This title sets forth the regulations under which the city sewer utility is managed and operated. It is intended to enable the director to protect the public health in conformity with all applicable local, state and federal laws relating thereto. The objectives of this chapter are to:
A. 
Provide for orderly planning of the utility.
B. 
Develop and adopt appropriate levels of service.
C. 
Develop standards for design and construction that will lower system operation and maintenance costs and a safe and healthy work environment.
D. 
Provide for a variety of funding options for system extensions so that sewer service may expand in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan and General Sewer Plan, and all benefited properties pay their appropriate shares.
E. 
Regulate new sewer system construction to be uniform and of high quality.
F. 
Establish connection policies and procedures and the basis for connection charges and manner of collection.
G. 
Regulate and control, at the source, the quality of wastewater that is discharged from the Edgewood sewer system to the receiving sewer system(s) so that it meets the regulations governing such sewer system(s).
H. 
Provide for the use and regulation of septic tanks where appropriate.
I. 
Provide for the establishment of equitable sewer rates and set forth billing procedures.
J. 
Establish enforcement measures.
(Ord. 06-271 § 1; Ord. 26-0709, 5/12/2026)
Definitions for words and phrases used in this title shall be found in this section, the standards and manuals adopted by reference under EMC § 12.02.030, the current edition of Criteria for Sewage Works Design as published by the Washington State Department of Ecology ("Orange Book"), Chapter 18.20, EMC or the latest edition of Webster's Dictionary, with precedence in that order unless from the context a different meaning is intended or unless different meaning is specifically defined and more particularly directed to the use of such words or phrases. Where terms are not defined, they shall have their ordinarily accepted meanings within the context with which they are used.
The following words and phrases shall be defined as follows:
"Community OSS"
means the same as defined under TPCHD Environmental Health Code, Chapter 2.
"Connection"
means the physical connection of the building sewer to the side sewer. In the event a portion of the building sewer has been constructed with the side sewer, connection shall be deemed to occur when the two separate portions of the building sewer are connected.
"Connection right"
means the right of a property that has fulfilled all the requirements for connection to the city's sewer system, as set forth in this title, to connect to that sewer system, subject to the conditions set forth in the connection permit and agreement.
"Design and Construction Standards"
means the city's book of design and construction standards for public works projects and system extensions by developers as set forth in EMC § 11.30.060.
"Equivalent residential unit (ERU)"
means one single-family house, apartment unit, condominium unit, or townhouse unit. For nonresidential connections, an ERU is 210 gallons per day of wastewater, or one-half pound per day of total suspended solids, or one-half pound per day of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). The determination of the number of ERUs required for nonresidential buildings shall be made pursuant to EMC § 11.40.070.
"Frontage"
means the side(s) of the property, adjacent to the right-of-way or easement, containing the sanitary sewer(s), either existing or proposed.
"Fronted"
A property is fronted by a sewer when 10 feet or more of the right-of-way or easement containing a sewer is adjacent to a property line of that property and the sewer contained therein extends 10 feet or more past the nearest property line or extension thereof. If the right-of-way or easement ends at the subject property line and the sewer ends within 50 feet of said property line and is intended to never be extended past that point, the property shall be considered to be fronted by the sewer.
"Fully fronted"
means when a right-of-way or easement containing a city sewer is adjacent to and continuous along one or more full sides of a property.
"GSP"
means the city's general sewer plan.
"Human occupation"
means the use or intent of use of a building that includes part-time or full-time residency, employment, sports, entertainment, and commercial or other activity that requires the presence of plumbing fixtures as determined by the plumbing code.
"Improvements"
means construction intended to or having the effect of increasing the value of real or personal property.
"Large OSS" or "LOSS"
means the same as defined under TPCHD Environmental Health Code, Chapter 2 and RCW 70A.115.010, whichever is more restrictive.
"LID" or "local improvement district"
means a group of properties specifically benefited by the construction of a local improvement, paid for, in whole or in part, by special assessments levied against said group of properties, established and authorized by the local legislative authority.
"Local improvement"
means an improvement or improvements owned or operated by a public corporation (RCW 35.43.010).
"Mayor"
means the city's mayor or authorized representative.
"OSS"
means private on-site sewage system; also called "septic system."
"Plumbing code"
means the provisions of the Uniform Plumbing Code adopted by the city as described in EMC 15.05.080.
"Private disposal system"
means a privately owned septic tank with drain field or other on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system; see also "OSS."
"Receiving jurisdiction"
means another city, county or sewer district that receives wastewater from a portion of the city of Edgewood (e.g., city of Puyallup, city of Fife, city of Sumner, city of Tacoma, Pierce County and/or Lakehaven Water and Sewer District).
"Sewage"
means wastewater that contains human waste.
"Sewer availability"
means the condition of a property of being permitted to connect to the city's sewer system. See EMC § 11.30.070.
"Sewer main"
means a city sanitary sewer that receives wastewater from one or more side sewers and/or other sewer mains.
"Sewer service area"
means that area lying within the corporate boundaries of the city of Edgewood designated for city sewer service pursuant to the GSP, approved in accordance with Chapters 36.93 and 36.94 RCW.
"Sewer system," also called "sanitary sewer system,"
means the aggregate of all the parts of a wastewater collection and treatment system including sewers, appurtenances, pump stations and treatment facilities.
"Sewer utility"
means the city's sanitary sewer utility.
"Sewer," also called "sanitary sewer,"
means pipes and associated structures that exclusively carry wastewater.
"Side sewer"
means that sewer, located within a city right-of-way or easement, between the city's sewer main and the right-of-way or easement line, connecting to the building sewer and regulated by the public works department and this title.
"Storm drain"
means pipes and associated structures that carry surface water and exclude wastewater.
"System extension"
means capital improvements to the sewer system, including, but not limited to, extensions of sewer lines, and the construction of manholes, pump stations, other appurtenances and controls.
"Temporary portable toilet"
means a self-contained, noncaustic chemical toilet equipped with a waste-receiving, chemical-holding container, housed in its own shelter.
"TPCHD"
means the Tacoma - Pierce County Health Department.
"ULID" or "utility local improvement district"
means a group of properties specifically benefited by the construction of a local water, sewer, or off-street parking facility improvement, financed by revenue bonds, paid for in whole or in part by revenues of the utility, established and authorized by the local legislative authority.
"Wastewater"
means any combination of liquid and water-carried sewage and/or commercial/industrial wastes and from any customer including residential dwellings, commercial buildings, industrial and manufacturing facilities, and institutions, whether treated or untreated.
"Work"
means the provision of all labor, materials, tools, equipment, and everything needed to successfully complete a project according to the contract.
(Ord. 06-271 § 1; Ord. 10-333 § 8; Ord. 15-447 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 26-0709, 5/12/2026)
The city sanitary sewer utility is established by this title in accordance with RCW 35.21.210 and 35.67.030. Except as otherwise provided herein, the director shall administer, implement and enforce the provisions of this title.
A. 
Applicability. This title shall apply to all persons and properties within the city and any person using, discharging to, or damaging the city’s sewer system inside or outside the city.
B. 
Connection Charges and Rates. The authority to set and collect connection charges and monthly rates shall be in accordance with RCW 35.67.190, 35.92.020 and 35.92.025 and other applicable laws and regulations.
C. 
Enforcement. The authority to lien property for delinquent and unpaid rates and other charges for sewer service shall be in accordance with RCW 35.67.200. The authority to issue citations and levy penalties for civil infractions or civil code violations shall be in accordance with Chapter 1.10, EMC General Penalty. The authority to adopt ordinances and impose penalties for civil and criminal infractions thereof shall be in accordance with RCW 35A.11.020.
D. 
Discharge Permits. The receiving jurisdictions that convey and/or treat the city's sewage shall be authorized to regulate and enforce the provisions of Chapter 11.50 EMC and, pursuant to RCW 90.48.160, issue discharge permits within the city to operators of industrial and commercial operations, monitor discharges, inspect said industrial and commercial operations, and enforce discharge regulations promulgated by said jurisdiction.
E. 
Inspection. The receiving jurisdictions, city, and their inspectors shall have free access to and authority to observe, inspect, gather samples, and perform tests related to all city sewer system construction or other activity or use located on city property, the public rights-of-way, and city easements within and outside the city.
Construction and all other activity or use, located on private property, authorized or regulated under this title shall be conditioned upon the right of the city, its inspectors, and consultants to enter upon such private property and authority to observe, inspect, gather samples, and perform tests related to all such construction or other activity or use.
F. 
Stop Work. Pursuant to Chapter 7.40, EMC the receiving jurisdictions, city, and their inspectors shall have authority to stop work authorized or regulated under this title when such inspectors or consultants shall find that stopping the work is necessary to ensure compliance with approved plans, specifications, Design and Construction Standards, and Standard Specifications.
G. 
Uncover. The receiving jurisdictions, city, and their inspectors shall have authority to require that improvements or parts thereof, authorized or regulated under this title, must be uncovered or dug up and/or removed for inspection when:
H. 
Remove. The city, its inspectors, and authorized consultants shall have authority to require that improvements or parts thereof, authorized or regulated under this title, that do not comply with approved plans, specifications, Design and Construction Standards, and Standard Specifications be removed from the project and be replaced.
(Ord. 06-271 § 1; Ord. 26-0709, 5/12/2026)
As authorized by RCW 35.67.030, the council has adopted a GSP that sets the boundaries of the city's sewer service area and guides the sewer utility as to the location and size of sewer mains and pump stations. The GSP sets forth a detailed CIP for 20 years. The most recent edition of the Design and Construction Standards are included in the GSP by reference. DOE approval of the GSP is required subject to RCW 90.48.110(3), WAC 173-240-030, 173-240-040, and 173-240-050. The GSP is a stand-alone technical plan, referenced here for consistency with the comprehensive plan, and maintained by the director. The GSP will be updated in accordance with RCW 35.67.030 and, when required, modifications must be approved by the Department of Ecology. The planning commission shall provide recommendations on comprehensive plan policy updates consistent with the GSP and EMC as needed for consistency. The GSP shall include those elements described in Section G1-2.4 of the Orange Book and WAC 173-240-050.
(Ord. 06-271 § 1; Ord. 08-310 § 7; Ord. 26-0709, 5/12/2026)
The director shall prepare and the council shall adopt levels of service for the operation and maintenance of the sewer utility. The base level of service shall be in compliance with Washington State law and DOE regulations. The adopted levels of service shall be used to set staffing requirements and budgets, and to evaluate the performance of the sewer utility.
(Ord. 06-271 § 1)
The director shall prepare design and construction standards for the sewer utility and include them in the Public Works Standards adopted pursuant to EMC § 12.02.030. In cases where specific design or construction criteria are not prescribed by this title or the Public Works Standards, all sewer facilities shall be designed and constructed in a manner that:
A. 
Minimizes inflow and infiltration into the public sewer system;
B. 
Minimizes the number of pressure sewer connections;
C. 
Provides the least lifecycle cost to the utility;
D. 
Allows perpetual and unrestricted access for maintenance and operation of the facilities; and
E. 
Minimizes public exposure to sewage spills and sewer-related odors and noise.
(Ord. 06-271 § 1; Ord. 26-0709, 5/12/2026)
A. 
The capacity of the city’s sewer system shall be determined as set forth in interlocal agreement(s) between the city and receiving jurisdictions and as established in the GSP. The capacity shall be established in ERUs as set forth in EMC § 11.30.020. The sewer utility shall establish flow meters at city discharge points and, from time to time, shall evaluate the correlation between the ERUs issued and the actual quality and quantity of sewage discharged. The value of an ERU and the number of remaining ERUs shall be adjusted, as necessary, to reflect the actual values determined from said evaluation, by ordinance of the council and approval by the DOE, if required.
B. 
The director shall keep a record of the city’s sewer system capacity, and as connection permits are issued shall subtract the number of ERUs assigned to each permit and keep a balance of available ERUs.
C. 
Sewer system capacity shall be reserved for properties within LIDs when the conditions set forth in subsection (F) of this section have been met. The director shall determine the amount and timing of capacity that can be reserved based on the capacity available at the time of the request, the scheduling of construction for expansion of capacity, and the amount of capacity demand in current competing requests for capacity.
D. 
Sewer system capacity may be reserved for property whose owner is a contributing party to a system extension agreement when the conditions set forth in subsection (F) of this section have been met.
E. 
Sewer system capacity may be reserved for new building construction, redevelopment, or changed use, when the conditions set forth in subsection (F) of this section have been met.
F. 
Conditions for Sewer System Capacity Reservation.
1. 
The owner enters into a sewer system capacity reservation agreement with the city; and
2. 
A reservation charge, equal to one-half the current connection charge, has been paid; and
3. 
The project application has been deemed to be complete; or
4. 
If the property's owner is a contributing party to a system extension agreement, the project application will be deemed complete, for the purposes of sewer system capacity, upon approval of the system extension agreement by the council. The owner may reserve system capacity, up to his predetermined share of system capacity, for that system extension project.
G. 
System capacity may be so reserved for a period of no more than five years, at which time the reservation will be automatically extinguished, unless the connection charge shall have been paid prior to the five year anniversary date of the sewer system capacity agreement. The connection charge shall be that which is in effect at the time of such payment, less the reservation charge previously paid.
H. 
Upon the reservation being so extinguished, the reservation charges, paid to reserve sewer system capacity, shall be forfeited and retained by the city.
I. 
As consideration for continued reservation of sewer system capacity, monthly reservation charges equal to monthly sewer rates for that capacity shall commence upon full payment of the connection charge, and continue until a physical connection is actually made, or the reserved connection is extinguished or relinquished by action of the owner.
J. 
When all available ERUs have been assigned to connections or reserved, no additional connection permits or reservations shall be issued.
(Ord. 06-271 § 1; Ord. 26-0709, 5/12/2026)