Sewer-only residents in Toppenish face shutoffs

Posted on February 22, 2014

Most of the homes on Germantown Road just outside of Toppenish are connected to only a sewer line from the city; they have their own sources of water. Now those living outside the city limits but who are connected only to the city sewer may face a sewer shut-off if they do not pay their sewer bill. (GORDON KING/Yakima Herald-Republic)

Phone: 509-577-7749

TOPPENISH Residents outside the city of Toppenish who receive city sewer services now face shutoff if they fail to pay their sewer bill.

About 30 customers live just outside the city limits and get domestic water from their own wells, but they also are connected to the citys sewer system. Most of these sewer-only customers live on Germantown Road, just southeast of the city and a stones throw from the sewer plant. But until now, there was no way of shutting them off if they failed to pay their bill.

So, earlier this month, the City Council approved an ordinance allowing the city to install shutoff valves at the properties if the account becomes delinquent. Customers have 30 days to settle delinquent bills. Currently, two customers are more than 30 days past due, City Manager Bill Murphy said.

We cant continue to provide free service to anyone, he said. We have to have a remedy and this is the only suitable remedy.

When city residents fall behind on their bills, their water is simply turned off, which also stops sewer service.

But when sewer services were extended to properties in the county years ago, shutoff valves were not installed, Murphy said.

If a sewer-only customer fails to pay under the new ordinance, a city worker will come out, dig down to the sewer line and install a shutoff valve and shut off the service. Not only will customers have to pay whats owed on their bill, they will also be charged the cost of the valve and the labor for the installation, Murphy said.

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Sewer-only residents in Toppenish face shutoffs