HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM VIII-A-1
CITY OF
AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM
M WASHINGTON
Agenda Subject: Date:
Ordinance No. 6331 October 26; 2010
Department: Attachments: Budget Impact:
Public Works Ordinance No. 6331 $ N/A
Sewer Meter Informational Brochure
Administrative Recommendation:
Ci Councif to introduce and ado t Ordinance No. 6331.
Back round Summa :
Ordinance No. 6331 amends Section 1120.186 of Aubum City Code to aid in the administrafion of the
use of sewer meters to measure sewage discharge into Aubum's sanitary sewer system.
The City of Auburn typically bills non-single family residential sewer customers based on their metered
potabte water usage. There are some cases where the only accurate way to measure the volume of
wastewater entering the sewer system is by using a sewer meter. Such cases include sites where the
source of water is not metered or sites where a significant amount of water is removed as part of an
industrial process.
Current city code addresses the use of sewer meters, but staff has concluded that modifications are
necessary to more effectively administer those accounts. A summary of the code changes are as follows:
1_ The requirement to have the meter calibrated is more specific, and the consequences offailure to do
so, such as reverting to billing based on water usage, are spelled out in more detaiL
2. Meter readings will be taken by City meter readers, and will no longer be called in or sent in by the
property owner.
3. The consequences for inoperative meters, such as reverting to billing based on water use or revoking
the option to use a meter are spelled out in more detail.
Staff has also developed an informational brochure to assist customers in understanding application
reguirements and design standards.
W1101-6
04.6.2
Reviewed by Council & Committees: Reviewed by Departments & Divisions:
❑ Arts Commission COUNCIL COMMITTEES: ❑ Building ❑ M&O
❑ Airport 0 :Finance ❑ Cemetery ❑ Mayor
❑ Fiearing Examiner ❑ Municipal Serv. 0 Finance ❑ Parks
❑ Human Services ❑ Planning & CD ❑ Fire ❑ Planning
❑ Rark Board ZPublic Works 0 Legal ❑ Police
❑ Planning Comm. ❑ Other 0 Public Works ❑ Human Resources
Action:
Committee Approval: DYes ❑No .
Council Approval: OYes ❑No Call for Public Hearing
Referred to Until
Tabled Until
Councilmember: Wa nec Staff: Dowd
Meetin Date: : November 1, 2010 Item Number: VIII.A.1
- BUIR:N * MORE THAN YOU IMAGINED
ORDINANCE NO. 6 3 3 1
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, AMENDING
SECTION 13.21.186 OF THE AUBURN CITY CODE
RELATING TO SEWER METERS
WHEREAS, the City of Auburn ("City") in managing its sewer utility,
provides for direct metering of sewage discharge in certain instances in order to
fairly and accurately monitor the flow of wastewater in to the sanitary sewer
system; and, WHEREAS, staff has recommended amending the provisions related to
direct metering in order to provide for easier administration of the meters and to
provide clear guidance to utility customers;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN,
WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN as follows:
Section 1. Amendment to Citv Code. That section 13.20.186 of
the Auburn City Code be and the same hereby is amended to read as follows;
13.20.186 Sewer meters. Sanitary sewer meters monitor, measure, record and totalize the flow of
wastewater into the sanitary sewer system. This information is then used to
generate a sewage bill for the site. Installation of sanitary sewer meters are
discouraged by the city; however, O{ o* ic d°+°rmincrl hv the s*,Citv Enaineer may
determine that a sewer meter is the only appropriate device thaf will allow for the
accurate measurement of waste water being sent into the public sewer system:
Sites where a sewer meter mav be allowed or- required include, but are not
limited to facilities where the water source is not metered or facilities where
industrial processes remove a sianificant amount of inetered water from the
waste stream. If allowed or required, then sa4-the meter shall be installed
URdefand operated pursuant to the following conditions: -
A.
B----aevvage -Sewer meters shall be owned, operated and maintained by
the property owner; heweveF,
Ordinance No. 6331
October 19, 2010
Page 1 of 4
B. Sewer meters shall be selected and installed consistent with Citv of
Auburn desiqn standards.
C. Sewer meters shall continuallv totalize the flow passinq throuqh the
meter and disqlav the meter reading in ccf (1 ccf = 100 cubic feet).
D. The owner shall provide the City access to read the sewer meter,
Mandav through Friday 7:00 a.rri. to 5:00 p.m. E A side sewer repair permit shall be obtained for the installation,
replacement, or modification of sewermeters
' GF. The propertv owner shall have the gewage-sewer metersr-sha#-be
Calibrated aRRUa4y-once per calendar vear by the manufacturer or a-a-the
manufacturer's authorized tefrepresentative at the owner's expense.
A copy of the calibration report shall be furnished to the s*City
Public Works Department on or before December 31 of that year.
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feadIRgS-.
G Reqardless of whether the City has previously allowed or required
the installation and use of a sewer meter, the Gity shall, after qivinq the property
owner 30 workinq days' notice and opportunity fo cure the defect, bill the
property owner for sewaae based on metered water usaqe for the propertv for
any of the following reasons
1. The owner fails to submit a calibration report
2. The calibration ceport indicates that the meter cannot be calibrated, and
will not accurately measure flow.
3. The citv. becomes aware that the meter is malfunctioninQ, or
unexplained anomalies in the meter readinqs are identified.
If the source of the wastewater is not metered potable water (e.q.
contaminated qroundwater), the Citv mav, after providinq 15 workinq davs' notice
of its intent to do so elect to use previous vears' and/or months' readinas as a
basis for sewer charqes. The Citv shall adtl an additional 50% surcharae until
such time as the Owner provides a fully functional calibrated meter.
H If a meter is found to be inoperative or inaccurate, the property
owner must repair or replace the defective meter within 30 davs of beinq notified
of the problem.
If the property owner , t..
~ , fails to comply with
these conditions the citv _mau charqe the owner for all expenses incurred in
restoring compliance including, but not limited to. staff time, leqal expenses, .
consultant costs and the cost of repairs and_ equ'rpment calibration. In cases
where the City acts unilaterallv to obtain comqliance, a. monthlv surcharqe of
10% will be added to the bill until such time as the Finance Director determines is
necessary. The citv may revoke the riqht to use a sewaqe meter at anv time and
the sewer bill shall be calculated based on total water Volume utilized as
Ordinance No. 6331
October 19, 2010
Page 2, of 4
measured by the water meter. At.the Finance Director's discretion in .cases bf
continued non-compliance, the citv mav also revoke the riaht to discharqe to the
sewer system. -(Ord. 5852 § 1, 2004.)
. Section Z. Implementation: The Mayor is hereby authorized to
implement such administrative procedures as may be necessary to carry out the directions of this :legislation.
Section 3. Severability. The provisions of this ordinance are
declared to be separate and severable. The invalidity of any clause, sentence,
paragraph, subdivision, section or portion of this ordinance, or the invalidity of the .
. application thereof. to any person or circumstance shall not affect the validity of
the remainder of this.ordinance, or the validity of its application to other persons
or circumstances:
Section 4. Effective date. This Ordinance shall take effect and be
in force fve days from and after its passage, approval and publication as -
provided by law. ,
INTRODUCED:
PASSED: ,
APPROVED:
CITY OF AUBURN
PETER B. LEWIS
MAYOR
ATTEST:
Danielle E. Daskam, City Clerk
Ordinance No. 6331
October 19, 2010
Page 3.of 4
APP D FOR :
aniel B. Heid; City Attorne -
,
Published:
Ordinance No. 6331 '
October 19, 2010
Page 4 of 4
~
CITY OF
;
*
WtiS1111V G1 V 1V
PERMIT CENTER
SANITARY SEWER
METERS
Inforrnational Brochure
Septernb+er 2010
Prepared by:
City of Auburn
Customer Service Center
(253) 931-3010
FAX (253) 931-3053
PERNII`I' CENTER ^
INFORIVIATIOlvAL BROCHURE FOR SANI'TARY SEWEI2
NNIETERS
The standard b'illing practice for non-single family customers of the City of Auburn's Sewer Utility, is to
base the monthly charges for sewerservice on water use data. The City recognizes that in some'situations,
metered water use does not accurately reflect the volume of water discharged to the sewer system. Per
Aubum City Code (ACG) 13.20.186, the use of sewer meters for billing purposes is discouraged by the City, but will be allowed if, "a sewer meter is the only appropriate device that will allow for the accurate
measurement of wastewater being sent into the public sewer system." Sewer meters will be owned and
maintained by theprope.rty owner.
Permitting a Sewer Meter
A side sewer repair permit shall be obtained for the installation, replacement, or modification of sewer
meters. Along with the application form for that permit, the applicant must submit the following items: '
1. A letter describing the need to use a sewer meter as the only device which will appropriately
measure the volume of wastewaterthat you dischazge into the sewer system. .
**Note: The applicant may submit the letter described in Item 1 to be "pre-approved" before
preparing and submitting an official permit application.**
2. A site plan showing adjacent streets, buildings; on-site sewer lines, proposed meter location,
proposed location of remote register/readout, access points for meter readers, parking azeas for
meter readers, and any other item that may affect the efficient reading and inspection of the meter.
3. A written description of the access procedures for meter readers (including potenrially locked
gates, alazm systems etc.) '
4. Specifications for all equipment being installed, and a statement from the manufacturer stating that
the meter is appropriate for the proposed application. •
5. Construction drawirigs for the installation of the equipment.
Design Standards
Location:
The sewer meter may be installed in a manhole, on a buried pipe, or in a vault.
The sewer meter register must be located under cover or in a weather proof box mounted in an easily
accessible location.
Register: the register must include a totalizer which constantly displays cumulative quantities of
discharged wastewater in ccf (1 ccf = 100 cubic feet).
Meter:
The meter must be of a type and size appropriate to its application as verified by the manufacturerand the
City Engineer.