DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY
NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING
The Board of Directors (Board) of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water), pursuant to the authority set forth in Sections 203(3) and (11) and 216 of the Water and Sewer Authority Establishment and Department of Public Works Reorganization Act of 1996, effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-111, §§ 203(3), (11) and 216; D.C. Official Code §§ 34-2202.03(3) and (11) and § 34-2202.16 (2012 Repl.)); and Section 6(a) of the District of Columbia Administrative Procedure Act, approved October 21, 1968 (82 Stat. 1206; D.C. Official Code § 2-505(a) (2016 Repl.)), hereby gives notice that at its regularly scheduled meeting on November 1, 2018, the Board adopted Resolution #18-72 to propose the amendment of Section 112 (Fees) of Chapter 1 (Water Supply), of Title 21 (Water and Sanitation) of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR).
The purpose of these amendments is to amend the miscellaneous fees and charges, permit review fees, pretreatment fees, and add new fees for: events and equipment; fats oil and grease (FOG) facility monthly fee and Cross-Connection/Backflow Prevention fees.
The Board requests comments on these proposed regulations. Final rulemaking action shall be taken in not less than thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register.
Chapter 1, WATER SUPPLY, of Title 21 DCMR, WATER AND SANITATION, is amended as follows:
Section 112, FEES, Subsections 112.1 through 112.6, are amended to read as follows:
112 FEES
112.1 Fees for installation, inspection and removal/abandonment of water and sewer tap or connection, shall be as follows:
|
Inspection Type |
Fee |
|
Inspect Sewer Tap Removal/Abandonment |
$306 |
|
Inspect Pointing Up Sewer Taps |
$860 |
|
Inspect Insertion of Y-Branch |
$306 |
|
Inspect Installation of Standard Cleanout |
$306 |
|
Tap Insertion and Abandonment |
Fee |
|
Tap Insertion 1 diameter |
$425 |
|
Tap Insertion 1-1/2 diameter |
$500 |
|
Tap Insertion 2 diameter |
$540 |
|
Water Connection |
Reimbursable |
|
Water Tap Removal/Abandonment 2 diameter or less |
$400 |
|
Water Tap Removal/Abandonment greater than 2 diameter |
$800 |
112.2 Fees for fire hydrants flow tests; fire hydrant meter rentals; rentals of fire hydrant meters with backflow preventer; and for the installation and removal of water bubblers shall be as follows:
|
Fee Name |
Fee |
|
Fire Hydrant Flow Test (Field Test) |
$300 |
|
Fire Hydrant Flow Test (Computer Model) |
$200 |
|
Fire Hydrant Flow Test (Recent Test Record Available) |
$125 |
|
Fire Hydrant Use Water and Sewer Rate |
Usage-Based, see 21 DCMR Chapter 41 |
|
Letter in Lieu of Hydrant Flow Test |
$125 |
|
Fire Hydrant Permit Fee |
$75 |
|
Private Fire Hydrant Flush |
$81 |
|
3 Fire Hydrant Meter Deposit |
$1,600 per rental |
|
3 Fire Hydrant Meter Rental <15 days |
$75 |
|
3 Fire Hydrant Meter Rental ≥15 days |
$5 per day |
|
3 Fire Hydrant Meter w/Backflow Preventer Deposit |
$2,200 per rental |
|
3 Fire Hydrant Meter w/Backflow Preventer Rental <15 days |
$150 per rental |
|
3 Fire Hydrant Meter w/Backflow Preventer Rental ≥15 days |
$10 per day |
|
5/8 Fire Hydrant Meter w/Backflow Preventer Deposit |
$700 per rental |
|
5/8 Fire Hydrant Meter w/Backflow Preventer Rental <15 days |
$75 per rental |
|
5/8 Fire Hydrant Meter w/Backflow Preventer Rental ≥15 days |
$5 per day |
|
Installation and Removal of Water Bubblers |
Fee |
|
1 Water Bubbler |
$262 |
|
Each additional Water Bubbler after the first in the same general location |
$54 |
112.3 For the purposes of § 112.2, the phrase "in the same general location" means that the distance between the first and last bubbler of the group is eight thousand feet (8,000 ft.) or less. A distance greater than eight thousand feet (8,000 ft.) shall require a separate crew.
112.4 Retail customer fees and charges; legal and copying fees; and event and equipment fees shall be as follows:
(a) Retail customer fees and charges shall be as follows:
|
Fee Name |
Fee |
|
Customer Bad Check Fee |
$25.00 |
|
Declined Credit Card Fee |
$35.00 |
|
Customer Penalty Late Payment Fee |
10.00% after 30 days |
|
Additional Penalty Late Payment Fee |
1%/month after 60 days, compounded monthly |
|
New Customer Account Initiation Fee |
$50.00 |
|
Turn-Off Charges for Non-Payment |
$50.00 |
|
Reconnection Fee |
$50.00 |
|
Unauthorized Turn-On |
$245.00 |
|
Broken Bypass Seal |
$700.00 |
|
Second Water Audit within 24 months |
$125.00 |
|
Manual Meter Read1 |
$20.00/month |
1 The Manual Meter Read Fee is charged if customer refuses or does not respond to install Automatic Meter Reader or if the meter transmission unit is not transmitting due to the customers failure to provide appropriate transmission requirements.
(b) Legal and copying fees shall be as follows:
Witness Fee Salary + Fringe
Standard Letter and Legal Pages $0.75 per sheet
Photocopying
(c) Event and Equipment fees shall be as follows:
|
Size of Event (Attendees) |
Number of DC Water Personnel Per Event1 |
Cost per Event at $81/hour per person |
|
100 2,000 |
2 |
$182/hour |
|
2,000 5,000 |
4 |
$324/hour |
|
5,000 or more |
6 |
$486/hour |
1 Refers to the minimum number of personnel required for the event. Upon review of the event specifications, DC Water shall determine the appropriate number of personnel based on the assessed need.
|
Event Equipment |
Cost per Unit per Event |
|
Misting Tent1 |
$550 |
|
Mobile Brita Hydration Station1 |
$600 |
|
Cooling Station |
$420 |
|
Quench Buggy |
$2,500 |
|
DC Water Mascot |
$50 |
1Refers to a per unit per event, assuming a single day event. For a multi-day event, the per unit cost would be multiplied by the number of days.
112.5 Fees for engineering reviews both standard and expedited, excessive submission, and as-builts shall be as follows:
(a) Small Plan Review fees (water service 2 or smaller) shall be as follows:
|
Fee Name |
Standard Fee |
Expedited Fee 15 working days |
|
Water and Sewer Availability Letter (small) |
$125 |
$215 |
|
Small Sheet and Shore |
$1,000 |
$1,750 |
|
Small basic non-residential project 1 metered connection |
$3,300 |
$5,800 |
|
Small basic non-residential project - 2 metered connections |
$6,600 |
$11,600 |
|
Small basic non-residential project 3 metered connections |
$9,900 |
$17,400 |
|
Small basic non-residential project - 4 or more metered connections |
$13,200+ Determined on a per project basis |
$23,200+ Determined on a per project basis |
|
Small Hybrid Non-Residential - 1 metered connection |
$5,000 |
$8,700 |
|
Small Hybrid Non-Residential - 2 metered connections |
$10,000 |
$17,400 |
|
Small Hybrid Non-Residential - 3 metered connections |
$15,000 |
$26,100 |
|
Small Hybrid Non-Residential project - 4 or more metered connections |
$20,000+ Determined on a per project basis |
$34,800 Determined on a per project basis |
|
Sanitary or combined Sewer connection - 6 or smaller |
$700 |
$1,200 |
|
Storm Sewer Connection - less than 15 |
$700 |
$1,200 |
|
Fire Service - greater than 2 |
$4,600 |
$8,100 |
|
Single Family Residential up to 50 metered connections |
$700 each up to $25,000 |
$1,200 each |
|
Town Houses up to 50 metered connections |
$700 each up to $25,000 |
$1,200 each |
|
Single Family Units or Town Houses - More than 50 metered connections |
$700+ each up to 50; and $350 each above 50 |
$1,200+ each up to 50 and $600 each above 50 |
|
Small Non-Residential or Residential Raze Utility Release Letter - No Abandonment |
$330 |
$580 |
|
Small Non-Residential or Residential Raze Permit Review and Utility Release Letter - With Abandonments (2) |
$700 |
$1,200 |
|
As part of a project review |
$300 |
$600 |
(b) Large Plan Review fees (water service larger than 2-inch either domestic or fire or both services) shall be as follows:
|
Fee Name |
Standard Fee |
Expedited Fee 15 working days |
|
Base Plan Submission Administrative Fee All Review Types |
$140 |
Not Applicable |
|
Reject Plan Submission Administrative Fee All Review Types |
$75 |
Not Applicable |
|
Large Permit Basic (per submission) |
$10,000 |
$17,400 |
|
Foundation to Grade - Large Commercial |
$1,000 |
Not Applicable |
|
Approved Plan Revision (Field Conditions) |
$1,000 |
$1,750 |
|
Large Project Sheeting and Shoring (Large Commercial) |
$6,500 |
$11,300 |
|
Abandonment Waiver Request |
$500 |
$880 |
|
Water and Sewer Availability Letter (Large) |
$500 |
$880 |
|
Temporary Water Connections |
$3,300 |
$5,800 |
|
Large Basic Plan Review Fee 1 metered connection |
$10,000 |
$17,400 |
|
Large Basic Plan Review Fee 2 metered connections |
$20,000 |
$34,800 |
|
Large Basic Plan Review Fee 3 metered connections |
$30,000 |
$52,200 |
|
Large Basic Plan Review Fee 4 or more metered connections |
$40,000+ Determined on a per project basis |
$69,600+ Determined on a per project basis |
|
Fire Service Only > 2 (no interior renovations) |
$4,500 |
$7,800 |
|
Sanitary or Combined Connection 8 or larger |
$4,500 |
$7,800 |
|
Sanitary or Combined Connection 6 or smaller |
$700 |
$1,200 |
|
Storm Connection 15 or larger |
$4,500 |
$7,800 |
|
Storm Connection less than 15 |
$700 |
$1,200 |
|
Large Renovation no new water/sewer work - Project Document signoff only (inside a campus) |
$400 |
$700 |
|
Large Project Approved Plan Revision (Project Scope/Design Change, or field change) (1) |
$1,000 |
$1,750 |
|
Large Project Sheeting and Shoring (2) |
$6,500 |
$11,300 |
|
Large water meter size reduction plan (no other work) |
$3,300 |
$5,800 |
|
Large Project Raze Utility Release Letter - No Abandonments |
$300 |
$500 |
|
Large Project Raze Utility Release Letter - With Abandonments |
$700 |
$1,200 |
(c) Excessive Submission (Additional Fee for 4th Submission) shall be as follows:
|
Fee Name |
Standard Fee |
Expedited Fee 15 working days |
|
Large Plan Excessive Submission Review |
$2,400 |
$4,200 |
|
Small Non-Residential Plan Excessive Submission Review |
$600 |
$1,050 |
|
Residential Plan Excessive Submission Review (3) |
$360 |
$630 |
|
Request for Information (RFI) |
$30 |
$60 |
|
Letter in Lieu |
$50 |
$90 |
|
Request for As-Built Drawings |
$90/man hour |
$150/man hour |
|
Water Meter Sizing Computation |
$90 |
$150 |
|
Water and Sewer Availability Letter |
$500 |
$880 |
|
Delayed Abandonment or Waiver from Standards Letter |
$500 |
$880 |
|
Processing of Standard Easement Covenant |
$1,000 |
$1,750 |
|
Processing of Non-Standard Easement Covenant |
$5,000 |
$8,750 |
|
One Day Plan Design and Review and approval (Velocity type program) |
$20,000+ Determined on per project basis |
Determined on per project basis |
(d) Existing/Proposed As-Built shall be as follows:
|
Fee Name |
Fee |
|
Single Family Unit Residential Service Connection - Small Residential |
$250 |
|
Townhouses or Single Family Units from Multi-Unit Project |
$250 |
|
Small Non-Residential, Large Service Connection (per connection) |
$500 |
|
Small Non-Residential Fire Service |
$750 |
|
Large Non-Residential - water service 3 or larger, sewer service 8 or larger, fire service 3 or larger |
$750 |
|
New Water or Sewer Main (20 to 100 feet) (each) |
$2,500 |
|
Each additional 200 feet of water line |
$2,000 |
|
Each additional 400 feet of sewer main/line |
$2,000 |
|
If installing more than 200 linear feet or any Water line larger than 24" in diameter |
Determined on a per project basis |
|
If installing more than 200 linear feet of sewer or any sewer larger than 60 in diameter |
Determined on a per project basis |
112.6 Waste Hauler Permit and Disposal Fees; Pretreatment Industrial User Permit and Sampling Fees; High Strength Waste Fees; and FOG Facility fees shall be as follows:
|
Fee Name |
Fee |
|
Waste Hauler Discharge Annual Permit Fee per Vehicle |
$30 |
|
|
|
|
Waste Hauling Disposal Fees |
|
|
High strength grease trap waste |
$0.07 per gallon |
|
High strength septage waste |
$0.07 per gallon |
|
Domestic strength waste |
$0.003 per gallon |
|
Low strength waste |
$0.003 per gallon |
|
|
|
|
Industrial User Permit Fees |
|
|
Permit Initial Fee |
$2,500 |
|
Permit Renewal Fee |
$700 |
|
|
|
|
Industrial User Annual Compliance Fees |
|
|
Significant or Non-Significant Categorical Industrial User |
|
|
1 Outfall |
$3,100 |
|
2 or more Outfalls |
$4,300 |
|
|
|
|
Significant Non-Categorical Industrial User |
|
|
1 Outfall |
$3,100 |
|
2 or more Outfalls |
$4,300 |
|
Non-Significant Non-Categorical User |
|
|
1 Outfall |
$700 |
|
2 or more Outfalls |
$900 |
|
|
|
|
High Strength Waste Fees |
|
|
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) |
$0.135 per pound |
|
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) |
$0.263 per pound |
|
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) or Total Nitrogen (TN) |
$1.471 per pound |
|
Total Phosphorus (TP) |
$4.524 per pound |
|
|
|
|
Fats, Oil and Grease (FOG) Facility Monthly Fee |
$13.70 per month |
Section 112, FEES, is amended by adding a new Subsection 112.12 to read as follows:
112.12 Cross-Connection/ Back Flow Prevention Fees and Turn-Off Charges
(a) The Cross-Connection/ Back Flow Prevention Fees and Turn-Off Charges shall be as follows:
|
Fee Name |
Fee |
|
Cross-Connection/Back Flow Prevention Monthly Fee per Assembly |
$6.70 |
|
Cross-Connection Turn-off - 5/8 to 2 |
$200 |
|
Cross-Connection Turn-off - 3 to 5 |
$400 |
|
Cross-Connection Turn-off - 6 and larger |
$900 |
Comments on these proposed rules should be submitted in writing no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register to Linda R. Manley, Secretary to the Board, District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, 5000 Overlook Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20032, by email to Lmanley@dcwater.com, or by FAX at (202) 787-2795. Copies of these proposed rules may be obtained from the DC Water at the same address or by contacting Ms. Manley at (202) 787-2332.