A. Individual and Master Meters. All water furnished to customers outside the city limits shall be supplied only through an individual meter or through a master meter. There shall be no water furnished outside the city limits on a fixed rate basis. For purposes of this chapter an “individual meter” designates a metered service supplying a single premises or user, and a “master meter” designates a metered service supplying more than one premises or user. New connections, upsizing, or change of use of existing connections to the #2, #3, #4, or #5 water transmission lines shall be only by master meter supplying Group A community public water systems as defined in WAC 246-290-020 (as currently enacted or later amended).

B. Service Connection Application. Before a service connection is installed outside the city limits, application shall first be made to the utilities division and payment made therefor in the regular manner. No service connection shall be installed outside the city limits for which all costs therefor have not been paid by the applicant.

C. Water Delivered—Charges. The charges for water delivered through all service connections located outside the city limits shall be paid under the current water rates and charges schedule therefor, except those which may be served under a written contract separate and apart from this chapter.

D. Plan Required—Extension. At the time an application for water service outside the city limits is made to the utilities division, the applicant shall file with the division a drawing showing the property to be served, together with a description thereof and location of all proposed water pipe thereon. No extension of water pipes within or beyond the boundary of the property shown on the drawing shall be permitted without first having submitted a supplementary drawing for approval by the utilities division. Master meter applicants shall submit a water system plan approved by the DSHS district engineer, and plans and specifications shall bear the seal and signature of a professional engineer licensed by the state. Master meter connections greater than twelve inches shall be subject to modification of the city water system plan prior to acceptance and approval by the utilities superintendent. Failure to obtain prior approval of any water pipe extension shall result in a thirty percent surcharge on the customer’s water bill. The surcharge will continue until the utilities division provides an after-the-fact approval of the water pipe extension.

E. Single Representative. All customers served through a master meter shall designate one representative who shall be responsible for complete management of the water system including maintenance, twenty-four-hour emergency response, water quality monitoring, payment of water bills and required notifications to the city. Each representative as designated above shall submit an annual report to the utilities division.

The annual report shall provide a system map showing the site and location of all water lines, valves, hydrant and storage reservoirs. The annual report shall also indicate the number of services, population and land area served by the master meter. Failure to submit an acceptable annual report to the utilities division by March 1st of every year will result in a thirty percent surcharge on the customer’s water bill. The surcharge will continue until an acceptable annual report is received by the utilities division.

F. Customer to Provide Storage. The city shall not be responsible for the water storage needs of customers outside the city, and all customers outside the city limits shall provide sufficient water storage for their need during periods of transmission line or water main failures and/or periods of reduced pressure or flow. All new water services outside the city shall be required to provide a minimum of one hundred fifty gallons per capita of water storage.

G. Application of Regulations. This chapter and all rules and regulations governing the water system shall apply to all customers outside the city limits.

H. All new water services outside the city must be Group A community public water systems as defined in WAC 246-290-020 (as currently enacted or later amended) and comply with all state regulations for Group A community public water systems. No other new water services will be allowed outside the city.

I. All new water services must provide pressure reducing valves or water pumps as specified by the utilities division to accommodate fluctuating water pressure conditions on the city’s water transmission system.

J. A “dormant service” is service to a Group B system as defined in WAC 246-290-020 (as currently enacted or later amended) or to an individual (or single family) that is (1) connected to a water transmission line and (2) not furnished water by the city for eighteen months. Dormant services shall be permanently removed along with the service meter at the city’s convenience and no new service will be allowed unless it is part of a Group A community public water system as defined in WAC 246-290-020 (as currently enacted or later amended). (Ord. 3868-22 § 1, 2022; Ord. 1374-87 §§ 1, 2, 1987; Ord. 1237-86 § 46, 1986.)