Welcome to Douglas County Sewer District No. 1  

Our goal is to provide our community with reliable wastewater collection and transmission services.  We are committed to operate and maintain our facilities economically and safely while protecting the public health and the environment.

NOTICE OF NEW UTILITY TAX BY THE CITY OF EAST WENATCHEE INCLUDED IN THE DOUGLAS COUNTY SEWER DISTRICT UTILITY BILLS

Dear Douglas County Sewer District #1 Customer,

Effective on your April 8, 2024 sewer service bill, City of East Wenatchee residents (within city limits) will see an additional charge added to your monthly bill.  This charge is identified as “City Utility Tax.”  This charge represents a new utility tax imposed by the City of East Wenatchee City Council. The increase is $5.83 per Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU). The monthly bill for a single-family residence will increase from the District-established sewer rate of $52.50 to the new City-taxed rate of $58.33. Commercial accounts will pay the increase of $5.83 per ERU times the number of ERUs they are billed.

This tax will be imposed on all “gross revenue” the district receives for services provided within the City limits, including monthly service fees, permits, General Facilities Charges (Connection Fees), etc. If you visit our website, you will see the District’s adopted rate increases through 2028. The new tax will increase these rates by the current City utility tax rate of 11.11%. Keep in mind that the City of East Wenatchee sets this tax rate and it may be increased at the discretion of the City of East Wenatchee Council.

The Sewer District is not authorized by law to generate revenue for the Sewer District by creating a tax and the Sewer District was not involved with the City decision to create this new tax. The Sewer District is only authorized by law to charge rates to pay for the costs of the sewer services it provides. The City of East Wenatchee is authorized by law to tax utilities operated by the City or operated by others within the City. This new City utility tax revenue may be spent by the City to cover the costs of general City government operations and is in addition to the property tax revenue and sales tax revenue collected by the City.

If you have questions concerning this new City utility tax, including why it was imposed and what the City intends to spend this new tax revenue on, please direct those questions to the City at (509) 884-9515.

In light of the recent implementation of the City Utility Tax, the Douglas County Sewer District is temporarily suspending the planned fee for payments made by credit and debit cards, reducing the impact of recent increases in utility bills for those affected by the planned increase. We will look at this in the future at a more appropriate time.

**Notice of Rate Increase**

Effective January 1, 2024 - rate will increase to $52.50 per *ERU per month

NOTE:  Sewer service will be billed MONTHLY effective January 2024

*ERU is an abbreviation for “Equivalent Residential Unit”. A term we use to establish and plan for current sewer flows and future growth.

 To break it down, an ERU is equal to 224 gallons of water/waste that comes from the average home into the sewers of the East Wenatchee area.

The new rate of $52.50/month/ERU breaks down to approximately $1.75/day. For that $1.75/day you can take a shower, wash your clothes, prepare your food, wash your dishes, wash your dog or cat, clean your house, brush your teeth, mop the floors and on and on. Your Board of Commissioners and the DCSD staff continue to streamline and improve operations to minimize cost’s so we can continue to offer this reasonable and necessary service.

General Facility Charge (connection permit) will increase to *$5,978.00 per unit plus a $100.00 inspection fee per structure.

ATTENTION: Changes to billing effective January 2024. Please watch for informational flyer in your next billing statement. 

*Effective January 01, 2025 GFC will increase to $6865.00 plus a $100.00 inspection fee based on the 2023 Rate Study.

(July 1, 2022) Today, the Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts (WASWD) recognizes the effective date of a new law that will benefit the environment, wastewater infrastructure, and residents throughout the state of Washington.

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70A.525&full=true

The Responsible Flushing Alliance has more information about wipes disposal practices at

https://flushsmart.org

COVID-19 CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

On March 18, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation 20-23 prohibiting electricity, telecommunications, and water service providers from charging late fees on past due account balances or taking any action to disconnect service due to non-payment. In response to this Proclamation, the District began providing customers with the same relief ordered by the Governor. As of September 30, 2021, the Governor’s prohibition on collection charges and actions ends and the District observance of these prohibitions will end too. The District will begin following standard collection procedures on all utility service accounts for charges billed on or after October 1, 2021.

Standard Collection Procedures for non-payment of charges billed on or after October 1, 2021:

Payment is due by the end of the month following bill date.

After due date: 10% late fee assessed.

60 days after due date: $51 lien fee assessed and lien filed.

90 days after due date: $15 1st Notice of Cap-off letter fee assessed and notice posted and mailed.

105 days after due date: $15 2nd Notice of Cap-off letter fee assessed and notice posted and mailed.

135 days after due date: $195 Cap-off fee assessed, service capped off.

COVID-19 Collection Procedures for non-payment of charges billed before September 30, 2021:

For all accounts carrying a past due balance, a written Payment Plan Agreement must be made with the District before September 30, 2021. Payment agreements must include a minimum $50 per month payment, and must plan for payment of the delinquent balance within 12 months (unless other arrangements are approved by the District Manager). If any payment is late, missed, or less than the scheduled payment amount, a 10 % late fee will be assessed on the past due balance, a District lien fee of $51 will be assessed and a lien will be filed.

All written Payment Plan Agreements shall be signed by the customer and the property owner if the owner is different than the customer.

The District will not assess fees or proceed with collection actions on accounts which stay current with written Payment Plan Agreements made for amounts billed prior to September 30, 2021 AND amounts billed on or after October 1, 2021.

Customer failure to request a written Payment Plan Agreement prior to September 30, 2021, will result in the District filing of a lien on or after October 1, 2021.  For all past due accounts, contact the District at (509) 884-2484 to set-up a written Payment Plan Agreement to pay off the past due balance.

La prohibición del gobernador para no cobrar deudas a terminado a partir del 30 de Septiembre, 2021. El distrito comenzara a seguir los procedimientos adecuados para coleccionar deudas a partir del 1 de Octubre, 2021.

Customer Assistance Resources:

Para asistencia financiera ahí recursos comunitarios:

Chelan Douglas Community Action Council (509) 662-6156

more information available at:  Washington State Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Call 211 for help, or visit the 211 website at https://search.wa211.org