Chapter 12.16
WATER UTILITY RATES AND CHARGES

Sections:

12.16.005    Definitions.

12.16.010    Water service rates.

12.16.014    Low-income senior citizen and low-income disabled rates.

12.16.016    Inactive rates.

12.16.020    Large seasonal users.

12.16.030    Fire hydrant service.

12.16.040    Service connection charge.

12.16.050    Fire suppression systems.

12.16.005 Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) “Quantity allowed” means the number of hundreds of cubic feet of water that may be consumed for the monthly minimum charge.

(2) “Overage” means the water that is consumed over the quantity allowed for each meter size in a month.

(3) “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.

(4) “Senior citizen” means a person 62 years of age or older.

(5) “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.

(6) “Inactive” means an account with less than 100 cubic feet water consumption for one continuous billing period.

(7) “Customer” means the legal property owner at time of meter reading.

(8) “Account” means customer. (Ord. 1189 § 3, 2006; Ord. 994 § 1, 1996).

12.16.010 Water service rates.

(1) For the furnishing of service to users and potential users of the city water system, the rates and charges per month are established for the classifications indicated below.

(2) Water Service Rates – Metered Water. The following rates will be applied for monthly water service:

(a) Monthly Minimum Charges by Meter Size – Effective January 1, 2010.

Meter Size (inches)

Quantity Allowed (hundreds of cubic feet)

Monthly Minimum Base Charge

3/4

6

$18.98

1

10

$31.69

1-1/2

20

$63.19

2

40

$101.14

3

80

$189.76

4

150

$316.32

(b) Charges for Consumption in Excess of the Quantity Allowed (by Hundreds of Cubic Feet) – Effective January 1, 2010.

(i) All amounts in excess of quantity allowed, unless included in the monthly minimum base charge, shall be charged at $2.49 per each 100 cubic feet over the base quantity allowed.

(c) Water Service Outside the City Limits. Rates for services outside of the city of Stanwood shall be city rates as adopted, plus 45 percent.

(3) Conditions.

(a) In computation of bi-monthly bills for service, the monthly minimum base charge and the quantity allowed for each rate block shall be multiplied by two.

(b) When multiple dwelling units, each having bathroom and/or kitchen facilities within a building, are served by a single meter connection, the minimum charge per month shall be the minimum monthly charge for a three-quarter-inch meter times the number of dwellings served by the single meter. (Ord. 1259 § 2, 2009; Ord. 1189 § 3, 2006; Ord. 1128 § 1, 2002; Ord. 1101 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1085 § 1, 1999; Ord. 994 §§ 2 – 5, 1996; Ord. 831 § 1, 1991; Ord. 808 § 1, 1990; Ord. 788 § 1, 1989; Ord. 749 § 1, 1988; Ord. 723 §§ 1, 2, 1987; Ord. 715 § 1, 1986; Ord. 709 § 1, 1986).

12.16.014 Low-income senior citizen and low-income disabled rates.

(1) Low-income senior citizens or low-income disabled persons who are customers of the utility shall be eligible to apply for water service at 70 percent of the monthly minimum charge, and full charge for all overage consumption.

(2) 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.

(3) The reduced rate provided by this section shall apply only to three-quarter-inch single-family residential services. (Ord. 1189 § 3, 2006; Ord. 1101 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1085 § 1, 1999; Ord. 994 § 6, 1996).

12.16.016 Inactive rates.

An inactive rate is available to accounts where consumption falls below 100 cubic feet for one continuous billing period or more. Inactive rates will only be available upon prior notice to the city. Inactive rates for all meter sizes shall be at 50 percent of the minimum monthly base water charge by meter size. (Ord. 1189 § 3, 2006; Ord. 1101 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1085 § 1, 1999; Ord. 994 § 7, 1996).

12.16.020 Large seasonal users.

(1) Applicable to all users who:

(a) Consume more than 1,000,000 cubic feet per year; and

(b) Consume water at a rate of more than 100 gallons per minute (GPM); and

(c) Consume more than 20 percent of their annual water use in 30 consecutive calendar days.

(2) Demand Charge. Large seasonal users shall pay a demand charge. The demand charge shall be in accordance with the following formula:

(a) Effective January 1, 2005, Demand Charge – $1.59 times (peak day water use for 2004 in GPM).

(b) Effective September 1, 2006, Demand Charge – $1.67 times (peak day water use for 2005 GPM).

(c) Effective January 1, 2007, Demand Charge – $1.79 times (peak day water use for 2006 GPM).

(d) Effective January 1, 2008, Demand Charge – $1.92 times (peak day water use for 2007 GPM).

(e) Effective January 1, 2009, Demand Charge – $2.06 times (peak day water use for 2008 GPM).

(3) Consumption Charge. In addition to the demand charge, large seasonal users shall pay a consumption charge equal to:

(a) Effective January 1, 2005, the annual average water consumption over the five previous calendar years divided by 12 times $1.21 per 100 cubic feet.

(b) Effective September 1, 2006, the annual average water consumption over the five previous calendar years divided by 12 times $1.27 per 100 cubic feet.

(c) Effective January 1, 2007, the annual average water consumption over the five previous calendar years divided by 12 times $1.36 per 100 cubic feet.

(d) Effective January 1, 2008, the annual average water consumption over the five previous calendar years divided by 12 times $1.46 per 100 cubic feet.

(e) Effective January 1, 2009, the annual average water consumption over the five previous calendar years divided by 12 times $1.57 per 100 cubic feet.

Any city utility tax is in addition to the above rates. (Ord. 1189 § 3, 2006; Ord. 1128 § 1, 2002; Ord. 1101 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1085 § 1, 1999; Ord. 994 § 8, 1996; Ord. 715 § 1, 1986; Ord. 709 §1, 1986).

12.16.030 Fire hydrant service.

(1) Hydrant Use Fee. Persons drawing water from or utilizing city water from a hydrant shall pay a use fee of $50.00 per day.

(2) Rate per Month. Fire hydrants owned and maintained by the customer:

Each hydrant    $2.50 per month

(Ord. 1189 § 3, 2006; Ord. 1101 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1085 § 1, 1999; Ord. 715 § 1, 1986; Ord. 709 § 1, 1986).

12.16.040 Service connection charge.

(1) A permit fee to cover the cost of administration in the amount of $50.00 shall be charged for each application for city water service. Such fee shall be paid into the city general fund.

(2) Service Connection Charge. Each separate service connection shall pay a fee per meter size as follows:

3/4" or smaller    $600.00

1"    $700.00

1-1/2"    $2,000.00

2"    $2,500.00

Service connection charges for meters larger than two inches shall be determined by the public works director. (Ord. 1189 § 3, 2006; Ord. 1101 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1085 § 1, 1999; Ord. 715 § 1, 1986; Ord. 709 § 1, 1986).

12.16.050 Fire suppression systems.

(1) Rate per Month. Effective January 1, 2007, buildings with installed fire suppression systems owned and maintained by the customer shall be billed at $2.50 per month. (Ord. 1189 § 3, 2006).