(A) General metered rates. There shall be and there are hereby established for the use of and the service rendered by the Waterworks System of the City of Washington, Indiana, the following rates and charges based upon the use of water supplied by the Waterworks System during each monthly billing period:
General rates metered rates per month | Rate per 100 cubic feet |
For the first 1000 cubic feet | $6.25 |
For the next 9000 cubic feet | $5.51 |
For the next 20,000 cubic feet | $3.97 |
For the next 70,000 cubic feet | $2.41 |
All over 100,000 cubic feet | $1.56 |
(B) Minimum charge. Each user shall pay a minimum charge in accordance with the size of meter installed, for which the user will be entitled to the quantity of water set in the metered schedule of rates.
Minimum charge size of meter | Quantity of water | Rate |
½- and 5/8-inch | 500 cubic feet | $31.24 |
3/4-inch | 966 cubic feet | $60.36 |
1-inch | 1500 cubic feet | $90.03 |
1 1/2-inch | 1850 cubic feet | $109.32 |
2-inch | 3765 cubic feet | $214.82 |
3-inch | 8717 cubic feet | $489.66 |
4-inch | 20,540 cubic feet | $976.99 |
6-inch | 55,130 cubic feet | $1,959.56 |
(C) Sales for resale.
(1) Per 100 cubic feet - $1.81.
(2) Usage greater than 30 million gallons (per 100 cubic feet) - $2.70.
2023 S-11
(D) Rural fire protection surcharge. For each water customer located outside the corporate limits of the City of Washington and within 1,000 feet radius of a hydrant the surcharge shall be $11.93 per month for each customer.
(E) Fire protection service. The rates for fire protection shall be as follows:
(1) (a) Public safety fee - $3.19 per month.
(b) Hydrant fee - $3.14
(c) Private hydrant rate - $1,328.32 per year.
(2) Private fire protection:
Private fire protection (automatic sprinkler system) | |
Size of Connection | Rate (Per Month) |
2-inch | $97.76 |
4-inch | $195.34 |
6-inch | $293.00 |
8-inch | $390.69 |
10-inch | $488.30 |
(F) Tapping permit and fees. Each user, at the time he or she is connected with the waterworks system shall pay a charge to cover the cost of tapping the main, furnishing and laying service pipe, corporation and stop cocks, service and meter box and installing the meter.
Tapping fees | |
Size of Tap | Charge |
5/8-inch Meter | $1,200 |
3/4-inch and larger | At Cost |
*The proposed charge for connections requiring a meter larger than 5/8 inch shall be the actual cost of the connection, including materials, equipment and labor, but shall not be less than the charge for the 5/8-inch meter connection.
(G) Meters are read and bills are prepared and billed on a cycle basis. Bills are due 21 days from the statement date. To all bills not paid on or within two days after the due date, there shall be added collection charges as follows: For water, 10% of total.
(H) Temporary users. Water furnished to temporary users, such as contractors, circuses, and the like, shall be charged for on the basis of the above quantity rates as estimated by the Waterworks Superintendent.
(I) Railroads. Water supplied for railroad use may be charged for on terms as shall be fixed by contract approved by the Board of Works and the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
2023 S-11
(J) In circumstances other than temporary leak repairs, where utility service has been disconnected, whether for nonpayment or at a customer’s request, a temporary disconnect/reconnect fee shall be charged to the customer requesting reconnection in the amount of $50 during business hours or $100 after business hours. The fee shall be paid in full prior to reconnection.
(K) Charge for returned checks. The City Utilities Department is authorized to collect an additional charge of $20 for each check returned to the Department from its depository bank on account of insufficient funds, no account, or stopped payment. The Department is further authorized to add the charges to the billing of the customer who delivers the check to the Department.
(L) Meter deposits.
(1) The deposits required for water meters shall be as follows:
(a) Residential customer in good standing with Washington Municipal Utilities: $100 for each meter installed.
(b) Residential customer with a history of a written off account or delinquent account with Washington Municipal Utilities: $200 for each meter installed.
(c) Commercial customer in good standing with Washington Municipal Utilities: $150 for each meter installed.
(d) Commercial customer with a history of a written off account or delinquent account with Washington Municipal Utilities: $300 for each meter installed.
(e) Landlords in good standing with Washington Municipal Utilities shall pay $25 for each meter installed.
(f) Landlords with a history of a written off account or delinquent account shall pay $100 for each meter installed.
(2) Deposits are required at the time of turn on. Interest is not paid on these deposits. When an account has been turned off and a final bill has been generated and a balance is owed, the deposit is applied toward the balance. If no balance is due, the customer will receive a check for the deposit(s), UNLESS THE CREDIT AMOUNT IS LESS THAN $3 PER DEPOSIT. If balance due is less than the deposit(s), the bill will be paid in full by the deposit(s) and a check will be sent to the customer for the remainder of the deposit(s) UNLESS THE CREDIT AMOUNT IS LESS THAN $3 PER DEPOSIT. The deposit credits of less than $3 will be paid to the Waterworks Operating Fund.
(M) Patrons are cautioned against interfering or tampering in any manner with the meters. In the event the utility has reasonable grounds to believe that the customer has tampered with the utility’s
2022 S-10
measuring equipment, or if fraudulent or unauthorized use of any utility service is detected, the utility will bill the responsible customer or owner of property as set forth in Appendix A: Non-Recurring Charges. Any damage done to the meter or transmitting equipment will be the responsibility of the owner of the property.
(N) Rate differential. The city’s existing rates and charges shall be and are hereby amended to include the following rates and charges for those customers located outside the city’s corporate boundaries:
(1) Metered water usage.
Rate per 100 Cubic Feet | Charge |
First 1,000 cubic feet | $7.15 |
Next 9,000 cubic feet | $6.31 |
Next 20,000 cubic feet | $4.54 |
Next 70,000 cubic feet | $2.76 |
Over 100,000 cubic feet | $1.79 |
(2) Minimum charge per month.
Meter Size | Cubic Feet Allowed for Minimum | Minimum Charge |
½" - 5/8" | 500 | $35.73 |
3/4" | 966 | $69.04 |
1" | 1,500 | $103.00 |
1 1/2" | 1,850 | $125.08 |
2" | 3,765 | $245.83 |
3" | 8,717 | $558.14 |
4" | 20,504 | $1,117.93 |
6" | 55,130 | $2,240.54 |
2023 S-11
(3) Private fire protection fee - per month.
Connection | Monthly Charge |
2" | $111.79 |
4" | $223.36 |
6" | $335.03 |
8" | $446.74 |
10" | $558.35 |
(4) Rural hydrant fee: $11.76
(5) Private hydrant rental- per annum: $1,528.32.
(6) The rates set forth in this division represent a 14.3% increase over the city’s existing water rates and charges for customers located within the city’s corporate boundaries.
(Prior Code, § 53.20) (Ord. 9-2001, passed 5-29-2001; Am. Res. 4-2008, passed 12-8-2008; Am. Ord. 25-2008, passed 12-22-2008; Am. Ord. 23-2010, passed 9-27-2010; Am. Ord. 33-2010, passed 12-27-2010; Am. Ord. 5-2011, passed 5-9-2011; Am. Ord. 14-2012, passed 9-24-2012; Am. Ord. 7-2014, passed 3-24-2014; Am. Ord. 12-2016, passed 8-8-2016; Am. Ord. 34-2018, passed 12-10- 2018; Am. Ord. 21-2021, passed 10-25-2021; Am. Ord. 14-2022, passed 6-13-2022)