Carlsborg Sewer Charges, Fees Not Conducive To Economic Growth

Carlsborg Sewer An Extraordinary Financial Burden.

On April 23, 2008 the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board (WWGMHB) determined the Carlsborg UGA invalid and non-compliant with the Growth Management Act (GMA) because it lacked sewer and police services. http://www.clallam.net/LandUse/Carlsborg_GMA.html

 

On June 4, 2012 the order of non-compliance and invalidity was lifted because Clallam County had come up with a $17 million dollar sewer plan for Carlsborg. http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120604/NEWS/120609990/breaking-news-8212-carlsborg-uga-found-in-compliance-with-growth  

This sewer plan began a whole new series of questions and debates with the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), Department of Community Development (DCD), PUD and County Public Works over the cost of the system and what it will cost the citizens of Carlsborg.  We have been continually told by the county that “when we know the costs, you will know.”  Well, we still don’t really know the total cost of the sewer system or the costs to the citizens.  All we have are “assumptions, estimates, projections and approximations” from the Carlsborg Sewer Financial Plan by the FCS Group and Grey and Osborne hired by the county and nothing more, and their MATH is terrible, as I will show you later on.  http://www.clallam.net/PublicWorks/documents/FCS2-11-2014.pdf   Pages 12 and 18

 

We have been told by the county that 125 gallons of water per day (gpd) or 16.71 cubic feet per day (cfd) equals one Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) billed at $70 per month per household.   This figure was “estimated” based on billed residential water usage from the PUD at 5.08 hundred cubic feet (ccf) per month, using only the WINTER months from 2004 and 2005 and excluding the higher gpd water usage during the SUMMER months. Add the $26 dollar base rate and the $0.0866 charge per cubic foot of water consumed per household.  This doesn’t exactly add up, but play along with me and continue reading.

 I would not have known or found out about these facts had I not questioned Steve Gray, Deputy Director/Planning Manager, Clallam County Department of Community Development and Bob Martin, P. E., Clallam County Public Works Administrative Director in an e-mail on December 4, 2012 about the 400gpd water the average family of four in Washington State consumes according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pubs/indoor.html .

 Bob made reference to Carlsborg Urban Growth Area, SEWER FACILITIES PLAN, JUNE, 2012 http://www.clallampud.net/uploadedFiles/Water/documents/Revised%20Final%20Facil%20Plan%208%20June%202012.pdf  TABLES 3-5, 3-6 and the Carlsborg Sewer Financial Plan, February, 2014, http://www.clallam.net/PublicWorks/documents/FCS2-11-2014.pdf   in his e-mail response to the question I had asked.

Brian:

Just to clarify, your arithmetic below is fine, but the typical household in Carlsborg does not consume 400gpd.  The winter month average of 125gpd/residential customer was derived from actual metered water billings for winter months over a consecutive two year period (as shown in the attached excerpt from the June 2012 facility plan.)

The rate structure proposed in the financial plan rewards water conservation.  Obviously if someone does use 400 gpd, or 3.2 times the average residential water usage in Carlsborg, they will (and should) have a significantly higher sewer (and water) bill, as you have shown, but this will clearly not be typical in Carlsborg.  

Bob Martin, P.E.
Clallam County Public Works
Administrative Director
(360) 417-2389
(360)417-2513 - FAX
bmartin@co.clallam.wa.us

So Bob is telling us that Carlsborg residents use 37% less water per person than the EPA average, but then again they excluded 6 months per year from their average. 

 

To see the entire e-mail exchange with Bob Martin visit, http://digginforfacts.blogspot.com/2014/12/lets-talk-equivilent-residential-units.html

THIS IS WHERE THEIR “TERRIBLE MATH” COMES IN.

Broken down, 1ccf (hundred cubic foot) equals 748 gallons of water. 1 cubic foot of water equals 7.48 gallons of water and the county states Carlsborg consumed 5.08ccf or 500cu ft or 3,800 gallons of water per month winter average. http://www.clallam.net/PublicWorks/documents/FCS2-11-2014.pdf   Pages 12 and 18

The County’s math works like this: (Bob’s figures are in “quotes”)

“1 ERU is 125gpd” or 16.71 cubic feet per day x “actual consumption x $0.0866 per cubic foot of water used” = $1.45 per day x 30 days = $43.41 per month + “$26.00 per month base charge” = $69.41 rounded up to $70 per month?  THEIR MATH IS WRONG!  Remember 5.08ccf? 5.08ccfx748=3,800gal.

It should look like this.  5.08ccfx748=3,800gal, 3,800/30days=127 gallons per day.  NOT 125 gallons per day.

127/7.48=16.97 cubic feet of water.  16.97x$0.0866=$1.47 per day.  $1.47x30days=$44.11+$26.00base rate=$70.00 per month per ERU.  I know 2 gallons of water more or less may seem trivial; however, this 

is just one example of the county’s mathematical failures.  One should expect accurate figures from Clallam County, FCS Group and Grey and Osborne, Inc.

Since this e-mail exchange, I asked Clallam County PUD on December 8, 2014, for the total number of residential and commercial accounts in the Carlsborg UGA and the total gallons billed for both groups in 2014 year to date (11 months), just to see what actual water consumption is.  There was 751,986 cubic feet of water billed to 99 residential accounts and 1,317,560 cubic feet of water billed to 62 commercial accounts over the 11 month period 1/14/14 – 11/14/14.

Using current PUD totals, not the low six month winter average and using the county’s math it equates to 23cuft or 172gpd (1.4 ERUs) and $86.00 per month in sewer fees per residential connection, not the $70 per month that the county continues to tell everyone. This is only the monthly user fee which does not include connection, plumbing or abatement costs and is only the beginning of the county’s mathematical gymnastics.

Commercial account holders should be aware that their connection costs and monthly fees will be per ERU based on the (gpd) water they consume divided by 125gpd to assign the number of ERUs to each account.  Using the totals I received from the PUD and the county’s math, commercial fees and connection charges could be four times the residential charges and fees.   

 

64.4cu ft. or 482gpd (4 ERUs) and $193.31x4 ERUs = $773.41 per month in possible user fees per commercial connection due to the additional water use or the county may simply apply the “estimated” $70 per month per ERU which could be $70 x 4 = $280 per month per commercial account, or the $86.00 per month based on the most current 2014 water usage which could be $86x4=$344.00 per month. The connection charge per ERU is $7,640.00 x 4 ERUs = $30,560.00. 

The county has stated that they are willing to waive all but $500.00 of the connection charges if you connect “sooner rather than later” “within the first two years”.  That could make the connection charge$2,000.00 per commercial account,   this does not include any additional plumbing costs for side sewer and abatement of on-site septic systems.  Then one must ask what about operations and maintenance costs?  The county simply states they will subsidize them for 3 years, at county taxpayer expense. Oh goodie, now the entire county can pay for the Carlsborg sewer. 

  

We simply don’t know how the county will apply this based on their “when we know, you will know” responses every time we ask “how much will these cost us (and the taxpayers)?”  http://www.clallam.net/PublicWorks/documents/FCS2-11-2014.pdf  Pages 16 and 18.

This is the same method Mason County uses based on 135gpd per ERU to assess Belfair Maytag Laundry $66,000 in connection costs and $2,156 in monthly fees, while other business in Belfair are assessed more than $70,000 in connection charges and are looking to move their businesses to Silverdale.  Coupled with slower than expected growth of 1% or less resulting in too few connections, the increase in monthly fees from $98 per month to $242 and expected to hit $300 in 2015 is why the Belfair sewer system is failing, in the red and in danger of being sued. http://smc.stparchive.com/Archive/SMC/SMC07142011p07.php

The Carlsborg Sewer System is not conducive to economic growth and will ruin Clallam County and Carlsborg for these very same reasons.  The population of the Carlsborg CDP was 995 according to the 2010 U. S. Census and according to the Carlsborg Sewer Financial Plan the 2013 population of Carlsborg is 856 that is a loss of 139 people or a 14% decrease in the population of Carlsborg in 3 years or 4.7% per year decrease in population. Not good growth wise, people are leaving.

 

There are 547 housing units in the Carlsborg CDP according to the 2010 Census of which 334 are in mobile home parks and exempt from the sewer that leaves a total of 213 housing units available for potential connection to the sewer add in the 62 commercial businesses and that leaves a total of 275 potential connections in the entire Carlsborg area of which a combination of 49 residential and commercial structures are for sale, 2 are in foreclosure and 0 (zero) are for rent.  

 It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that this sewer will create an extraordinary financial burden on Carlsborg and the county as a whole and it is not conducive to economic or population growth.

 

Clallam County, Going for broke.  

 

 

 

A Tale Of Two Counties

Clallam County and Mason County

TWO SEWER SYSTEMS GOING FOR BROKE.

 

By now you have all heard about the county's plan for a sewer system in the Carlsborg UGA and how it will be good for businesses and keep the groundwater safe and promote "growth".  Well this sewer will serve 213 residences and 113 businesses, that's a total of 326 hookups, potentially, at an "estimated cost of $17 million" (PHASE 1).  We haven't seen the "growth" in Carlsborg and businesses are closing or laying people off (like much of the county is) including our county government. One only needs to read recent news article where our county commissioners state how they are laying off, or cutting wages of county employees  more than 40 full-time-equivalent employees have been cut from the county's staff and how "working age" and "school age" population within the county is decreasing and it appears it is getting "increasingly harder for the working-age population to make it here and that is not conducive for economic growth." To see what I say is true click the link below.

http://www.sequimgazette.com/news/271448451.html

Remember when the PUD #1 of Clallam County backed out of the project because it was "financially infeasible"?  Then the county stepped in and took over the $10 million Public Works Trust Fund Loan at a cost of $513,000 annually for the next 20 years from the "Opportunity Fund", not to mention the $402,180 in county subsidies, all at tax payer expense.  Wait, they said it won't burden taxpayers.  Right?  Well not so fast there, The opportunity fund, where the money comes from, is taxpayer funded, RCW 82.14.370 provides eight-tenths of 1 percent sales tax to be returned to certain counties to be used for construction of public facilities that promote economic development.  Subsidies are from the county general fund.

"There are numerous community projects that may be worthy of taxpayer funding."

http://www.clallam.net/Board/assets/applets/530_Opportunity_Fund.pdf

So much for not impacting taxpayers.  Anyway, this sewer system still remains "financially infeasible" and may cause some to lose their homes and or businesses due to the costs of connection charges and monthly fees, and why is that? Because the average age in Carlsborg is 60.3 years and the average annual income per household is $27,000, about half the average of Washington State. 

 The overstated benefits do not outweigh the real and actual financial risks involved, as Mason County has found out.  These comments should sound familiar as we have heard them all before here in Carlsborg and Clallam County.

BELFAIR HERALD

Thursday, August 2, 2007 Section of The Shelton-Mason County Journal

County moves forward with UGA sewer work

"The action will set in motion plans for a sewage system for Bel-fair intended to reduce pollution
of the fragile saltwater system of Lower Hood Canal and combat water-Quality impacts of additional
development."  "Belfair resident and builder Jack Johnson told the commissioners his main concern was to get the sewer built."

"with $26 million in approved funding, could go beyond the limits of the collection system in the current plan". "'One of the problems we have with Belfair is most of the soil is classified soil,"

Commission Chair Lynda Ring-Erickson noted that while it's important to keep rates down, the
fragile nature of the Belfair area made it most important "that we connect people to sewers to maximize our opportunity to protect the canal while we allow development in the UGA. We want as many people to hook up as can," she said, "at a rate people can afford.

Is any of this sounding familiar yet?  It should. Let's continue.

Sheldon said today's public-works project costs are "staggering." "To have a project where
we have millions of dollars in grant funds is really a blessing," he added. "As we continue on with
the Puget Sound Partnership, we are hopefully going to be able to find some more low-cost money
and grant funds."

IN THE FALL of 2006, the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board found the county to be out of compliance with the Growth Management Act by including insufficient regulatory control in the Belfair and Allyn urban growth areas over on-site sewage disposal systems. Tuesday's action will enable the county to meet the state's August 6 deadline for compliance and eligibility for project funding.

"Out of compliance" just like the Carlsborg UGA had been in 2008, but hey we fixed it just like Mason County did with a "SEWER SYSTEM PLAN". Yeah that fixed it real well alright, Cut to the chase and we move on to 2011 and the COSTS.  Careful, don't spray your coffee on the monitor, put the cup down before you get a look at these figures.

 Shelton-Mason County Journal

Thursday. March 31, 2011

Sewer planners look for more interest, data

By ARLA SHEPHARD

Costs for residents to connect will be $3,000, not including the cost to construct a side sewer (anywhere between $3,000 and $8,000, depending on whether one hires a contractor, pays the county to do the work. or does the job themselves) or the monthly rate of $96 once they're hooked. in. 

 

See the foot notes of the Carlsborg Sewer Financial Plan, it says the same thing.

Businesses will need to pay more based on their number of Equivalent Residential Units (ERUs), or the amount of water or sewage they use comparable to a residential single-family home.

Carlsborg business owners should take special note of this one. OUCH!  It'll cost ya.

For example, if Jimmy D's Restaurant in Belfair has six ERUs, planners said, the busineu owner
would pay $18,000 to connect and $676 a month in sewage bills. According to the data they've
collected so far. planners estimate that the highest usage in Belfair is a business that uses 45 ERUs,
which translates to a monthly bill of $4,32O.  For businesses, ERUs are typically calculated based on water usage data,

 

Planners also encouraged residents to express whether they had an interest in allowing the county
to do their side sewer work, which could bring down those construction costs overall.

Come on, get connected, in the early phase, we'll save you money.  Kind of hard to save you money that you don't have in the first place, oh right I forgot, they can get you a "low interest LOAN".

Audience members commented that the project adversely affects older, poorer residents 

They can't afford this kind of stuff,"

"What if this is a person that's 90 years old and doesn't have 30 years to pay off the $30,000 it's going to cost them to hook into the sewer system."
Dobey corrected Skeeters-Lindsey on the connection costs and assured her that project planners
were willing to work with residents to help them obtain federal and state grants and loans.

"We've tried to make accommodations through grants, loans ... we know this is an economically depressed area."

See I told you so. Help to obtain a grant or loan.  At what interest rate? "We know it's an economically depressed area," but we're gonna do it anyway. On to 2012 and into debt.

Shelton-Mason County Journal 

Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012 

At least 10 percent of county sewer bills overdue, officials say

By NATALIE JOHNSON

natalie@masoncounty.com

Much attention has been given in the press, public meetings and elsewhere in Mason County to the
expense and drama of the construction of the Belfair sewer and wastewater treatment plant.
However, Mason County also runs the Belfair sewer's three baby cousins, the North Bay sewer
in Allyn, the Beard's Cove sewer south of Belfair and the Rustlewood sewer, just south of Grapeview, which are experiencing problems of their own.

Currently, between 10 and 15 percent of connections in the county's water and sewer systems are significantly behind on their bills, said Tom Moore, director of utilities and waste management for the county.

There are 160 lots with infrastructure for sewer in Rustlewood, a community
off State Route 3 on Krabbenhoft Road. About 130 of those lots have homes that are connected to the sewer.  Of those 130 connections, 26 are more than $200 behind on their water/sewer bills. Another 13 owe more than $100 in back payments to the county.

Seven properties are more than $1,000 in the red. The most any single ratepayer owes is $6,289.
In all, 30 percent of the Rustlewood sewer's 130 connections are behind on payments, amounting to
nearly $36,000 in delinquent rates owed to the county.

In Rustlewood, rates delinquent past 90 day amount to 13 percent, or $25,201 of its $205,827
budget. In comparison to Rustlewood, delinquent rates 90 days make up 6 percent or $10,549 of the Beard's Cove budget, and 10 percent or $137,665 of the North Bay sewer budget.

I would suppose that these "commissioners" and "utility directors" and "planners" didn't listen to their citizen either.  If one can't afford $96.00 per month extra to pay for sewer what makes them think they can afford $200 or $300 per month?  ARE YOU LISTENING CLALLAM COUNTY?  Let's see what happens in 2013.

 MASON COUNTY JOURNAL

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Belfair sewer heading for the red County weighs rate increase, subsidy
By NATALIE JOHNSON
natalie@masoncounty.com

Mason County might need to nearly triple sewer rates for Belfair customers to avoid putting the Belfair Wastewater Utility in the red. According to county staff, projected revenues for the utility are
expected to be 40 percent less than expenditures next year.

"It's a mess and I don't have the answer," said Brian Matthews, public works and utilities director, calling the sewer utility "a turd".

John Cunningham of the county utilities and waste management department said by the end of 2013, the Belfair Wastewater Utility's deficit is expected to be $593,000 and the total fund deficit between 2013 and 2026 could reach $10.7 million.

"You can close the gap by raising rates to $300 per month right now," Cunningham said.

Are you worried yet?  You should be because it gets worse.  Let's continue.

The total cost  of the sewer is estimated to be between $46.5 and $47 million.  Between a general obligation bond sale and other loans the county owes $14,925,199 on the project.

If the utility can't make payments on the general obligation bond used to construct the sewer system, the county's general fund has to cover the cost, staff said.

"If (the utility) goes bankrupt everybody is going to be paying the cost and in a big way," Mathews said.  "I'm losing sleep over it."

These estimates only take into account Phase 1 of the sewer in the downtown core of Belfair.  Subsequent phases have been put on hold.

Just think of the Carlsborg Sewer "Initial Sewer System"  as "PHASE 1", because that's exactly what it is.  There is a "phase 2" and "phase 3". UH OH!

When building the sewer, the county anticipated growth in the Belfair Urban Growth Area (UGA), of at least 5 percent per year. The sewer was designed with that kind of capacity in mind.

Now, Neatherlin said the UGA is lucky if it has 1 percent growth per year.

The sewer currently has about 400 . connections - 1 percent amounts to four sewer hookups per year, or about $4,000 annual revenue for the county, staff said.

In order to avoid operating in the red and allow the utility to continue making debt payments, county
staff prepared several options to increase funding.  One of those options is to increase the current sewer rate of $96 per equivalent residential unit (ERU) to as much as $242 per month per ERU. 

See, I told you it gets worse and who gets to pay and pay? The end user, the home and business owners.  Believe me, it will get even worse, you'll see.

Both Neatherlin and Jefferys raised concerns over this option, saying the current sewer rate is already
a hardship on residents, and a higher rate could drive businesses to places with lower sewer rates,
such as Silverdale.

During a phone conversation yesterday, Sheldon suggested partnering with the City of Shelton for operating costs, because the city also has a wastewater treatment plant and a reclaimed water facility.

Does this sound familiar? Carlsborg partnering with Sequim because they have a wastewater treatment plant and reclaimed water facility.  Then comes the county subsidies just like Clallam County.

Another option is to subsidize the sewer system with $600,000 from the county's general fund in
2013, and extend this subsidy potentially through 2026 for a total of as much as $5.2 million. Sheldon said he hopes the county can look at refinancing some of its debt on the utility.



Staff and commissioners said the County needs economic recovery and commercial development
in the UGA to effect a long·term, manageable solution to the funding problem.
"I do think that our rate of new hookups will increase as the economy improves," Sheldon said

He said a Washington state Department of Transportation project to Widen state Route 3 through Bel.
fair, scheduled to begin as early as this summer, could bring new businesses, and sewer hookups, to the area.

If we build it they may come seems to be the mantra of these two counties, or is it GO FOR BROKE.

Let's Talk Equivilent Residential Units (ERUs)

Carlsborg Sewer Monthly Fees Not What They Appear To Be.

Exactly what is an ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit)?  It is a fixed BASE RATE and a RATE THAT IS DETERMINED BY WATER CONSUMPTION.  We have heard for years now that Clallam county officials "don't know what the monthly costs per home will be" and "when we know you will know".  This post is about the monthly fees, I'll get into hookup costs in a later post.

We have heard "estimates" of $60.00, $68.00 and now $70.00 per month just to pipe sewage away from your home, but wait that's not all of the monthly costs.  Let's see that BASE RATE and WATER CONSUMPTION RATE from Clallam County Public Work Department Frequently Asked Questions August 15, 2014.

The Base Rate is "estimated" to be $26.00 per month and the Water Consumption Rate is based on an "estimated" 125 gallons of water per day (gpd) at a rate of $8.66 per one hundred cubic feet of water per month or $0.0866 per cubic foot.  Thus an average family consuming 125 gallons of water per day would have a monthly sewer bill of $70.00.  So, how many cubic feet are there in 125gpd? That is 125gal/7.4805 gallons in a cubic foot would be 16.71 cubic foot of water. Ok you say, that don't look so bad, but wait, there's more.

The EPA states, "The average American family of four uses 400 gallons of water per day. On average, approximately 70 percent of that water is used indoors, with the bathroom being the largest consumer (a toilet alone can use 27 percent!)."  Hey! what happened to that 125gpd?  yeah I thought it was kind of low too. http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pubs/indoor.html

I will break it down and show you how much you may actually end up paying per month just to pipe poop away from your home using a statement made by the Clallam County Public Work Administrative Director in his response to my inquires about "what is an ERU" and "how many ERUs will a typical home be assessed?"  Read the E-Mail Exchange below and you will see how it is all broken down and how much the monthly user fees may actually be.  Bob's response is in RED.

Bob Martin, P.E.
Clallam County Public Works
Administrative Director
(360) 417-2389
(360)417-2513 - FAX
bmartin@co.clallam.wa.us

From: B Frazier [mailto:bryand@olypen.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2014 12:37 PM
To: Gray, Steve
Cc: Martin, Bob
Subject: ERUs

Steve, Bob,

Steve per our conversation Dec. 5, 2014,  concerning ERUs and how many ERUs a typical household may be assessed?  According to the EPA a typical 4 person household uses 400 gallons of water per day (gpd).

The Carlsborg Sewer Financial Plan estimates 1 ERU to be 125 gallons of water per day (gpd) average volume charge/ERU. (Monthly Rates, Monthly Base Charge per ERU, Page 14). 

So, based on the EPA average of 400gpd and reading the per ERU in the financial plan of 125gpd I would equate that to be 3.2 ERUs per typical household of 4 or the gallons per day divided by the ERU.  Water consumption is not the same as wastewater generated due to water transmission losses, outdoor use (irrigation, car washing, or other “non-consumptive uses) and inflow/infiltration (I/I.)  In the case of Carlsborg Gray & Osborne used 125gpd/ERU plus actual I/I data from Sequim for estimating sewage flows.  The PUD in their 2010 water system report estimated future Carlsborg water consumption needs to be about 178gpd/ERU.

      400gpd EPA AVG. / 125gpd per ERU = 3.2 ERUs per average household of 4.  Is this the correct assumption of how ERUs will be assessed on each individual households water use per day divided by the 125gpd ERU?  No.  Each residence will be considered to be one ERU.  As outlined in the financial plan, monthly household charges are proposed to be calculated using a base rate (estimated to  be $26/month)and a consumption rate based on actual water consumption (estimated to be $0.0866 per cubic foot of water used.)  So a household with an average water consumption of 125 gpd, would have a monthly sewer bill of about $70.  ERUs are used to estimate design flows, to size pipes and pumps, and to estimate system costs and revenues.  They are not used to calculate monthly residential bills.  We will however base bills for commercial, industrial, and public facilities in part on the number of ERU’s they represent, which will of course vary depending size and type of user.  Of course ultimately actual rates and rate structure is subject to approval of a sewer use ordinance by the Board of Commissioners.

I do know that this is exactly how it is being done in Mason County, Belfair, Shelton, North Bay, Allyn, Beard’s Cove and Rustlewood and used the same FCS Group for their Financial Plan.

Sincerely,

Bryan Frazier

(360) 683-4424

bryand@olypen.com

Now it's my turn to use his own statement to prove I'm right.  RED indicates reference to his response to my inquiry.  I've checked my math believe me I double and triple checked it.  See below.  Oh yeah, I switched the e-mails around so you could read my inquiry and his responses first and then my reply to him.

Bob,

A comparison,

EPA average water consumption for a household of 4 is 400gpd / 7.4805 gallons per cubic foot = 53.47 cubic feet per day actual consumption x $0.0866 per cubic foot of water used = $4.63/day x 30days = $138.90/month + $26.00/month base charge = $164.90/month.  http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pubs/indoor.html

According to your explanation below, 1 ERU is 125gpd / 7.4805 gal per cubic foot equals 16.71 cubic feet/day actual consumption x $0.0866 per cubic foot of water used = $1.45/day x 30/days = $43.41/month + $26.00/month base charge = $69.41 rounded up to $70/month for those on meters.

Those on private well: CCDPW FAQ August 15, 2014 page, 7. 1 ERU is 150gpd / 7.4805 gal per cubic foot equals 20 cubic feet/day actual consumption x $0.0866 per cubic foot of water used = $1.73/day x 30/days = $51.90/month + $26.00/monthly base charge = $77.90/month +/- $.90 ($78.80 per FAQ).

So, 1 ERU =  125gpd x 3.2/ERUs = 400gpd EPA AVERAGE / 7.4805 gallons per cubic foot of water = 53.47 cubic feet per day actual water consumption x $0.0866 per cubic foot of water used = $4.63/day x 30/days  = $138.90/month + 26.00/monthly base charge = $164.90/month.

Just as I had stated in my e-mail today to you and Steve Gray the “, based on the EPA average of 400gpd and reading the per ERU in the financial plan of 125gpd I would equate that to be 3.2 ERUs per typical household of 4 or the 400gpd divided by the 125gpd/ ERU = 3.2/ERUs.”   Actual cubic feet of water consumption WILL determine the number of ERUs per household, according to YOUR figures and YOUR explanation, “monthly household charges are proposed to be calculated using a base rate (estimated to  be $26/month)and a consumption rate based on actual water consumption (estimated to be $0.0866 per cubic feet of water used)”.

Thank you for providing the answers to my inquiries concerning ERUs and verifying my mathematic formulas are correct.  Unless the county plans to charge a FLAT $70.00/month per residential unit and no more than that, period.

Sincerely,

Bryan Frazier

(360) 683-4424

bryand@olypen.com

As you can see the monthly rate has just gone WAY up "BASED ON ACTUAL WATER CONSUMPTION" to offset the cost of "INFLOW and INFILTRATION" into the sewer system, because they (Clallam County) have to pay the city of Sequim to treat it and pay per gallon treated.

I do believe that this "consumptive water rate" will be in addition to your monthly PUD water bill, so you get to pay for your water twice.  In AND out, isn't that nice?

Here is Mr. Martins response to my reply to him.  I'll ask now, does anyone really think the citizen of Carlsborg only use 125 gallons of water per day per every 1.85 people (ok 2 people)?  Really?  Take note he only refers to "WINTER RATES" Jan, Feb, March, Oct, Nov and December.  What happened to the Spring and Summer RATES?  People don't use water during the Spring and Summer?  Well the answer is that people use MORE WATER during the SUMMER months which increases the GALLONS PER DAY and would lead to higher "ACTUAL CONSUMPTION" which would lead to HIGHER SEWER BILLS as explained above.

Brian:

Just to clarify, your arithmetic below is fine, but the typical household in Carlsborg does not consume 400gpd.  The winter month average of 125gpd/residential customer was derived from actual metered water billings for winter months over a consecutive two year period (as shown in the attached excerpt from the June 2012 facility plan.)

The rate structure proposed in the financial plan rewards water conservation.  Obviously if someone does use 400 gpd, or 3.2 times the average residential water usage in Carlsborg, they will (and should) have a significantly higher sewer (and water) bill, as you have shown, but this will clearly not be typical in Carlsborg.  

Bob Martin, P.E.
Clallam County Public Works
Administrative Director
(360) 417-2389
(360)417-2513 - FAX
bmartin@co.clallam.wa.us

The "metered water billing" in Carlsborg Mr. Martin refers to are for 2004 and 2005 in the 49-82 thousand gallon range, however, for 2013 it was 19.8 MILLION GALLON TOTAL WATER PURCHASED in the Carlsborg UGA.  I THINK AN UPDATE AND SOME NEW MATH ARE IN ORDER FOR THE COUNTY.

http://www.clallampud.net/CarlsborgWaterDistrict.pdf