BILL REQ. #:  H-4498.2 

READ FIRST TIME 02/03/06.   

     AN ACT Relating to providing water for residential fire sprinkler suppression systems; adding new sections to chapter 35.21 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 35A.21 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 36.94 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:
     When a water supply for built-in automatic residential fire sprinkler suppression systems is installed by a property owner or system contractor in a residence:
     (1) The property owner or system contractor shall not be subject to the imposition of additional meter charges by a municipality or water district when flow and pressure requirements dictate that a larger water supply is necessary, and standard residential water pricing schedules shall be imposed by the municipality or water district;
     (2) The property owner or system contractor shall not be subject to the imposition of water system development assessments by the municipality or water district; and
     (3) The water must be supplied from a single metered connection to the municipal or water district system and the connection must be sized to supply both domestic and fire sprinkler system requirements.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 35A.21 RCW to read as follows:
     When a water supply for built-in automatic residential fire sprinkler suppression systems is installed by a property owner or system contractor in a residence:
     (1) The property owner or system contractor shall not be subject to the imposition of additional meter charges by a code city or water district when flow and pressure requirements dictate that a larger water supply is necessary, and standard residential water pricing schedules shall be imposed by the code city or water district;
     (2) The property owner or system contractor shall not be subject to the imposition of water system development assessments by the code city or water district; and
     (3) The water must be supplied from a single metered connection to the code city or water district system and the connection must be sized to supply both domestic and fire sprinkler system requirements.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 36.94 RCW to read as follows:
     Water systems operating under this chapter are prohibited from requiring residential water customers to pay a water service availability charge, standby charge, consumption charge, or any other similar types of charges associated with available but unused water service, including any interest or penalties for nonpayment or enforcement charges, when the water connection is installed for built-in automatic fire sprinkler suppression systems.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:
     Cities and towns are prohibited from requiring residential water customers to pay a water service availability charge, standby charge, consumption charge, or any other similar types of charges associated with available but unused water service, including any interest or penalties for nonpayment or enforcement charges, when the water connection is installed for built-in automatic fire sprinkler suppression systems.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 35A.21 RCW to read as follows:
     Code cities are prohibited from requiring residential water customers to pay a water service availability charge, standby charge, consumption charge, or any other similar types of charges associated with available but unused water service, including any interest or penalties for nonpayment or enforcement charges, when the water connection is installed for built-in automatic fire sprinkler suppression systems.