Chapter 13.20
WATER RATES
Sections:
13.20.030 Water rates within city limits.
13.20.060 Water rates outside city limits.
13.20.065 Funding for water system reserve fund.
13.20.080 Bill – Delinquency charge.
13.20.090 Delinquency – Notice – Water shut-off.
13.20.095 Notice – Minimum requirements.
13.20.105 Exceptions to reconnection fee.
13.20.110 Responsibility for water charges – Lien for delinquent accounts.
13.20.010 Authority.
The city council may by resolution, from time to time, fix rates to be paid by a consumer for water procured from the water department of the city, and for the amount of the cost to be charged to and paid by the applicant for a water connection to a water main, including a water meter. Water connections shall be of various sizes as hereinafter specified. All water connections and all water meters shall be installed by the water department of the city. [Ord. 442 §3, 1970].
13.20.020 Established.
The following water rates and charges as set out in PMC 13.20.030 through 13.20.080 are established and shall be subject to change from time to time by resolution of the city council. [Ord. 1003 §2, 2020; Ord. 417 §2, 1969].
13.20.030 Water rates within city limits.
Twenty-three dollars per month per meter for the first 600 cubic feet of water metered, and thereafter $1.50 per each additional 100 cubic feet or increment thereof metered. [Ord. 1003 §3, 2020; Ord. 885 §1, 2010; Ord. 849 §1, 2008; Ord. 781 §1, 2002; Ord. 651 §1, 1993; Ord. 616 §1, 1990; Ord. 584 §1, 1985; Ord. 563 §1, 1982; Ord. 543 §1, 1980].
13.20.060 Water rates outside city limits.
Twenty-nine dollars and forty cents per month per meter for the first 600 cubic feet of water metered, and thereafter $1.50 per each additional 100 cubic feet or increment thereof metered. [Ord. 1003 §4, 2020; Ord. 885 §2, 2010; Ord. 849 § 2, 2008; Ord. 781 §2, 2002; Ord. 651 §2, 1993; Ord. 616 §2, 1990; Ord. 584 §2, 1985; Ord. 563 §2, 1982].
13.20.065 Funding for water system reserve fund.
In addition to the monthly rates established for water service under PMC 13.20.030 and 13.20.060, the following sums shall be paid by water system customers to fund the water system reserve fund: $3.00 per month per meter. [Ord. 1003 §5, 2020; Ord. 783 §1, 2002; Ord. 703 §1, 1998; Ord. 661 §1, 1994].
13.20.070 Bill – When due.
Commencing with the fifteenth day of January, 1986, and continuing thereafter, the water-sewer bill for the city water and/or city sewer service for a month is due and payable on the fifteenth day of the following month. [Ord. 584 §3, 1985; Ord. 343 §1, 1957].
13.20.080 Bill – Delinquency charge.
For and after the fifteenth day of each month the water and/or sewer bill is delinquent, a delinquency charge of $10.00 shall be added to the delinquent bills with a balance in excess of $10.00. [Ord. 935 § 1, 2015; Ord. 852 §1, 2008; Ord. 584 §3, 1985; Ord. 343 §2, 1957].
13.20.090 Delinquency – Notice – Water shut-off.
In the event the water bill and delinquency charge are not paid by the fifteenth day of the next month after the bill becomes delinquent, the city shall take the following steps to notify the user and, if necessary, terminate water service:
A. On or about 15 days after the date of delinquency, the city clerk-treasurer shall give notice reasonably calculated under all the circumstances to apprise the user that:
1. The user is delinquent in payments;
2. Water service will be shut off if the user is still delinquent 30 days after the date of delinquency;
3. The user has the right to protest to the city council the billing and appeal the amount due;
4. If the user does not request a hearing before the city council within 30 days following the date of delinquency and does not pay the delinquent amount or amounts due in full within this same period or any extensions thereof resulting pursuant to the provisions of subsection (C) of this section, the user’s water service will be terminated by shutting off that water service.
B. If the user requests a hearing on the amount due, a hearing must be held before the city council at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The city council shall thereafter determine the amount due and owing and inform the user.
C. The user shall be given 10 days to pay the amount determined by the city council to be owing. If the amount owing has not been paid within 10 days, water service may be shut off.
D. Water service shall be restored if full payment of all amounts owing is made, plus a turn-on charge as provided in PMC 13.20.100.
E. If water service is to be shut off from a known rental unit where the tenant is not the person or entity responsible for paying for water use or water connection charges as shown on the records of the city clerk-treasurer, then prior to termination of service for nonpayment and after the city has satisfied the procedures of this section, the city shall place upon the premises at least five days prior to the scheduled shut off of service such notice as is reasonably calculated to inform the tenant or tenants of the shut off of service.
F. Neither the city nor any of its officers or employees shall be liable for any damages that may occur because of water service being shut off pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. [Ord. 959 §1, 2017; Ord. 597 §1, 1987; Ord. 343 §3, 1987].
13.20.095 Notice – Minimum requirements.
“Notice reasonably calculated under all the circumstances to apprise the user,” as used in PMC 13.20.090(A), shall include, at the minimum, written notice to the user and to the owner, if the owner is not the user, and the owner has so informed the city clerk-treasurer. [Ord. 959 §2, 2017; Ord. 597 §2, 1987].
13.20.100 Reconnection fee.
From and after June 1, 1990, there shall be a reconnection charge assessed for each reconnection made to the city water supply system. The amount of the reconnection fee shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the city council. Such reconnections shall include all instances where water supply is restored to an existing water service connection after the supply has been discontinued for whatever reason other than repairs or suspensions made in the ordinary course of use. This reconnection charge shall be paid to the city before the reconnection, notice of which must be given at least 48 hours before the desired reconnection. [Ord. 996 §1, 2020; Ord. 616 §3, 1990; Ord. 543 §3, 1980].
13.20.105 Exceptions to reconnection fee.
Any water service for the sole purpose of irrigating a garden shall not be charged for any water service not actively used during the months of October through April of any year. [Ord. 616 §4, 1990].
13.20.110 Responsibility for water charges – Lien for delinquent accounts.
All amounts due for water service shall ultimately be the obligation of the owner of the premises supplied with water service. All billing statements for water service shall be sent to the property owner unless the property owner requests the statement instead be regularly sent to the tenant occupying the property to which the service was furnished. For purposes of this section, the term “owner” shall mean the owner of record of the property as disclosed by the records of the Whitman County auditor, or the taxpayer for the property as listed on the rolls of the Whitman County assessor. In addition to any other remedies available in law or equity to collect delinquent water accounts, the city shall have a lien for delinquent water accounts as provided in RCW 35.21.290 and 35.21.300. [Ord. 931 §1, 2015; Ord. 758 §1, 2001; Ord. 597 §3, 1987].