Chapter 8.08 - SEWER CONNECTION FEES

Effective February 1, 1984, the fees and charges of the district as they pertain to side sewers shall be as set forth in Sections 8.08.020 through 8.08.040. (Res. 399 § 1 (part), 1984: Res. 371 § 1 (part), 1981: Res. 143 § 1 (part), 1976)

Permit fees for single-family dwellings shall be as set forth in Chapter 13.01 of this code. (Res. 683, § 1(O), 6-11-2009: Res. 399 § 1 (part), 1984: Res. 371 § 1 (part), 1981: Res. 143 § 1(a), 1976)

Permit fees for multiple dwellings shall be as set forth in Chapter 13.01 of this code. (Res. 683, § 1(P), 6-11-2009: Res. 399 § 1 (part), 1984: Res. 371 § 1 (part), 1981: Res. 143 § 1(b), 1976)

Permit fees for all structures other than those provided for in Sections 8.08.020 and 8.08.030 shall be as set forth in Chapter 13.01 of this code. (Res. 683, § 1(Q), 6-11-2009: Res. 399 § 1 (part), 1984: Res. 371 § 1 (part), 1981: Res. 143 § 1(c), 1976)

• A. Increase or Decrease in ELUs. Changes made to a premises connected to the district's system may change the number of ELUs for said premises. As a result of any changes in premises, the number of ELUs shall increase, decrease, or remain the same, all in accordance with the standards set forth in this chapter. Within thirty days of making any change in the premises resulting in a higher number of ELUs, the customer shall pay additional general facilities charges for the increased amount of ELUs. Upon making any change in the premises resulting in a lower number of ELUs, subject to compliance with other requirements of this subsection, the customer shall be eligible for a credit in general facilities charges for the decreased amount of ELUs, which credit shall remain with the premises until used. The obligation for additional general facilities payments for increased ELUs and the potential credit toward future general facilities charges for decreased ELUs shall be calculated based on the general facilities charge in effect at the time the change in premises is made. Upon completion of any change in premises resulting in an increase or decrease in ELUs, the customer shall pay new monthly rates in accordance with Chapter 8.12 of this code, commensurate with the new number of ELUs for the premises.
• B. Charges and Collection for ELU In-crease–Implementation. The customer shall have an obligation to notify the district in writing of any changes to his/her premises that increase the number of ELUs for said premises within thirty days of making the change. The district may learn of a change in customer's premises resulting in an increase in ELUs for said premises–from the customer directly, through building permits, report of third parties, through its own investigation, or other means. Upon learning of an increase in ELUs, the district shall bill the customer for any additional general facilities charges owed and begin charging and collecting from the customer a monthly service charge in accordance with Chapter 8.12 of this code, based on the actual number of ELUs for the premises. In the event a customer fails to notify the district within thirty days of a change in the use of his/her premises as required herein, the district will charge said customer for interest on any additional general facilities charges owed as a result of increased ELUs at a rate of twelve percent per annum beginning from the date the changes in premises resulting in increased ELUs were completed; and the district shall also charge the customer the difference between the monthly rates actually paid and the monthly rates that should have been paid based on the actual number of ELUs, relating back to date said customer changed the premises; provided that, said back charges for monthly rates more than six years delinquent shall not be collectible.
• C. Reduction in Rate/General Facilities Charge Credit for ELU Decrease–Implementation. Whenever the customer desires to discontinue the use of sewer through any fixtures mentioned in the original application, he/she shall first cause the fixture to be removed and the plumbing connection and/or side sewer as appropriate, to be capped in accordance with Section 8.04.160, and shall notify the district in writing before any credit for general facilities charges or reduction in rate will be made. Upon receipt of such written notice from the customer and verification by the district of fixture removal and capping in accordance with Section 8.04.160, the district shall recalculate the number of ELUs for said premises. Any reduction in ELUs shall result in a credit for general facilities charges and a commensurate reduction in monthly rates as provided in subsection A of this section. In no event shall there be any reimbursement or refund for general facilities charges collected, other than a credit for such future charges for the premises. (Res. 617 § 2, 2002)

Any application for sewer service shall be subject to a general facilities charge as set forth in Chapter 13.01 of this code. This charge to be connected to the district's sewer system shall be in addition to any connection, permit or inspection fees otherwise applicable. (Res. 660, § 2, 11-9-2006: Res. 683, § 1(R), 6-11-2009: Res. 639 § 2, 2004: Res. 629 § 2, 2003: Res. 578 § 2, 1997: Res. 527 § A, 1993: Res. 516 § E (part), 1993: Res. 510 § 1, 1992)

Customers of the district shall not experience any change in their previously assigned number of ELUs until such time as such customers change the nature of their use (e.g., from residential to commercial), add additional uses or fixtures, or otherwise experience an increase or decrease in ELUs as described in this chapter; except that existing or future customers of the district vested with a complete building permit application for a particular premises, filed with the appropriate local permitting authority on or before the date of the resolution codified in this section, shall be assigned a number of ELUs for the new building or addition on such premises in accordance with the assignment of ELUs in effect prior to adoption of the resolution codified in this section. (Res. 617 § 4, 2002)

Any property which has previously paid a general facilities charge for sewer service, but not paid for monthly sewer charges, shall receive a credit against the charge levied in Section 8.08.050 as follows:

• A. If the amount paid was less than nine hundred twenty-two dollars per RCE, the credit shall be 1.625 times the amount paid.
• B. If the amount paid was nine hundred twenty-two dollars per RCE, then the credit shall be as follows:

(Res. 527 § B, 1993: Res. 525 § 1, 1993: Res. 516 § 6, 1993)

The number of equivalent living units (“ELUs”) for sewer per service or project, as applicable, shall be as follows:

• A. Single-Family Residence. For each single-family residence, one ELU; except that single-family residences served by a meter greater than 5/8 inch in size shall be the greater of one ELU, or the number of ELUs established pursuant to the calculation method for commercial uses;
• B. Multiple Family Residence, Mobile Home Park, or Condominium. For each residential unit, one ELU;
• C. Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) or Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (DADU), 3/4 ELU. There shall be no more than one ADU or DADU per Premises;
• D. Park Model Trailer Court. For each site in a park model trailer court, 3/4 ELU;
• E. Camping RV Park or Camping Trailer Park. For each RV or Camping Trailer site in a RV park or trailer court, 1/2 ELU;
• F. Combined Park Model, RV and/or Camping Trailer Park: each site will be counted as per above;
• G. Campgrounds (With Water Service Only to Individual Sites). For each site in a campground used for camping on a full- or part-time basis, 1/3 ELU;
• H. Campgrounds (Without Sewer or Water Service to Individual Sites). For each site in a campground used for camping on a full- or part-time basis, 1/4 ELU;
• I. Motel or Hotel. For each room or unit, 1/2 ELU;
• J. Commercial Uses. For each commercial use, the number of ELUs shall be the greater of one, or the number established based on the number of fixture units serving the commercial use. The number of fixture units shall be determined in accordance with the district code and other applicable policies and procedures approved by the board of commissioners. The number of ELUs for a commercial use shall be determined by dividing the number of fixture units for “public-general use” serving the commercial use by twenty-one; provided that in no event shall the number of ELUs for any commercial use be less than one. Partial ELUs resulting from the division of fixture units by twenty-one shall be rounded to the nearest 1/2 ELU, except for campgrounds described in subsections G and H of this section;
• K. Churches. For each church, one ELU; except that, churches served by a meter greater than 5/8 inch in size shall be the greater of one ELU, or the number of ELUs established pursuant to the calculation method for commercial uses;
• L. Combined Facilities. For each property which has more than one business or function on one sewer connection, the number of ELUs will be based on the combined sum of the individual units which are applicable to each business or function involved;
• M. When a customer is not specifically listed in this section, the general manager or his/her designee may determine which category the customer most closely resembles in quantity and quality of sewage output, and classify each customer accordingly; provided that any residential unit added to a commercial use shall be charged for a minimum of 1/2 additional ELU, and the total number of additional ELUs for such residential unit shall be determined in accordance with subsection A of this section;
• N. The minimum number of ELUs for any premises shall be 1/2 ELU.

(Res. 782 § 2, 2023; Res. 645 § 2, 2005; Res. 634 §§ 2, 5, and 6, 2004; Res. 617 § 5, 2002)