S-2000               _______________________________________________

                                         SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 3387

                        _______________________________________________

                                                                            C 250 L 85

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Governmental Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Bauer, Zimmerman, Thompson, McCaslin and Deccio)

Read first time 2/19/85.

AN ACT Relating to sewer hookups; and amending RCW 56.08.010.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 10, chapter 210, Laws of 1941 as last amended by section 4, chapter 190, Laws of 1981 and RCW 56.08.010 are each amended to read as follows:

          A sewer district may acquire by purchase or by condemnation and purchase all lands, property rights, water, and water rights, both within and without the district, necessary for its purposes.  A sewer district may lease real or personal property necessary for its purposes for a term of years for which such leased property may reasonably be needed where in the opinion of the board of sewer commissioners such property may not be needed permanently or substantial savings to the district can be effected thereby.  The right of eminent domain shall be exercised in the same manner and by the same procedure as provided for cities of the third class, insofar as consistent with the provisions of this title, except that all assessments  or reassessment rolls required to be filed by eminent domain commissioners or commissioners appointed by the court shall be prepared and filed by the district, and the duties devolving upon the city treasurer shall be imposed upon the county treasurer for the purposes hereof; it may construct, condemn and purchase, add to, maintain, and operate systems of sewers for the purpose of furnishing the district and inhabitants thereof with an adequate system of sewers for all uses and purposes, public and private, including but not limited to on-site sewage disposal facilities, facilities for the drainage of storm or surface waters, public highways, streets, and roads with full authority to regulate the use and operation thereof and the service rates to be charged.  For such purposes a district may conduct sewage throughout the district and throughout other political subdivisions within the district, and construct and lay sewer pipe along and upon public highways, roads, and streets, within and without the district, and condemn and purchase or acquire land and rights of way necessary for such sewer pipe.  A district may erect sewage treatment plants, within or without the district, and may acquire by purchase or condemnation, properties or privileges necessary to be had to protect any lakes, rivers, or watercourses and also other areas of land from pollution, from its sewers or its sewage treatment plant.  A district may charge property owners seeking to connect to the district system of sewers, as a condition to granting the right to so connect, in addition to the cost of such connection, such reasonable connection charge as the board of commissioners shall determine to be proper in order that such property owners shall bear their equitable share of the cost of such system.  A district may permit payment of the cost of connection and the reasonable connection charge to be paid with interest in installments over a period not exceeding ten years.  The county treasurer may charge and collect a fee of three dollars per parcel for each year for the treasurer's services.  Such fees shall be a charge to be included as part of each annual installment, and shall be credited to the county current expense fund by the county treasurer.  A district may compel all property owners within the sewer district located within an area served by the district system of sewers to connect their private drain and sewer systems with the district system under such penalty as the sewer commissioners shall prescribe by resolution.  The district may for such purpose enter upon private property and connect the private drains or sewers with the district system and the cost thereof shall be charged against the property owner and shall be a lien upon property served.