Chapter 13.20
SEWER RATES
Sections:
13.20.010 General requirements.
13.20.040 Monthly sewer service rates.
13.20.050 Customers not connected to the sewer system.
13.20.070 Protest to rates and charges.
13.20.090 Special requirements for industrial users.
13.20.100 Discontinuance of service.
13.20.010 General requirements.
The following schedule of rates for the sanitary sewer facilities and service furnished by and through, or for the use of, the city sanitary sewer system, which rates are found and declared to be reasonable and just, taking into account and consideration the cost and value of the system and cost of maintaining and operating the system, and the proper and necessary allowances for the depreciation thereof and the amount necessary for the retirement of all bonds and other securities payable from revenues of the system, the accruing interest on all such securities, and reserves thereof, are fixed, established, levied, imposed, and otherwise prescribed in this chapter. (Ord. 2356 § 3 (part), 2011: Ord. 2032 § 1 (part), 2002)
13.20.020 Definitions.
For the purpose of this chapter, the words or phrases shall have the meanings as defined in SMC 13.16.030, Definitions. (Ord. 2356 § 3 (part), 2011: Ord. 2032 § 1 (part), 2002)
13.20.030 Reserved.
Repealed by Ord. 2529. (Ord. 2356 § 3 (part), 2011: Ord. 2333 § 1 (part), 2010: Ord. 2032 § 1 (part), 2002)
13.20.040 Monthly sewer service rates.
The monthly rate for each property/building connected to the city’s sewer system, effective January 1, 2011, shall be as follows, unless otherwise required by this chapter:
A. Each single-family residence connected to the sewer system shall pay the minimum monthly rate plus the volume charge for each 100 cubic feet of water used each month above 500 cubic feet as measured by the water meter. Said rates and charges are presented in the Sumner utility rate and fee schedule available at City Hall and the city’s website. The monthly sewer consumption rate shall be based on the average winter usage using the months of mid-November through mid-May. The June billing will be based on this average winter usage and will remain the amount billed until the following June billing when it will be recalculated based on the previous six-month average.
B. Each multifamily building (e.g., duplexes, accessory dwelling units, multi-unit apartment buildings, etc.) connected to the sewer system shall pay the minimum monthly rate per each dwelling unit plus the volume charge for each 100 cubic feet of water used each month above 400 cubic feet times the number of dwelling units as measured by the water meter. The monthly sewer consumption rate shall be based on the average winter usage using the months of mid-November through mid-May. The June billing will be based on this average winter usage and will remain the amount billed until the following June billing when it will be recalculated based on the previous six-month average.
C. All nonresidential customers (commercial, industrial, institutional, etc.) connected to the sewer system shall pay the minimum monthly rate per each equivalent residential unit (ERU), as defined in SMC 13.16.030, assigned to it plus the volume charge for each 100 cubic feet of water used each month above 500 cubic feet times the number of ERUs as measured by the water meter. There will be no winter averaging for these customers.
D. Rates for sewer service outside the city limits shall be the rates for service within the city limits, plus an additional 25 percent.
E. Where a customer is connected to the sewer system but is connected to a water system not operated by the city of Sumner, the water system administrator shall deliver copies of billings or meter readings showing water consumption and the consumption period to the city of Sumner finance department at such intervals as to allow proper and timely billing by the city of Sumner for sewer charges as set forth herein.
F. If a single-family residential customer relocates to a new single-family house inside the city sewer service area, the previously established consumption average will be applied to the new address until the average is recalculated. A residential customer (either single-family or multifamily) who does not have three complete, consecutive bills at the time of recalculation of the consumption average will be assigned the system average of 700 cubic feet for their classification. Closing or partial bills will not be included in the calculation of the consumption average.
G. There will be no adjustments to residential sewer bills using the winter averaging for the intentional use of water such as irrigation, the filling of swimming pools, ponds, hot tubs or similar activities during the winter months of mid-November through mid-May when the averaging is determined. (Ord. 2529 § 2 (part), 2015: Ord. 2356 § 3 (part), 2011: Ord. 2333 § 1 (part), 2010: Ord. 2234 § 1, 2007; Ord. 2048 § 1, 2003: Ord. 2032 § 1 (part), 2002)
13.20.050 Customers not connected to the sewer system.
A. When a customer is not connected to the sewer system and has a working septic system, such customer will not be required to pay the monthly service charges. Until such time as the septic system fails and/or the Tacoma-Pierce County health department deems the septic system as environmentally unsound, then the customer shall be required to connect to the sewer system where it is accessible and follow associated connection procedures. A city sewer main located within 200 feet of the property is considered accessible. All costs for extension of the sewer main and installation of a side sewer shall be borne by the customer, except that the customer may request a latecomer agreement if there are adjacent property owners that may be benefited in the future and in accordance with the requirements of chapter 13.40 SMC.
B. Where a customer is served by a usable septic system and has a stub available such customer is not required to pay associated monthly service charges until such time as the septic system is unworkable or the Tacoma-Pierce County health department deems the septic system environmentally unsound. At such time the customer will be required to hook up to the city sewer system at the customer’s cost, pay applicable system development charges, permit fees and other fees in effect at the time of connection and pay the applicable monthly sewer service charges from that point forward. (Ord. 2356 § 3 (part), 2011: Ord. 2333 § 1 (part), 2010: Ord. 2032 § 1 (part), 2002)
13.20.060 Reserved.
Repealed by Ord. 2529. (Ord. 2479 § 1 (part), 2014; Ord. 2356 § 3 (part), 2011: Ord. 2032 § 1 (part), 2002)
13.20.070 Protest to rates and charges.
If any customer shall be dissatisfied with any sewer charge imposed, the customer may file a written protest with the administrative services director or designee setting forth their objections, provided such protest is filed within 15 days of receipt of the bill being protested. Upon receipt of any such protest, the city shall, within 15 days, make a determination in writing as to the correctness of the bill. (Ord. 2479 § 1 (part), 2014; Ord. 2356 § 3 (part), 2011: Ord. 2032 § 1 (part), 2002)
13.20.080 ERU adjustments.
A. Sewer service charges for all customers other than residential are based on ERUs. An ERU is defined as 200 gallons per day (gpd) as measured at the point of discharge from the building/facility of normal domestic sewage. The methodology set forth in chapter 13.16 SMC for calculating the number of ERUs for various types of building occupancy uses is based on this definition derived from studies of waste generated from similar facilities. The public works department has done a study and determined the number of ERUs for each customer. The determination of the number of ERUs for each customer is based on the intended use of the building/facility at full capacity. The public works department has planned, designed and constructed the necessary facilities to convey and treat this amount of waste. The sewer service rate structure set forth in this chapter acknowledges the fixed costs of the sewer system and the volume charge reflects the variable costs of operating that system.
B. Any customer who disputes the assigned number of ERUs for determining their monthly sewer service charge may request a reevaluation of their ERUs. The request shall be in writing and addressed to the public works director. Accompanying the request shall be payment to offset the labor costs to do the evaluation. The payment shall be $50.00 plus $10.00 for each ERU over five ERUs assigned to that account. The director or his or her designee shall prepare such evaluation and make a report in writing to the customer within 20 work days of the request. If an adjustment is appropriate, the public works director shall notify the administrative services director or designee and utilities clerk and direct them to make the changes. There will be no adjustment credits or debits for past charges due to any adjustment under this section. (Ord. 2479 § 1 (part), 2014; Ord. 2356 § 3 (part), 2011: Ord. 2032 § 1 (part), 2002)
13.20.090 Special requirements for industrial users.
A. Industrial firms, where the water used does not fully return to the sanitary sewer system, because it is incorporated into the product, evaporates or is used for wash water that is approved for discharge to some other location than the sanitary sewer system, shall meet with the public works director or his or her designee and mutually agree to an equitable method of determining the customer’s use of the city’s sewerage system. Said agreement shall be in writing and signed by both parties. The city shall file a copy with the customer’s account. The installation of extra water meters internally to measure only that portion of the water that returns to the sewer system or to deduct that portion not returned to the system or by using a flat rate of $3.50 per month per employee if no other means is available are methods that may be used as determined by the public works director.
B. Industrial firms, where all or a part of the consumption of water comes from privately owned wells or other sources, which discharge wastewater into the sanitary sewer shall, at their expense, meter such sources and make meter readings available to the sewer utilities clerk for the proper determination of sewer service charges.
C. Prior to discharging any industrial waste, other than normal domestic waste, by an industry, full analytical test reports of the constituents of the waste shall be submitted to the superintendent of the wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) for his determination whether they are compatible with the treatment process and whether the WWTF has capacity to treat the waste. The public works director, in consultation with the superintendent, shall determine if pretreatment is required and whether the city is willing to accept the waste. If the city determines that it can process the waste, the customer shall make application for the appropriate permits. In addition to permits to receive sewer service for industrial wastes, the customer shall submit an industrial user survey and enter into an industrial WWTF agreement with the city that will set forth the conditions of service, means of measurement and methodology for determining the amount due as well as determining the monthly service charges due that represent the fair share for use of the sanitary sewer system. (Ord. 2356 § 3 (part), 2011: Ord. 2333 § 1 (part), 2010: Ord. 2032 § 1 (part), 2002)
13.20.100 Discontinuance of service.
A. Service Charge. Any facility/building that is connected to the sanitary sewer system, whether occupied or not, and regardless of whether the water service is on or off, shall pay the minimum monthly service charge as set forth herein. Any structure that has been legally demolished or otherwise destroyed and rendered uninhabitable shall not be subject to the minimum monthly service charge.
B. Credits for Demolished Structures. Following a legal demolition, or destruction of a structure by no fault of the owner, the sewer service connection will be discontinued and a credit will be assigned to the property against system development charges based on the equivalent residential units of the demolished or destroyed structure. This credit is exclusively applicable to redevelopment and remains valid for a period of no more than 10 years from the date service was removed. Failure to submit a complete building permit application within a 10-year period following discontinued sewer service shall result in the expiration of any credit or credits, and the redevelopment of the property will be subject to all applicable fees and charges in place at the time of permit application submittal.
C. Other Discontinuation. Except as otherwise outlined in this chapter, sewer service that is discontinued for any reason other than described above will not be entitled to any service credit and will be subject to all applicable fees and charges for a new connection or re-connection. (Ord. 2881 § 1, 2024; Ord. 2356 § 3 (part), 2011: Ord. 2032 § 1 (part), 2002)
13.20.110 Failure to pay.
Repealed by Ord. 2529. (Ord. 2356 § 3 (part), 2011: Ord. 2032 § 1 (part), 2002)
13.20.120 Enforcement of collections.
Repealed by Ord. 2529. (Ord. 2356 § 3 (part), 2011: Ord. 2032 § 1 (part), 2002: Ord. 597 § 3, 1956. Prior code § 10.10.030. Formerly 13.20.020)