Chapter 13.16 COMBINED WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM RATES AND CHARGES

Chapter 13.16
COMBINED WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM RATES AND CHARGES

Sections:

13.16.015 Latecomer charges for developer-installed sewer and water lines.

13.16.020 Monthly rate schedule—Residential and commercial users.

13.16.030 Sewer rate for large industrial users.

13.16.010 Hook-up costs.

For purposes of hook-up charges, the classification of a user connecting to the city sewer system shall be determined by the city’s utilities superintendent and the following charges shall apply:

(a) Hook-up charges for residential dwelling units and single occupancy commercial units are as follows:

There shall be an initial hookup charge of three thousand one hundred twenty-five dollars or actual cost, whichever is greater, per service for any connection to the city sewer system. This initial hookup charge shall be in addition to any other charge or cost. Any property owner requesting a side sewer installation shall pay the full cost of the installation.

(b) Hook-up charges for multifamily residential dwellings and multiple-occupancy commercial buildings served by single service are as follows:

There shall be an initial hookup charge of three thousand one hundred twenty-five dollars or actual cost, whichever is greater, per service for any connection to the city sewer system for the first unit and one thousand two hundred fifty dollars or actual cost, whichever is greater, per unit for each additional unit served by same service. This initial hookup charge shall be in addition to any other charge or cost. Any property owner requesting a side sewer installation shall pay the full cost of the installation.

(c) Users who discharge, or contract to discharge, an average daily volume of six hundred sixty-eight cubic feet or greater of effluent shall be considered large industrial users. Hook-up charges for large industrial users are as follows:

There shall be an initial hook-up charge for any connection to the city sewer system of three thousand one hundred twenty-five dollars, which shall allow discharge of up to an equivalent residential unit (“ERU”). For each additional ERU of discharge, or portion thereof contracted for, there shall be an additional charge equal to the “Current JAMES Plant DCC Rate” in effect at the time of connection as set forth in the Sumas wastewater agreement between the city of Sumas and the city of Abbotsford and the District of Mission, dated November 13, 2008 (“Wastewater Agreement”), which amount shall not be less than three thousand dollars. This initial hook-up charge shall be in addition to any other charge or cost. Any property owner requesting a side sewer installation shall pay the full cost of the installation.

An “equivalent residential unit” or “ERU” shall have the same meaning as that term is defined in the wastewater agreement at the time of connection. Currently an “equivalent residential unit” or “ERU” is equal to an annual discharge volume of twelve thousand seven hundred fourteen cubic feet. (Ord. 1545 § 1, 2010: Ord. 1537 § 2, 2009: Ord. 1475 § 2, 2007: Ord. 1465 § 2, 2007: Ord. 1047 § 2, 1991: Ord. 1013 § 2, 1990: Ord. 927 § 2, 1986: Ord. 700 § 1, 1972)

13.16.015 Latecomer charges for developer-installed sewer and water lines.

(a) There shall be established latecomer charges added to hookup fees for developer-installed sewer and water lines within the city.

(b) These charges shall be assessed on a front footage basis of those lots which connect to the sewer and shall be collected by the city and paid to the developer from those who hook up to said sewer and water lines within fifteen years from the date of completion.

13.16.016 Local area facilities charge.

(a) Johnson Street Sewer Extension, 2001. Any property owner connecting to the city sewer system at a location such that the sewage discharged through said connection eventually flows south under Sumas Creek (a.k.a. Van Valkenburg Creek) through the gravity sewer underlying Johnson Street shall, in addition to any other charge or cost, pay to the city a local area facilities charge of two thousand one hundred forty-nine dollars and sixty-nine cents per residence for each connection. This charge shall be payable in full at the time of connecting to the city sewer system.

(b) Kneuman Road Sewer Extension (Force Main), 2001. Any property owner connecting to the city sewer system at a location such that said connection is served by any portion of the city sewer system consisting of a force main constructed adjacent to Kneuman Road west of Arthur Way shall, in addition to any other charge or cost, pay to the city a local area facilities charge of three hundred thirty dollars per residence for each connection. This charge shall be payable in full at the time of connecting to the city sewer system.

(c) Hovel Road Sewer Extension, 2007. Any property owner connecting to the city sewer system at a location such that said connection is served by any portion of the city sewer system constructed adjacent to Hovel Road south of Bone Creek shall, in addition to any other charge or cost, pay to the city a local area facilities charge of one thousand nine hundred twenty-five dollars per residence for each connection. This charge shall be payable in full at the time of connecting to the city sewer system. (Ord. 1488 § 2, 2007: Ord. 1352 §§ 1, 3, 2002: Ord. 1338 § 1, 2001)

13.16.020 Monthly rate schedule—Residential and commercial users.

The following is the rate schedule per month for the combined sewer and water users of the city:

(a) Residential Accounts. This category includes all dwelling units, regardless of whether the dwelling is a single-family structure, a multifamily structure with one water meter per dwelling unit, or a multifamily structure with one water meter for the entire structure.

Basic charge:	$12.70 per month per dwelling unit
Volume surcharge:	$0.06368 per cubic foot of water consumption, subject to the summer season provisions described below

One sewer bill shall be generated per water meter. A sewer bill shall be calculated by adding the volume surcharge to the basic charge. When a multifamily structure is served by a single water meter, a single consolidated sewer bill shall be calculated for the structure by adding the volume surcharge to the sum of the basic charges, and the bill shall be delivered to the owner of the structure. The owner shall be responsible for payment of the consolidated bill. The owner may charge his tenants for sewer service according to his/her own plan.

For sewer billing purposes, the calendar year shall consist of a winter season, including the months November through March, and a summer season, including the months April through October.

Each April the city shall calculate a winter average water consumption for each metered account. The winter average shall be based upon all months of the preceding winter season in which the account received water service for the full meter-reading cycle. When one or more months are included in the basis, the winter average shall be the arithmetic mean of the individual water consumption measurements for those months (e.g., if five months form the basis, the five meter readings shall be summed and divided by five; if two months form the basis, the two meter readings shall be summed and divided by two). Where no basis months are available for a given account, the winter average shall be the arithmetic mean of the winter averages of all those accounts for which a basis is available.

The volume surcharge in the summer season shall be based upon either the actual water consumption or the winter average water consumption, whichever is less.

(b) Commercial Accounts. This category includes all accounts other than residential accounts, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

Basic charge:	$12.70 per month per commercial unit
Volume surcharge:	$0.06368 per cubic foot of water consumption

(Ord. 1798 § 1, 2022; Ord. 1762 § 1, 2020: Ord. 1700 § 1, 2017: Ord. 1620 § 1, 2013: Ord. 1577 § 1, 2011: Ord. 1545 § 2, 2010: Ord. 1474 § 2, 2007: Ord. 1179 §§ 1, 2, 1996: Ord. 1116 (part), 1994; Ord. 1100 (part), 1993; Ord. 1078 (part), 1992; Ord. 1062 (part), 1992; Ord. 975 (part), 1988: Ord. 950 (part), 1987; Ord. 824 (part), 1981; Ord. 809 (part), 1981; Ord. 750, 1977: Ord. 700 § 2, 1972)

13.16.030 Sewer rate for large industrial users.

(a) This rate schedule shall apply to all commercial account users connected or connecting to the sanitary sewer system that discharge, or contract to discharge, an average daily volume of six hundred sixty-eight cubic feet (five thousand gallons) or greater of effluent that meets the quality standards established in Chapters 13.43 and 13.45. The discharges associated with large users can vary over time because of changes in plant operations. In order to avoid fiscal instability caused by variations in flow, large commercial users shall be charged for sewer service based upon an agreed discharge volume. Prior to connection to the sewer system, each large commercial user shall establish by written contract a maximum daily discharge capacity, which shall be an exact multiple of six hundred sixty-eight cubic feet. Upon agreement to the contract, the city shall thereafter reserve for and provide to the customer the established discharge capacity. On a monthly basis, the customer shall pay the sum of the following charges:

1. Basic charge: $12.70 per month;

2. Volume surcharge: $0.04708 per cubic foot of contracted discharge capacity.

(b) Prior to connection to the sewer system, the customer at his own expense shall install meters and valves, as approved by the public works director, sufficient to accurately measure the volume of discharge and to control the volume of discharge. The city shall have authority to adjust such valves in order to prevent discharge in excess of the contracted capacity established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

(c) The customer shall not discharge sewage effluent on any day in excess of the contracted capacity established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. In the event a customer unlawfully discharges an amount greater than its contracted capacity, in addition to other remedies or penalties provided by code, the customer shall pay $0.05019 per cubic foot of excess discharge. (Ord. 1798 § 2, 2022; Ord. 1762 § 2, 2020: Ord. 1700 § 2, 2017: Ord. 1620 § 2, 2013: Ord. 1577 § 2, 2011: Ord. 1545 § 3, 2010: Ord. 1490 § 1, 2007: Ord. 1253 § 1, 1998: Ord. 1238 § 1, 1998)