Chapter 13.16
WATER AND SEWER RATES AND CHARGES
Sections:
13.16.010 Water/sewer fund fees.
13.16.020 Residential water rates.
13.16.030 Unmetered residential water service rate.
13.16.045 Additional residential water charge for outside town limits.
13.16.050 Commercial water rates.
13.16.055 Additional commercial water charge for outside town limits.
13.16.060 Sale of unmetered water from standpipe or hydrant.
13.16.070 Flat rate for water use during winter.
13.16.080 Residential sewer rates.
13.16.090 Commercial sewer rates.
13.16.095 Additional charge for sewer service.
13.16.110 Liability for damage to system.
13.16.130 Unpaid balances to be obligation of property owner.
13.16.140 Billing--Due date--Owner responsibility.
13.16.150 Enforcement of delinquencies.
13.16.160 Utility service account deposits.
13.16.170 Application of deposit.
13.16.180 Deposits may be refunded.
13.16.010 Water/sewer fund fees.
See Section 13.20.010. (Ord. 542 §1(part), 2012: Ord. 513 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 501 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 482 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 464 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 334 §1(part), 1998; Ord. 146-B §2, 1984)
13.16.020 Residential water rates.
Residential water rates shall be examined at least yearly and shall be set in the form of a resolution. A full rate schedule can be found at the clerk’s office at the Town Hall office. (Ord. 589 §1, 2020: Ord. 542 §1(part), 2012: Ord. 513 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 501 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 482 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 464 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 308 (part), 1996; Ord. 296 (part), 1995: Ord. 290 (part), 1995: Ord. 215-B (part), 1989: Ord. 159-B (part), 1985: Ord. 153-B §1(A), 1984)
13.16.030 Unmetered residential water service rate.
Unmetered residential water service rates shall be examined at least yearly and shall be set in the form of a resolution. A full rate schedule can be found at the clerk’s office at the Town Hall office. (Ord. 589 §2, 2020: Ord. 542 §1(part), 2012: Ord. 513 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 501 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 482 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 464 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 308 (part), 1996; Ord. 296 (part), 1995: Ord. 290 (part), 1995: Ord. 215-B (part), 1989: Ord. 153-B §1(B), 1984)
13.16.045 Additional residential water charge for outside town limits.
Additional residential water charge for outside town limits shall be examined at least yearly and shall be set in the form of a resolution. A full rate schedule can be found at the clerk’s office at the Town Hall office. (Ord. 589 §3, 2020: Ord. 542 §1(part), 2012: Ord. 513 §1(part), 2010)
13.16.050 Commercial water rates.
Commercial water rates shall be examined at least yearly and shall be set in the form of a resolution. A full rate schedule can be found at the clerk’s office at the Town Hall office. (Ord. 589 §4, 2020: Ord. 542 §1(part), 2012: Ord. 513 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 501 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 482 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 464 §1(part), 2008: amended during 1997 supplement; Ord. 308 (part), 1996; amended during 6/96 supplement; Ord. 296 (part), 1995; Ord. 290 (part), 1995; Ord. 215-B (part), 1989: Ord. 159-B (part), 1985; Ord. 153-B §2, 1984)
13.16.055 Additional commercial water charge for outside town limits.
Additional commercial water charge for outside town limits shall be examined at least yearly and shall be set in the form of a resolution. A full rate schedule can be found at the clerk’s office at the Town Hall office. (Ord. 589 §5, 2020: Ord. 542 §1(part), 2012: Ord. 513 §1(part), 2010)
13.16.060 Sale of unmetered water from standpipe or hydrant.
In case of sales of water from any standpipe or hydrant, the charges therefor shall be at the rate of twenty-five dollars for the first four thousand gallons and five dollars per one thousand gallons or portion thereof over four thousand gallons. Any person purchasing water from any standpipe or fire hydrant shall submit a daily signed report to the town clerk stating the amount of water purchased and stating the name and address to whom the bill for such water is to be rendered. (Ord. 542 §1(part), 2012: Ord. 513 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 501 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 482 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 464 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 153-B §3, 1984)
13.16.070 Flat rate for water use during winter.
From November through February, when it is not feasible or desirable to read the water meters, the flat rate set by resolution will be used. (Ord. 589 §6, 2020: Ord. 542 §1(part), 2012: Ord. 513 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 501 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 482 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 464 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 308 (part), 1996; Ord. 296 (part), 1995: Ord. 290 (part), 1995: Ord. 215-B (part), 1989: Ord. 153-B §4, 1984)
13.16.080 Residential sewer rates.
Residential sewer rates shall be examined at least yearly and shall be set in the form of a resolution. A full rate schedule can be found at the clerk’s office at the Town Hall office. (Ord. 589 §7, 2020: Ord. 542 §1(part), 2012: Ord. 513 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 501 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 482 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 464 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 308 (part), 1996; Ord. 296 (part), 1995: Ord. 290 (part), 1995: Ord. 215-B (part), 1989: Ord. 183-B (part), 1986: Ord. 159-B (part), 1985: Ord. 153-B §7(A), 1984)
13.16.090 Commercial sewer rates.
Commercial sewer rates shall be examined at least yearly and shall be set in the form of a resolution. A full rate schedule can be found at the clerk’s office at the Town Hall office. (Ord. 589 §8, 2020: Ord. 542 §1(part), 2012: Ord. 513 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 501 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 482 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 464 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 380, 2001: Ord. 153-B §8, 1984)
13.16.095 Additional charge for sewer service.
A. From and after January 1, 1997, until all loans on the sewer system are paid in full and a subsequent ordinance is passed by the council changing the sewer rates, all customers shall pay an additional nine dollars and sixty cents per account per month in addition to the basic fee. This additional charge is caused by the requirement of the Department of Ecology to upgrade the current sewer system. Beginning January 1, 2004, the council is reducing the sewer rate fee by three dollars and sixty cents per account per month. This reduction brings the sewer loan rate fee to six dollars per account per month. This loan fee of six dollars per account per month is assessed to every property that is physically connected to the town’s main sewer lines regardless of usage.
B. From and after January 1, 2013, until the public works trust fund (PWTF) loan No. PR08-951-087 is paid in full and a subsequent ordinance is passed by the council changing the sewer rates, all customers shall pay an additional five dollars per account per month and is assessed to every property that is physically connected to the town’s main sewer lines regardless of usage. This additional loan charge is caused by the Department of Ecology to upgrade the sewer lagoons to a wastewater treatment plant.
C. From and after September 1, 2023, the additional five dollars per account per month will be removed from additional charges under sewer service as the loan was paid in full. These funds will be changed to an additional charge under water service. This fee will be deposited into the water reserve fund to allow for multiple water projects to be completed. (Ord. 613 §1, 2023; Ord. 542 §1(part), 2012: Ord. 513 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 501 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 482 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 464 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 459 §1, 2007: Ord. 367 §2(part), 2001; Ord. 310 §1, 1996)
13.16.100 Seasonal charges.
A. All metered accounts that are turned off for a period exceeding one billing month or have the meter removed shall pay the minimum of twenty-five dollars to the water/sewer fund to have the service turned on.
B. Metered accounts that are turned off for a period exceeding one billing month will be charged a seasonal maintenance rate set in the form of a resolution. A full rate schedule can be found at the clerk’s office located in Town Hall. (Ord. 589 §9, 2020: Ord. 542 §1(part), 2012: Ord. 513 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 501 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 482 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 464 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 153-B §9, 1984)
13.16.110 Liability for damage to system.
Any winter damage to a seasonal meter is the liability of the owner unless the owner requests removal by the city, for which there is a charge of twenty-five dollars. (Ord. 542 §1(part), 2012: Ord. 513 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 501 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 482 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 464 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 153-B §10, 1984)
13.16.130 Unpaid balances to be obligation of property owner.
Any unpaid balances due for sewer and water rental property shall be the obligation of the property owner and such services shall not be resumed until the balance is paid in full by such owner. The bill shall constitute a lien on such property. (Ord. 542 §1(part), 2012: Ord. 513 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 501 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 482 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 464 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 20-B §2, 1971)
13.16.140 Billing--Due date--Owner responsibility.
A. All charges for water/sewer service shall be due and payable at the office of the town clerk on or before the twentieth day after the bill has been issued therefor, and shall become delinquent after such twentieth day. Domestic water/sewer bills shall cover periods of one month and shall be issued upon a single statement where feasible. All payments and collections for water service shall be paid into the water/sewer revenue fund.
B. Bills for water/sewer service shall be sent to the owner of the property. The owner of the property is responsible for payment of bills. (Ord. 542 §1(part), 2012: Ord. 513 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 501 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 482 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 464 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 153-B §5, 1984)
13.16.150 Enforcement of delinquencies.
A. All charges provided herein shall be collectible in every manner allowed by law, and shall become a lien on such property in the manner provided by law. A five-dollar delinquent charge shall be assessed after the twentieth of the month.
B. As an additional, concurrent method of enforcement of the lien of the town for water charges, the superintendent is authorized and directed at the end of ten days after the date of the first delinquency of any such charges to cut off the water service from the premises where such services are provided until such time as all such charges, together with the additional sum of twenty-five or seventy-five dollars for turning the water on, shall have been paid. (Ord. 542 §1(part), 2012: Ord. 513 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 501 §1(part), 2010: Ord. 482 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 464 §1(part), 2008: Ord. 153-B §6, 1984)
13.16.160 Utility service account deposits.
From and after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, no service shall be extended to any customer of a utility department of the town except upon written application for such utility service and upon payment in advance to the town clerk of a deposit in the amount to be set by resolution.(Ord. 607 §1, 2022)
13.16.170 Application of deposit.
All deposits made hereunder shall be in cash or cash equivalent. When utility service has been terminated by the customer, or by the town for nonpayment, and there are unpaid charges due to the town, the balance of the deposit will be applied against any unpaid account balance on final bill for terminated services, and any amount of deposit balance remaining will be refunded to the customer.(Ord. 607 §2, 2022)
13.16.180 Deposits may be refunded.
Deposits shall be refunded to any customer upon establishing a record of prompt payments for twelve continuous months or more at a utility service location. Before refunding any deposit, the town clerk may require adequate proof of ownership and eligibility for the refund.(Ord. 607 §3, 2022)
13.16.190 Deposit waiver.
The deposit required for residential service for present or past customers may be waived for customers with twelve months of good payment history within the past three years.(Ord. 607 §4, 2022)