Chapter 12.16
SEWER SERVICE RATES AND CHARGES
Sections:
12.16.030 Equivalent user defined.
12.16.040 Equivalent user schedule.
12.16.060 Industrial cost recovery.
12.16.070 Review and revision of charges.
12.16.080 User request for review of rate charge.
12.16.090 New construction and vacancies.
12.16.114 Surcharge for users outside the city.
12.16.120 Rates and charges – Payable when.
12.16.130 Water and sewer revenue fund.
12.16.140 Delinquent accounts – Late payment fee.
12.16.010 In general.
A sewer user charge shall be levied on all users of the sewage collection and treatment facilities to cover the actual or estimated cost of operation, maintenance, replacement, and financing of these facilities. The user charge system shall distribute these costs to each user (or user class) in approximate proportion to such user’s contribution to the total wastewater loading of said facilities. (Ord. 247 § 1, 1977).
12.16.015 Billing procedure.
Sewer rates will be charged against the premises for which the service was installed and shall be billed directly to the owner thereof; provided, however, that upon satisfactory proof of creditworthiness, and with the permission of the owner or landlord of the property and the tenant, the billing therefor may be submitted directly to the tenant. All charges for sewer when the same become delinquent and unpaid will result in the water to the premises being shut off until such charges are paid. (Ord. 565 § 2, 2000).
12.16.020 Basis for rates.
The sewer user rates for each user (or user class) shall be based on the user’s contribution to the total wastewater loading of the treatment facilities in comparison to a standard equivalent user as defined in TMC 12.16.030. Each user (or user class) shall be assigned a number of equivalent users to be multiplied by a constant monthly payment factor to determine the basic user monthly rate. Special users contributing sewage of excessive flow and/or strength, for which the tabulated equivalent users below do not apply, shall be individually calculated as provided in TMC 12.16.050. (Ord. 247 § 2, 1977).
12.16.030 Equivalent user defined.
One equivalent user shall be defined as contributing a wastewater flow of 250 gallons per day with an organic loading of not more than 0.43 pounds of five-day BOD and 0.50 pounds of suspended solids. The equivalent user flow has been developed from population and sewer usage records which indicate an average single dwelling unit has two and one-half people contributing 100 gallons per day per person. Standard engineering data indicates 0.17 pounds of five-day BOD and 0.20 pounds of suspended solids respectively per person per day. The basic equivalent user shall be subject to revision if population, water usage, sewage volume and/or other information indicates flow and/or strength significantly different than defined in this section. Revision of the basic equivalent user criteria shall normally only be made upon the recommendation of a registered professional engineer. (Ord. 247 § 3, 1977).
12.16.040 Equivalent user schedule.
The number of equivalent users to be assigned each user, or user class, shall be in accordance with the following equivalent user schedule. Assignment of equivalent users shall apply for one year until the next annual user charge review. Users so indicated or not included in this schedule shall be considered special users and shall be evaluated separately as provided below. Where information indicates that the flow and/or strength of sewage contributed by any of the following users is excessive in comparison with the allowable limits provided in this section, then such user shall be considered a special user as provided below. A single user having more than one classification of use shall be the sum of the uses. The minimum monthly sewer user charge shall be based on at least one equivalent user unless otherwise indicated below:
|
Classification |
Equivalent |
|---|---|
|
Assembly hall or lodge, no cafe |
1.00 |
|
Bar or cocktail lounge (per seat) |
0.0625 |
|
Barbershop, up to 2 chairs |
1.00 |
|
Each additional chair |
0.50 |
|
Beauty shop, up to 2 stations |
1.50 |
|
Each additional station |
0.50 |
|
Bowling alleys, per lane |
0.60 |
|
Bakeries |
5.00 |
|
Cafe and drive-in (per seat) |
0.075 |
|
Car wash (per stall) |
3.00 |
|
Church |
1.50 |
|
Garage or maintenance shop |
1.50 |
|
Hospital (per room) |
0.50 |
|
Institutions – resident (per room) |
0.20 |
|
Industrial, up to 75 employees, for sanitary facilities |
2.00 |
|
Each additional employee |
0.08 |
|
With industrial waste |
Special |
|
Laundromat (per washer) |
1.00 |
|
Laundry or cleaners |
Special |
|
Motel, hotel or roominghouse, first unit |
1.00 |
|
Each additional unit |
0.25 |
|
Multiple dwelling residence (apartments, condominiums, trailers) (per family unit) |
0.875 |
|
Office, up to 20 employees (with private sanitary facilities) |
1.50 |
|
Each additional employee |
0.10 |
|
School |
Special |
|
Service station |
2.50 |
|
Single dwelling unit (residence) |
1.00 |
|
Store or business, up to 20 employees (with public sanitary facilities) |
2.50 |
|
Each additional employee |
0.10 |
|
Tavern (per seat) |
0.075 |
(Ord. 247 § 4, 1977).
12.16.050 Special users.
A. Each special user shall be evaluated separately based on the average flow, BOD and suspended solids characteristics of its wastewater contribution. The flow, BOD and suspended solids loadings shall be determined from estimates or measurements and tests made by city officials or its engineer. The special user charge shall be based on a calculated equivalent user for flow, plus a surcharge for excessive strength, if any. The special user’s monthly charge shall be computed by use of the following equation:
“SUMC” represents the special user’s monthly charge;
“f” represents the special user’s average flow in gallons per day (not less than 250 gallons per day);
“250” represents the average flow of one equivalent user in gallons per day;
“C” represents the constant monthly payment factor, derived as provided below;
“b” represents the average BOD loading of the user’s wastewater contribution, expressed in parts per million (not less than 200 parts per million);
“200” represents the allowable limit of BOD loading above which a user’s surcharge shall be levied, designated as being 200 parts per million;
“s” represents the average suspended solids loading of the user’s wastewater contribution, expressed in parts per million (not less than 240 parts per million); and
“240” represents the allowable limit of suspended solids loading above which a user’s surcharge shall be levied, designated as being 240 parts per million.
B. A copy of the list of special users, the characteristics of their sewage and the special user’s monthly charge shall be kept on file at all times in the office of the city clerk-treasurer. (Ord. 249, 1977; Ord. 247 § 5, 1977).
12.16.060 Industrial cost recovery.
A. At such time any special users begin discharging industrial wastes into the sewer system, they shall be subject to industrial cost recovery (ICR) requirements adopted by the city.
B. Industrial wastes shall be as defined under Section 35.905-8 of the Environmental Protection Agency Construction Grant Regulations 40 CFR Part 35. (Ord. 247 § 6, 1977).
12.16.070 Review and revision of charges.
The sewer user charges (as based on the cost factor), shall, at a minimum, be reviewed annually and updated to reflect actual costs of operation, maintenance, replacement and financing of the sewage collection and treatment facilities. Any revisions of the user charges shall be based on actual operation, maintenance, replacement and financing expenses and/or on significant changes in the total number of equivalent users, the total daily flow, the total daily BOD and/or the total daily suspended solids. The city may install flow-measuring devices and/or collect wastewater samples at any time in any user’s service line to determine actual usage as a basis for revision of the user’s charge. Revisions due only to changes in expenses and user class shall be made by the city. Revisions involving user’s flow, BOD and/or suspended solids shall normally only be made upon the recommendation of a registered professional engineer. All changes in user charges applicable to this chapter shall be computed by the methods outlined herein. (Ord. 247 § 7, 1977).
12.16.080 User request for review of rate charge.
Any sewer user who feels his user charge is unjust and inequitable as applied to his premises within the spirit and intent of the provisions of this chapter, may make written application to the city council requesting a review of his user charge. Said written request shall, where necessary, show the actual or estimated average flow and strength of his wastewater in comparison with the values upon which the charge is based, including how the measurements or estimates were made. Any flow measurements and/or testing of wastewater shall be approved in detail by the city and/or its engineer. Review of the request by the city council shall determine if it is substantiated or not, including recommending further study of the matter for the city and/or user by a registered professional engineer. (Ord. 247 § 8, 1977).
12.16.090 New construction and vacancies.
For new construction the sewer user charge shall begin when the service connection has been inspected and approved, or when the building being served has been substantially completed, whichever is the latest date. Sewer users shall pay a user charge for their premises, even though vacant or unoccupied, unless the owner or other authorized agent of unoccupied premises shall have water service shut off, at which time the sewer charge shall cease until the water is turned on again. There shall be a user charge for all occupied premises. (Ord. 354 § 1, 1983; Ord. 247 § 9, 1977).
12.16.100 Payment factor.
The constant monthly payment factor per equivalent user shall be determined and set by the city so as to provide sufficient revenue to offset the estimated or actual sewage collection and treatment facilities budget for operation, maintenance, replacement and financing. Said cost factor shall be determined by dividing the monthly sewer budget by the total average equivalent users on the system. A copy of the current annual sewer budget shall be kept on file at all times in the office of the city clerk-treasurer. (Ord. 247 § 10, 1977).
12.16.110 Monthly rates.
Monthly rates for all sewer users in the system shall be established by the city council by resolution and shall be listed on a schedule kept on file at all times in the office of the city clerk-treasurer. Said schedule of rates shall include all the various classifications of users, including special users, if any. The rate schedule adopted by resolution may be added to or changed without the necessity of amending this section. (Ord. 817 § 5, 2020; Ord. 585 § 5, 2001; Ord. 247 § 11, 1977).
12.16.114 Surcharge for users outside the city.
An additional surcharge to be fixed by resolution shall be charged for all services outside the corporate limits of the city of Tonasket. (Ord. 817 § 7, 2020; Ord. 585 § 6, 2001).
12.16.120 Rates and charges – Payable when.
All of the foregoing rates and charges for sewerage service, and 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 5:00 p.m. of the next following business day. (Ord. 566 § 3, 2000; Ord. 498 § 2, 1995; Ord. 84 § 3, 1947).
12.16.130 Water and sewer revenue fund.
The person who shall from time to time under authority of the city council act as water superintendent for said city shall also act as superintendent of sewers. The city clerk-treasurer shall collect all the rates and charges herein provided for and accruing from time to time, and all such sums when collected shall be paid by the city clerk-treasurer into two separate funds to be entitled “water revenue fund” and “sewer revenue fund.” (Ord. 817 § 8, 2020; Ord. 616 § 4, 2004; Ord. 84 § 7, 1947).
12.16.140 Delinquent accounts – Late payment fee.
All accounts for sewer 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 § 1, 2004; Ord. 566 § 4, 2000; Ord. 474 § 2, 1994; Ord. 468 § 2, 1993).
12.16.150 Property lien.
All charges for sewer services four months past due, for sewer connection fees, other sewer charges fixed by this chapter, plus actual costs of preparation and filing of a lien, together with interest and penalties thereon, shall be a lien upon the property upon which such service has been furnished or is available, which lien shall be superior to all other liens and encumbrances, except general taxes and local and special assessments. 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 city shall not provide sewer service to any utility account that is four months, or more, past due and/or an account upon which a lien has been filed. Termination of sewer service shall be accomplished by termination of water service; provided, however, that if the premises are not provided water by the city of Tonasket, enforcement shall be by physically blocking access to the city’s sewer main. (Ord. 617 § 2, 2004).