Chapter 14.40
CHARGES
Sections:
14.40.010 Rates.
14.40.015 Customer classifications.
14.40.020 Residential single-unit rates.
14.40.025 Residential multiple-unit rates.
14.40.030 Commercial and industrial rates.
14.40.033 Service to property outside corporate boundaries.
14.40.035 Sewer volume charge based on metered water consumption.
14.40.040 Special sewer rates.
14.40.045 Responsibility of property owner.
14.40.050 Payment of bills.
14.40.055 Penalties and delinquent charges.
14.40.060 Delinquent charges constitute liens – Water service may be cut off.
14.40.065 Minimum sewer charge.
14.40.070 Repealed.
14.40.080 Deposit for service and return.
14.40.900 Severability.
14.40.010 Rates.
Rates for sewer services shall be as established in the schedules set forth in this chapter. The rate per month shall be comprised of a base monthly charge and a volume charge based on the metered volume of water consumption and the nature or strength of wastewater produced. The nature or strength of the wastewater produced will place each customer in one of five sewage strength classifications as set forth in LMC 14.40.015. All billing information will be accumulated bimonthly. Bimonthly billing will be used for all accounts. These rates and charges shall be in effect and assessed beginning January 1st of each year. (Ord. 2845 § 1, 2010; Ord. 2659 § 1, 2006; Ord. 2530 § 1, 2004; Ord. 1660 § 1, 1988; Ord. 147 § 16.01, 1963)
14.40.015 Customer classifications.
Customer charges have two parts; a fixed base charge and a flow or volume charge determined by the water meter readings and the strength or nature of the wastewater the account produces. For the combined flow and wastewater strength charge customers will be placed in one of the following classes, which most closely fits their operation, based on the nature or strength of their wastewater. Charges associated with each classification are set forth in LMC 14.40.035, Table 2.
|
CLASSIFICATIONS |
BOD+TSS mg/l |
|
1. Low Strength (<425 mg/l) |
|
|
Platers |
167 |
|
Photo studios |
242 |
|
Photo finish labs |
265 |
|
Printers/copy centers |
325 |
|
Laundromats |
325 |
|
Tavern – no food preparation |
350 |
|
Car washes |
350 |
|
Nursing homes |
350 |
|
Chemical processors |
388 |
|
2. Average Strength (<550 mg/l) |
|
|
Coating and engraving services |
425 |
|
Funeral services – no embalming |
425 |
|
Domestic waste |
425 |
|
General retail, business office |
425 |
|
Hotels and motels – no restaurant |
450 |
|
Hospitals |
450 |
|
Soft drink beverage manufacturing |
531 |
|
3. Medium Strength (<1,200 mg/l) |
|
|
Auto dealer, body shops and auto repair |
550 |
|
Bowling alleys – no restaurant |
670 |
|
Grocery stores, all fish processing |
700 |
|
Hotels and motels – with restaurant |
950 |
|
Commercial laundries |
950 |
|
Meat distributors and markets |
1,050 |
|
Bakeries |
1,063 |
|
Vehicle parts manufacturer |
1,121 |
|
4. High Strength (<1,500 mg/l) |
|
|
Bakery stores |
1,200 |
|
Restaurants, taverns – with grease control |
1,200 |
|
Bowling alleys – with restaurant, grease control |
1,200 |
|
5. Very High Strength (≥1,500 mg/l) |
|
|
Grocery stores – full service |
1,500 |
|
Funeral service – with embalming |
1,500 |
|
Restaurants, taverns – without grease control |
1,550 |
|
Bowling alleys – with restaurant, no grease control |
1,550 |
|
Candy producers |
1,650 |
|
(BOD – biochemical oxygen demand; TSS – total suspended solids; mg/l – milligrams per liter) |
|
(Ord. 2530 § 2, 2004)
14.40.020 Residential single-unit rates.
Residential single-unit shall be charged at the base rate per month in Table 1 in LMC 14.40.035. This base rate shall include the first 1,000 cubic feet of water consumption per unit per month (2,000 cubic feet per unit per bimonthly bill). Customers will be charged for each 100 cubic feet of water consumption above the first 1,000 cubic feet at the rate specified in Table 1 in LMC 14.40.035. The calculation of metered water consumption shall be based on LMC 14.40.035. (Ord. 2845 § 2, 2010; Ord. 2530 § 3, 2004; Ord. 1660 § 1, 1988; Ord. 1631 § 3, 1988; Ord. 1543 § 4, 1986; Ord. 1505 § 8, 1986; Ord. 1222 § 9, 1982; Ord. 781 § 31, 1975; Ord. 152, 1963; Ord. 147 § 16.02, 1963)
14.40.025 Residential multiple-unit rates.
Each residential multiple-unit customer and each mobile home park shall be charged a base rate per month per separate dwelling unit in Table 1 in LMC 14.40.035. The base rate shall include 2,000 cubic feet of water consumption per unit every two months. Customers will be charged for each 100 cubic feet of water consumption above the first 2,000 cubic feet per unit every two months, at the rate specified in LMC 14.40.035. (Ord. 2845 § 3, 2010; Ord. 2659 § 2, 2006; Ord. 2530 § 4, 2004; Ord. 1660 § 1, 1988; Ord. 1244 § 2, 1982)
14.40.030 Commercial and industrial rates.
Each commercial or industrial customer shall be charged a base rate per month per separate water meter in Table 1 in LMC 14.40.035. The base rate shall include 1,000 cubic feet of water consumption per meter per month (2,000 cubic feet per meter per bimonthly bill). Customers will be charged for each 100 cubic feet of water consumption above the first 1,000 cubic feet per meter per month, based on the customer’s strength classification at the rate specified in LMC 14.40.035. (Ord. 2845 § 4, 2010; Ord. 2530 § 5, 2004; Ord. 1660 § 1, 1988; Ord. 1631 § 4, 1988; Ord. 1543 § 5, 1986; Ord. 1505 § 9, 1986; Ord. 1222 § 10, 1982; Ord. 781 § 32, 1975; Ord. 388, 1968; Ord. 180, 1963; Ord. 147 § 16.03, 1963)
14.40.033 Service to property outside corporate boundaries.
Real property located outside of the corporate boundaries of the city of Lynnwood that receives sewer service from the city of Lynnwood shall be charged 150 percent of the sewer rates charged to comparable property located within the city’s corporate boundaries. (Ord. 2665 § 4, 2007)
14.40.035 Sewer volume charge based on metered water consumption.
Each customer, including residential single-unit, residential multiple-unit per unit, and commercial and industrial per meter, shall be charged a rate per 100 cubic feet of residential or commercial/industrial use in excess of the first 2,000 cubic feet every two months included in the base rate. This rate shall be as specified in Table 1 of this section.
To account for summer water that does not enter the sewer system, the volume billed to residential customers in May, June, July, August, and September shall be adjusted according to the individual customer’s winter usage. Winter usage shall be determined by water used in October through April.
|
Customer Classification |
2011 Monthly Rate |
2012 Monthly Rate |
2013 Monthly Rate |
2014 Monthly Rate |
2015 Monthly Rate |
2016 Monthly Rate |
|
Residential Single-Unit |
||||||
|
Monthly Base Rate (incl. 10 CCF) |
$33.89 |
$35.38 |
$37.33 |
$38.73 |
$40.05 |
$41.38 |
|
Monthly Volume Charge >10 CCF |
$2.77** |
$2.89** |
$3.05** |
$3.16** |
$3.27** |
$3.38** |
|
Special Sewer Rate |
See LMC 14.40.040, Special Sewer Rates |
|||||
|
Residential Multiple/Mobile Combined |
||||||
|
Monthly Base Rate (incl. 10 CCF per unit) |
$29.06 |
$29.49 |
$29.49 |
$29.49 |
$29.49 |
$29.49 |
|
Monthly Volume Charge >10 CCF per unit |
$2.72* |
$2.76* |
$2.76* |
$2.76* |
$2.76* |
$2.76* |
|
Special Sewer Rate |
See LMC 14.40.040, Special Sewer Rates |
|||||
|
Commercial/Industrial (Based on Meter Size) |
||||||
|
5/8 – 3/4-Inch Meter |
$39.00 |
$39.00 |
$39.00 |
$39.00 |
$39.00 |
$39.00 |
|
1-Inch Meter |
$50.00 |
$50.00 |
$50.00 |
$50.00 |
$50.00 |
$50.00 |
|
1-1/2-Inch Meter |
$60.00 |
$60.00 |
$60.00 |
$60.00 |
$60.00 |
$60.00 |
|
2-Inch Meter |
$90.00 |
$90.00 |
$90.00 |
$90.00 |
$90.00 |
$90.00 |
|
3-Inch Meter |
$302.50 |
$302.50 |
$302.50 |
$302.50 |
$302.50 |
$302.50 |
|
4-Inch Meter |
$382.50 |
$382.50 |
$382.50 |
$382.50 |
$382.50 |
$382.50 |
|
6-Inch Meter |
$567.50 |
$567.50 |
$567.50 |
$567.50 |
$567.50 |
$567.50 |
|
Commercial/Industrial (Based on Meter Size/Strength) |
||||||
|
A. Strength < 3 Base Rate |
||||||
|
5/8 – 3/4-Inch Meter |
$43.68 |
$45.86 |
$48.15 |
$50.56 |
$53.09 |
$55.62 |
|
1-Inch Meter |
$56.00 |
$58.80 |
$64.74 |
$64.83 |
$68.07 |
$71.32 |
|
1-1/2-Inch Meter |
$67.20 |
$70.56 |
$74.09 |
$77.79 |
$81.68 |
$85.58 |
|
2-Inch Meter |
$100.80 |
$105.84 |
$111.13 |
$116.69 |
$122.52 |
$128.37 |
|
3-Inch Meter |
$388.80 |
$355.74 |
$373.53 |
$392.21 |
$411.82 |
$431.47 |
|
4-Inch Meter |
$428.40 |
$449.82 |
$472.31 |
$495.93 |
$520.73 |
$545.58 |
|
6-Inch Meter |
$635.60 |
$667.38 |
$700.75 |
$735.79 |
$772.58 |
$809.45 |
|
Volume Rate per CCF over first 10 CCF |
$3.07 |
$3.22 |
$3.38 |
$3.55 |
$3.73 |
$3.91 |
|
B. Strength = 3 Base Rate |
||||||
|
5/8 – 3/4-Inch Meter |
$43.68 |
$48.92 |
$54.79 |
$61.36 |
$68.72 |
$76.30 |
|
1-Inch Meter |
$56.00 |
$62.72 |
$70.25 |
$78.68 |
$88.12 |
$97.84 |
|
1-1/2-Inch Meter |
$67.20 |
$75.26 |
$84.29 |
$94.40 |
$105.73 |
$117.40 |
|
2-Inch Meter |
$100.80 |
$112.90 |
$126.45 |
$141.62 |
$158.61 |
$176.11 |
|
3-Inch Meter |
$388.80 |
$379.46 |
$425.00 |
$476.00 |
$533.12 |
$591.95 |
|
4-Inch Meter |
$428.40 |
$479.81 |
$537.39 |
$601.88 |
$674.11 |
$748.50 |
|
6-Inch Meter |
$635.60 |
$711.87 |
$797.29 |
$892.96 |
$1000.12 |
$1110.49 |
|
Volume Rate per CCF over first 10 CCF |
$3.32 |
$3.72 |
$4.17 |
$4.67 |
$5.23 |
$5.81 |
|
C. Strength = 4 Base Rate |
||||||
|
5/8 – 3/4-Inch Meter |
$43.68 |
$48.31 |
$53.43 |
$59.09 |
$65.35 |
$72.24 |
|
1-Inch Meter |
$56.00 |
$61.94 |
$68.51 |
$75.77 |
$83.80 |
$92.63 |
|
1-1/2-Inch Meter |
$67.20 |
$74.32 |
$82.20 |
$90.91 |
$100.55 |
$111.15 |
|
2-Inch Meter |
$100.80 |
$111.48 |
$123.30 |
$136.37 |
$150.83 |
$166.73 |
|
3-Inch Meter |
$388.80 |
$374.71 |
$414.43 |
$458.36 |
$506.95 |
$560.39 |
|
4-Inch Meter |
$428.40 |
$473.81 |
$524.03 |
$579.58 |
$641.02 |
$708.59 |
|
6-Inch Meter |
$635.60 |
$702.97 |
$777.48 |
$859.89 |
$951.04 |
$1051.29 |
|
Volume Rate per CCF over first 10 CCF |
$5.85 |
$6.47 |
$7.16 |
$7.92 |
$8.76 |
$9.68 |
|
D. Strength = 5 Base Rate |
||||||
|
5/8 – 3/4-Inch Meter |
$43.68 |
$48.05 |
$52.86 |
$58.15 |
$63.97 |
$69.97 |
|
1-Inch Meter |
$56.00 |
$61.60 |
$67.76 |
$74.54 |
$81.99 |
$89.69 |
|
1-1/2-Inch Meter |
$67.20 |
$73.92 |
$81.31 |
$89.44 |
$98.38 |
$107.61 |
|
2-Inch Meter |
$100.80 |
$110.88 |
$121.97 |
$134.17 |
$147.59 |
$161.44 |
|
3-Inch Meter |
$388.80 |
$372.68 |
$409.95 |
$450.95 |
$496.05 |
$542.61 |
|
4-Inch Meter |
$428.40 |
$471.24 |
$518.36 |
$570.20 |
$627.22 |
$686.09 |
|
6-Inch Meter |
$635.60 |
$699.16 |
$769.08 |
$845.99 |
$930.59 |
$1017.94 |
|
Volume Rate per CCF over first 10 CCF |
$6.54 |
$7.19 |
$7.91 |
$8.70 |
$9.57 |
$10.47 |
|
SEWER ONLY ACCOUNTS |
||||||
|
Residential Single-Unit |
$35.35 |
$36.91 |
$38.94 |
$40.41 |
$41.79 |
$43.18 |
|
Residential Multiple-Unit Per Unit |
$30.53 |
$30.98 |
$30.98 |
$30.98 |
$30.98 |
$30.98 |
|
Commercial/Industrial Per Account |
$88.20 |
$95.20 |
$102.84 |
$111.18 |
$120.29 |
$120.29 |
|
* Base rate per unit plus volume over 10 CCF per unit. |
||||||
|
** For next additional 17.5 CCF (no charges are incurred for volumes over the additional 17.5 CCF per month). |
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(Ord. 2845 § 5, 2010; Ord. 2723 § 5, 2008; Ord. 2685 § 1, 2007; Ord. 2659 § 3, 2006; Ord. 2530 § 6, 2004; Ord. 1927 § 1, 1992; Ord. 1857 § 1, 1991; Ord. 1743 § 1, 1990; Ord. 1660 § 1, 1988)
14.40.040 Special sewer rates.
A. Qualifications for Special Rates. A residential single-unit and multiple-unit and mobile special fixed rate of the following percent of the residential single-unit monthly base rate and volume charges shall apply to all services to which utility service is available, and meeting all of the following qualifications and categories:
1. Depending on the income level status of the customer pursuant to the Snohomish County assessor’s office real property taxes exemption process, as follows:
|
Income Level Status |
Rate |
|
A |
40% |
|
B |
45% |
|
C |
50% |
See subsection (F) of this section, Special Sewer Rate Chart, for specific rate.
2. The residential single-unit property or residential multiple-unit or mobile unit to which the utility service is extended shall have a valid property tax exemption from Snohomish County, pursuant to RCW 84.36.381 through 84.36.385.
3. Claimants for said reduction shall occupy site or unit as principal residence and be within the corporate limits of the city of Lynnwood and have a household income level no greater than and as prescribed in RCW 84.36.381.
B. Categories.
1. Senior/Disabled. Persons of the age of 61 years or older, or who are disabled, meeting the qualifications specified in subsection (A) of this section, and RCW 84.36.381, shall be charged at a special sewer rate for Income Level Status A, Income Level Status B, or Income Level Status C, See subsection (F) of this section, Special Sewer Rate Chart.
2. Residential Multiple-Unit and Mobile Special Rates. For residents that meet the qualifications in subsection (A) of this section, but that do not have a direct account with the city (i.e., tenants of a condominium), a yearly rebate shall be paid to the resident based on 40, 45 or 50 percent of a calculation of the cost per unit for that account, depending on the income level status of the customer pursuant to the Snohomish County assessor’s office real property taxes exemption process. In order to qualify for the rebate, the resident must make application to the city by November 1st of each year and demonstrate, in addition to meeting the qualifications in this section, that they have resided at the site or unit for the entire year.
C. Medical Necessity. Persons who require large quantities of water due to medical necessity (i.e., kidney dialysis) and who occupy the site as principal residence and are located within the corporate limits of the city of Lynnwood shall be charged the special water rate (see subsection (F) of this section, Special Sewer Rate Chart).
D. Other Special Rate and Qualifications – Preservation Mobile Home Park. For mobile home parks that are preserved pursuant to a development agreement in accordance with Chapter 1.37 LMC, the following residential-mobile per unit base rate and volume charges shall apply:
1. Preservation for five to seven years: 50 percent of the base rate and volume charge in LMC 13.20.010.
2. Preservation for seven years or more: 25 percent of the base rate and volume charge in LMC 13.20.010.
E. The mayor is authorized to administer the special utility rates and develop procedures as necessary for such implementation.
F. Special Sewer Rate Chart. The following rate chart is based on income levels (see subsection (A) of this section).
Residential Single-Unit Rates:
|
Sewer Customer Classification |
2011 Monthly Rate |
2012 Monthly Rate |
2013 Monthly Rate |
2014 Monthly Rate |
2015 Monthly Rate |
2016 Monthly Rate |
|
Special Sewer Rates, Income Level Status A (40%) |
||||||
|
Monthly Base Rate (incl. 10 CCF) |
$13.55 |
$14.15 |
$14.93 |
$15.49 |
$16.02 |
$16.55 |
|
Monthly Volume Charge > 10 CCF |
$1.11 |
$1.16 |
$1.22 |
$1.27 |
$1.31 |
$1.35 |
|
Special Sewer Rates, Income Level Status B (45%) |
||||||
|
Monthly Base Rate (incl. 10 CCF) |
$15.25 |
$15.92 |
$16.80 |
$17.43 |
$18.02 |
$18.62 |
|
Monthly Volume Charge > 10 CCF |
$1.25 |
$1.30 |
$1.37 |
$1.42 |
$1.47 |
$1.52 |
|
Special Sewer Rates, Income Level Status C (50%) |
||||||
|
Monthly Base Rate (incl. 10 CCF) |
$16.94 |
$17.69 |
$18.66 |
$19.37 |
$20.03 |
$20.69 |
|
Monthly Volume Charge >10 CCF |
$1.38 |
$1.44 |
$1.52 |
$1.58 |
$1.64 |
$1.69 |
(Ord. 2845 § 5, 2010; Ord. 2723 § 6, 2008; Ord. 2685 § 7, 2007; Ord. 2659 § 4, 2006; Ord. 2530 § 7, 2004; Ord. 1927 § 1, 1992; Ord. 1857 § 1, 1991; Ord. 1743 § 1, 1990; Ord. 1660 § 1, 1988; Ord. 1631 § 5, 1988; Ord. 1543 § 6, 1986; Ord. 1505 § 10, 1986; Ord. 1222 § 11, 1982; Ord. 781 § 33, 1975; Ord. 152, 1963; Ord. 147 § 16.04, 1963)
14.40.045 Responsibility of property owner.
All sewer accounts shall be kept in the name of the owner of the property and not in the name of the tenant; and the owner only or his legally authorized agent shall be held responsible for sewer charges. All accounts that are in the name of the renter, lessee, or tenant of the property and not in the name of the owner at the time of passage of the ordinance codified in this chapter, shall have until December 31, 1977, to comply with the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 894 § 2, 1977)
14.40.050 Payment of bills.
All charges for sewage service shall be due and payable at the office of the utility department on or before the fourteenth day after the bill has been issued therefor and shall become delinquent after the fourteenth day. Sewage service bills shall cover periods of two months and shall be issued upon a single statement. All payments and collections shall be paid into the waterworks utility fund.
Whenever any new sewer service is made available through extension of the sewer system or otherwise, the monthly sewer service charge shall commence on the first day of the month following the month in which the sewer extension shall be accepted by the city council. (Ord. 1505 § 11, 1986; Ord. 781 § 34, 1975; Ord. 180, 1963; Ord. 147 § 18.01, 1963)
14.40.055 Penalties and delinquent charges.
In addition to all other charges provided in this title, each account shall be charged 10 percent of the unpaid balance for all sewer charges not paid within 35 days after the date of billing. (Ord. 1961 § 5, 1993; Ord. 817 § 1, 1975)
14.40.060 Delinquent charges constitute liens – Water service may be cut off.
Any sewage charge which becomes delinquent shall immediately become a lien against the premises, superior to all other liens or encumbrances except those for general taxes and special assessments. Such liens shall be foreclosed by the city in the manner provided by law for the enforcement of the same, including any and all delinquent sewage charges. As an additional and concurrent method of enforcing the lien herein provided, the city may, in case of any such delinquency, cut off the water service from the premises to which such sewage disposal service was furnished and such water service shall remain cut off until all such charges, plus penalties, have been paid, together with an additional sum of $10.00 for restoring water service during normal working hours and an additional $25.00 for restoring water service during other than normal working hours. (Ord. 1961 § 6, 1993; Ord. 780 § 35, 1975; Ord. 147 § 18.02, 1963)
14.40.065 Minimum sewer charge.
For sewer only accounts, for which water is not metered, there shall be a minimum sewer charge equal to the base charge for the classification as specified in Table 1, LMC 14.40.035. Every parcel having a sewer connection will be charged the base sewer rate notwithstanding shut-off of a water supply due to nonpayment or an approved request. The base sewer charge will be discontinued only upon demolition of the structure and capping of the sewer stub in accordance with city standards, and filing application to discontinue billing. (Ord. 1927 § 2, 1992; Ord. 1743 § 2, 1990)
14.40.070 Sewer tapping charges.
Repealed by Ord. 2241.
14.40.080 Deposit for service and return.
All renter, lessee, or tenant deposits with the sewer utility at the time of passage of the ordinance codified in this chapter will revert to the depositor no later than December 31, 1977; provided sewer charges are paid in full. In those cases where charges are not paid in full, any charges owing the sewer utility shall be deducted from the deposit, and any balance will be refunded to the depositor. (Ord. 894 § 1, 1977)
14.40.900 Severability.
In the event that any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or word of this chapter should be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or unconstitutionality thereof shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any other section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or word of this chapter. (Ord. 1961 § 7, 1993)