Chapter 12.04
SEWER RATES AND CHARGES
Sections:
12.04.020 Sewer rates.
12.04.030 Connection fees, charges and costs.
12.04.020 Sewer rates.
For the furnishing of service to the users and potential users of the city sanitary sewage system, the rates and charges per month are established for the classifications indicated below:
(1) Definitions.
(a) “Base monthly charge” means the minimum charge to a user per month. For those users whose sewer charge is calculated based on water use, the base monthly charge includes water use up to the base monthly allowance.
(b) “Units” means the number of dwelling units in a multifamily residence such as a duplex, apartment or condominium; or the number of separate rooms or living units in a nursing home, congregate care or assisted living facility; each having separate bathroom and/or kitchen facilities.
(c) “Incremental rate” means the dollar amount charged per 100 cubic feet of water use above the base monthly allowance and applies to those users whose sewer fee is calculated based on water use.
(d) “Sewer charge” means the dollar amount a user is charged for sewer service, calculated based on the sewer rates.
(e) “Sewer rate” means the dollar amount a user is charged for sewer service per unit of measure. For example, a sewer rate may be in terms of dollars per 100 cubic feet of water used, dollars per student, or other units.
(f) “Customer” means the legal property owner at time of meter reading.
(g) “Account” means customer.
(h) “Low-income household” means a household in which the total annual income is below the very low-income level for the Seattle/Everett area as established and amended by survey from time to time by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(i) “Senior citizen” means a person of 62 years of age or older.
(j) “Disabled person” means a person with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, learning, performing manual tasks, caring for oneself, etc.
(2) Rates and Charges.
(a) Basis of Rates and Charges. Sewer charges shall be based on the monthly water use as recorded by the city water meters unless indicated otherwise in this section. The charge for residential uses for the summer months, defined herein as June, July, August and September for accounts in utility meter books 01, 02, 06, 07 and 09, and July, August, September and October for accounts in utility meter books 03, 04, 05 and 08, shall be based on the lesser of the water use for the billing period or the average monthly water use for the preceding October through May, or November through June, period, respectively. If data for the full October through May, or November through June, period are not available, the data will be averaged over the period for which data are available. For new accounts that begin in the defined summer months, the month’s charge shall be based on the water use for that month. The charge for nonresidential uses for the months of June, July, August and September shall be based on the water use for that month unless indicated otherwise in this section. A user may elect, at his/her own expense, to install a separate water meter to measure water used for irrigation. An irrigation-only account will then be established and billed separately by the city.
(b) Rate Schedule. Effective January 1, 2010.
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Classification |
Base Monthly Charge |
Incremental Rate |
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Residential: |
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Single-family |
$37.00 |
$3.26/100 cubic feet |
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Multifamily |
$37.00 times the number of units |
$3.26/100 cubic feet |
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Commercial: |
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Light commercial |
$42.48 |
$3.26/100 cubic feet |
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Heavy commercial |
$80.41 |
$3.48/100 cubic feet |
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General industrial |
$134.74 |
$4.44/100 cubic feet |
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Schools: |
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Without kitchen and/or gym facilities |
$42.48 plus $1.47 per student and staff |
Not applicable |
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With kitchen and/or gym facilities |
$87.87 plus $1.47 per student and staff |
Not applicable |
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Other: |
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Hotels and guest houses |
$37.00 times the number of units |
$3.26/100 cubic feet |
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Churches, meeting halls, etc. |
$42.48 |
$3.26/100 cubic feet |
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All Other Uses (e.g., government, utilities, etc.) |
$42.48 |
$3.26/100 cubic feet |
(c) Additional Information. The school population to be applied for calculation of the sewer charge shall be the number of full-time staff and student equivalents as reported by the school district for the month of October of each year. This population shall be used for the school year beginning November 1st and for the school year until new October data are available. Schools shall be charged only the base monthly charge for the months of June, July and August as long as the facility remains unoccupied and the water consumption reflects an inactive status.
(d) Sewer Service Outside the City Limits. Rates for services outside of the city limits of Stanwood shall be city rates as adopted, plus 45 percent.
(3) Base Monthly Allowances.
(a) The base monthly allowance shall be as follows:
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Classification |
Base Monthly Allowance |
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Residential: |
|
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Single-family residences |
600 cubic feet per month |
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Multifamily residences: |
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Units individually metered |
600 cubic feet per month |
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One water meter for all units |
600 cubic feet per month times the number of units |
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Commercial: |
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Light commercial |
600 cubic feet per month |
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Heavy commercial |
600 cubic feet per month |
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General industrial |
600 cubic feet per month |
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Schools: |
Not applicable |
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Other: |
|
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Hotels and guest houses |
600 cubic feet per month times the number of units |
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Churches, meeting halls, etc. |
600 cubic feet per month |
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All Other Uses (e.g., government, utilities, etc.) |
600 cubic feet per month |
(b) The following conditions apply to the base monthly allowances:
(i) Multifamily Residences. No modifications given for unoccupied units when multiple units are on a single meter.
(4) Classification Descriptions.
(a) Single-Family Residences. This classification includes buildings for residential uses and includes detached homes intended for use by single families.
(b) Multifamily Residences. This classification includes structures containing more than one residence and includes uses such as duplexes, triplexes, multiplexes, nursing homes, congregate care, convalescent care, assisted living facilities, condominiums and apartments.
(c) Light Commercial. This classification includes commercial uses not otherwise classified. It incorporates simple domestic waste generators such as offices and small retail trade establishments.
(d) Heavy Commercial. This classification includes commercial uses that have higher potential for problem wastes (high strength, problem constituents or large volume) than the light commercial classification. The heavy commercial classification includes laundries, dry cleaners, restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, medical clinics, funeral homes, photo development, veterinary clinics, dental clinics, etc.
(e) General Industrial. This classification includes uses that generate large volumes of wastewater or have high strength or problem wastewater. This classification includes manufacturing and processing facilities, etc.
(f) Hotels and Guest Houses. This classification includes buildings used for sleeping purposes by guests (transient lodging) such as motels, inns, hotels, and bed and breakfast inns. No modifications will be given for unoccupied units.
(g) Public/Institution. This classification includes government buildings, churches, meeting halls, school district administration offices unless they are situated within a school building, etc.
(h) Schools. This classification includes education facilities. If school district administration offices are located within the same building as where education classes are conducted, such administration staff shall be counted as school staff for the sewage charge calculation.
(i) Special. This classification is reserved for special cases that do not fit the other classes. The public works director shall determine whether a special classification and charge will apply and will recommend to city council such charges.
(5) Users with State Waste Discharge Permits, NPDES Permits or Pretreatment Agreements with the City. This classification includes businesses with a state waste discharge permit, NPDES permit or pretreatment agreement with the city. The monthly charge shall be based on the maximum amount of wastewater allowed by the permit or agreement unless a city-approved meter indicates a smaller amount was actually sent to the city’s wastewater facilities. For businesses that do not yet have a permit or agreement, calculation of their charge shall be based on the most appropriate classification above.
(6) Users with High Strength Waste. The city shall have the right to charge an additional monthly sewer service charge for a high strength waste, which is defined herein as one with pollutant concentrations in excess of typical domestic wastewater. A surcharge is appropriate for waste strength conditions including, but not limited to, a total five-day biochemical oxygen demand and/or suspended solids concentration in excess of 300 milligrams per liter. The public works director will recommend to city council an appropriate monthly surcharge.
(7) Users with Multiple Classifications. In the event that any user of the city’s sanitary sewage system, by the nature of its business, may fall within two or more of the above classifications, the rate for such user shall be the highest rate established for any such classification.
(8) Contract Rates. Rates for any user may be set by contract at the discretion of the city council. Users having their rates set by contract shall fall under this classification only during the duration of the contract term. Upon termination of said contract, the user will be charged under the other most applicable classification as determined by the finance director.
(9) Inactive Rates. An inactive rate is available to accounts where water consumption falls below 100 cubic feet per month for one continuous billing period or more. Inactive rates will only be available upon prior notice to the city. Inactive rates for all classifications shall be 50 percent of the minimum base monthly charge per classification.
(10) Low-Income Senior Citizen and Low-Income Disabled Rates.
(a) Low-income senior citizens or low-income disabled persons who are customers of the utility shall be eligible to apply for sewer service at 70 percent of the monthly minimum charge, and full charge for all overage consumption.
(b) Low-income households in which the principal financial resources are provided by a senior citizen or a disabled person, as defined in this chapter, may apply for these reduced rates. The city may require a customer who is receiving service at a reduced rate to provide information annually to confirm their continued eligibility for the reduced rate.
(c) The reduced rate provided by this subsection shall apply only to single-family residential services. (Ord. 1259 § 1, 2009; Ord. 1235 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1189 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1127 § 1, 2002; Ord. 1102 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1086 § 1, 1999; Ord. 938 § 1, 1995; Ord. 850 § 1, 1992; Ord. 770 § 1, 1989; Ord. 757 § 1, 1988; Ord. 673 § 1, 1985; Ord. 605, 1982; Ord. 577 § 1, 1981; Ord. 557 § 1, 1980; Ord. 470, 1977; Ord. 355 § 7, 1971; Ord. 241 § 2, 1962).
12.04.030 Connection fees, charges and costs.
(1) Applications for connection to the city sewage system shall be made to the public works department for approval of the design and inspection of the proposed connection.
(2) A permit fee to cover the cost of administration in the amount of $50.00 shall be charged for each application for city sewer service. Such fee shall be paid into the city general fund.
(3) A connection fee shall be charged at the time of construction of a building or segregation of a building into two or more units for each separate residence, multiple housing unit, business building or separate business unit within a building proposed to be served by city sewer according to the following schedule:
(a) Residential Sewer Connection Charges.
(i) Single-family residence (including mobile homes): $500.00.
(ii) Duplex (two dwelling units): $750.00.
(iii) Triplex (three dwelling units): $1,000.
(iv) Multifamily: $1,000 plus $250.00 per unit.
(b) Commercial.
(i) Six-inch service connection: $1,000.
Connection fees for service sizes other than six inches shall be determined by the public works director.
Such fee shall be paid into the sanitary sewage construction reserve fund. (Ord. 1102 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1086 § 1, 1999).