Spokane Municipal Code

Title 13 Public Utilities and Services

Chapter 13.03 Sewers

Section 13.03.1112 “Commercial User Charge”

“Commercial user charge” means the charge applied to a commercial user service account for the cost of treating the volume of wastewater from that service account of a standard strength of BOD, SS and P, plus a surcharge for the treatment of wastewater of more than standard wastewater strength as determined by wastewater monitoring, from a specific commercial user. Stormwater, also listed with commercial user charges, are:

1. General Stormwater Service Charges.

These are imposed for right-of-way maintenance and operations functions relating to stormwater management and control, fairly apportioned to the commercial user’s benefit enjoyed/burden created; and

2. A CSO (Combined Sewer Overflow) Stormwater User Surcharge.

The CSO Stormwater surcharge is only imposed on commercial users within the CSO service area as reflected in the GIS map on file with the director of wastewater management, which commercial (or industrial) uses also contribute stormwater flows directly into the combined sewer system.

1. 1. CSO Stormwater User Surcharge Discounts

1. 1. 1. Where a customer pays CSO stormwater user surcharges for a new or remodeled commercial building that utilizes a permissive rainwater harvesting system or vegetated roof, as recognized by the director, such charges shall be reduced by ten percent.

1. 1. 1. 1. To be eligible for a reduction under this subsection the permissive rainwater harvesting system or vegetated roof must be properly sized to utilize all of the available roof surface of the building.

1. 1. 1. 2. For purposes of administration a “commercial building” is defined to be a building on premises billed “CSO stormwater user surcharge” under SMC 13.03.1008(B).

1. 1. 1. 3. “New or remodeled” shall mean a building built new or substantially remodeled.

1. 1. 2. The director shall grant an additional ten percent discount on application by the customer showing the use of low impact development facilities for stormwater management.

1. 1. 1. 1. Such facilities may include permeable pavement, bioretention areas, infiltration planters, and other low impact development best management practices as approved by the Washington state department of ecology and the City of Spokane.

1. 1. 1. 2. Facility maintenance is required for continuation of this discount. Maintenance requirements for low impact development facilities can be found in the Eastern Washington Low Impact Development Guidance Manual and/or manufacturer guidelines

3. To obtain a discount under subsection (B)(1) of this section, a customer must file a completed written application on forms approved by the director and pay an inspection fee depending on the number of impervious acres to be inspected. All discounts are prospective from the date of inspection and shall not exceed the maximum allowable discount of twenty percent. The fee for inspection is:

1. 1. up to one impervious acre: Zero dollars;

1. 2. one to five impervious acres: Fifty dollars;

1. 3. five to ten impervious acres: One hundred dollars;

1. 4. ten to twenty impervious acres: Two hundred dollars, and

1. 5. over twenty impervious acres: Four hundred dollars.

The inspection certification approving discount eligibility under subsection (B)(1) is good for five years. The director administers this program with such additional rules as he shall provide, and may assess additional charges for administrative costs not encompassed herein.

4. The commercial user charges are set forth in SMC 13.03.1008.

Date Passed: Monday, August 26, 2013

Effective Date: Tuesday, October 1, 2013

ORD C35021 Section 2