the master fee schedule. The water system development fee for a single-family residential unit and each dwelling unit of a duplex outside the city limits shall be as set by city council in the master fee schedule. The water system development fee shall be as set by city council in the master fee schedule for parties that provide a separate irrigation system that does not rely on city potable water for irrigation purposes. Prior to approval of the construction plans for a preliminary plat, or approval of a short plat or binding site plan, the owner and/or developer shall pay the water system development fee as set by city council in the master fee schedule for each proposed lot.
D. The water system development fee for all other users not listed in subsection C of this section shall be based on the size of the water meter service as set by city council in the master fee schedule.
E. The funds collected pursuant to this section, as water system development fees, shall be deposited in the cumulative reserve fund for water system development created by Chapter 3.40 WRMC and disbursed therefrom shall be made only for the purpose of paying for capital improvements to the city water system which are system-wide in nature and are necessitated by and related to additional demands placed on the water system by new connections, said expenditures to pay for the new source of domestic water for the city, including the cost of financing the water right, well, wellhead protection zone, easements, infrastructure necessary to bring the water to the city’s water system, facilities improvements, engineering costs and costs for the preparation of plans and studies related to improvement of the water system and the acquisition of real property for the purpose of facility improvements and matching of federal and state grants for any of the foregoing. [Ord. 12-15 § 1 (Att. A), 2015; Ord. 5-11 § 1, 2011; Ord. 37-06 § 1, 2006; Ord. 25-02 § 2, 2002; Ord. 7-99 § 3, 1999].
13.45.026 Water line development fee.
A. The water line development fee herein charged is a site-specific connection fee charged so that the property on which it is imposed will pay its equitable share of the costs of the water distribution system to which the property will be connecting where the property has not already participated in these costs, through an improved subdivision with developer-installed lines or has been assessed as part of a local improvement district for the water line, or has paid under an approved latecomer agreement for the water line.
B. The water line development fee is hereby imposed as a connection charge upon all premises which have not yet connected to the city water distribution system or which have not paid their equitable share of the cost of the system as set forth in subsection A of this section. The water line development fee shall be paid prior to issuance of a building permit for the property.
C. The water line development fee imposed herein for a parcel of property is computed as set by city council in the master fee schedule.
D. The water line development fee collected by this section shall be deposited into a fund entitled water line development fund and shall be expended by the city only for water line development. [Ord. 12-15 § 1 (Att. A), 2015; Ord. 37-06 § 1, 2006; Ord. 7-99 § 4, 1999].
13.45.030 Increasing service line size – Fees.
Users desiring to increase the size of the service line to their building or property shall be charged the fees indicated in this title for the line to be installed. [Ord. 12-15 § 1 (Att. A), 2015; Ord. 226 § 4, 1976; Ord. 197 § 3.02.5, 1975].
13.45.035 Individual customer determination – Separate connections required.
Each single-family residential unit, each dwelling unit of a duplex and each separate premises shall be considered an individual customer and shall be supplied through a separate water service connection up to and including a water service meter at the point of delivery. The point of delivery is the property owner’s side of the city’s water meter. Any service line longer than 40 feet must be approved by the city engineer and paid for by the customer for the distance in excess of 40 feet. No connection smaller than one-inch-size shall be made from the water main to the meter without prior written approval from the city engineer. [Ord. 12-15 § 1 (Att. A), 2015; Ord. 5-11 § 2, 2011; Ord. 37-06 § 1, 2006].
13.45.040 Service line and water meter installation – Cost responsibility.
Upon approval of the application by the public works director and payment of the fees, the department shall install and maintain the connection on the water main in a right-of-way, or easement, and the service line from this connection up to and including a water service meter at the point of delivery. The point of delivery is the property owner’s side of the city’s water meter. Any service line longer than 40 feet must be installed and paid by the customer for the distance in excess of 40 feet. No connection smaller than one inch in size shall be made from the water main to the meter without prior written approval from the public works director. [Ord. 12-15 § 1 (Att. A), 2015; Ord. 37-06 § 1, 2006; Ord. 197 § 3.03, 1975].
13.45.050 Service line installation and maintenance – Owner responsibility.
The service line from the point of delivery to the customer’s building shall be installed and maintained by the customer, shall be placed at least 30 inches below the surface of the ground and shall be provided with a stopcock or valve with which the customer may shut off the water supply to perform repair or alteration work. [Ord. 12-15 § 1 (Att. A), 2015; Ord. 197 § 3.04, 1975].
13.45.080 Equipment maintenance – Customer responsibility.
It shall be the responsibility of each customer to protect the water meter, service line, and shut-off device inside the customer’s building from damage due to frost. All such equipment, either inside or outside, must be protected by the customer from damage from backed up hot water or steam. The repair costs for such damage due to negligence of the customer shall be charged to the customer on his regular bill and shall constitute a charge for water service. [Ord. 12-15 § 1 (Att. A), 2015; Ord. 197 § 3.07, 1975].
13.45.100 Inspections – Public works director powers and nonliability.
The public works director shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, to direct the building inspector to inspect the water supply, piping and plumbing at any customer’s premises before or after water service is turned on; service may be refused or discontinued by the public works director where such piping or plumbing is not in conformance with applicable city ordinances. Such inspection, or failure to inspect, or failure to refuse or discontinue service shall not render the city liable or responsible for any loss, damage, or injury resulting from any defects in the piping or plumbing. [Ord. 12-15 § 1 (Att. A), 2015; Ord. 37-06 § 1, 2006; Ord. 197 § 3.10, 1975].
13.45.110 Authorized employees – Property access – Purpose.
The duly authorized and properly identified employees of the department shall have access to the customer’s premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of inspecting water supply, piping and plumbing; inspecting, testing or repairing water department equipment; and for reading water meters. [Ord. 12-15 § 1 (Att. A), 2015; Ord. 197 § 3.11, 1975].