Chapter 12.08
WATER RATES AND CONNECTION CHARGES
Sections:
12.08.010 Rates for water and sewer connections are established by resolution.
12.08.020 Water rates for water furnished and sold by the city shall be established by resolution.
12.08.030 Charge for water passing through meter.
12.08.060 Separate building units.
12.08.070 Water use in another building.
12.08.080 Water service – Payable when.
12.08.100 Delinquent accounts – Late payment fee.
12.08.110 Rate reductions for low income senior citizens.
12.08.010 Rates for water and sewer connections are established by resolution.
A. All three-fourths-inch service connections shall be charged at the rate established by resolution for each connection. Service connections will be charged for additional costs of materials and labor incurred if the installation requires more work and materials than the normal hook-up. Materials include but are not limited to street repair materials.
B. All service connections in excess of three-fourths inch in size shall be charged as set forth by resolution and shall also be charged the additional cost of materials and labor incurred by the city in making such installation. Materials include but are not limited to street repair materials. (Ord. 817 § 1, 2020; Ord. 667 § 1, 2009; Ord. 628 § 1, 2005; Ord. 599 § 1, 2002; Ord. 580 § 1, 2000; Ord. 578 § 1, 2000; Ord. 558 § 1, 1999; Ord. 547 § 1, 1998; Ord. 532 § 1, 1997; Ord. 487 § 1, 1994; Ord. 473 § 1, 1993; Ord. 433 § 1, 1991; Ord. 408 § 1, 1988; Ord. 338 § 1, 1982; Ord. 323 § 1, 1981).
12.08.020 Water rates for water furnished and sold by the city shall be established by resolution.
A. All water connections outside the corporate limits of the city of Tonasket shall be charged a 50 percent surcharge on the above applicable base rate plus on the additional water used over 500 cubic feet.
B. Anyone filling a water tank from the city’s water supply shall pay to the city the sum set forth and established by resolution and all said sums shall be immediately due and payable to the city clerk at the city clerk’s office at the City Hall in Tonasket, Washington.
C. Mobile home parks with one meter for the entire park and/or recreational vehicle parks shall be billed as follows: mobile home parks shall be billed one full base rate per mobile home. Recreational vehicle parks shall pay one full base rate for the entire park. Combined mobile home/recreational vehicle parks shall be billed one full base rate per mobile home and an additional half base rate for the recreational vehicle park section monthly from April through September. Charges for water used over the total base rate allocation shall be billed at the above set forth excess rate.
D. Residents who, for one reason or another, have temporarily vacated their homes for a period of 30 days or more will be charged one-half of the monthly base rate. Resident must have notified City Hall prior to leaving to qualify for the reduced rate.
E. Residents who, for one reason or another, have temporarily vacated their homes for a period of 30 days or more will be charged one-half of the monthly base rates. Resident must have notified City Hall prior to leaving to qualify for the reduced rate set forth by resolution. (Ord. 817 § 2, 2020; Ord. 667 § 1, 2009; Ord. 628 § 1, 2005; Ord. 599 § 1, 2002; Ord. 580 § 1, 2000; Ord. 578 § 1, 2000; Ord. 558 § 1, 1999; Ord. 547 § 1, 1998; Ord. 532 § 1, 1997; Ord. 518 § 1, 1996; Ord. 502 § 1, 1995; Ord. 487 § 1, 1994; Ord. 473 § 1, 1993; Ord. 456 § 1, 1992: Ord. 440 §§ 1, 2, 1991; Ord. 433 § 2, 1991; Ord. 408 § 2, 1988; Ord. 354 § 2, 1983; Ord. 338 § 2, 1982; Ord. 323 § 2, 1981).
12.08.030 Charge for water passing through meter.
All water passing through a meter shall be charged for and no deductions will be made for water lost beyond the meter through leaks or open outlets. No rebate or deduction in water rates or consumption shall be allowed by reason of the number of services charged to any owner or water user. (Ord. 85 § 3, 1947).
12.08.040 Meter reading when.
Meters shall be read 12 months of the year. (Ord. 817 § 3, 2020; Ord. 590 § 1, 2001; Ord. 583 § 1, 2001; Ord. 85 § 4, 1947).
12.08.050 More than one user.
Water supplied through one service to more than one user shall be computed according to the number of users; each user or occupancy shall pay the appropriate base rate set forth in TMC 12.08.020 and the excess over 500 cubic feet per user being charged to the principal user. (Ord. 817 § 4, 2020; Ord. 433 § 3, 1991; Ord. 85 § 5, 1947).
12.08.060 Separate building units.
Separate building units shall each be served by a meter, unless otherwise provided, and shall pay the regular water rates; provided, however, where a meter has been removed due to mechanical failure or any other reason, except for a delinquent account, average rates based on charges made for the same months of the preceding year shall be charged until the meter is reinstalled. (Ord. 85 § 6, 1947).
12.08.070 Water use in another building.
Water users allowing others to take water for use in another building shall be charged one-half of the minimum monthly charge in addition to their regular monthly bill as long as such use of the water is permitted. (Ord. 433 § 4, 1991; Ord. 85 § 7, 1947).
12.08.080 Water service – Payable when.
Except as provided in TMC 12.08.020(F), all of the rates and charges for water service in this chapter, and all charges which may be hereafter fixed by the council for such services, shall be paid on or before the eighteenth day of each calendar month for the preceding month’s charges, and if not so paid shall become delinquent on said date and shall bear interest at the rate of eight percent per year from the date of delinquency until paid; provided, however, that if the eighteenth day of the month should fall on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, said payment shall be due on or before 4:30 p.m. of the next following business day. (Ord. 616 § 3, 2004; Ord. 566 § 1, 2000; Ord. 498 § 1, 1995; Ord. 440 § 3, 1991; Ord. 85 § 8, 1947).
12.08.090 Property lien.
All charges for water up to a maximum of four months as provided in RCW 35.21.290, for connections therefor, and all charges for turning water on after the same has been cut off as provided in Chapter 12.12 TMC, together with penalties and interest as provided herein, and the actual costs of preparation and filing of said lien, shall be a lien upon the property upon which such service is rendered. If an account becomes four months delinquent, the water service shall be terminated and a notice of the city’s lien specifying the amount due, the period covered, and giving a legal description of the premises sought to be charged shall be filed with the county auditor and may be foreclosed in the manner and within the time prescribed for liens for labor and material. The lien for such charges may be enforced only by cutting off the service until the delinquent and unpaid charges are paid in full; provided, however, that in the event of a disputed account, and tender by the owner of the premises of the amount the owner claims to be due before service is cut off, the city’s right to refuse service shall not accrue until suit has been entered by the city and judgment entered by the court in such case. (Ord. 617 § 1, 2004; Ord. 308 § 2, 1980; Ord. 85 § 9, 1947).
12.08.100 Delinquent accounts – Late payment fee.
All accounts for water service will be deemed delinquent if not paid on or before the eighteenth day of the succeeding month, and there shall be added a late payment fee to any account not paid by said date in the amount of $5.00 or 10 percent of the current month’s billing, whichever is greater; provided, however, that all local, state and federal governmental agencies shall be exempt from the imposition of the late payment fee. (Ord. 616 § 2, 2004; Ord. 566 § 2, 2000; Ord. 474 § 1, 1994; Ord. 468 § 1, 1993).
12.08.110 Rate reductions for low income senior citizens.
A. Low income senior citizens shall be given a 10 percent reduction in the water and sewer rates as those rates are established from time to time by the city council.
1. A “low income senior citizen” shall mean a person who is 65 years of age or older and who has established Tonasket as their residence and whose total annual income, including that of his or her spouse or co-tenant, does not exceed the sum of $30,000 per year.
2. The city clerk-treasurer shall establish an application for low income senior citizens to apply for said rate reductions. Said application shall include such information as may reasonably be required by the city clerk-treasurer to verify eligibility.
B. Any person knowingly making a false or misleading statement in any application, and/or renewal for rate reductions, shall be guilty of a civil infraction and shall be assessed the maximum monetary penalty as fixed by TMC 1.08.010 and 1.08.020. In the event of any such misrepresentation the applicable utility rates may be increased retroactively and assessed against the applicant and/or his or her premises as may be allowable by law, including but not limited to lien procedures. (Ord. 840 §§ 1, 2, 2022).