King County Water District No. 123
Policies and Procedures
The following policies and procedures are hereby approved by the undersigned King County Water District No. 123 (the District) Commissioners. The policies and the procedures are designed to protect the health and welfare of our water and the customers of the District. Additionally, this document will ensure that the proper administrative, financial, and technical aspects of the District are maintained. These policies and procedures are set forth in four categories as follows:
1. Connections/Services
2. Security/Protection
3. Conservation/Maintenance
4. Member/Employee Procedures
5. Limitations on Liability
1. Connections/Services
1.1 Application for Service. A property owner not served by the District may apply for service. An application request for service must be completed by the user with all pertinent personal information provided. This application can be obtained from the Secretary or Treasurer. The District must give advance approval before any new connection is established. If the property is outside the District’s approved Service Area, the District and the District’s engineers must determine that the connection can be made without compromising service to its existing service area.
1.2 Costs. The owner of the property must bear the entire cost of a new connection. The connection may not be turned on until the District’s charges have been paid in full. Charges include the payment of a Facilities Connection Change and payment of the District’s Costs of Connection Actually Incurred as provided herein.
1.2.1 Facilities Connection Charge. The Facilities Connection Charges ensures that new connections bear an equitable share of the cost of the existing infrastructure and anticipated future infrastructure. To determine each property owner’s equitable share of the cost of the infrastructure, the District has reviewed the costs and expenses paid to construct the existing water facilities, the estimated cost of the general water facilities included in the 10-year capital improvement plan contained in the District’s comprehensive water system plan and other costs borne by the District which are directly attributable to the improvements required by property owners seeking to connect to the water system.
1.2.2 The Facilities Connection Change is $_______________ per 5/8” x 3/4” meter. For connections requiring a larger meter, the Connection Charge shall be a factor of the connection charge multiplied by the Meter Size Capacity Ratio used by the American Water Resources Association.[1]
1.2.2.1 Annual CPI Adjustment. The Facilities Connection Charge shall be increased automatically each year, beginning with September 1, 2023, based on the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the greater Seattle area for the 12-month period of July 1st to June 30th immediately preceding the date of the increase; provided, that the annual CPI adjustment shall not be less than zero percent and shall not exceed five percent.
1.2.3 Costs of Connection Actually Incurred. In addition to the Facilities Connection Charge, the owner of the property seeking connection must reimburse the District for all out-of-pocket costs and administrative time the District incurs in association with the request and implementation of the connection, including but not limited to engineering services; construction inspection; the District’s administrative charge; attorney fees incurred in obtaining any necessary governmental or other approvals; costs of tests; taxes and other fees; and “record” drawing on the District’s standard scale and maps.
1.2.4 Payment. The Facilities Connection Charges and the District’s estimated Costs of Connection Actually Incurred are payable at the time the District confirms Connections are available.
1.2.5 Additional Connections. In the event a property owner adds additional units after payment of connection charges, and the owner (or owner’s assigns) requests connection (or connects without the District’s knowledge) of additional improvements constructed upon a portion of said real property or changes the meter size, said owner shall pay connection charges in accordance with the terms of this resolution as hereinafter amended, or revised, notwithstanding that connection charges were previously paid by an owner of the real property.
1.3 Letter of Water Availability. Upon completion of the application, approval of the Connection, and payment of the Connection Changes, the District will issue a letter of water availability. This letter will identify the property location by division and lot numbers. This letter will then be submitted by the applicant to the appropriate county planning department to obtain a final approved Certificate of Water Availability. The approved Certificate of Water Availability will be sent directly to the District. If a water connection is not established within one year from the date of the approved certificate, then the said certificate will become null and void. At which time, the applicant must resubmit for authorization and pay any associated fees.
1.4 Appeal Process. In the event that a property owner for which a connection charge has been computed by the District pursuant to the terms and conditions of this resolution, as now existing or hereafter amended, feels aggrieved, or contests the amount of the connection charge, or the manner in which it has been determined, then said property owner may request a hearing before the Board of Commissioners in order that said property owner’s contention can be heard by the Board of Commissioners. The property owner must file his/her protest in writing with the District giving the name of the property owner, a legal description of the real property sought to be connected to the District’s system, the total amount of the connection charge as computed by the District, and a statement by the owner as to what the owner contends the reasonable connection charge should be, if any. The Board of Commissioners, upon such a hearing being requested by the property owner, shall set a time and date for such hearing. At the conclusion of the hearing, the commissioners shall render their determination as to whether or not said connection charge is correct, and if they find it to be incorrect, they shall correct the same as they, in discretion, may determine based upon a fair preponderance of the evidence.
1.5 Domestic Use. District policy mandates that the water will only be used for domestic purposes. All materials used in the construction of any water system under the District authority shall meet all local, state, and federal requirements.
1.6 Cross Connection: All cross-connection requirements are in accordance with Washington State Administrative Code 246-290 (WAC 246-290) and must meet all local, county, state, and federal regulations. The owner of the property in which the cross connection occurs is fully responsible for any and all damages incurred.
1.6.1 The District certified water manager or duly designated certified cross connection control specialist will administer the provision of this requirement. The provisions of this requirement may supersede those of WAC 246-290, but will in no case be less stringent. All backflow preventers required by these rules and regulations shall be pre-approved by a cross connection specialist selected by the District certified water manager.
1.6.1.1 No person shall in any manner connect a fire pump or any other apparatus carrying any foreign liquid or material to any main or pipe within or connected to the District water system except in compliance with these rules and regulations.
1.6.1.2 All approved backflow preventers shall be installed at the service connection or within the following facilities under the direction of the certified cross connection control specialist commensurate with the degree of hazard, including, but not limited to:
1. Premises having an auxiliary water supply.
2. Premises having an internal cross connections or intricate plumbing arrangements which make it impractical to ascertain whether or not a cross connection exists.
3. Premises where entry is restricted so that inspections for cross connections cannot be made.
4. Car washes
5. Fire Sprinkler Systems
6. Irrigation Systems
7. Any other specified sources that local, county, state, federal, and the District management and/or certified cross connection control specialists deem as potential cross connection hazards.
1.6.1.3 Department of Health (DOH) approved backflow preventers required by these rules and regulations shall be installed and tested to make certain they are operational under the direction of the SSWC certified water manager or a certified cross connection control specialist per DOH standards. The backflow preventers must never be subject to flooding, corrosive fumes/substances, damage, or freezing, and shall be as follows:
1. A maintained air gap, or vertical separation, between the end of the potable water system and the “flood rim” of the receiving vessel as per WAC 246-290 and AWWA standards.
2. A reduced pressure backflow assembly devise can be installed per WAC 246-290 and AWWA standards.
3. A double check valve assembly can be installed per WAC 246-290 and AWWA standards.
4. A pressure vacuum breaker assembly can be installed per WAC 246-290 and AWWA standards.
1.6.1.4 All types of backflow assemblies are required to be tested annually and all air gaps installed in lieu of a backflow preventer shall be inspected at least annually. The testing reports shall be turned into The District within 30 days of receipt of the annual test notification. Tests and inspections may be required on a more frequent basis at the discretion of the certified cross connection specialist. All testing done will be at the District customer’s expense.
1.6.1.5 If any customer fails to comply with any of the rules in force, fails to eliminate cross connections, or denies access to the District and/or the certified cross connection specialist to the premises for the purpose of testing backflow devises or inspecting for potential cross connection, then they shall be considered in violation. If the customer does not comply as the rules provide a notice of termination of services will be sent. If no action is taken within 30 days, the District shall have the right to shut off the water or install the proper cross connection control devise at the point of connection and collect all charges for the cost of these procedures from the customer.
1.6.2 Billing. Each meter will be read by the certified water manager (or designee) on or between the 1st and the 5th bi-monthly to facilitate mailing out of billing statements by the 1st of the following month. Payment in full is due on or before the 1st day of the month following the billing date.
The fee for water service is currently a flat rate of $100.00 bi-monthly.
0 -6 ccf included in base fee
7-14 ccf $5.00 per ccf
15-30 ccf $9.25 per ccf
31-50 ccf $15.25 per ccf
50+ ccf $21.75 per ccf
Payments not received by the 15th day of the month following the billing date will be assessed a $12.50 late fee per billing cycle. $40.00 reconnection fee for accounts with services terminated. All checks returned for non-sufficient funds will be assessed a $30.00 charge plus all other applicable fees.
Customers who are 90 days past due may have their water services terminated and their accounts turned over to an attorney or collection agency. Any additional fees occurred by the District on behalf of customer, water service termination will be applied to said customer’s account. (Exceptions: customers requesting additional considerations from the District will have attorney processes delayed until a final determination can be made).
When 90 days past due and the customer’s water service are terminated, the customer’s account must be paid in full and $40.00 reconnection fee must be paid before any water service is reestablished.
Anyone caught tampering with the District disconnection, will force the District to notify the proper authorities and they will be charged with theft of services. In addition to filling charges, a fine of $500.00 and the cost of any damages repaired due to said tampering will be assessed to the customer and will be required to be paid in full before any water service is reestablished
1.7 Access to Property: By subscribing to service, each customer grants the District and its agent’s access to the customer’s property for service and billing-related matters. If access is denied, service may be disconnected.
1.8 Irrigation Rules: Each customer will follow a “best practices” approach to the use of irrigation service.
1. Revisiting existing landscaping to determine if modifications are needed to reduce use of water;
2. Irrigating grass areas at a rate of no more than one (1) inch per week;
3. Sizing irrigation sprinklers or installing irrigation sprinklers to provide as near a uniform coverage of grass-landscaped areas as feasible;
4. Not using watering practices that involve a “sponge” approach where water is applied in one area with the thought that it will eventually provide coverage of other areas through the water traveling over, through or under the ground; and
5. Not irrigating when the temperature is forecasted to exceed ninety (90) degrees Fahrenheit.
If the District issues a “no irrigation” order for the water system, the customer must immediately cease irrigation until the “no irrigation” order is lifted.
1.6 Board power to set/change rates: The Board of Commissioners of the District maintains the right to set or change the rates indicated hereinabove as and when circumstances require as determined by the Board in the exercise of its sound discretion. Notice to all customers will be provided at least 30 days in advance of the effective date of such changes in rates to the extent practicable at the time.
2.1 Well Field Protection: Appropriate security measures will be installed, per Homeland Security standards, at each well head and at the control house.
3.1 Conservation Program: Conservation information will be sent out quarterly to educate users in proper conservation techniques. Also, signs will be made and installed in strategic locations in proximity to well fields to educated users of the need to prevent contamination of the system.
4.1 Member/Employee procedures: Water use data will be collected on a monthly basis to determine and track average daily demand, maximum daily demand, peak monthly usage, annual production, and any unaccounted-for water.
5.1 Limitations on Liability:
a) General: the District’s liability, if any, for its gross negligence, willful misconduct or violation of Chapter 19.122 RCW is not limited by these policies and procedures. With respect to any other claim or suit by a customer or by any others, for damages associated with the installation, provision, termination, maintenance, repair or restoration of service, the District’s liability, if any, shall not exceed an amount equal to the proportionate part of the monthly recurring charge for the service for the period during which the service was affected. This liability shall be in addition to any amounts that may otherwise be due the customer as an allowance for interruptions. There shall be no liability for consequential or incidental damages.
b) Disclaimer: the District expressly disclaims all warranties, express or implied, except those expressly set forth in these policies and procedures, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
c) Relation to Charges: The charges for services rendered for service are expressly based on the limitations on damages and disclaimer of warranties set forth above.