Chapter 13.20
SEWER RATES AND CHARGES
Sections:
13.20.010 Connection required.
13.20.020 Sewer rates inside city.
13.20.025 Sewer rates outside city limits.
13.20.040 Billing of services – Due date and delinquency penalty.
13.20.050 Sewer connection charge.
13.20.060 Charges constitute lien against property served.
13.20.070 Collection and deposit of charges.
13.20.010 Connection required.
A. The owner of each lot or parcel of real property within the area to be served by the sanitary sewage disposal system of the city, as it now exists and as it may be improved and extended in the future, upon which lot or parcel of real property there shall be situated any building or structure for human occupation or for use for any other purpose which shall require sewer service shall cause a connection to be made between the sewerage system and each such building or structure; provided, that where more than one building is located on a lot or parcel of land not larger than 50 feet in width and 136 feet in depth, only one connection for the buildings need be made.
B. All connections shall be made to the sewerage system in a permanent and sanitary manner subject to the approval of the sewer superintendent, and shall be sufficient to carry all sewage and waste fluids of any kind from the buildings into the system, and each toilet, sink, stationary washstand or any other piece or type of equipment having waste fluids shall be connected with the sewerage system; and the connection shall be made on or before the completion of the building or structure and before any use or occupation thereof. (Ord. 493 § 1, 1973; Ord. 316 § 1, 1950)
13.20.020 Sewer rates inside city.
A. All property upon which any building is now or may hereafter be erected which requires a sewer connection with the city sewer system shall be subject to the monthly rate set forth in the city’s current fee schedule. The monthly rates are calculated based upon the water meter size servicing the property and on one equivalent residential unit (ERU), which is the equivalent of 10,000 gallons usage per month.
B. Residential (R) Combined Services. Where more than one user is served through the same water meter, which shall include but not be limited to duplexes, more than one dwelling on the same meter, or any other combination served by the same meter, each unit shall be classified as a separate sewer user and shall pay the minimum rate as set forth in subsection A of this section.
C. It is declared to be the policy of the city that, in the determination of the classification of any premises for the determination of the monthly sewer service rate where there may exist some doubt as to which classification shall prevail, the classification providing for the largest monthly sewer service rate shall apply.
D. Sewer Overage Rates.
1. It is declared to be the policy of the city that the monthly overage rates shall be based on the water meter readings for each property served for the period of October 15th through April 14th; provided, that the water meters shall be read monthly for designated commercial classifications as determined by the mayor or designee. All readings in excess of the gallons allowed per month as set forth in subsection A of this section shall be considered overages, and shall be subject to an overage rate as set forth in the city’s current fee schedule. The overage rate shall be determined by adding the total gallons of water used for the period of October 15th through April 14th (total winter gallons used), minus the gallons allowed per month (total winter gallons allowed per month) divided by six, multiplied by the overage rate per 1,000 gallons, and the total thereof shall be added to the monthly sewer service charge until readjusted according to the next October 15th reading through April 14th reading.
Provided, however, that any sewer overage amount due from a commercial customer whose meter is read monthly and whose water and sewer usage is almost exclusively for washing and drying clothing, such as a laundromat, shall have their monthly overage amount reduced by five percent to account for the water which evaporates in the drying process and does not enter the sewer system.
2. Annual Overage Payment Election. The payer of the monthly overage rate as determined in subsection (D)(1) of this section may elect to pay the full year’s sewer overage rate in advance without benefit of a discount on or before May 20th of each year commencing May 20, 1993. The following formula will be used to calculate overage rates from the October 15th reading through April 14th reading:
Total Winter Gallons Used minus Total Winter Gallons Allowed divided by six months times Overage Rate per 1,000 Gallons equals Overage Rate per Month.
E. Sewer Annual Payment Election. The payer of the monthly sewer charge may elect to pay the full year’s sewer service charges in advance. The full year’s sewer service shall be determined by multiplying the monthly sewer service charge by 12 and then receiving a discount as determined by the city’s current fee schedule. (Ord. 2009 § 1(14), 2014; Ord. 1098 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1092 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1084 § 1, 2012; Ord. 1081 § 1, 2011; Ord. 1070 § 1, 2011; Ord. 1067 § 1, 2010; Ord. 1049 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1047 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1032 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1000 § 1, 2003; Ord. 963 § 1, 2002; Ord. 947 § 1, 2001; Ord. 906 § 1(1), 1997; Ord. 818 § 1, 1992; Ord. 667 § 1, 1984; Ord. 638 § 1, 1983; Ord. 636 § 1, 1982; Ord. 578 § 1, 1979; Ord. 528 § 1, 1975; Ord. 505 § 1, 1974; Ord. 386 § 1, 1961; Ord. 316 § 2, 1950)
13.20.025 Sewer rates outside city limits.
Minimum sewer rates to users outside the corporate limits of the city and within the state of Washington shall be the same as those charged for sewer service inside the corporate limits of the city as set forth in NMC 13.20.020(A), except that all charges for such sewer services outside the corporate limits of the city and all consumption over the gallons allowed per month shall be computed as set forth in NMC 13.20.020(D), and the total therefor shall be increased by a fee set forth in the city’s current fee schedule. (Ord. 2009 § 1(16), 2014; Ord. 818 § 3, 1992)
13.20.030 Rates increased.
Repealed by Ord. 2030. (Ord. 463 § 1, 1970; Ord. 456 § 1, 1970)
13.20.040 Billing of services – Due date and delinquency penalty.
A. Sanitary sewage disposal service charges are declared now and hereafter the responsibility and liability of the owner of the property being provided said service. Effective immediately, the city clerk/treasurer shall cause to be entered on the utility record accounts, now, on existing user accounts and in the future, the names of owners of property being provided or which will be provided sanitary sewage disposal services. So as not to disrupt the normal billing cycle pending the transition of property owners names to the utility record accounts, billings may be charged to present users’ name. Effective as of the date of the passage of the ordinance codified in this chapter, notice of the prescribed changes shall be included in all billings for three consecutive months.
B. Sewer Late Charge. In the event that a sewer bill is not paid on or before the twentieth day of the month received, a monthly late charge in the amount set forth in the city’s current fee schedule will be assessed, which shall be paid with the payment of the sewer bill.
C. In the event that any sanitary sewage disposal service bill, charge or rate is not paid by the twentieth day of the month in which it becomes delinquent as provided above, a notice of delinquency will be mailed giving notice of and fixing a date for water shutoff and for a prior public hearing to allow the user to appear and be heard by the city council and show good cause for nonpayment. If good cause is not found by the council, the water service to the premises will be shut off. The city public works field supervisor may post an additional notice on the property prior to water shutoff.
D. The monthly rates and other charges shall be owed by the person owning the property on the fifteenth day of the month in which the service is provided. If the property is sold during a service month, the seller and purchaser of the property shall have sole responsibility to adjust between themselves the rates, charges and service bill accordingly. Failure of either to do so shall not affect the lien rights of the city. (Ord. 2009 § 1(15), 2014; Ord. 796 § 2, 1992; Ord. 316 § 3, 1950)
13.20.050 Sewer connection charge.
A. In addition to the foregoing rates and charges, the city shall charge for each connection made with the sewerage system the charges set forth in the city’s current fee schedule.
B. The connection charge shall become due and payable prior to completing the connection to the sewage system and, if not so paid on or before said date, it shall become delinquent and shall bear interest at the rate set forth in the city’s current fee schedule from the date of delinquency until paid. (Ord. 2009 § 1(17), 2014; Ord. 1043 § 1, 2007; Ord. 983 § 1, 2003; Ord. 906 § 1(2), 1997; Ord. 818 § 1, 1992; Ord. 667 § 2, 1984; Ord. 468 § 1, 1971; Ord. 447 § 1, 1969; Ord. 316 § 4, 1950)
13.20.060 Charges constitute lien against property served.
A. All charges for sewage disposal service and for connections with the sewerage system, together with the penalties and interest thereon as provided in this chapter, shall be a lien on the property upon which the connection is made or sewerage service rendered, superior to all other liens or encumbrances except those for general taxes and special assessments.
B. Enforcement of the lien or liens shall be in the manner provided by law for the enforcement of liens and for delinquent sewerage service charges.
C. As an additional and concurrent method of enforcing the lien authorized in this section, the city may cut off the water service furnished from the municipal water system to the premises to which the sewer service was furnished after the charges become delinquent and unpaid until the charges are paid, in the manner provided by law. (Ord. 427 § 1, 1967; Ord. 316 § 5, 1950)
13.20.070 Collection and deposit of charges.
The city clerk/treasurer shall collect all rates and charges provided for in this chapter and accruing from time to time and all such sums, when collected, shall be paid into the fund of the city created by Ordinance No. 315 and entitled “Newport Sewer Revenue Fund.” The city clerk/treasurer shall pay from the fund into the Newport 1950 sewer revenue bond redemption fund, created by Ordinance No. 315, all the sums required by the ordinance to be paid into the fund at the time or times required. (Ord. 316 § 6, 1950)
13.20.080 Office rent.
There is fixed an annual office rental charge as set forth in the city’s current fee schedule for the office space used by the city sewer department, which shall be paid from the city sewer fund and deposited to the city current expense fund. (Ord. 2070 § 1, 2019)