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A. Billing Period. Water service charges provided for in this chapter shall be billed by the public works department. Property owners shall be billed every other month on or about the twenty-fifth day of the month and charges shall be due on the twentieth day of the following month after the date of invoice.

B. Delinquent Accounts. All charges for water utility services furnished by the city shall be due and payable to the city on the date shown on the face of the bill. Charges for services remaining unpaid at the close of business on the twentieth day following the billing date shall be considered delinquent and automatically subject to an additional late charge, as a penalty. Late charges shall be as established by resolution of the city.

C. Delinquent Accounts – Water Lien. The city shall have a lien against the premises to which water service was furnished for up to four months’ delinquent water service charges.

D. NSF Checks. Pursuant to RCW 62A.3-515, if a check received in payment for water service charges is dishonored by nonacceptance or nonpayment, the city shall charge a reasonable handling fee fixed from time to time by resolution of the city council. If the check is not paid within 15 days after notice of dishonor, sent by certified mail to the last known address of the person responsible therefor, the drawer of said check shall be liable for interest, collection costs and attorneys’ fees incurred in collecting the dishonored check. In addition, in the event of a court action on the dishonored check, after notice and the expiration of 15 days, the city shall be entitled to damages in the amount of three times the face value of the check or $300.00, whichever is less, pursuant to RCW 62A.3-515.

E. Water Leaks – Adjustments to Bill. For property owners whose billing is based on water consumption, adjustments in billing charges may be made in the event of increased water usage due to leaks in the property owner’s system. If a property owner wishes an adjustment in a billing charge due to a water leak, a written request must be submitted to the public works director. The written request shall be the completion and submittal of a leak adjustment request form by the property owner and include the date and proof of adequate physical repair of the leak, as opposed to only isolating the leak, which may be established by receipt or billing for repair work and/or materials if the repair was accomplished by the property owner. Irrigation leaks are not eligible for adjustment and leak adjustments for other systems are allowed only once in a three-year time period. Credit shall be posted to the account on the billing following submittal of proof of repair for a period extending up to 120 days prior to the date of repair. The charge for water shall be based on the water consumption history and other factors which, in the determination of the public works director, affect the property owner’s water consumption. Water charges for overages shall be at the wholesale rate of water charged to the city.

F. Responsibility of Water Charges. Charges for water service shall be the responsibility of the property owner. (Ord. 2412 § 3 (Exh. C), 2023; Ord. 2381 § 2, 2022; Ord. 2286 § 3, 2019; Ord. 2104 § 2, 2012; Ord. 1849 § 2, 2001; Ord. 1848 § 4, 2001; Ord. 1634 § 1, 1996).