Not an official copy.

Gold Bar, WA
Municipal Code Sections 13.04.060, .070, .140, .170-.210

13.04.060 Water turn-on charge
There shall be a turn-on charge for each connection or re-initiation of service. This charge shall be established by resolution of council. All new connections to water lines shall be installed in a turned off position unless otherwise instructed by the property owner and approved by the city water superintendent. A service charge, as established by resolution of council, shall be charged if a separate trip is required to turn the water on There shall be an additional sum-on fee for any water sum-on service thereafter. (Ord. 385A 4(A), 1994)

13.04.070 Presence of customer at turn-on required.
Water service to a premises will be fumed on only when the customer is present to ascertain that no damage results from burst or leaking pipes or fixtures within the premises when the turn-on is made. (Ord. 385A 4(B), 1994)

13.04.140 Billing Procedures
A. Billing. Water meters shall be read during the last week of each month. In case of emergency, the meter reading will occur the following month, and any excess over the monthly minimum will be billed on the next water bill. Water charges shall be assessed every month, and billing for the same shall be done on a monthly basis. Billing procedures may be changed upon notice of the city council.

The total amount on the monthly water statements shall be due and payable ten (10) days after the billing date, for the water consumed in the previous billing period. If the entire amount is not paid within twenty (20) days of the billing date, late charges in the amount set by resolution of the council, shall be added. If the entire amount due is not paid prior to the next billing date, the water superintendent shall have authority to immediately initiate proceedings to shut off the water at the premises where the charge was incurred. The water sh ll not be fumed on again until all delinquent water charges, late fees and interest in the amounts established by resolution of council, including any expenses for collection, shutting off and turning on the water are paid. In the event of a disputed account, the owner or tenant may appeal to the city council and the city shall not proceed to cut off service until after the city council has had an opportunity to review the disputed charges and arrive at a decision. Twenty-four (24) hours notice shall be given to the owner and any tenants of the council's decision on the disputed payment.

B. Payment of subsequent bills or partial payment of delinquent amounts shall not preclude the superintendent from proceeding to cut off water service for any delinquent amounts All amounts shall be due and payable in full.

C. Single Billing Form.

1. Charges for water service may be rendered on the same billing form as charges for other utility services. All charges appearing on this billing form are considered to constitute a single billing. Any partial payment or advanced payment applied to the billing shall apply generally in proportion to the individual parts comprising the total single billing.Payment tendered shall not apply to any single component part of the billing.

2. All charges for water and other services which are applicable to a single premises shall appear on a single billing and be mailed to any renter or leaseholder and to the owner of the property. The component parts of such a billing shall not be segregated gated and placed on separate billing forms for the purpose of sending the same to more than one location.

3. In the event a discrepancy occurs because of a leak on the customer's side of the water service meter, the overage charge may be eliminated from the account for a period of thirty (30) days from the date the city was notified of the leak However, the overage charge will only be eliminated for a period of thirty (30) days, and the customer has exactly thirty (30) days to correct the leak. The city will only eliminate those charges from the account for the thirty (30) day period, and only if the superintendent or water department staff verifies that there is a leak and that the leak has been repaired within the thirty (30) day time frame. After thirty (30) days, the leak on the premises shall be subject to charging, and shall be included in all water usage consumed. All overage charges shall be charged according to the amount set out by resolution of the council.

D. Maintenance of Water Accounts All accounts for water service shall be maintained according to the rules and procedures established by the superintendent and approved by the council.

E. Collection of Water Charges. All water charges shall be paid to the deputy clerk who shall collect, receive and provide a receipt for the same, and prepare a monthly detailed statement of receipts for the city council. All water charges received shall be deposited in the water operating fund, except those charges for which the city has specifically provided otherwise. (Ord. 385A 6, 1994)

13.04.170 Lien for delinquent water charges.
The water department elects to claim and does claim a lien in the manner provided by RCW 35.21.290 and RCW 35.21.300, as now or hereafter amended, for all delinquent and unpaid charges for water and special charges against the premises to which the same has been furnished. This shall not preclude the city from seeking other remedies provided by law. Provided, however, if the owner of said premises shall request shut off of services, accompanied by payment or tender of payment of the then delinquent and unpaid charges for such service against me premises along with any cut-off charge, then the owner shalt not be responsible for any charges that shall accrue from that date forward and the city shall have no lien for charges for and service provided thereafter. All such liens shall not be for more than four (4) months of service, unless such limitation is waived. Enforcement of this provision may also be made by cutting off service until the delinquent and unpaid charges are paid. (Ord. 385A 7(C), 1994)

13.04.180 Illegal turn-on - Misdemeanor.
Any person turning water service on to any premises after ithas been shut off by the city shall be deemed in violation of this chapter, and be guilty of a misdemeanor. In such case, the water will (e shut off, locked and will not be turned on again until all charges including penalties shall have been paid. (Ord. 385A 7(D), 1994)

13.04.190 Delinquent charges-service shutoff.
If payment for water charges shall become delinquent by no more than twenty (20) days, upon proper notice and compliances with RCW 35.21.290 and 35.21.300, the water service may be shut off to the subject premises until all arrears have been paid, together with a penalty including any expenses incurred for processing, inspecting, shutting off end turning on the service, in the amounts set forth by resolution of council. (Ord. 385A 7(E), 1994)

13.04.200 Right of entry for inspection.
The city water superintendent or his designee shall have free access at all reasonable hours onto the premises to which city water service is rendered for the purpose of inspecting and testing the same and also for the purpose of exercising the right of water shut-off, or performing emergency repairs. (Ord. 385A Section 8, 1994)

13.04.210 Authority to shut off water.
The city reserves the right in case of emergency to shut off the water distribution system, in the mains, service pipes or any premises at any time and without notice; and in non-emergency cases, upon twenty-four (24) hours' notice, by posting. The water department will endeavor to notify customers where practicable but shall not accept responsibility nor liability for injury to persons or the safety of boilers, hot water tanks, appliances or other device on the premises of any water consumer due to the shut off. (Ord. 385A Section 9, 1994)