(a) “Base monthly charge” means the minimum charge to a user per month. For those users whose sewer charge is calculated based on water use, the base monthly charge includes water use up to the base monthly allowance.

(b) “Units” means the number of dwelling units in a multifamily residence such as a duplex, apartment or condominium; or the number of separate rooms or living units in a nursing home, congregate care or assisted living facility; each having separate bathroom and/or kitchen facilities.

(c) “Incremental rate” means the dollar amount charged per 100 cubic feet of water use above the base monthly allowance and applies to those users whose sewer fee is calculated based on water use.

(d) “Sewer charge” means the dollar amount a user is charged for sewer service, calculated based on the sewer rates.

(e) “Sewer rate” means the dollar amount a user is charged for sewer service per unit of measure. For example, a sewer rate may be in terms of dollars per 100 cubic feet of water used, dollars per student, or other units.

(f) “Customer” means the legal property owner at time of meter reading.

(g) “Account” means customer.

(h) “Low-income household” means a household in which the total annual income is below the very low-income level for the Seattle/Everett area as established and amended by survey from time to time by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(i) “Senior citizen” means a person of 62 years of age or older.

(j) “Disabled person” means a person who qualifies for special parking privileges under RCW 46.16.381(1)(a) through (f), or a blind person as defined in RCW 74.18.020, or a person who qualifies for supplemental Social Security benefits due to a disability.

(a) Basis of Rates and Charges. Sewer charges shall be based on the monthly water use as recorded by the city water meters unless indicated otherwise in this section. The charge for residential uses for the summer months, defined herein as May, June, July, and August for accounts in Cycle 1, and June, July, August, and September for accounts in Cycle 2, shall be based on the lesser of the water use for the billing period or the average monthly water use for the preceding September through April, or October through May, period, respectively. If data for the full September through April, or October through May, period are not available, the data will be averaged over the period for which data are available. For new accounts that begin in the defined summer months, the month’s charge shall be based on the water use for that month. The charge for nonresidential uses for the months of June, July, August and September shall be based on the water use for that month unless indicated otherwise in this section. Routes included in each cycle shall be determined by the city. A user may elect, at his/her own expense, to install a separate water meter to measure water used for irrigation. An irrigation-only account will then be established and billed separately by the city.

(b) 

(a) Residential – Individually Metered. This classification includes buildings for residential uses that are individually metered.

(b) Residential – Master Metered. This classification includes structures containing more than one residence that are metered through one master meter.

(c) Light Commercial. This classification includes commercial uses not otherwise classified. It incorporates simple domestic waste generators such as offices, small retail trade establishments, schools without kitchens/gyms, hotels without restaurants, and churches/meeting halls.

(d) Heavy Commercial. This classification includes commercial uses that have higher potential for problem wastes (high strength, problem constituents or large volume) than the light commercial classification. The heavy commercial classification includes laundries, dry cleaners, restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, medical clinics, funeral homes, photo development, veterinary clinics, dental clinics, schools with kitchens/gyms, hotels with restaurants, etc.

(e) General Industrial. This classification includes uses that generate large volumes of wastewater or have high strength or problem wastewater. This classification includes manufacturing and processing facilities, etc.

(a) Low-income senior citizens or low-income disabled persons who are customers of the utility shall be eligible to apply for sewer service at 70 percent of the monthly minimum charge, and full charge for all overage consumption.

(b) Low-income households in which the principal financial resources are provided by a senior citizen or a disabled person, as defined in this chapter, may apply for these reduced rates. The city may require a customer who is receiving service at a reduced rate to provide information annually to confirm their continued eligibility for the reduced rate.

(c) The reduced rate provided by this subsection shall apply only to single-family residential services. (Ord. 1461 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2018; Ord. 1405 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2015; Ord. 1353 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1290 § 1, 2011; Ord. 1259 § 1, 2009; Ord. 1235 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1189 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1127 § 1, 2002; Ord. 1102 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1086 § 1, 1999; Ord. 938 § 1, 1995; Ord. 850 § 1, 1992; Ord. 770 § 1, 1989; Ord. 757 § 1, 1988; Ord. 673 § 1, 1985; Ord. 605, 1982; Ord. 577 § 1, 1981; Ord. 557 § 1, 1980; Ord. 470, 1977; Ord. 355 § 7, 1971; Ord. 241 § 2, 1962).